HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommission Meeting August 21, 2007
REGULAR MEETING COMMISSION CHAMBER
AUGUST 21, 2007
Augusta Richmond County Commission convened at 2:00 p.m., August 21, 2007, the
Hon. Deke Copenhaver, Mayor, presiding.
PRESENT: Hons. Holland, Smith, Harper, Grantham, Hatney, Beard, Williams, Cheek,
Bowles and Brigham, members of Augusta Richmond County Commission.
The invocation was given by the Reverend Dr. Nathaniel Dunn, Thankful Baptist Church.
The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America was recited.
Mr. Mayor: Reverend Dunn, I have something for you. I’ll read this to you. Office of
the Mayor. By these present be it known that Reverend Dr. Nathaniel Dunn, Thankful Baptist
Church is Chaplain of the Day for his civic and spiritual guidance demonstrated throughout the
st
community, serves as an example for all of the faith community. Given unto my hand this 21
Day of August 2007. Thank you for your wonderful prayer. Madam Clerk on to the
presentations.
The Clerk:
PRESENTATION(S)
A. Presentation on the Ellis Street Option. (Requested by Commissioner Andy Cheek)
Mr. Cheek: Mr. Mayor, members of the commission, I bring to you the Ellis Street
Option. To date in Augusta we’ve had revitalization initiatives that included things like
sidewalks and benches, new trash cans maybe some new lights, digging the parking bays filling
up the parking bays. All proposals that have been worthy and have added to downtown so I
bring to you today something that will literally change 4 miles, the 2 mile stretch that we are
proposing today, 4 miles if you count both sides of the city in a way that will make it truly the
Garden City. a tourist destination with none like it on the East coast east of the Mississippi,
something that will have economic impact that will spin off on to every street between Walton
Way and the river. So without any further ado, before I get started I’d like to thank my wife and
children took a vacation out to San Antonio so a lot of the features you see today are from that.
So I want to thank them and Ms. Tameka Allen, your staff on IT, Michele Pearson, Billy Yates
and Marty Lick have done an outstanding job. They’ve actually made me look a lot smarter than
I really am with the work they’ve done. A lot of this work that you see is stuff they’ve put
together. So without any further ado, the Ellis Street Option. These are two examples of where
a canal has been built. The one on the left is a San Antonio river; they call it the Riverwalk over
here. This was a muddy drainage ditch through the heart of the city, and in the 30’s they
proposed covering it. The naturalists said no, we want to keep it in tact. In 1960 they decided to
invest and build their Riverwalk. Over on the right side is Oklahoma City. It’s a mile long. The
one in San Antonio is a mile and a half. The one on the right in Oklahoma City is a mile long and
they had a complete urban makeover including a water amenity here that has had tremendous
spin offs. But these are two extreme examples of success that attract people from all over the
1
world. While we were down in San Antonio we literally ran into people from all over the world
and you know, I mean literally ran into them because there was walking room, no room to walk.
There were people there in the middle of the day on a Tuesday afternoon. This is San Antonio’s
Riverwalk, the number one entertainment destination in the State of Texas. Now you look, this
is in the middle of the day, this is a pedestrian bridge that crosses from side to side and they have
several of these in there. The sidewalks are lined with people. They’re preparing for an arts
festival. They have festivals all year long. Notice the plants around this. This is natural high
nutrient water not water that you typically get out to irrigate your grass and stuff so can look at
how the trees and plants prosper as a result. You also notice their water’s brown. Our water is
clear. They have festivals there. They even have what they call a Mud Festival every January.
In San Antonio they drain the canal to clean out the muck and stuff that accumulates through the
year. They have a mud king and queen they have mud sculptures, mud sliding contests. They
bring people from all over Texas to come in and enjoy them cleaning out their canal. Another
reason to come to San Antonio. They line this during Christmas with Christmas tree lights. You
can have night cruises day cruises. This is one of the tour boats. Here at fifteen bucks a head to
ride in this and all long we witnessed these boats being full of people. Three miles of
entertainment, water taxis, dining cruises, fifteen hotels, two spas and seventeen conventions per
month. People go to San Antonio and every person that goes to these conventions pretty much
goes down to the riverfront. There’s 24 attractions along the way. It has zoos, museums, movie
theaters, auditoriums and they have a very nice lagoon that has, it’s surrounded with steps
coming up out of the water. They had a live mariachi band playing. There’s a big fountain in
the center. It’s very beautiful but a mall on their Riverwalk, in their downtown. This is a fifty-
year old restaurant. And like I said they started this in the 60’s and this restaurant’s been in place
and it’s Casa Rio offers tours, dining boats and gondolas like you’ll find in Venice. This is at 7
o’clock in the evening, people dining along the entire stretch of the river walk there. You
literally have to wait in line to find a seat. This is Oklahoma City. This was completed in 1999.
Both of these are available on the web you can look these up to get additional information but
they have literally transformed their downtown into a very, very beautiful spot that people want
to go to and as a result both San Antonio and Oklahoma City have become so attractive that they
are attracting international headquarters to come there to their cities and relocate because they
have these amenities. Now you if think about Ellis Street and the vacant lots and things what
would we like to attract? Well they had a very blighted area in Oklahoma City. Now they have
this beautiful lighted river walk area, they have hotels. Bass Pro Shop came in. Their baseball
stadium is down on the canal as well. And many, many fine dining restaurants and high end
apparel retail shops have come in and located thus driving the value of the tax base in that area
through the roof. They’re making money, they’re growing their equivalent to the sales tax,
they’re hotel motel tax is growing as a result of adding a body of water. They turned warehouses
in the area in Oklahoma City into the entertainment district. The canal opened in 1999 and in
four years they’ve carried 540,000 passengers at $12.00 a head, $15.00 a head that’s a pretty
good sum. You can have unique dining experiences on the dining boats. They even have a
marriage island. They have one of these in San Antonio where people wanting to get married on
the water you can actually walk out on those islands. They’re nicely appointed with landscaping
and so forth and have their wedding vows out in the middle of the waterway. On urban living
it’s become a place to play and work a place that people want to live. They have five large
complexes including apartments, lofts, town homes and condominiums. Entertainment
downtown the heart of their city they have a baseball stadium, a 20-screen movie theater,
2
restaurants and shops. To give you an idea of the change that occurred in this urban heart in
1999 they had one restaurant in 2007 they have 44. They have a museum of art. We have the
Morris Museum of Art plus we have Artists Row that would directly benefit from the traffic of
people coming down and coming and going to these, to this attraction. The have six major hotels
that are flourishing as a result of this. The current conditions on Ellis Street are, and these are
estimates but conservative estimates but 80% vacant buildings along this area. You’ll notice the
sidewalks are in disrepair. This awning has been in bad shape as long as I can remember. 40%
vacant lots. We’re not generating a lot of tax revenue from this area. It’s become a place where
vagrants and homeless people hang out and drug dealing occurs. It’s not adding a lot to this city.
But this actually could be the heart of the revitalization of downtown Augusta, make it stand-
alone and generate enough revenue to support itself. More of Ellis Street. More of Ellis Street
and the vacant lots and the buildings. Now I wanted, this is one that to tell you how bad this is,
this is Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock. There’s a man asleep right here on this back porch, asleep
or passed out anyway. So we really, whether we do this or not we really need to clean up this
area, do some work. You can see the graffiti and other things that just having it in disrepair with
no foot traffic in that area lends itself to this type of activity. More blight opportunities. This is
one of the areas we’re going to recommend we put a lagoon in that would actually come off of
Ellis Street. Of course you leave the trees and the shrubbery already enhance it. The two
th
lagoons, one at 7 and one here would actually touch Broad Street and give people an
opportunity driving by or walking by on Broad Street to actually see our canal. Imagine the
possibilities. We have a 150-year old plus canal system. The second level has been untouched
for about 50 years now and the third level that is roughly a ugly drainage ditch right now. We
have water-situated elevation wise that would service this area. We own the right-of-ways with a
minor amount of utility relocation or moval of the roads which I was reminded the other day
underneath the asphalt are cobble stone pavers that we could actually use on the sidewalks when
we replace them and make it look very nice. But this could happen. As you can see this is an
overlay done by IT and as the White Building with our canal running through here. This is a
natural extension of the second level of the canal. The second level of the canal is what fed a lot
of the mills within the city in the past. This is a chance for us to put the canal back to work to
attract people to the city and give the people something very nice to enjoy.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Cheek: I’m getting close.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, I’ll give you a little bit more time. That’s just over ten.
Mr. Cheek: Okay. Mr. Mayor, I’m excited. I’m sorry. Which would you rather have a
vacant hotel or this. This is San Antonio. Water changes everything. The water in the canal and
joke and the test of this is about 60 degrees. It would actually bring the ambient temperature
down in the inner city and make it very comfortable in that area. This is the map. You all have a
thth
copy of the map. This is going to run from 13 Street to 6 Street at the railroad tracks run down
th
and two nice features. One if you come off of 12 at the Davison Fine Arts School and go down,
I would rather have this open but we can cover it or leave it open. It would feed by gravity, no
th
pumping necessary, down 12 Street go through the Golf and Gardens area between there and
the proposed baseball stadium. We can add all kinds of water amenities, adding a waterfall at
3
the Savannah River. Here is the other thing. We have the lagoon along the way but as you come
th
down 7 Street we would take that out, it would come down in front of the Civic Center, put
pedestrian bridges across and you can see the bridges along the way, turn behind the Civic
Center and dump back into the third level of the canal with a nice waterfall here, across the street
from the proposed Judicial Center right in the area of the park where we plan to dedicate to Dr.
King. So that would be a very nice backdrop. These are the utilities that we need to relocate.
You can see there’s some there but not much. They’re old pipes. They need to be replaced. We
can move those to the sidewalks and repave our sidewalks in that area while we’re digging our
th
ditch. This is 12 Street where we would take the water from Mr. Mayor. Right up here is about
the same it’s about a foot, foot and a half above the existing road level on the other side. A
viaduct across the way with a small section removed, a waterfall going back into the third level
there. This is an example of a pedestrian bridge we could use across where there used to be a
sidewalk and these are sloped in such a way that the access will be by disabled people as well.
More pedestrian bridges. Some of them are done in different styles. Maintenance boats and tour
boats. They have a parking garage to park their boats in and they have so many of them and
they’re always full. Imagine the possibilities. What if that was our Ellis Street. Mr. Mayor what
I’m asking today is that as you’ve seen the Ellis Street proposal this is something that everybody
probably needs to digest a little bit. It’s something that can be done for about the price of
somewhere between a jail pod that we’re building or the Judicial Center. Somewhere around
$35 million dollars or less. We own the right-of-way, we own the water, gravity will feed water
and make it work through this course. We won’t need a lot once it’s full. It’s a five-foot deep,
. I’d like permission
30-foot wide concrete lined canal, a natural extension of our existing canal
from the commission to pursue with our Engineering Department exactly what kind of
utilities and costs are involved and develop a cost estimate to bring back to the commission
at some point in the future.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Mr. Cheek. Can I get a motion to that affect?
Mr. Bowles: So moved
.
Ms. Beard: I’ll second that.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion?
Commissioners will now vote by the usual, Commissioner Smith.
Mr. Smith: What was the motion?
Mr. Mayor: What Mr. Cheek requested, Madam Clerk, can you read back the motion?
The Clerk: Yes, Mr. Cheek’s motion was to direct staff engineering to study this and
bring back to the commission proposed costs involved in developing the Ellis Street Option.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign.
Motion carries 10-0.
4
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Mr. Cheek. Madam Clerk, if we can now move on the
recognitions.
The Clerk:
RECOGNITIONS(S)
Employee of the Month:
B. Ms. Lisa Blackwelder, Client Support Services, Information Technology Department
July Employee of the Month.
The Clerk: Ms. Blackwelder, along with Ms. Allen and other staff members, please join
the Mayor here at the podium. While they’re making their way up to join Lisa, Dear Mayor
Copenhaver. The Employee Recognition Committee has selected Lisa Blackwelder as the July
Employee of the Month for the City of Augusta. Ms. Blackwelder has been an employee with
the City of Augusta for three years. She currently works as a client support services for
Information Technology. Client services handles the troubleshooting phone calls made to
Information Technology also known as the Help Desk. Ms. Blackwelder was nominated by
several fellow co-workers, Adrian McDaniel, Jeffery Lewis and Deirdre McRay. Ms.
Blackwelder was nominated for her can-do attitude. She is a team player and has gone out of her
way to help both fellow employees and other county employees. (I can attest to that). She takes
the initiative to go into the field to learn more about problems and how to develop better
solutions. She is a great role model for her division. The committee felt based on these
nominations and Ms. Blackwelder’s dedicated and loyal service to the City of Augusta we would
appreciate you in joining us in awarding Ms. Lisa Blackwelder Employee of the Month for the
Month of July. (APPLAUSE).
