HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommission Meeting July 10, 2007
REGULAR MEETING COMMISSION CHAMBER
JULY 10, 2007
Augusta Richmond County Commission convened at 2:00 p.m., July 10, 2007, the Hon.
Deke Copenhaver, Mayor, presiding.
PRESENT: Hons. Holland, Smith, Harper Grantham, Beard, Williams, Cheek, Bowles
and Brigham, members of Augusta Richmond County Commission.
Absent: Hon. Hatney, member of Augusta Richmond County Commission.
The invocation was given by Bishop Rosa L. Williams, Pastor Ever Faithful Baptist
Church.
The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America was recited.
Mr. Mayor: Bishop Williams, we have something for you. By these present be it known
that Bishop Rosa L. Williams, Pastor of Ever Faithful Baptist Church is Chaplain of the Day for
her city and spiritual guidance demonstrated throughout the community that serves as an
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example for all of the faithful of the community given by my hand this 10 day of July 2007.
(APPLAUSE) Madame Clerk I guess I’ll be back down in a second. Let’s do the Employee of
the Month.
The Clerk:
RECOGNITION(S)
A. Employee of the Month.
The Clerk: At this time we would like to acknowledge our employee of the month for the
month of June. We ask that Ms. Juanita Simpkins along with Mr. Robert Sherman who’s the
Director of License and Inspections Department to please join the mayor here at the podium.
Mr. Grantham as Public Services would you like to join? In the absence of time as Mr.
Grantham makes his way here I’ll read the letter from our Employee Recognition Committee.
Dear Mayor Copenhaver: The Employee Recognition Committee has selected Juanita Simpkins
as the June Employee of the Month for the City of Augusta. Ms. Simpkins has been an
employee with the City of Augusta for thirteen years. She currently works as the Code
Enforcement Secretary for the Augusta License and Inspections Department. Mrs. Simpkins was
nominated by fellow co-worker Josephine Jackson. Ms. Simpkins was nominated for the manner
in which she handles her duties for the Code Enforcement Officers. She’s very supportive and
goes out of her way to help each officer. Her sincere and kind manner has a way of calming any
situation or a conversation. Several of her co-workers feel that they would not accomplish what
they do without her. The committee felt that based on this nomination and Ms. Simpkins’
dedicated and loyal service to the City of Augusta we would appreciate you in joining us in
awarding Ms. Juanita Simpkins Employee of the Month for the month of June. Congratulations.
(APPLAUSE)
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Mr. Sherman: On behalf of the staff at the License and Inspections Department we want
to extend our congratulations to Juanita. She means a lot to us down there. She is, she simplifies
the characteristics of the good of the people. She is very knowledgeable of her responsibilities
and her duties. She is very patient with the inspectors and putting out over 4,000 letters a year to
(UNINTELLIGIBLE) We appreciate your kindness and she’s just a very good person of a strong
faith. We appreciate your work and congratulations. (APPLAUSE)
Mr. Simpkins: First of all I’d just like to thank my Lord and my Savior to allow this to
happen. I thank God for my husband, for being my support. I thank Josephine for nominating
me and I thank you all for, the committee for choosing me. I just thank you for it all. Thank
you. (APPLAUSE)
The Clerk:
RECOGNITIONS
Retirement
B. Mr. Billy Elder, Administrative Assistant, Transit Department, 27 years of service.
The Clerk: At this time we’d like to acknowledge the retirement of Mr. Billy Elder,
Administrative Assistant, Transit Department. Mr. Elder, Mr. Johnson, is he here? Yes, okay.
Mr. Mayor: Certificate of Retirement. Given to Billy Elder, Administrative Assistant for
27 years of dedication and loyalty and service to the City of Augusta in the Augusta-Richmond
County Transit Department. Congratulations to you on this milestone achievement of retirement.
We extend to you our deepest appreciation for your devoted service and best wishes for an
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enjoyable retirement. Given unto my hand this 10 day of July 2007. (APPLAUSE)
Mr. Elder: I’d just like to say that this is quite an honor. Sometimes I didn’t think I was
going to make it. I’m an old warhorse. When I say warhorse I’m a retired veteran. I wanted to
scream and holler a lot of times but I knew I had to back up. And I really started to wear my
uniform this morning but I couldn’t get fitted in one. So I thank you so much for this award.