Ms. Blackwelder: I’d just like to have this opportunity to thank the county employees
(INAUDIBLE). I like the opportunity to go out in the field and be able to put a face with a
name. I work for a great team and Ms. Allen feels very strongly about putting forth a positive
role out there for everyone (INAUDIBLE). (APPLAUSE)
Ms. Allen: Just a couple of things. Lisa is truly, truly deserving of this recognition. She
goes above and beyond as the people who nominated her stated. She makes sure things are
happening for us. It’s all about being a team and she does a great job of representing our team.
And she’s not only a great asset to the Information Technology Department but an asset to this
organization and I thank you for what you do for us Lisa. (APPLAUSE).
The Clerk:
RECOGNITIONS(S)
Georgia Municipal Association:
C. Congratulations! Mayor Pro Tem Betty Beard and Commissioner Don Grantham for
receiving their Certificates of Recognition from the Harold F. Holtz Municipal Training
5
Institute for Elected Officials during the 2007 Georgia Municipal Association’s Annual
Conference.
Master City Little League:
D. Master City Little League Baseball Team won the Georgia State Championship Title.
(Requested by Commissioners Don Grantham and Jimmy Smith)
The Clerk: Now we have the pleasure and the honor to recognize the Master City Little
League and we ask Commissioner Don Grantham and Commissioner Jimmy Smith to come to
assist the Mayor and making the presentation.
Mr. Mayor: All righty, I just want to say congratulations to y’all, great job and with that
I’ll deliver the proclamation. In recognition of Master City Junior League All Stars whereas
th
Wednesday, July 11 2007 marks the celebration of the winning of the District 6 Championship
th
and whereas Saturday, July 28 2007 marks the celebration of the winning of the Junior League
State Championship and whereas Coach Yahcog and Coach Gilano Valdez took the team of
Matthew Coward, Cedric Dixon, Aaron Hawk, DJ Johnson, Kendrick Kelly, Daniel
MacElmurray, Bradley Miller, Jeremiah Schaeffer, Dwayne Singfield, Jilana Valdez, Dillon
Ward, and Michael Weaver and whereas on if I missed anybody’s name I apologize on there.
th
It’s kind of difficult to read. And whereas on the 4 of August 2007 they Master City Junior
League will be playing in the regional tournament representing the State of Georgia and now
nd
therefore I Deke Copenhaver, Mayor of the City of Augusta do hereby proclaim August 2 2007
as Master City Junior League All Stars Day in Augusta Georgia and urge all citizens to
acknowledge the accomplishments of this team. They are an example of positive representation
of the youth in this community. And whereas, in witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and
nd
cause the Seal of Augusta Georgia to be affixed this 2 Day of August 2007. Congratulations
y’all. Once again great job. (APPLAUSE) Jimmy, I’ll go down the line and give them the pins
and you can, if you want to speak you can do that.
Mr. Smith: Thank you, Mayor. Today we are truly blessed with a group of young men
that have won the state championship and they didn’t wake up this morning and become state
champions. They have started way back and have been prompted by their parents and I can not
say enough about the parents that have supported these young men and around the country
washing clothes going on today, tomorrow the next day and keep on keeping on to make them
true champions. Some of these started off at T-ball, four and five years old and are still in the
group. First they started as 10-year olds a start team at Master City they won the District 6
Championship and then advanced to the state championships. Second they then played as 11-
year old star team at Master City and then advanced to the play for the State Championship
again. And third they then played at the 12-year old star team at Master City and became the
District 6 Championship. Then advanced to play for the State Championship again. They began
playing travel baseball year round as a shot for the blue team when not playing for the Masters. I
was not aware that they played all year round but these guys like it. This involved weekly five-
hour practices and over in Georgia and South Carolina to compete on the highest level of play
available. And Coach, you and Coach Hawk and Valdez I just have to take my hat off to you, if
I had one for the tremendous job and hours that you put into it and the care that you have for
6
these young men to be able to advance to the top and I know that’s where they’re going to wind
up. They were the number one team in Georgia for travel baseball for the State of Georgia for
approximately the last two years and then they won the District 6 Championship again this year
then won the State of Georgia Championship. Senator Powell and I went up to see this at
Cartersville a couple weeks ago and we were thrilled to see the way that they played the way the
parents supported them and what the efforts put forth and to be honest with you very little
coverage from the news media George so, so thank you thank you Coach thank you men and
Commissioner Grantham has certificates for you.
Mr. Grantham: Thank you. Commissioner Smith and I too congratulate each of you for
the hard work that you have to put in and making this a reality. Like Commissioner Smith said it
doesn’t happen over night and from the looks of you, you kept your hair cut you kept your teeth
brushed and you did things right for your Mom and Dad or you wouldn’t be here today. So we
just thank you very much for representing our city and for doing the things that you do because
you make us look good. I’m going to call out your name and like for you to come by.
Mr. Russell: I’m going to call out the names if y’all would come up and get the
certificate and shake hands with the Mayor and Commissioner Smith I greatly appreciate it.
Matthew Coward right fielder, pitcher and third baseman. You all can clap all you want this is
good stuff. Cedric Dixon first baseman, Aaron Hawk, pitcher and second baseman, Kendrick
Kelly right field, he’s not with us today. DJ Johnson right field and first baseman, Daniel
MacElmurray left field, Bradley Miller catcher and right field, Jeremiah Schaeffer pitcher and
third baseman, Dwayne Singfield center field and pitcher, --- Valdez pitcher and short stop,
Dillon Ward pitcher and second baseman, and last but not least Michael Weaver catcher and
third baseman, Coach Hawk and Coach Valdez. Give them all one big round of applause again I
greatly appreciate that. Thank you for all you do for us. The team will be signing autographs in
the hall if you’re interested. Get your autograph now, one day these guys are going to be
famous.
Mr. Mayor: Thanks again guys. All righty, Madam Clerk, on to the delegations.
The Clerk:
DELEGATIONS
E. Ms. Stephanie Roulet. RE: No Booze Festival.
Mr. Mayor: Yes, ma’am, how are you?
Ms. Roulet: Happy and well thank you.
Mr. Mayor: Good and if you could just keep it to five-minutes please, ma’am, that’d be
great.
Ms. Roulet: Yes, I can. Honorable Mayor Deke Copenhaver and full commission I’m
th
here to tell you about the No Booze Festival that’s taking place Saturday August 25 at Diamond
Lakes Regional Park. I feel like that there’s too many people that are dying from alcohol
7
whether it’s from being hit head on by a drunk driver or you know young kids especially. It’s
really time to teach them to drink responsively. Now the whole vision is for people coming
together at Diamond Lakes, the baseball diamonds are being transformed into mini sports camps.
Inside these sports camps we have committed The Augusta Green Jackets, the Georgia Raging
Bulls, the Wrestling for Jesus I’ve invited the Master’s City League Youth Group that just won
state championships to come and be photographed and play a game with The Augusta Green
Jackets this Saturday at Diamond Lakes. We also have memorial wall for people to sign if
they’ve lost anyone to alcohol. We’ve received a donation of 500 flowers so people will receive
a flower there. The Brotherhood of Jesus Christ Motorcycle Ministries will be ministering to
people at the memorial wall. We have a huge venue of music ranging from Otis Brown of the
Drifters, Grady Allen, he’s a great jazz musician player and some youth players and an Indy
grunge rock group and more. It’s just a huge venue. There’s going to be a DVD made of it
provided by Light Stream Media. We are also creating a Christian Biker calendar. I’ve been
wanting to do this for the last fourteen years I have 365 verses that say don’t worry. We actually
have a hill. On this hill we have three wooden crosses behind that’s being placed an American
flag. The Resurrected Riders Motorcycle Group will be taking care of that whole area and the
calendar will be ready for sale around the holidays. And I have a person there named Carol
Harper who’s on the victim impact panel. She was 25-years old in the ‘70’s up on Capitol Hill
involved in the presidency and all that sort of thing. She was hit by a head-on drunk driver. To
this day she is still disfigured. She wrote a book called “A Face Value”. Her book will be there
on sale and I visualize her book being in every single one of the driving schools that children
should read it before they get their drivers license so they’ll think before they drive. This is not
about not drinking you know if you are martini drinkers or cordials, aperitifs all that sort of thing
drinking a bottle of wine with your family, if that’s what you do that’s okay. This is about
preventing drunk driving thinking before, you know and a public awareness. We’re raising
funds for the Edderly Family of Blyth. I will tell you this. I need your support. You could tell
people we also need tents. I still need tents and we’re having an invocation and pledge by the
Honorable Mayor Emeritus Emma R. Grissom from Keysville. Mayor Copenhaver’s going to
out of town that weekend, he was asked first. And Clarissa Blocker of the Green Jackets will be
there to sing the National Anthem and it’s opening with a splendid praise cantor from Grovetown
named Shaquana Brinson. And I thank you all for listening to my plea and hearing the cry from
my heart to please support the No Booze Festival. It is a grassroots movement and I will tell you
this. This festival is going to be the very first festival that has a perfect amount of blacks and
whites and Hispanics. I promise you that because I also have a Latino contingency coming. And
barbeque is by Sconyer’s and Chef Red. I hope to see you there if you can’t make it and please
tell others and bring your children. Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you so much. (APPLAUSE) Can people in the hall hear me better
now? Can you hear out there better? Okay Madam Clerk if we could move on to the consent
agenda.
The Clerk: Our consent agenda consists of items 1-35, items 1-35. And because of the
state law regarding condemnations the Attorney’s office has asked, asking that items 23-30 be
removed from the consent agenda because we would have to consider those at the six o’clock
hour to be in accordance with state law.
8
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Williams.
Mr. Williams: Can I get some more clarification on that statement, Ms. Bonner, after
what hour now?
The Clerk: At the six clock hour not after but at the six o’clock hour.
Mr. Williams: Is this any different from the one we did before and you know and I just
want to know what the reason is though.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Boudreaux.
Mr. Boudreaux: That is correct. Some condemnations can be handled during the regular
commission meeting some are under a specific statute that require the meeting in which the
condemnations are considered to be voted on after six-o’clock p.m.
Mr. Williams: And the reason I asked that question, Mr. Mayor, I have been here almost
eight years now and this is the first time that I’ve been approached or been addressed about a
certain hour for these condemnations and I voted on a lot of them. And if we did that I hope we
was in good standing Mr. Cheek you was present as well so.
Mr. Boudreaux: It is a reasonably an active law and this is the first time we’ve had these
types of condemnations and also at the previous meetings we’ve just naturally been beyond the
six-o’clock hour when the issues were reached.
Mr. Williams: And we discussed in committee and we when come into committee our
attorney is sitting there and we get out here and that’s the problem. Now y’all know I try to be
up on it and I try to make sure. When you bring something new and it is new that should’ve
been brought up in the committee as well so we could’ve been abreast of what. And I got no
problem with it I just didn’t want to think that the stuff we done in the past was not done in the
proper manner. But I’ve no problems, Mr. Mayor, along as it’s been clarified I’ve got no
problem with that.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Commissioner Cheek.
Mr. Cheek: Mr. Mayor, I think the language in the law is the State of Georgia deemed it
a hardship on working people to have hearings or meetings of this nature before six-o’clock.
They were concerned about them being able to get of work and attend them and I think they used
the term hardship to describe government meetings that make people get off of work.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Commissioner Hatney.
Mr. Hatney: A question, sir, Mr. Attorney.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Boudreaux.
9
Mr. Hatney: Are you saying you have scheduled a six-o’clock meeting for somebody to
be here and after today whether this will be on the next agenda then we don’t, can’t vote on it
today. Is that what you’re saying?
Mr. Boudreaux: They can be voted on today but they just cannot be voted on prior to six
o’clock today.
Mr. Hatney: We’re not going to be doing that so we’re going to be voting on it next time.
Mr. Boudreaux: If that’s the will of the body they can be put at a later date.
Mr. Hatney: --- six o’clock.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Commissioner Williams.
Mr. Williams: So, Mr. Mayor, what we’re saying is, I mean ‘cause I’m really getting,
George Patty’s going to have to speak for in a minute, but I’m really getting to the point now if
we’re going to do it next commission meeting and prior to six-o’clock would that be, because we
held it today is that what you’re saying we can do it the next meeting.
Mr. Boudreaux: No, it will have to be after six-o’clock.
Mr. Mayor: Can we do a Special Called Meeting to address them, a six o’clock Special
Called Meeting.
Mr. Boudreaux: It can be a Special Called Meeting as long as the meeting is published
fifteen days prior to.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. We’ll make the adjustment to the new state law. We’ll make an easy,
Commissioner Hatney.