Thank you very much. (APPLAUSE)
Mr. Johnson: I just want to thank Mr. Elder for all of his years of service. It says
Administrative Assistant but the final job he had was actually as a safety officer. He actually
looked out after the Transit Department as the safety issues and he also trained our drivers. I’d
like to point out he did a fine job and I’d like today say thank him for everything he does for us
and the CSRA. (APPLAUSE)
Mr. Mayor: All righty, Madam Clerk, let’s move on to the consent agenda.
The Clerk: Our consent agenda consists of Items 1-13, Items 1-13. For the benefit of
any objectors to the items under of Planning portion of the agenda, I will read those planning
petitions. If there are any objectors would you please signify your objections once the petition is
read.
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Item 1. Is a petition for a Special Exception to establish a Family Personal Care Home on
property located at 1834 Fenwick Street.
Item 2. Is a request, a petition for a Special Exception to establish a church on Old Waynesboro
Road.
Item 3. Is a request for a change of zoning from a zone R-1 (One-family Residential to a Zone
R-1A (One-family Residential) to a Zone R-1A affecting property at 3046 Pine Needle Road
with conditions.
Item 4. Is requesting a change of zoning from a R-1 (One-family Residential) to a Zone R-1D
(One-family Residential) affecting property 2232 A & B and 2234 Travis Road.
Item 5. Is for a change of zoning from a R-1 (One-family Residential) and Zone B-1
(Neighborhood Business) to a Zone B-1 affecting property at 109 Clark Street.
Item 6. With conditions a request for a change of zoning from a Zone L-1 (Light Industry) to a
Zone R-3C (Multiple-family Residential) affecting property on Reynolds Street opposite Third
Street.
The Clerk: Are there any objectors to those planning petitions?
Mr. Russell: None noted, Madam Clerk.
The Clerk: No objectors, Mr. Mayor. Consent agenda consists of Items 1-13.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, do we have any additions to the consent agenda? Commissioner
Grantham.
Mr. Grantham: Mr. Mayor, under the Public Service agenda item regular agenda I’d like
to propose that the following be added as consent. Items 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 and
25. And unless Mr. Sherman has any information regarding any of the applicants not showing
up as being approved then I would submit these for consent.
The Clerk: Let’s make sure they’re all here.
Mr. Grantham: Everyone’s here, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
The Clerk: Any objectors, Rob. Any objectors?
Mr. Sherman: Are there any objectors to the alcohol applications?
The Clerk: I’ll read them and we’ll find out. If there are any objectors I will read the
alcohol petitions that have been recommended for our consent agenda. If there are any objectors
to those alcohol petitions would you please signify your objections by raising your hand.
Item 16. Is for an on premise consumption Liquor, Beer and Wine license to be used in
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connection with 209 Music Lounge #4 8 Street.
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Item 17. Is for a Liquor, Beer and Wine license to be used in connection with Harban’s Wine
and Spirits located at 214 Boy Scout Road.
Item 18. Is for a retail package Beer license to be used in connection with Cumbee’s located at
4628 Mike Padgett Hwy.
Item 19. Is for an on premise consumption Liquor, Beer and Wine license to be used in
connection with Coyotes located at 2512 Peach Orchard Rd.
Item 20. Is for a retail package Beer license to be used in connection with Broad St. Tobacco
located at 2006 Broad St.
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Item 21. Is for a retail package Beer license to be used in connection the 8 Street Tobacco
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located at 230 8 St.
Item 22. Is for a Sunday Sales License to be used in connection with Cuz’s Place located at 1979
Tobacco Rd.
The Clerk: Are there any objectors to those alcohol petitions?
Mr. Russell: None noted.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, any --- Commissioner Smith.
Mr. Smith: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Number 51 is a OneGeorgia pass-through and I’d
like to put that on this consent agenda.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Cheek.
Mr. Cheek: Mr. Mayor, if it pleases the body, I’d like to add 29, 30, 31 and 33 to the
consent agenda.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Brigham.
Mr. Brigham: Mr. Mayor, I’d like to add number 38 to the consent agenda, I mean 37 to
the consent agenda. Also are we going to go on and do the addendums and other things on this
other sheet now or?
Mr. Mayor: We can if you want to --- do we have any further additions to ---
Mr. Brigham: I have an item from last month that’s not on there from where we
approved the request for the Central Savannah River Land Trust I’d like to add to the consent
agenda. We’ve already approved the funds but I want to make sure that it is designated that
these funds are coming from the reserve account.
Mr. Mayor: Do we have unanimous consent on that?
Mr. Williams: I think we ---
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Williams.
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Mr. Williams: --- Mr. Brigham mentioned that to me and I think that, was that coming
from what SPLOST fund ---
Mr. Brigham: It’s coming from the reserve ---
The Clerk: Contingency.
Mr. Mayor: Contingency.
Mr. Brigham: Contingency out of the reserve.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Williams: I’ve got no problem adding it.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Brigham: Also, do you want to do yours, Andy, on this license?
Mr. Cheek: I don’t think we can add it to the consent agenda.
Mr. Mayor: No, we’re not.
Mr. Brigham: No, but we can add it to the agenda.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Cheek.
Mr. Cheek: Mr. Mayor, thank you. I’d like to, if it pleases the body, to add for
discussion Item 1 for addendum items to the agenda to discuss this business license and incident
at Super C’s.
Mr. Mayor: Unanimous consent there. Okay, do we have any further additions to the
consent agenda? Commissioner Bowles.
Mr. Bowles: Mr. Mayor, I’d like to add number 55, appointment to the Region 12 Board.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Grantham.
Mr. Grantham: Mr. Mayor, I’d like to add Item number 34 however I do think the
importance of that should at least be discussed by you in regards to our sister city in France. But
I think this a very important agenda item and I just consider consent under that item.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Williams.
Mr. Williams: I agree with my colleague but I’d like to hear before we add that and
approve it. I just like to, I think I’d like to get some clarity on, Don, what ---
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Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Williams: --- so I’d rather discuss it if we can.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Do we have any further additions to the consent agenda?
Mr. Brigham: Mr. Mayor, I don’t see why we couldn’t add number 58 to the consent.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Cheek.
Mr. Williams: Fifty-eight, Mr. Mayor, I’ve got an objection to that.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Commissioner Williams, 58.
Mr. Williams: Yes, sir, I just don’t have unanimous consent to add that, I think. There
may be something we need to do but there’s some conversation that needs to take place. We
approve items then we don’t understand and it comes back up again. Several on here that’s
already, going to be discussed ---
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Williams: --- and that’s something I want to get some clarity on.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Cheek, did you have a ---
Mr. Cheek: Yes, sir, Mr. Mayor, I going to just give this a pass if it pleases the body,
propose items 41, 42, 44, 45 and 47.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Williams.
Mr. Williams: Forty-four, Mr. Mayor. I need some discussion. I understand my
colleagues in trying to help alleviate some of this book we got this week but since we didn’t have
a committee there are some things that need to be discussed before we approve those. Forty-four
is definitely one I need some clarity on.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
The Clerk: Did he ask for 47?
Mr. Cheek: I believe it was for 47.
Mr. Mayor: Yeah. Commissioner Grantham.
Mr. Grantham: I think Item #60 in as much as the letter was signed by all the
commissioners and this is to ratify. I like to just go ahead and consent that as well.
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Mr. Williams: Uh, Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: Okay, Commissioner Williams.
Mr. Williams: Forty-seven and 60. We need to talk.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, that’s 47 and 60.
Mr. Williams: Forty-seven and 60. That letter was passed around. I did not, I was asked
to and had the signatures they needed but I need to know if some discussion ---
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Williams: --- because if we want to discuss it now we can and get on the dot if you
want to. It doesn’t matter.
Mr. Mayor: Let’s get to, I mean if y’all want to go down that road. I was hoping to sort
of move on through the consent agenda.