Mr. Hatney: Are you saying if you had already had your six o’clock meeting it should
have been published fifteen days before this meeting we could’ve done it.
Mr. Boudreaux: The notices to the property owners have already been sent out prior,
fifteen days prior to today’s date. To reset the hearing they will need to have fifteen days notice
of the new hearing and that hearing will have to be held later that six-o’clock.
Mr. Hatney: So y’all going to do that when we ain’t here.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, back into the consent agenda Madam Clerk.
The Clerk: For the benefit of any objectors to our Planning Petitions I will announce
those petitions and if there are any objectors to any of the panning petitions will you please
signify you objection by raising your hand.
10
Item 4. A request for a change of zoning from a Zone R-1B (One-family Residential) to a Zone
R-1C (One-family Residential) regarding property located south of Pepperidge Drive.
Item 5. Is to approve a petition for a Special Exception to establish a family day care home
affecting property located at 1526 Pine Ridge Drive East.
Item 6. Is a petition for a change of zoning with conditions from a Zone B-1 (Neighborhood
Business) to a Zone B-2 (General Business) affecting property on Washington Road and
Heatherwood Parkway.
Item 8. Is to approve a petition Sections R-1D and R-1E (One-family Residential) of the
Ordinance entitled “Front setback”. Are there any objections to those planning petitions?
Mr. Russell: None noted.
The Clerk: Under our Public Services portion of the agenda. If there are any objectors to
our alcohol petitions would you please signify your objections by raising your hand once the
petition is read.
Item 9. Is for a retail package Liquor, Beer & Wine license to be used in connection with
Overpass Package located at 3745 Peach Orchard Road.
Item 10. Is for an on premise consumption Liquor, Beer & Wine license to be used in connection
with the Golden Gate Lounge located on Barton Chapel Road.
Item 11. Is for an on premise consumption Liquor license to be used in connection with Hooters
of Augusta located at 2834 Washington Road. Are there any objectors to those alcohol
petitions?
Mr. Russell: None noted.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, thank you, Madam Clerk. Do we have any additions to the consent
agenda?
Mr. Hatney: Madam Clerk?
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Hatney.
Mr. Hatney: Abstain on the alcohol please.
Mr. Mayor: Do we have any additions to the consent agenda? Commissioner Smith.
Mr. Smith: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Number 39 I’d like to add to the consent.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Hatney.
Mr. Hatney: Before you do that, Mr. Mayor, is this something we’re going to do to all of
the churches that has the same situation in the areas like this or is this for this one church?
Mr. Smith: Well, let me explain.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Smith.
11
Mr. Smith: We’ve had several fatalities on Old Waynesboro Road from Brown Road out
to Hephzibah/McBean Road. Last year we had about five or six young people. We’ve had one
fatality already this year and the problem is coming up to the church, coming north. It’s a hill
and by the time the people are speeding coming up the hill the people are driving out of the
church. There’s been lots of accidents there. We’re trying to change it to 45 and we have a letter
in your backup I’m going to share.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Hatney.
Mr. Hatney: My question is can we do this for all the churches who have the same
problem? Why don’t we do this once and for all?
Mr. Smith: I don’t know but I’d think you’d just take them one at a time.
Mr. Hatney: This is the thing now y’all. Come on now we got other churches that have
this same problem.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Hatney: If we’re going to do this for one let’s do it for all.
Mr. Mayor: I think that, it doesn’t not sound like we’ve got everybody ready to go with
consent on that one. It seems like that one needs to be addressed by the body.
Mr. Hatney: I don’t have no problem with it but let’s be inclusive. You’ve got other
churches that got the same problem.
Mr. Mayor: Sir, you okay with it going on consent?
Mr. Hatney: If you’re going to do it for everybody.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, well, I think it needs further work and further addressing.
Commissioner Williams.
Mr. Williams: I was wondering was that a state route or a city route. I think the state
regulates some of those speed limits anyway and I’m wondering is that, which is that is that a
state route or a city route? What route is it?
Mr. Smith: That’s a county road, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: It is a county road according to Commissioner Smith.
Mr. Williams: I don’t know what that means, county road, but I got no problem, Mr.
Mayor, I was just wondering if the state regulates the speed on state routes, all of them, I mean,
whether we do the city ones and Mr. Hatney was right. The other people got signs out on
12
Sunday morning for slowing down even there on Laney Walker there’s a patrolman that has to
be out there in the middle of the road Martin Luther King there’s a patrolman that’s being paid
by the Mount --- Baptist Church who has to keep the traffic down ---
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Williams: --- because of the fast cars and people that’s driving them these days.
Mr. Smith: Mr. Mayor, one of the problems we have is the young people going to Cross
Creek High School ---
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Smith: --- that are speeding.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Smith, I’m trying to get through the consent agenda.
Obviously people want to discuss this or want to develop a strategy to make it applicable to all
churches in the city. So I think let’s get through the consent agenda first and then we’ll come
back. Are there any, so far we haven’t had any additions to the consent agenda. Are there any
additions to? Okay, are there any items to be pulled for discussion? Commissioner Williams.
Mr. Williams: Mr. Mayor, I’d like to pull item 12 and item 20 for some discussion
please.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, are there any other items to be pulled for discussion?
Mr. Hatney: Other than 39? 39 is included?
Mr. Mayor: That wasn’t on the consent agenda to begin with.
Mr. Hatney: Okay.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Smith.
Mr. Smith: Mr. Mayor, this number 32 and this may not be the proper time to bring it up
but a motion to approve allowing Augusta Utilities to turn the water to the fire hydrants at
Winston Arms Condominiums. But it should read to turn the water and wastewater on.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Smith: Is it possible to add that to it?
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, can we?
The Clerk: We can add it if it’s the consent of the commission.
13
Mr. Hatney: That was ---
Mr. Mayor: --- intent in the committee meeting.
Mr. Hatney: --- whatever it took to protect them folks until they get through this.
Mr. Holland: It’s a typographical error?
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Any other additions to? Um, Mr. Hicks.
Mr. Hicks: Did that get squared away? All we need to do is close the hydrants and
inspect the sewer lines is what we want to do.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Hicks: To investigate both the water lines and the sewer lines. That’s what we’re
after out there.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. And I, Madam Clerk, I know that we have one addition to the agenda
to consider.
The Clerk:
ADDITION TO THE AGENDA
rd
1. Reconsider reprogramming monies for 3 Level Canal Cleanup. (Requested by
Commissioner Cheek)
Mr. Cheek: Motion to add.
Mr. Bowles: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We have an addition and a second. Is everybody, do we have unanimous
consent to add? Okay, we’ll add the agenda item but with that I would look for a motion to
approve the consent agenda item ---
Mr. Cheek: So moved.
Mr. Mayor: --- Madam Clerk, with the two items pulled.
Mr. Brigham: Mr. Mayor, I have a question about the minutes.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Brigham.
Mr. Brigham: It says on the consent agenda, Ms. Bonner, in here it says that we approve
the tax commissioners writing off of the delinquent taxes and I believe that item was pulled at
the last commission meeting.
14
The Clerk: Okay. Mr. --- was in that meeting. Do you recall that?
Mr. Mayor: I do recall, Mr. Administrator, that was in fact pulled.
The Clerk: Okay, so we need to make that correction.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, I have a motion and I believe I have a second to approve the consent
agenda.
The Clerk: Can I get that second again? I know Mr. Cheek made the motion.
Mr. Bowles: Yeah, I seconded.
The Clerk: Mr. Bowles, okay.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Commissioner Holland.
Mr. Holland: Yes, sir, Mr. Mayor. I want to double check the numbers that Attorney
Boudreaux wanted to change. Are those 23-30?
Mr. Mayor: 23-30, yes, sir. Okay we have a motion and a second. If there’s no further
discussion commissioners will now vote by the usual sign.
CONSENT AGENDA
PLANNING
1. FINAL PLAT – CARNES PLACE – S-741-A request for concurrence with the Augusta-
Richmond County Planning Commission to approve a petition by Cranston Engineering
Group P.C. on behalf of Meigs Street Partners, requesting final plat approval for Carnes
Place. This residential subdivision is located on Meigs Street and contains 11 lots.
2. FINAL PLAT – WHEELER LAKE TOWNHOMES, PHASE V – A-758 – A request for
concurrence with the Augusta-Richmond County Planning Commission to approve a
petition by Southern Partners Inc., on behalf of ATC Development Corp., requesting final
plat approval for Wheeler Lake Townhomes, Phase V. This residential townhome
development is located off West Wheeler Parkway and contains 47 lots.
3. FINAL PLAT – PINNACLE PLACE, PHASE VI – S652 – A request for concurrence
with the Augusta-Richmond County Planning Commission to approve a petition by James
G. Swift and Associates, on behalf of Pinnacle Properties Inc., requesting final plat
approval for Pinnacle Place, Phase VI. This residential subdivision is located on Creekview
Drive, adjacent to Pinnacle Place, Sections 3, 5 and 4 and contains 22 lots.
4. Z-07-67 – A request to concurrence with the Augusta-Richmond County Planning
Commission to approve a petition by Arthur Marshall requesting a change of zoning from
Zone R-1B (One-family Residential) to Zone R-1C (One-family Residential) affecting
property containing approximately 29 acres and located on the east right-of-way line of
Greenwood Drive, 420 feet, more or less, south of Pepperidge Drive. (Part of Tax Map 143
Parcel 024) DISTRICT 4.
15
5. Z-07-72 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta-Richmond county Planning
Commission to approve a petition by Marietta Killoran requesting a Special Exception to
establish a family day care home, per Section 2-1 (F) of the Comprehensive Zoning
Ordinance for Augusta-Richmond County affecting property containing .35 acres and
known under the present numbering system as 1526 Pine Ridge Drive East. (Tax Map 232
Parcel 191) DISTRICT 8.
6. Z-07-74 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta-Richmond County Planning
Commission to approve with the condition that a brick wall be constructed and maintained
on the property line adjacent to Heatherwood Parkway; a petition by C. Ralph Kitchens,
on behalf of the Knox Foundation, requesting a change of zoning from Zone B-1
(Neighborhood Business) to Zone B-2 (General Business) affecting property containing
approximately 1 acre located on the southwest corner of the intersection of Washington
Road and Heatherwood Parkway. (Part of Tax Map 011 Parcel 228) DISTRICT 7.
7. ZA-R-180 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta-Richmond County Planning
Commission to approve an amendment to the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance for
Augusta-Richmond County which would amend Section 22-3 (General Business Zone) of
the Ordinance entitled “Maximum Height” to include professional or commercial buildings
or structures in the B-2 zone.
8. ZA-R-181 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta-Richmond County Planning
Commission to approve an amendment to the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance for
Augusta-Richmond County which would amend Sections R-1E (One-family Residential) of
the Ordinance entitled “Front setback” by increasing the front setback on minor streets for
patio home developments in these zoning classifications.
PUBLIC SERVICES
9. Motion to approve New Ownership Application: A.N. 07-40 request by Kwang Ho An
for a retail package Liquor, Beer & Wine license to be used in connection with S.S. Paek
Enterprises, Inc. DBA Overpass Package located at 3745 Peach Orchard Rd. District 6.
Super District 10. (Approved by Public Services Committee August 13, 2007)
10. Motion to approve New Ownership Application: A.N. 0-38 request by Stephanie R.
Obleton for an on premise consumption Liquor, Beer & Wine license to be used in
connection with the Golden Gate Lounge located at Barton Chapel Rd. There will be
dance. District 5. Super District 9. (Approved by Public Services Committee August 13,
2007)
11. Motion to approve New Application: A.N. 07-39 request by Chad V. Stawicki for an on
premise consumption Liquor license to be used in connection with Hooters of Augusta,
LLC located at 2834 Washington Rd. There will be Sunday sales. District 7. Super District
10. (Approved by Public Services Committee Augusta 13, 2007)
13. Motion to approve Bid #07-136A, two (2) 30’ x 52’ picnic pavilions to include
installation to Hasley Recreation and Design for $105,725. (Approved by Public Services
Committee August 13, 2007)
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
14. Motion to approve the award of 2007 HOME CHDO Operating Funds. (Approved by
Administrative Services Committee August 13, 2007)
16
15. Motion to approve an Ordinance providing for the demolition of certain unsafe and
uninhabitable structures in the Turpin Hill Neighborhood: 1379 Swanee Quintet (Steed
St.), 1377 Swanee Quintet (Steed St.), 1603 Dunns Lane, 1542 ½ Holley Street, (District 2,
Super District 9); South Augusta Neighborhood: 1103 ½ Tenth Avenue (District 2, Super
District 9), 2538 Dover Street: (District 6, Super District 10); Hyde Park Neighborhood:
ND
2006 Willow Street, (District 2, Super District 9); AND WAIVE 2 READING. (Approved
by Administrative Services Committee August 13, 2007)
PUBLIC SAFETY
16. Motion to approve a request to hold a Public Hearing on the Resolution to impose a
$1.50 per month charge for each landline and VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) Service
for subscribers having billing addresses in Augusta-Richmond County. (Approved by
Public Safety Committee August 13, 2007)
17. Motion to approve the Sheriff’s Office purchase of new digital portable radios, keypads,
rach chargers, and batteries. (Approved by Public Safety Committee August 13, 2007)
18. Motion to approve upgrading the city’s current Internet circuit. (Approved by Public
Safety Committee August 13, 2007)
FINANCE
19. Motion to approve the purchase of half-page color ad from ACCG regarding the City of
Augusta’s participation in the Georgia County Government October Issue County Family
Album. (Approved by Finance Committee August 13, 2007)
ENGINEERING SERVICES
21. Motion to approve the list of streets proposed for submittal to the Georgia Department
of Transportation for inclusion in the 2008 LARP. (Approved by Engineering Services
Committee August 13, 2007)
22. Motion to approve award of the Broad Street Sewer Replacement to Beams
Construction in the amount of $317,885. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee
August 13, 2007)
31. Motion to approve a Southern Natural Gas Easement Deed for Acceptance and
Payment. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee August 13, 2007)
32. Motion to approve allowing Augusta Utilities to turn on the water to the fire hydrants
at Winston Arms Condominiums and the Fire Department to inspect the hydrants subject
to the City having a hold harmless agreement for anything that may occur during this
process and for the departments to report back to the committee. (Approved by
Engineering Services Committee August 13, 2007)
PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS
33. Motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of the Commission held August 7,
2007.
APPOINTMENT(S)
34. Motion to approve the appointment of Leroy Glover to the DBE Board representing
District 1.
17
35. Motion to approve the appointment of Mr. Hank Griffin to a term on the Planning and
Zoning Commission representing District 10.
Mr. Hatney abstains.
Motion carries 9-1. [Items 9-11]
Motion carries 10-0 [Items 1-8, 13-19, 21-22, 31-35]
Mr. Mayor: Okay, Madam Clerk, let’s address the pulled items first.
The Clerk:
PUBLIC SERVICES
12. Motion to approve the Sixth Amendment to the Lease at the Augusta Soccer Park
between the Augusta Arsenal Soccer Club and the City of Augusta, Georgia subject to
Administrator report back with a plan to monitor expenditures. (Approved by Public
Services Committee August 13, 2007)
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Williams, I believe this was yours.
Mr. Williams: Yes, sir, Mr. Mayor. I had this pulled and ask that we have an audit done.
I think the Administrator’s supposed to give a report as to how we’re going to keep up with what
we have done in the past and not have any, we designated these funds to another group which is
sales tax money and there was no check and balance in place for that and I’m trying to find out
what has been put in place or what’s going to be put in place for the $200,000 that we’re looking
at giving to the soccer. And I think everybody’s in support of helping that agency but at the
same time we want to make sure that the sales tax money is being, that a check and balance is
being done with an audit of some kind. We haven’t had that.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Russell:
Mr. Russell: If I can, Mr. Mayor, per the recommendation or direction of the Public
Services Committee we’ve added to the item as noted in your backup, payment for the lighting
improvements only. There’ll be an inspection of the installation of that and that we are going to
audit the financials to make sure that we have received what we’re paying for and that was added
to the agreement per your request sir.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Williams.
Mr. Williams: And I think what I’m asking for, I know Mr. Beck has said in committee
that they do inspect. They go back and check to see that they’re done. We’re talking about, I
mean this is our sixth amendment to our sales tax money that we’ve been given or we’ve been
supporting. What’s going to in place. Will out internal audit be the person who handles that I
mean how will this be done I guess is my question. We’re going to inspect it ---
Mr. Russell: Right.
18
Mr. Williams: --- I understand that but you’re talking about $200,000 for lighting and
lights is already I think up already at the facility so we’re going upgrade them I’m assuming.
But there ought to be some check and balance as to or some report is probably a better way.
Mr. Russell: And what you, if I can, sir, what you’ll receive is you’ll have an external or
internal audit I guess would be most appropriate. Internal audits go against the bills versus the
product and give you a report that reflects what they bought what they said they were going to
buy with the money that we’ve got. You’ll receive that report upon completion of the project.
Mr. Mayor: Does that cover it?
Mr. Williams: That helps a little bit, Mr. Mayor, but I’m not, I’m not just checking on
the lighting or the stuff that we’re doing. If we’re going to do an audit I want it specified and
you’re specifying that it’s been for the lighting or whatever. This is our sixth amendment and we
hadn’t done this before this is something we need to look back I guess previous years and
anything else just to get check and balance on the sales tax money. So if an audit is done any
kind of way in this government it ought to be the same type audit done when it comes to that I
think Mr. Russell and I don’t want to make it complicated I’m just trying to be clear when it
comes back so we won’t be misunderstood thinking that we were thinking something else.
Mr. Russell: And I and we thought or I thought the directions were to insure we were
charging back for the sales tax the actual cost and making sure we had a independent look at that
to make sure that was obviously true and that’s ---
Mr. Williams: Okay, I guess I ---
Mr. Russell: Is that where we’re going?
Mr. Williams: I guess to make it clear that excess funds than be brought back to the
government.
Mr. Russell: Right, yes, sir.
Mr. Williams:a
Okay and that clears a lot up. I mean if that were, I’m going to make
motion we approve
---
Mr. Cheek: Second.
with that amendment
Mr. Williams: --- .
Mr. Mayor: Okay we have a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion?
Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign.
Motion carries 10-0.
19
Mr. Mayor: Next agenda item, Madam Clerk.
The Clerk:
FINANCE
20. Motion to approve using money ($4.25 million) remaining in fund balance in SPLOST
Phase IV to pay for the fire fighter training center and equipping the same and purchasing
the land on which replacement Station No. 10 is to be located onAlexander Drive.
(Approved by Finance Committee August 13, 2007)
Mr. Smith: Move for approval.
Mr. Brigham: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Williams, I believe this was your pull.
Mr. Williams: Yes sir, thank you, sir. The gentlemen are ready to go and I understand
that.
Mr. Mayor: I’m not moving past you I’m giving you your time.
Mr. Williams: I said the gentlemen were ready to go and I ready to do that as well.
Mr. Mayor: I mean I’m not a gentleman?
Mr. Williams: Well, I mean -
Mr. Mayor: I just kidding you, go ahead.
Mr. Williams: You wouldn’t fast track me, Mr. Mayor --- and that’s fine. We just
increased and I don’t see Chief Willis standing over there, I need to get some information. We
just bought some land on Deans Bridge Road on Highway 1 the old Toyota building to construct
a training facility. We had money we got money we move money up, I trying like
Commissioner Mays I’m trying to hold all this in the head Mr. Mayor. If we move money from
one area up to assist us to help us get there, is that right Bubba? “Cause I’ve got some more
questions but ---
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Willis.
Chief Willis: We already had the money appropriated from previous SPLOST where we
bought the training facility property.
Mr. Williams: Okay, did we not appropriate that money for future SPLOST money that
was supposed to be coming in that we went ahead and used the money anticipating the SPLOST
money and I don’t have it all in front of me here now but when I read this agenda item it came
20
back. Did we not get that property with SPLOST money already to build the training center
there?
Chief Willis: That was in a previous SPLOST that we already appropriated the bind that
property.
Mr. Williams: On Deans Bridge out there.
Chief Willis: That’s right, sir.
Mr. Williams: Now this Station 10 and the training cente,r is this the same location that
we’re talking about doing?
Chief Willis: This, no, the Station 10 is off of Washington Road.
Mr. Williams: Okay.
Chief Willis: That is a piece of property we’re going to have to acquire. The property
for the training center has already been purchased and paid for. That’s off of Deans Bridge Road
at Bobby Jones. The money, we’ve already paid for that property on Deans Bridge Road. We
haven’t bought any property for Station 10 yet.
Mr. Williams: Okay and I think, I think I guess my question is though we bought the
land had the funds to buy the land ---
Chief Willis: Right.
Mr. Williams: --- to build it. Now the $4.25 million recaptured money, reprogrammed
money, sales tax money from Phase V that’s left that we’re going to take and use it for the
building of the station and the training center. Is that what you’re saying?
Chief Willis: Part of the money will be used and that is from Phase IV. It will be, part of
that money will be used to purchase the land for Engine Company 10. The other part of the
money will be used to begin construction on the Fire Training Tower on Deans Bridge Road.
Mr. Williams: Okay and my last question. Did we not do and increase for fire protection
to help us with that facility?
Chief Willis: No, sir, it was put on, it was put on SPLOST V and the, it was put in for
2010 for us to get the money for 2010.
Mr. Williams: So, okay it’s coming home now, it’s coming home. So I guess the money
that we put in place will revert back to this money here because we got projects out there that
we’ve never completed. If we’re going to take this recaptured money or this money that’s left in
this Phase are we, I mean because we need to be clear about it. I don’t think we need to vote on
it and do it and that money’s just sits there. In 2010 I know I won’t be sitting up here, Bubba, I
21
hope I’ll be sitting around somewhere but I won’t be sitting up here. Where, what are we
stipulating or clarifying.
Chief Willis: What we had talked with the lawyer about is to move this money from
SPLOST IV that is sitting there that has not been earmarked for anything so we could go ahead
at this time and what we had appropriated in SPLOST IV for the training center would be put
back in that so we can move forward with the training facility.
Mr. Williams: And I think we’re all in support. I just don’t want to have the money
sitting there for and I don’t know whether this money’s sitting there and not been designated for
anything. If it is we need to have a long talk with the Administrator.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Williams: He handles that kind of thing. I think the money was there whether we
can use it for this is probably a worthwhile and a legal move to do.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Williams: But uh, I’ve got a problem, Mr. Mayor, if we don’t clarify this money that
was set aside for this and put it back ---
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Williams: --- where this money’s coming from if that’s what we’re going to do.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Hatney.
Mr. Hatney: One question, sir. The $4.25 that’s to be, that is remaining is in SPLOST
IV, you saying that this money to be used and the money in 2010 will be put back. Are these
projects completed or are we saying this money is taken from projects that’s not completed.
Chief Willis: That’s what, working with the county lawyer and all this was something
the money was sitting there and it had not been appropriated, assigned to anything at this time.
So to move forward on the training center we want to take that money and get that project started
and as the money comes in for the SPLOST V on Phase IV I think it is or the fire training tower
and some other projects are going to be handled by the Engineering Department. That money
will go back into that pot.
Mr. Hatney: But there’s no projects that is designated to. Is that what you’re saying?
Chief Willis: That’s right.
Mr. Hatney: $4.25 million dollars just sitting there.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, Commissioner Holland.
22
Mr. Holland: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor, I was concerned about this particular
training center because I think last time we talked about a training center on Deans Bridge Road
we talked about the kind of training center that was going to be placed over there. My concern is
the fact that the training center that’s going to be the new training center is it going to be the
same kind of training center that we’re going to put on Deans Bridge Road which was explained
so eloquently by the gentleman that came up here and talked to us about it before. So we’re
building two training centers that’s going to be repetitious in terms of the kind of training centers
that we’re going to have.
Mr. Mayor: Just for clarification. These funds are being approved to go to the training
center on Deans Bridge Road as well as to purchase the property on Alexander Road.
Mr. Holland: Yes, but my question is, are the training centers going to be the same.
That’s my question. Are they going to be the same kind of training center?
Mr. Mayor: It’s going to be one training center.
Chief Willis: It’s going to be just one training center. I’m sorry, sir.
Mr. Mayor: That’s okay. Go ahead.
Mr. Holland: Who’s going to, okay.
Chief Willis: It’s going to be one training center on Deans Bridge Road.
Mr. Holland: Okay.
Chief Willis: The other facility is to get land to build a Fire Station 10, which is an old
station over up this alley off of Washington Road. It’s a very old station and we want to replace
it with a new station. That is just going to be a fire station relocation. The training center will
still be on Deans Bridge Road at Bobby Jones and that is the only training facility.
Mr. Holland: Okay, thank you.
Chief Willis: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Hatney.
Mr. Hatney: You mentioned fire station relocation if it’s on, is it Alexander Drive you
talking about?
Chief Willis: Yes, sir.
Mr. Hatney: Is it to be relocated or replaced?