Mr. Grantham: No, go ahead.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, do we have any further additions to the consent agenda?
The Clerk: We have a couple of deletions.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
The Clerk:
DELETIONS FROM THE AGENDA
RECOGNITIONS
Retirement
C. Mr. Johnnie Boatwright, Heavy Equipment Operator, Public Services Department, 30
years of service.
The Clerk: On our addendum agenda, the retirement of Mr. Johnnie Boatwright. He’s
had a change of heart. He wants to stay with us a little while longer.
Mr. Mayor: I love enthusiasm.
The Clerk:
PLANNING
9. FINAL PLAT – CYPRESS LANE, REVISED – S-715-REV-II – A request for
concurrence with the Augusta-Richmond County Planning Commission to APPROVE
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petition by H. Lawson Graham & Associates, on behalf of Mason Mcknight & John Speers,
requesting final plat approval for the revised SESC and Stormwater plans for Cypress
Lane subdivision. This subdivision is located on Gwinns Lane off Somerset Way.
(Reviewing agency approval 6-01-07)
The Clerk: And Item 9 is a request of the Planning Commission that item be deleted.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Do we have ---
The Clerk:
REVISIONS TO THE AGENDA
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
27. Consider the Reprogramming of $1,032,392.14 in CDBG, HOME, ESG and HOPWA
Funds and Change the Scope of Services for the Boys Club and Augusta Mini Theatre
Projects.
The Clerk: Item 27 for clarification sake. Item 27, Mr. Chester Wheeler, the Director of
the Community Development. Staff recommends that the Augusta Youth Center funds be not
reprogrammed. Not be reprogrammed in the amount $29,451.48. Everything else stands as
printed however they would like to recommend that the funds for the Youth Center not be
reprogrammed since they submitted their plan of action.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, we’ll get to that agenda item. Are there any items to be pulled for
discussion from the consent agenda? Okay, hearing none I would for a motion to approve.
Mr. Cheek: So moved.
Mr. Williams: Second.
CONSENT AGENDA
PLANNING
1. Z-07-57 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta-Richmond County Planning
Commission to APPROVE a petition by John Ribock requesting a Special Exception to
establish a Family Personal Care Home per Section 26-1 (H) of the Comprehensive Zoning
Ordinance for Augusta-Richmond County affecting property containing .22 acres and is
known under the present numbering system as 1834 Fenwick Street. (Tax Map 035-4
Parcel 360) POSTPONED FROM JUNE 4, 2007 MEETING DISTRICT 1
2. Z-07-66 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta-Richmond County Planning
Commission to APPROVE a petition by Robert Hooks, on behalf of Ebenezer Rock
Church, requesting a Special Exception to establish a church, including day care activities,
per Section 26-1 (a) of the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance for Augusta-Richmond
County affecting property containing 16.03 acres and located where the centerline of Boggy
Branch intersects the northwest right-of-way line of Old Waynesboro Road. (Tax Map 275
Parcel 001-01) DISTRICT 8
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3. Z-07-68 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta-Richmond County Planning
Commission to APPROVE with the following condition 1) that the structural wall that
adjoins 3042 Pine Needle Road remain and 2) that the agreed upon restrictive covenants be
recorded with all new deeds and plats for this property; a petition by Joseph Kelly, on
behalf of Bona Bell LLC, requesting a change of zoning from Zone R-1 (One-family
Residential) and Zone R-1A (One-family Residential) to Zone R-1A affecting property
containing 1.18 acres and is known under the present numbering system as 3046 Pine
Needle Road. (Tax Map 043-1 Parcel 077) DISTRICT 3
4. Z-07-69 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta-Richmond County Planning
Commission to APPROVE a petition by Stonebrook Builders, on behalf of Greg
Birmingham, requesting a change of zoning from Zone R-1 (One-family Residential) to
Zone R-1D (One-family Residential) affecting property containing 1.86 acres and consists
of three tax parcels being 2232 A & B and 2234 Travis Road. (Tax Map 154 Parcels 047-06,