23
Chief Willis: The present station is off of Washington Road back in behind a Texaco
Station across there from Augusta National. It’s an old station, a one bay station and it was built
way back in the 50’s.
Mr. Hatney: Okay, so you’re going to replace it.
Chief Willis: We’re going replace that station.
Mr. Hatney: On Alexander.
Chief Willis: On Alexander.
Mr. Hatney: Okay.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Williams.
Mr. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Two things, Bubba. First of all I kind of disagree
with this SPLOST money not being designated for something because SPLOST money was
voted on and SPLOST IV, V whatever was voted for something to do something with. Now I
understand we might have some in reserve but what is the land going to cost, what kind of price.
Now if we approve the $4.25 to do that and we don’t know what the land costs, we don’t know,
I’m not worrying about where the land is but I think you know your department ought to worry
about that. I think we ought to at least know what we’re going to be spending how much for the
land and how much going to other things. When you put this $4.25 together and then say it’s
going to be buying land are we going to build a station out there two or are we going to buy land
then build a station or are we going to buy land and build a station and start on the training
center. I finally got the two different sites now but y’all know y’all going to put it together right.
Chief Willis: We’re going to purchase the land for Engine Company 10.
Mr. Williams: How much?
Chief Willis: We don’t know the price at this time. But we have talked with some
people that’s going to be somewhere around $1.5 million is what we want to put in that pot for
the purchase of the land. We don’t know exactly where we’re going to do it we don’t know the
prices and all. And once we get the okay to move forward with this project then we can start on
negotiations.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Brigham.
Mr. Brigham: Mr. Mayor, this is not new found money this is money that has been in
SPLOST for the Fire Department since Phase IV. What we are doing we are moving the
purchase of land and this training center that’s in Phase V and using funds that are in Phase IV.
We are taking the same funds that are now budgeted in Phase IV and saying that we can wait
until Phase IV funds are available in 2010. The reason we are doing this is that we have an ISO
audit coming very shortly. We need a new station for number 10 and we need to have
24
construction of the fire tower training center started at the training center. This is a prudent
move on this commissions point to do those two things that’s going to save all the property
owners in Richmond County on their fire insurance. If we don’t do that if we don’t do this we
won’t save any money. We will have a higher class rating than we could potentially have if we
do, do this. So it’s just a question are we going to look out for the taxpayers benefits or not and I
move that we go with the order of the day and I call the question.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, do we have a motion to approve?
Mr. Brigham: Already got one.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Commissioners we have a motion to approve. Commissioners will
now vote by the usual sign.
Mr. Williams votes No.
Motion carries 9-1.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, Madam Clerk, due to the fact that we have a number of people here
for agenda item number 40 I’m going to go ahead and call that one next.
The Clerk:
ENGINEERING SERVICES
40. Approve recommended site, management agreement term sheet, and operation and
maintenance funding plan for the Trade, Event and Exhibit (TEE) Center. (Requested by
Administrator Fred Russell)
Mr. Mayor: Okay, Mr. Russell.
th
Mr. Russell: Mr. Mayor, members of the commission, on July 10 we came to you with
a proposal that we had talked about at some length in reference to the TEE Center and operation
funding and opportunities to use the additional funding that we were proposing for other
substantive matters in the City of Augusta. I have that report available and will go back through
that again for you if you like and I’ll try to very quickly. Basically the site that we’re still
recommending is the site next to the Convention Center that we currently operate. Other sites
will be cost prohibitive and require additional hotel space that is not materialized at this
particular point in time. The funding as they recommended and as the group has looked at
requires $350,000 annually, $250,000 to cover the anticipated operating deficit and $100,000 to
cover capital costs for a total of $350,000. As we’ve looked at other cities in Georgia annual
costs to other cities in reference to these same similar type facilities range from $408,000 in
Dalton and $800,000 in Savannah and $1.2 million dollars in Athens. For Augusta that $350,000
is much less than other cities that our facility would be better than all of those. We’ve looked at
the options that are available to us and we’re still recommending the TEE Center agreement that
th
we presented to you on November, or July 10. That is the agreement with several
modifications that we thought were very, very important and necessary as we continue the
dialogue. After discussions with each of you and on and off with groups of you whatever, we
25
have recommended and I’m recommending that we pass the TEE Center management agreement
term sheet with the following changes and following additions to that. The first of which both
parties have agreed or should agree and the other party the Riverfront Limited Party has agreed
and annual independent audit within 150 days of each operating year. That audit would include
not only include the TEE Center but the current Convention Center and that would provide us an
opportunity to verify the revenues and disbursements as well as capital improvements and
reserve funds. Further funding for the contract will be suspended until the audit is complete and
accepted by both parties. Some of you had some concern about the transparencies of those
particular numbers and operations and we thought that was important and will put that as part of
the package that needs to be accepted. As I said previously Riverfront Limited has agreed to that
at this particular point in time. We do believe that the funding option that was presented for the
cost and capital fund should continue to be derived from the dollar fee added to the hotel room.
We think this is a funding stream that is viable it’s one that helps our tourist industry and it helps
not only our community but it helps those people that live in our community and come to visit
that community. We would allow that to go in the format as previously mentioned, $250,000 for
the Trade Center operating fund per the attached agreement; $100,000 for the Capital funding
per the attached agreement. In addition to that we presented one option for you the last time.
We’ve modified that option somewhat significantly as we’ve looked at this potential and what it
could do to the face of Augusta. My recommendation today would be that we use that $750,000
per year in excess of the cost of the center is to increase our tourism and increase the opportunity
for people to visit Augusta and increase their opportunity to visit our historic city. And what I’m
recommending that we use that $750,000 to enhance our historic inner city neighborhoods.
Those neighborhoods that have been the backbone of Augusta’s growth over the years that have
been somewhat I don’t want to say ignored but treated less than kindly over the past several
years and have great numerous needs that we need to face and fix. The opportunity to fix those
neighborhoods presents itself today to us and I would strongly encourage you to take that into
consideration as we can take those historic neighborhoods and put them back into the same shape
that they were years ago when they served Augusta well. We have a wealth of history. We have
people that come to see our history we have people to come visit our city and those historic
neighborhoods with houses with its streets with lights and those kinds of things will help
continue that draw and help continue that. As I say regularly we have way too many people in
our good city with holes in their roofs and rats in their basements for us to be satisfied with
where we’re at this particular point in time. It would be my recommendation that we do that.
This agreement allows for a cost of living based for a cost increase based on the cost of living. I
would also encourage and recommend this increase be reflected in all funding streams equally.
Therefore over the period of time if that $250,000 were to go up the dollars for the others would
go up appropriately and continue to do that. I think part of the problem that we have today is the
impact of that would find over a 50-year period is somewhat sheltered by the fact that it takes a
long time to do things in our community. What I would suggest that you use that $750,000 as a
funding stream for bonds. It would be issued as part of this agreement so that we can move
forward in a more in a quicker manner to help serve these communities and make things happen
and make these communities what they can be and what they have been in the past as we
continue to move forward. It’s also my recommendation that the Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem
appoint an oversight committee of three to five members to assist the Housing and Community
Development Department develop and implement a plan for the redevelopment of our historic
inner city neighborhoods. Bonds purchased with a $750,000 funding stream have the
26
opportunity not only to change the face of Augusta but make a big difference in each in each of
the lives of our citizens as we move forward. As you see what you have in front of you is a plan
not only to increase our tourism but to impact our neighborhoods and to create an Augusta better
than it is today. And that’s pretty much the presentation that I have in front of me and pretty
much the information I’d like to share with you today and it would be my recommendation we
move forward with that.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Grantham.
Mr. Grantham: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. And this is something I know that our
Administrator Mr. Russell has worked on very hard and it’s been not just over the weekend or
within the last 30 days it’s been within the last year, two years since we had the passage of our
sales tax program. And I think he’s presented a program to us that should be receptive to
everyone in this community, one that this, bear in mind, this is not a project that is being paid by
the taxpayer. This is a project that these funds are coming from a service fee that will charged to
the room renter of each hotel and motel of every night spent there. So those funds are not being
burdened by the taxpayer of this community. With that in mind it gives us the opportunity to do
something for the historical inner city that was so laid out by the Augusta Tomorrow here a
couple of weeks ago. And with that in mind I think that we’ve got an opportunity not only with
some of the dreams that Commissioner Cheek had but I think some of the opportunities that we
have in front of us to make this become a reality and to make things happen for the City of
Augusta. So, Mr. Mayor, I’d like to put this in the form of a motion ---
Mr. Cheek: Second.
Mr. Grantham: --- and ask my colleagues to approve accordingly.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. We have a motion and a second. Commissioner Holland and then I’ll
come back this way.
Mr. Holland: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. It sounds very good and one who has had the
opportunity to travel around the state and all around one of the things that I really, really would
like to see is a TEE Center here because in going to other cities that we’ve visited we’ve seen
some very fine TEE Centers and convention centers there. But one of my concerns is the fact
that I just received some information out of my mailbox and it says that the information from the
ACCG’s executive director Jerry Griffin and it’s regarding the speaker, speaker Richardson’s tax
plan. And in this information Mr. Griffin talks about the speaker’s plan to introduce a tax plan
during the upcoming legislative session and make it a number one priority of the 2008 session.
Now he went on to state that it would probably be on the ballot next November and if it gets to
the statewide referendum it will likely pass after the clear debate and understanding of the
possible implications of creating an expanded sales tax base that will remove many existing
exemptions. My question becomes in light of this proposed legislation. Would this plan have an
adverse effect on the collection and designation of these taxes we’re talking about today this plan
becomes law, which many think it will be the case. The goal is to eliminate all property tax and
replace these revenues with sales tax paid to local governments to a state formula for
maintenance and operations of their government. My concern as an elected official I just want to
27
throw it out food for thought to find out if anyone may have any answers in reference to this
particular plan that you’re proposing today. I don’t want Augusta to be caught up in a
catastrophic loss in reference to these property taxes. And when this particular plan becomes law
from Mr. Richardson what he is proposing I just don’t want us to get caught up in a catastrophic
loss in reference to this plan. Can you or anyone else give me some answers in reference to this?
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Russell.
Mr. Russell: Yeah, I think the Speaker has presented a plan that is flawed with
controversy from one end to the other basically. And while you know that’s a plan and that’s his
position at this particular point in time. I do believe it will involve lots of debate over the next
several months. I would be surprised if it got through next legislature. But even if it did what
we’re talking about is the difference between the fee that’s being applied to a hotel room versus
the impact of property tax or even the impact of a sales tax as we move forward there. I think
that would be a defining factor as we move forward with that. I would hate to put aside this
opportunity when we have proposed legislation that, it’s out there and while it might have some
traction and it might not I think we need to take our destiny in our own hands and move forward
with that at this particular point in time. I can’t predict the future but I would suggest that if we
sat around and waiting for all proposed legislation to pass before we took any action it would be
hard for us to do anything.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Holland, I just wanted to add to that. I was elected to board
the Georgia Municipal Association back in June. The GMA is coming out strongly opposed to
this as is ACCG and I agree it is anybody’s guess but I agree this is a plan that the Speaker’s
come out with that is wonton with controversy and I here again we need to move forward. And
my opinion on helping these inner city neighborhoods and this is the greatest opportunity we
have to do it. Commissioner Holland, Hatney, excuse me.
Mr. Holland: Excuse me, Mr. Mayor. Can I just finish my other statement?
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Holland: You know in all due respect in what you’re saying and what Mr. Russell
has said my concern is still in reference to what’s going to happen with Augusta in reference to if
we have a catastrophic loss and in reference to the particular plan if it’s passed. Now there’s a
possibility. Now just like you said it may not be passed there’s a possibility that it will be
passed. So what is the situation what position will we be in at that particular time.
Mr. Russell: I think if I understand the Speaker’s planning correctly as he does away
with property tax and moves forward with increased sales tax on various services there are
currently no, not being taxed I really don’t see the impact it would have on this because what
we’re looking for now is a service fee or a fee for tourist enhancement on our motel rooms it
would not, it’s currently not something we’re dealing with now. So it’s not a funding stream that
we would lose based on what I know of that plan at the moment.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Hatney.
28
Mr. Hatney: Mr. Mayor, just a few moments if you don’t mind. I’ve got some concerns
about a couple of things and I’m not going to take long. First of all I don’t have any problem
perse but I do have some concerns about it’s design meaning that you’re talking about putting
$25 million dollars into a facility with no seating capacity when we don’t have a facility in
Augusta that would seat more than 8,000 or so folks. And we’ve talked about a possibility of
doing something different there. But it’s amazing how nobody listens to anything anybody else
said and we’ve already condemned the whole thought. My thought was that we upgrade the
Civic Center and the Bell Auditorium and put that TEE Center right in the midst of that
connecting those things where they could compliment each other whereas an individual would
not have to go outside to build a TEE Center or balcony with recessed seating on the floor. And
you could approve seating 15,000 easy like that. But to put $25 million dollars, and for lack of a
better term a glorified bond. That’s all I see it being. You know I’m not against the idea but that
doesn’t make sense to me to put that much money in to a piddly little space with no seating
capacity when we don’t have any but 8,500 I believe in the city, I’m talking about inside. That’s
one of my first concerns. The other concern is I listened to your presentation, you made a great
presentation but we the --- we’ve been in another situation with me we have you say you have an
agreement adjustment we’re not privileged to there’s another plan you’re talking about for inner
city reconstruction or community redevelopment or whatever you called it and then I heard
somebody said that the 20/20 Plan is not the same thing you’re talking about. You know so I
think we need to make up our minds and so we seem to be talking about redevelopment,
redevelopment should be spelled out we need to see this we need to see what communities
you’re talking about we need to see the plan. We don’t see none of this. Mr. Administrator this
is probably the biggest vote that’s going to be taken in Augusta 25 years ago and 25 years
forward and without having adequate information to digest to me it’s insulting to ask me to vote
for something of this magnitude without the information. Secondly, thirdly I’m through. Don’t
tell me I’ve got two minutes please I’ve have not said anything about this the whole time I was
up here. So I’m going to say this today. I not going to take long I promise you and I’m not
going to be insulting because I don’t believe in that. But the thing that’s frightening is that the
cost for the, the operation costs $250,000 but he says cash living expense which we don’t have
no idea what it’s going to be and you just said that if the $250,000 is increased than the $100,000
would also have to be increased likewise. Not what you’re talking about coming out of
Augusta’s pocket annually right now is $250,000 per year. If you do that times 50 if I’m not
mistaken that $12,500,000 dollars that’s coming out of Augusta’s pocket from somewhere
because you already decided that the TEE Center isn’t going make any money. You’re talking
about supplementing it already before it’s even built. Okay that’s it, okay. Then you’re talking
about capital improvement, which is $100,000 times 50 that’s another $5 million dollars that the
city has to spend. Total those two it’s $17,500,000. That’s a lot of money out of the pockets of
the city knowing full well you already decided it’s not going to make any money. The
Convention Center averages --- average of $1.5 million for 50-years. That’s $75 million dollars.
Okay if you take that 5% that they give the city, which is about 3.7 subtract that from the amount
that’s $71 million ---
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Hatney, its way over two minutes.
Mr. Hatney: I heard you but everybody else talks as long as they want, Mr. Mayor.
29
Mr. Mayor: No, sir, I have been keeping track.
Mr. Hatney: I need half a minute.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Hatney: Half a minute and I’ll be through. I’m not trying to be rude; I’m just trying
to show some facts here. The thing that shakes me up badly is that we’ve got all these things that
are proposed to have changed we have not seen that we’ve got a plan or redevelopment of the
community we don’t know what that is. Two three plans have been thrown out one we’re talking
about had to do with the inner city area that had been depressed forever it’s true. Whether ---
that’s true but we don’t have any information, Mr. Administrator. And the only other thing I’m
going to say is that with the Convention Center, that’s the tax payers property. It’s a shame
before God and whoever else is listening that we do not have a fiscal accountability for them
folk. This government needs to have some fiscal accountability. There is none ---
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Hatney: --- they won’t even give you ---
Mr. Mayor: Okay, you’re well over your two minutes, sir, so I have to ---
Mr. Hatney: I’m through for right now.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, let me clarify one thing with regards to the accountability. I believe
that the Administrator had said that they have agreed to do a yearly auditing of both the TEE
Center facility and the public facilities that are city owned within the Marriott. Am I correct on
that, Mr. Administrator?
Mr. Russell: Yes, you are.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Hatney: Mr. Mayor ---
Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir, I didn’t, I gave you ample time to speak and so ---
Mr. Hatney: --- but you go ahead.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. But I would say that the city with regards to identifying a dedicated
funding source in bonding this money, this is $37.5 million dollars that we can invest in the inner
city starting in a short term. And that to me that would be the biggest commitment this city has
every made to the inner cities so I just would like to say that. Commissioner Williams, I saw you
first then I’ll come down to you, Commissioner Harper.
30
Mr. Williams: Mr. Mayor, a lot has already been said and I don’t want to repeat that.
I’m really disappointed in the amount of time that we’re looking at for this TEE Center. 50-years
we’ve been talking about Evergreen contracts and all that kind of stuff but the money that we’re
talking about coming back into the city whether it be hotel, we’re not putting the burden on the
backs of the taxpayers as much but when the money comes into this government it’s taxpayers
money then regardless how it gets in here. I don’t how we can designate monies and I’m in
support we should’ve been doing. We got streets and drains and problems that we never
addressed but we’re not going to take care of the taxpayers with the governments money we’re
going to use the hotel and the motel money to take care the problems we got with the inner city.
Are we going to fix the drainage and the sidewalks and the streets and stuff that we should’ve
done before and if we’re not how can we designate monies now that we never been able to
designate before. We’re talking about a percentage of minority business coming we can even
use that word when it comes to sharing with the economic development when it comes to the
city. So I got a problem when you bring that kind of scenario to this board and ask us to vote on
it when it didn’t come through committee when we didn’t sit down and talk and what these same
problems are now in the general public. We made some phone calls we played some phone tag
we talk about it. Mr. Russell just brought up some new amenities just a few minutes ago. Now I
think everybody ought to be in on what’s going on versus a few people. I don’t think that a few
of us ought to talk and then tell the rest of us what we’re going to do. I think all of us ought to be
inclusive enough to know that this city belongs to all of the citizens of Augusta-Richmond
County and we ought to be inclusive with everything we do. And I hear Mr. Russell just a few
minutes ago talking about the additional stuff that he wants to add to it. That’s too much too
quick too fast and too little time. And you know that we’re not in support, Mr. Mayor, and this
should never been brought to this floor without us sitting down discussing it talking and working
it out. I think it’s a good gesture to talk about the inner city and how blighted it is and how long
it’s been there. It’s been that way for 200 years and it ain’t just gotten like that. We took a tour
up in a couple of people a couple of business men on Friday and they was amazed they were just
flabbergasted and I was shocked with them because they’ve been in this city for quite a long
time. And we know there’s negative stuff in the community that we need to fix but I don’t want
to be tricked, bamboozled. If you’re going to fool me get something brand new don’t get them
old tricks ‘cause those old tricks don’t work. We’ve promised before we done signed
documents, we done say what we’re going to do and it never have been done. Because if it had
been we wouldn’t be in the shape we are in now. So that’s my comment, Mr. Mayor ---
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Williams: --- and I can’t support it.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Harper.
Mr. Harper: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I have just three questions and um, I know we need
the TEE Center but the questions I have more or so, my first response is to the community and
what I need to know from you, Fred, is how will the monies be disbursed? That’s the first
question.
31
Mr. Russell: What I’m proposing is that we take that $750,000 a year generate it through
the hotel fee and we use that money to look at our inner city communities that this group of
people appointed by the Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem working with our Community Housing
Development Organization look at our most needy neighborhoods, the historic areas of
Bethlehem, Laney Walker and as we move out from there those areas that have been neglected
the most over the past 200-years and develop for your approval a plan of action. You’ve got a
funding stream and if necessary the input that you will have a far as making sure that those
dollars go to fix those problems. It’s not a magic formula or whatever it’s a lot of hard work.
But it’s a funding stream and an opportunity we’ve never had before to able to come back to you
not just with a piece of paper that says this is what we want to do. And we’ve got tons of them
around here. I agree with Commissioner Williams immensely. We’ve got stacks of paper that
says this will be great. But this is an opportunity to come back have you work together to
develop a plan, touch these people, to touch these neighborhoods and a funding stream to get it
done. It’s not just a dream it’s an opportunity. So you will have impact you will have as a
commission will have the direction set to make sure that these dollars are spent in the
communities, the historic communities that we have.
Mr. Harper: Okay, second question, Fred. So the money is earmarked solely for the
inner city?
Mr. Russell: With the way I have termed it all along is our historic neighborhoods, which
in my mind begins to be the inner city neighborhoods. But as you look at the dollars that you
have and you look at the opportunity that you have you’ve got the potential to leverage those
dollars conservatively 4-1 realistically probably as Chester said when he left Macon, 7-1. So
you’re talking a potential of 150 plus million dollars that we put forth in our community to make
things happen that aren’t going to happen unless we’re willing to take that chance.
Mr. Harper: All right, Fred, last question. Do we have any signed documents in place
guaranteeing that money that’s supposed to be allocated be allocated and not just verbal
commitment?
Mr. Russell: No, but I would not begin to think that you would have any further action in
this until those documents were in place and I would recommend that part of this be an
agreement with the Riverfront LLC as a signed document and that be done in coordination with
the bonding document so it’s all one package. So it’s not a bait and switch, I don’t do that and
that’s not what the purpose of what this is. The purpose is to move forward not with a plan and
an opportunity and I wouldn’t if I were you further approve anything because you’ll have to do
the contract, I mean it’s a bite of the apple. Unless all that’s in place as one package I would not
recommend it to you.
Mr. Mayor: And let me just clarify, Mr. Grantham, that is your motion to include them
all in one package.
Mr. Grantham: That is correct, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Commissioner Hatney.
32
Mr. Hatney: Mr. Administrator, you mentioned about putting plans together and I just
want to say this briefly. You don’t have a plan you don’t have no clue of the communities that
money’s going to be spent in and let me finish please. And without a plan that we can see you’re
asking us to vote for $37 million dollars that you know and I know that the flood gates going to
open to try and get that money. Without a plan I just think it’s bad that we are to ask to vote on
something we have not seen. Have not been finalized. You said that yourself. Even the contract
has not yet been agreed upon.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Hatney: This doesn’t make sense. How long do you think it would take you to put
this together? That’s my question. How are you thinking to put all this together, that whole
packet the whole nine yards? The place that you’re going to reconstruct whatever term you’re
using then the communities that need redevelopment cause this should be, but I’m talking about
how long should this be for you to put that together and allow us to see it. I don’t think that’s
unreasonable now if you don’t. I don’t mean that’s unreasonable to ask me to vote on sixty some
million dollars without seeing the document, final document approved by both parties agreed
upon and the plan for the redevelopment of the area. I don’t think that’s unreasonable.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Russell, then Ms. Beard and Mr. Grantham then Mr. Holland.
Mr. Russell: I think what I’m asking you to vote on today is the opportunity to have a
dream and that’s what I’m after. You know until we get this motion to move forward today we
don’t have that opportunity. And you’ll have plenty of chance to input to vote to look at that.
What I’m saying today is that dream is a funding stream that I am asking you to give us direction
to move forward with and the opportunity to do that so that as you have that input as a
commission you end up helping us write that plan and approving that plan to move forward.
What I’m asking for is not an up or down on what street we fix. I have no idea. I’m not asking
for an up or down on whatever I’m asking you for permission to move forward to make these
things happen.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, Ms. Beard, did you?
Ms. Beard: I’ll --- to Mr. Wheeler.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Wheeler, did you?
Ms. Beard: Mr. Wheeler, did you want to speak?
Mr. Speaker: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir. Just to Ms. Beard did you, is there not some sort of a
redevelopment plan already that has been completed?
33
Mr. Wheeler: There is a redevelopment plan. It was completed by E. Don Trinity Plus
One 2004/2005. The component that was missing was the implementation plan, which specially
identified where you start what you do when you do it. What I have asked Mr. Russell is to
permit me to come before you requesting that we put out and RFP/RFQ to hire a consultant to
st
put together an implementation plan. It is my belief that if I can get by the end of, 1 of
November a consultant on board that by the middle of ’08 April, May, June we will have a fully
complete implementation plan for the redevelopment area.
Mr. Mayor: And can I say that would, would you not say, Mr. Wheeler, that dedication
of these funds today would not allow us to do something in Augusta that we don’t do nearly
enough. Take one of those plans off the shelf, dust it off and actually put it into action.
Mr. Wheeler: Absolutely.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Commissioner Grantham.
Mr. Grantham: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. To confirm a little of what you just said is it,
once we take these dollars, the $750,000 and use that to support the bonds that money is
designated as to where it’s going to be spent at that time. There’s no changing of those dollars
once that takes place. So you must do is if you have a bond issued and you have designated
dollars such as SPLOST dollars or any other type of revenue coming in then those dollars have
to go toward retiring those bonds. But more so they have to go toward doing the project that you
had the bonds issued for. So I think that’s something that’s not understood by all of us and we
need to know that. We need to know that these dollars are definitely going to be spent and
designated into the inner city historical area.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Holland.
Mr. Holland: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I’m glad Mr. Grantham said that because that’s
something we shouldn’t even be discussing at this particular time on the, now. That’s something
we should’ve discussed prior to coming to this meeting. If all of the commissioners would have
had an understanding of what you know the plan was all about. Now what bothers my mind is
that for last three years four years I’ve listened to the different plans that have been presented
here, almost two years now and I’ve listened to how we pick and chose and how we chose
different projects that we’re going to work with. For instance if for some reason we had already
approved the Hyde Park Project or we’ve already approved the drag strip would then this length
of time we have now almost three years the monies coming from the drag strip project would’ve
been able to be used toward this TEE Center. But we drug our feet and have not approved these
kinds of projects so we pick and chose the kinds of projects that we’re going to work with. So
we really need to sit down as commissioners and we need to come together and discuss the
different plans because when we’re slipping and sliding and peeping and hiding and hiding
behind doors and this person is talking to this particular person on the phone and somebody’s
talking to this person on the phone, nobody calls me. I don’t know why and I’m not going to
worry about that. My concern is for the people because this project and these projects that we
bring before this committee and we bring before these people they are bigger than us as elected
officials. I represent more than 9,000 people in my district and I want to do what’s right and I’m
34
sure that the other commissioners want to do what’s right within their district. So I think it’s bad
that all of us were not included on the decision of this particular plan so we would all have an
understanding of what this plan is about. I just don’t understand it. I’m on the board with the
Visitors Bureau and I shared my concerns with Barry White and the rest of them about this. But
I just don’t want our city to be obligated to something that we cannot handle and that we cannot
be in charge of when twenty-five years from now the buildings start to have problems, fifty-years
from now you know none of us are going to be here we’re going to have some problems with
that building then what’s going to happen. It’s going to fall back into the lap of the people of
this city. So we have to really, really think about this particular plan and I just think it’s just
ludicrous none of us as commissioners were involved in the plan. Those of us who didn’t know
about it, I don’t know who else knew about the plan but there were some of us that didn’t know
about this particular plan.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Holland: And even though I want to see a TEE Center here I do want to see that
because the city has too much potential for us to continue to go around and not having some kind
of convention center. But we don’t need to place ourselves in a state that we have to be
obligated for the rest of our lives ---
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Holland: --- to something that we really didn’t need.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Smith.
Mr. Smith: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I call for the question.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Hatney: I’m going to make a substitute motion, please.
Mr. Mayor: Go ahead.
Mr. Hatney: My substitute motion is in view of the fact that I cannot, I don’t see none of
these documents that we postpone the voting and the implementation of this until we at least see
the funding process and the contract between the city of Augusta and the vendors we will be
using as managers. That’s my motion.
Mr. Williams: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, the question has been called for. We have a substitute motion and a
second. We have a primary motion and a second. Mr. Russell.
Mr. Russell: If I can clarify that. What your motion would do is give me permission to
negotiate the contract.
35
Mr. Hatney: That’s what I need to have you do before I can vote for this. The contract
needs, I need to see that. You ask me to vote for something that you say will be forthcoming that
I don’t know it. You say (UNINTELLIGIBLE). We need to see that document. That’s not
unreasonable. That’s my motion that we not vote to implement but to give you the authority to
go ahead and finish what you need to do and bring us back this agreement in three weeks or a
month. Whatever it takes. That’s not unreasonable.
Mr. Mayor: It’s my opinion we’re voting on a dedicated funding source but we have a
substitute motion and a second. The question has been called for. Commissioners will now vote
by the substitute sign of voting.
Mr. Williams: Before we take that vote.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Williams.
Mr. Williams: Can we get a roll call vote on both of those issues?
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Roll call vote on the substitute vote.
The Clerk: The substitute motion is to postpone any action or implementation of this
until commissioners see the funding process and the contract between the City of Augusta and
the vendors who will be used as managers.
Ms. Beard, Mr. Bowles, Mr. Cheek, Mr. Grantham and Mr. Smith vote No.
Mr. Brigham abstains.
Motion fails 4-5-1.
Mr. Brigham: Ms. Bonner, I’d like to change my vote to a Yes.
Mr. Williams: I’d like to change my vote too to a No.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, the vote has been, the vote on the substitute motion, the roll call vote
has been taken and recorded. We will now have a roll call vote on the primary motion.
Mr. Hatney: Read the primary, please. Can somebody explain to me what we’re voting
for?
The Clerk: The primary motion is to approve the recommended site management
agreement and term sheet and operation maintenance plan for the Trade and Event Center and
Exhibit Center along with the list that Mr. Russell provided to you today that parties agree to an
independent audit ---
Mr. Hatney: I ain’t seen that list you’re talking about.
Mr. Holland: I ain’t seen no list.
36
Mr. Mayor: It was read out by the ---
Mr. Hatney: But if we hadn’t seen the list, Mr. Mayor ---
The Clerk: --- funding of the operating costs and capital funds be derived from the dollar
fee which will be $250,000 per year for the Trade Center, $100,000 per year – Capital funding,
$750,000 enhancement of our historic neighborhoods. Three that the Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem
appoint an oversight committee of 3-5 members to assist the Housing Development
Implementation Plan and four that bonds will be purchased with the $750,000 as repayment
mechanism over the term of the agreement and Mr. Grantham added that they be done
simultaneously with the agreement with the --- and the bonding for the redevelopment plan.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, there will now be a roll call vote on the primary motion.
Ms. Beard: My vote is yes and I want to commend our Administrator for a great job in
reference to this.
Mr. Brigham, Mr. Holland and Mr. Williams vote No.
Mr. Harper and Mr. Hatney abstain.
Motion fails 5-3-2.
Mr. Williams: Order of the day, Mr. Mayor.
The Clerk:
PUBLIC SERVICES
36. Discuss the Transit Department. (Requested by Administrator Fred Russell)
Mr. Mayor: I guess we have to allow for the Administrator to come back in but
personally I’d like to walk out the door myself as well, but I’m here for the duration I guess.
The Clerk: Do you want to go back to this one?
Mr. Mayor: Yeah, let’s go ahead to 37.
The Clerk:
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
37. Discuss the “termination of insurance letters” received by city employees. (Requested
by Commissioner Marion Williams)
Mr. Williams: Mr. Mayor, I ---
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Williams.
37
Mr. Williams: --- had this put on the agenda to discuss to find out from HR where are we
what happened with that. I too received a letter. I got several phone calls about their letter. I’d
like to know how did this happen, how can we prevent this. We had and issue with the insurance
as well with another carrier who wants to be an independent who allowed, we allowed to go and
talk to our employees and that employee information got sent out to different agencies and
started getting phone calls and I just, personal information was sent out. But I’d like to hear
from HR how did this happen. What happened with this particular situation as far as our
insurance was being canceled and let them know that a letter coming back in a week maybe ten
days later saying that is was reinstated?
Mr. Mayor: Do we have somebody from HR to speak to that?
Mr. McCauley: Mr. Mayor, members of the commission. Reference the concern with
the insurance there was a miscommunication, as I understand it between Blue Cross and the HR
Department where a bill for whatever reason was not handled in the proper way. The Blue
Cross/Blue Shield organization has an automated system that automatically once something
happens it initiates a cancellation. It would’ve been an easy thing to say that the problem was on
our end but in this type situation the insurance company would’ve been easier to pick up the
phone and simply call the director of HR and say we have a concern or a problem. That didn’t
happen and the bill itself within an hour after we noticed what happened was handled but that
automatic system had already generated those letters and those cards and it was something that
was, we couldn’t stop it once it started. But within one hour after we noticed the problem the
problem was handled and the letters had already been generated we couldn’t stop the postal
system from submitting them.
Mr. Williams: And Mr. Mayor and Mr. McCauley, thank you for your answer and I’m
not worried about how the automated system works I’m worried about the people we pay
downstairs how they work and anybody can make a mistake, I think we understand that. I think
that if it’s been dealt with and it’s been correct downstairs you’re talking about a non-payment of
sorts of where I guess the money wasn’t there in the account or wasn’t paid.
Mr. McCauley: The funds were there is was just that the --
Mr. Williams: Okay and I’m not going to get into the funds. I’m not trying to get that
Mr. McCauley but when you send out a letter to the employees of Augusta saying their funds,
their insurance’s been canceled that creates a panic attack that’s the first thing. There was a very
serious mistake and I’m glad to know that they sent a letter back out saying that it had been
reinstated. But when people get that they panic. I got one myself because I’m on this insurance
for another four months and nine days but I’m still on it right now. My point is I’m hoping that
somebody in HR because this is not the first time HR’s had a problem when it comes to that
insurance not necessarily Blue Cross/Blue Shield but the other agency that came in got the
information and it got out and there’s a glitch in the system and all that kind of stuff. So maybe
we need to leave some of the technology alone that IT got and start picking up the telephone and
calling folks and let them know when the money’s being put in there. I don’t know how to
handle that. I just know that it’s an issue that got to my telephone and then it came to my address
in the mail as well. So if it’s been corrected I hope it doesn’t happen again. But somebody in
38
HR dealt with somebody in a proper manner as far as making sure this does not happen again
because this is not the first time.
Mr. McCauley: It has been dealt with yes, sir.
Mr. WilliamsI make a motion we receive it as information.
: That’s all, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, there’s a motion receiving it as information. Do we have a second?
Mr. Holland: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Any further discussion? Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign.
Mr. Bowles, Mr. Grantham and Mr. Cheek out.
Motion carries 7-0.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Russell, I believe we’re going to go back to 36 if you.
The Clerk: Discuss the Transit Department.
Mr. Mayor: Actually I’m going to call for a short recess after the heated debate. I’m
going to call for a ten minute recess.
[RECESS]
Mr. Mayor: Okay, Mr. Boudreaux, six and me is a quorum.
Mr. Boudreaux: Yes that is correct.
Mr. Mayor: I’m going to go ahead and call the meeting back to order.
Mr. Brigham: Mr. Mayor I’m going to make a motion we reconsider item number -
--
Mr. Mayor: Forty?
Mr. Brigham: Forty.
Mr. Cheek: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion?
Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign.
Mr. Williams, Mr. Hatney, Mr. Harper and Mr. Holland out.
Motion carries 6-0.
39
Mr. Mayor: Okay, Mr. Administrator or Mr. Bowles.
Mr. Bowles:
Mr. Mayor, I just want to set a few of the facts straight on this project here.
This is a fee, and occupancy fee not a tax and will not be impacted by Speaker Richardson’s plan
in the future. 2. A Trade and Exhibit Center was voted on by the citizens of Augusta three years
ago. We spent over $2 million dollars in interest to date over $2 million dollars in escalating
costs of construction. The voters of Augusta did not vote to put an addition on the Civic Center
which is not a Trade and Exhibit Center. 3. The reason we didn’t come up with a plan for the
inner city last year is we had no source of revenue to fund it. We’ve identified a revenue source
not that I agree with it totally but the revenues from the Trade and Exhibit Center will far and
exceed and make this $700,000 very miniscule and add more money to go to the inner cities and
reconsider
improvements is what the voters voted on so I’d like to make a recommendation to
and a motion to approve Mr. Grantham’s ---
Mr. Cheek: Second.
motion from earlier.
Mr. Bowles: ---
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. Mr. Grantham.
Mr. Grantham: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, and following up on what Mr. Bowles said I
think it should be noted that that the people did approve that SPLOST project we had which I
mentioned earlier. And not only that but in building this TEE Center it’s going to give us the
opportunity that we need in the inner city. So I just continue to support that effort and hope
everyone else will too.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Mr. Brigham, did you?
Mr. Brigham: Mr. Mayor, I believe that we as a group need to have Mr. Russell give us a
accounting of all funds the amount of indebtedness and how these funds are going to be spent in
the coming years. I think that we need to have contracts in hand to make sure that these things
are done properly. I also think that we do not need to waste time in establishing this site and this
vendor with this contract. I think that it has to be done but I, the only reservation I have is not
assuming we are approving a concept and not a final package and I am willing to support the
concept while I wait to see the final package.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Russell ---
Mr. Grantham: Can I follow ---
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Grantham.
Mr. Grantham: I just want to follow up because one question that was in mind and I
think a lot of us when we originally talked about getting this service fee as to how it was going to
be used our Transit Department was missing and that’s certainly one that’s very important and I
think Mr. Russell eluded to that fact in his presentation today. And in addition to these things in
40
our inner city the excess funds created by this service fee would go toward transit and so I just
wanted to make that clear so everyone did understand that and, Mr. Russell, that was in your
presentation as to what you make, correct?
Mr. Russell: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Mr. Brigham ---
Mr. Brigham: Call for the question, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. We have a motion and a second. The question has been called for.
The commissioners will now vote by the usual sign of voting.
Mr. Hatney, Mr. Williams, Mr. Harper and Mr. Holland out.
Motion carries 6-0.
Mr. Mayor: Motion of personal privilege. I just want to personally thank all the
commissioners sitting here. I would like to thank the Administrator for his hard work during
this. I do believe that this is the best opportunity this city will ever have to truly revitalize the
inner city as well as bringing in a first class entertainment complex that will put us on a footing
to be at or above a great level of competition with other cities of our size. So thank you all very,
very much. Mr. Administrator, not that I, are you feeling sharp and good right now so you can
go to number 36?
PUBLIC SERVICES
36. Discuss the Transit Department. (Requested by Administrator Fred Russell)
Mr. Russell: Mr. Mayor, members of the commission, you have before you an item
regarding our Transit Department. As we’ve discussed on numerous occasions our Transit
Department is, unfortunately, under funded as we go forth. What we have been doing in the past
is doing an end year transfer of dollars to cover their deficit. Because of the way we did our
budget this year I’d like to go ahead and do that transfer now and make further adjustments at the
end of the year. With the steps you just took I believe will help solve some of that hole as we
move forward and grow that particular feed and move forward and help fill that. But once again
as I’ve said regularly Transit is a $700,000 income operation that cost us about $4 million to run.
So what we need to continue to have that in front of you. But what you have today is a
housekeeping measure that would allow us to continue to move forward, move a $1.5 million
from our fund balance this current point in time. At the end of the year we will be able to true
that back up again as anticipated savings as we did last year and I ask you to move forward with
that.
Mr. Grantham: So moved.
Mr. Cheek: Second.
41
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion?
Commissioners will now, Commissioner Cheek.
Mr. Cheek: Not on this, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign.
Mr. Williams, Mr. Hatney, Mr. Harper and Mr. Holland out.
Motion carries 6-0.
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
38. Discuss the re-instatement of Attorney Vanessa Flournoy. (Requested by
Commissioner Marion Williams)
Mr. Mayor: Okay item number 38 based on the fact that Commissioner Williams
requested this and he’s no longer here I would make a motion to refer that back to committee.
Mr. Grantham: So moved.
Ms. Beard: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. If there’s no further discussion
commissioners will now vote by the usual sign.
Mr. Brigham and Mr. Bowles vote No.
Motion fails 4-2.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, next agenda item. Madam Clerk, number 39.
The Clerk:
ENGINEERING SERVICES
39. Discuss/approve changing the speed limit from 55 mph to 45 mph on Old Waynesboro
Road at Brown Road/Pine Hill Baptist Church. (Requested by Commissioner Jimmy
Smith.
Mr. Brigham: So moved.
Mr. Grantham: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Is there any further discussion? Commissioners will now vote by the usual
sign.
Mr. Williams, Mr. Hatney, Mr. Harper and Mr. Holland absent.
Motion carries 6-0.
42
The Clerk:
OTHER BUSINESS
41. Discuss the environmental clean up efforts relative to the Pension Property and the
Hyde Park Community. (Requested by Commissioner Marion Williams.
Mr. Brigham: I make a motion we postpone this to the next commission meeting.
Mr. Cheek: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. If there’s no further discussion
commissioners will now vote by the usual sign.
Mr. Bowles votes No.
Motion fails 5-1.
OTHER BUSINESS
43. Discuss/approve Memorandum of Understanding between the Georgia Golf Hall of
Fame and the City of Augusta regarding the GGHF Gardens. (Requested by Mayor Deke
Copenhaver)
Mr. Mayor: Okay, Mr. Boudreaux, this is my item number 43 and I believe Mr. Plunkett
is somewhere around here. And for the benefit of the commission I always would like to get
things in front of you prior to the meeting and I do apologize for this but in dealing with the Golf
Hall of Fame Board our Legal Department, the Attorney Generals Office and so on and so forth
we finally got this together shortly before the meeting so I would ask Mr. Plunkett if you could
sort of explain what we’re looking at in our attempt to take over the operations of the Golf Hall
of Fame, the gardens portion of the property for a six-month period.
Mr. Plunkett: Yes, Mr. Mayor. What we have is a six month agreement. We would
operate and maintain the facility. It’s terminable on 30 days notice by either party. We would be
in charge of renting the facility. At the end of six months we would look to see if there is any
kind of net profit that is revenues minus expenses. If there were net profits 25% of the net profits
would go to the Hall of Fame. Beyond that if we did some type of bookings in advance outside
of the term of our agreement the Hall of Fame would have the right to approve that if we were
inclined to. We have the right whatever use of the facility along with the normal use of the
gardens themselves so protests and things like that would be subject to their approval which I
don’t think would actually happen. They will continue to have use of their facility, they have a
storage building I believe and another item there. And we would be responsible for the facilities
while we have use of it. You know if something was damaged it would be our responsibility and
outside of that it’s pretty much a straightforward short-term lease with a couple of options to
extend it to six month while it’s ongoing.
Mr. Mayor: Okay and, Commissioner Grantham, before I address you one thing that I do
think that the public needs to know is that the community has stepped up to the plate on this and
we have $50,000 or somewhere around that number in pledges that would be run through the
43
Community Foundation for the Central Savannah River Area that so anybody’s who’s watching
on TV Saturday afternoon you can send your checks to the Community Foundation for the
Central Savannah River Area. But those funds will be used to offset any expenses that the city
might incur. I think we can raise enough public monies to cover all expenses for that six-month
period while we work together with the Golf Hall of Fame to figure out a long-term plan for it.
Mr. Plunkett: Mr. Mayor ---
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Plunkett.
Mr. Plunkett: --- if I could also point out this is a draft document based on
representations from a representative of the board. Generally speaking they’re in agreement but
they have not finalized it because this is roughly just a few hours old as far as the last tweaking
of the document.
Mr. Mayor: So it would require our approval as well as theirs. Commissioner Bowles.
Mr. Bowles: Mr. Mayor, I just have a quick question regarding the rental of the facility
and if any income is going to the Golf Hall of Fame.
Mr. Plunkett: What would happen is it’s a six-month lease so any rental that would come
in we would then look at the operating expenses say fertilizing and utilities take those expenses
off of the net revenues. If there’s profit they would get 25% of the profits but since we’re
extending the money to maintain it you know we get our operating expenses out first if possible.
Mr. Bowles: Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Brigham.
Mr. Brigham: Mr. Mayor, six months from now I believe puts us in the middle of
February. To me that makes very little sense with Masters being in April. I would think that we
would want to lease go through the term, go through the end of April. And if we’re going to do
this I don’t think we ought to sign a six-month lease to end sometime in February. And that
makes very poor planning on our part and I think if we’re going to do something in the future we
would want it to extend after the Masters week and be maybe six months after that or something.
But I think the initial term needs to be longer than six months.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Mr. Plunkett.
Mr. Plunkett: Mr. Brigham, that was a term suggested by the Golf Hall of Fame I think
so that if they acquire funding or whatever they can resume operations. We have it built in there
for two, six-month extensions that are already in there so we would have six months then another
six months. I think that would also kind of limit our liability if this is not a good deal we could
get out. I certainly don’t mind going back and modifying that if it’s the will of the body to make
it a 12 month agreement but that was the suggested terms and options.
44
Mr. Brigham: I don’t think I’m suggesting a 12 month agreement I think I’m suggesting
an agreement that ends in April not ---
th
Mr. Plunkett: April 30?
th
Mr. Brigham: --- yeah at some point after. It could be the 15 too, that’s a well-known
date.
Mr. Mayor: But we still and correct me if I’m wrong, Mr. Plunkett, if we did extend the
lease agreement to eight months as Commissioner Brigham is recommending they would still if
they did get the state funding they would still have a 30 day opt out so they would still be able to
---
Mr. Plunkett: That’s correct both sides have a 30 day opt out.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, is everybody good with? Commissioner Grantham.
Mr. Grantham: One question. Mr. Plunkett, do you know of any rental agreements they
presently have that would come over to us?
Mr. Plunkett: To be quite honest with you, Mr. Grantham, we have not talked in details
as far as the accounting part. Just simply more of the terms of the operation of it. If this is
approved I certainly can find out that information.
Mr. Grantham: Shouldn’t that follow the lease?
Mr. Plunkett: I would think it would.
Mr. Grantham: But why don’t you put that in it.
Mr. Plunkett: All right we can do that.
Mr. Grantham: Then maybe you wouldn’t have to word it that way.
Mr. Plunkett: Ms. Williams has also indicated this is approved by the body and we need
to also authorize her to set up a budget account to pay expenses out of this as well so that would
be part of your motion.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Grantham: The money’s going to be deposited in our funds?
Mr. Plunkett: Yes, sir.
Mr. Grantham: (INAUDIBLE)
45
Mr. Plunkett: I’m not sure about the donations ---
Mr. Mayor: Well, I think it would be that what the Administrator and I discussed is yes
that it would be pay as you go. That as funds accumulate in the community foundation the
checks would be written directly to the city to cover the maintenance and operation. Okay, did
we have a motion on this?
Mr. Bowles: So moved.
Mr. Cheek: Second.
Mr. Mayor: And that was the approval with the changes recommended by Commissioner
Brigham and Commissioner Grantham. Okay. We have a motion and second. If there’s no
further discussion commissioners will now vote by the usual sign.
Motion carries 6-0.
Mr. Mayor: How does everybody feel about having a legal? Mr. Boudreaux.
Mr. Cheek: Whoa, whoa, whoa. We have an addendum item.
Mr. Mayor: Oh, excuse me. Excuse me. Madam Clerk, the addition to the agenda.
The Clerk:
ADDENDUM
rd
44. Reconsider reprogramming monies for 3 Level Canal cleanup. (Requested by
Commissioner Cheek)
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Cheek.
Mr. Cheek
: Mr. Mayor, I’m not going to belabor the point. This past Friday
Commissioner Bowles and I were fortunate enough to paddle down a very beautiful body of
th
water in desperate need of cleanup. The end from 12 Street to Hawks Gully has homeless
camps on the banks and cars and refrigerators and it’s also a mosquito pit. The other end, which
we count on as a drain to the eastern side of the city going into Phinizy Ditch, is plugged up. It’s
literally plugged up with the sand bar and vegetation and it would have to be four foot deep of
So I ask if not for all of the drainage
storm water runoff for it to even flow through there.
rd
money to be restored but that the money that we reprogrammed for the 3 level cleanup
rd
that it be restored to that and that we move forward with cleaning up the 3 level.
Mr. Bowles: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. Is there any discussion? Commissioners
will now vote by the usual sign.
46
Motion carries 6-0.
Mr. Cheek: Bless you all.
Mr. Mayor: Okay Mr. Boudreaux.
OTHER BUSINESS
42. Motion to go into a Legal Meeting.
Mr. Boudreaux: Mr. Mayor, we do have one item of real estate and one dealing with
litigation that would best be addressed in legal session.
Mr. Mayor: Can I get a motion?
Mr. Grantham: Motion to go into legal.
Mr. Smith: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion?
Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign.
Mr. Williams, Mr. Hatney, Mr. Harper and Mr. Holland out.
Motion carries 6-0.
[LEGAL MEETING]
Mr. Mayor: I’m going to go ahead and call the meeting back to order. Mr. Boudreau.
ADDENDUM
45. Motion to add and approve property settlement amount of $22,444.93 for property
damage done to 2004 Toyota 4 Runner owned by Jennifer Wolf as a result of accident
caused by Augusta Richmond County employee.
Mr. Boudreaux: I’d like to add or have a motion to add agenda item to approve property
settlement for the claim of Jennifer Wolf for property damage in the amount of $22,444.93.
Mr. Mayor: Can I get a motion to that effect?
Ms. Beard: So moved.
Mr. Bowles: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Motion and a second. Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign.
Motion carries 6-0.
47
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Boudreaux.
LEGAL MEETING
A.Pending and Potential Litigation.
B.Real Estate.
C.Personnel.
46. Motion to approve execution by the Mayor of the affidavit of compliance with
Georgia’s Open Meeting Act.
Mr. Boudreaux: I need a motion to execute the Closed Meeting Affidavit.
Mr. Cheek: So moved.
Ms. Beard: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. Commissioners will now vote by the usual
sign.
Motion carries 6-0.
Mr. Mayor: With no further business to come before the body we stand adjourned.
[MEETING ADJOURNED]
Lena Bonner
Clerk of Commission
CERTIFICATION:
I, Lena J. Bonner, Clerk of Commission, hereby certify that the above is a true and correct copy
of the minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Augusta Richmond County Commission held on
August 21, 2007.
______________________________
Clerk of Commission
48
49