047-05 and 047-04) DISTRICT 6
5. Z-07-70 – A request fro concurrence with The Augusta-Richmond County Planning
Commission to APPROVE a petition by Barbara Galloway, on behalf of Omar Ahmadie,
requesting a change of zoning from Zone R-1 (One-family Residential) and Zone B-1
(Neighborhood Business) to Zone B-1 affecting property containing .5 acres and is known
under the present numbering system as 109 Clark Street (Tax Map 10 Parcel 050)
DISTRICT 7
6. Z-07-71 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta-Richmond County Planning
Commission to APPROVE with the condition that this development be limited to 3 patio
homes; a petition by Design Concepts Augusta LLC requesting a change of zoning from
Zone LI (Light Industry) to Zone R-3C (Multiple-family Residential) affecting property
containing .16 acres and located on the northeast right-of-way line of Bay Street just north
of Reynolds Street opposite Third Street. (Tax Map 047-2 Parcel 23) DISTRICT 1
7. FINAL PLAT – THE LAKES AT SPIRIT CREED – S-759 – A request for concurrence
with the Augusta-Richmond County Planning Commission t APPROVE a petition by
James G. Swift and Associates, on behalf of Meybohm Realtors, requesting final plat
approval for The Lakes at Spirit Creek. This residential subdivision is located off Peach
Orchard Road and contains 71 lots. (Review agency approval 6/26/07)
8. FINAL LPLAT – MILDRED NEELY ESTATE – S-768 – A request for concurrence
with the Augusta-Richmond County Planning Commission to APPROVE a petition by
Eleanor Thompson requesting final plat approval for the Mildred Neely Estate. This
residential subdivision is located Neely Road east of Horseshoe Road and contains 14 lots.
(This request received a Subdivision Variance at the May 4, 2007 Planning Commission
hearing and obtained Reviewing agency approval 6-27-07)
PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS
10. Motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of the Augusta Commission held
on June 19, 2007.
ATTORNEY
11. An ordinance to amend and restate the 1945 Richmond Employees Pension Fund Act
and any amendments thereafter to comply with the Internal Revenue Service Laws and
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Regulations; to repeal all ordinances or parts or ordinances in conflict with this ordinance.
(Approved by the Commission June 19, 2007 – second reading)
12. An ordinance to amend and restate Ordinance No. 6656, adopted February 20, 2002,
the “1949 City of Augusta 1949 Georgia Retirement Fund”, hereinafter referred to as the
“Plan”, so as to comply with the Internal Revenue Service Laws and Regulations; to repeal
conflicting ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict with this ordinance. (Approved by
the Commission June 19, 2007 – second reading)
13. Motion to approve an Ordinance to amend and restate the Code of Augusta Richmond
County regarding the operation of a motorized cart in a public street, road, or highway; to
correct an error to a reference to the O.C.G.A.; and to repeal any conflicting ordinances.
(Approved by the Commission June 19, 2007 – second reading0
PUBLICE SERVICES
15. Approve request to upgrade the airport TeleRadial Passenger Boarding Bridge.
16. New Application: A.N. 07-33: A request by Glenn J. Brinson for an on premise
consumption Liquor, Beer and Wine license to be used in connection with 209 Music
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Lounge located at #4 8 Street. There will be Dance. District 1. Super District 9.
17. New Ownership Application: A.N. 07-36: A request by Hyung J. Kim for a retail
package Liquor, Beer and Wine license to be used in connection with Harban’s Wine and
Spirits located at 214 Boy Scout Road. District 7. Super District 10.
18. New Ownership Application: A.N. 07-31: A request by Robert L. Miles for a retail
package Beer license to be used in connection with Cumbee’s located at 4628 Mike Padgett
Hwy. District 8. Super District 10.
19. New Ownership Application: A.N. 07-32: A request by Victoria B. Tyree for an o
premise consumption Liquor, Beer and Wine license to be used in connection with Coyotes
located at 2512 Peach Orchard Rd. There will be Dance. District 2. Super District 9.
20. New Application: A.N. 07-34: A request by William E. Williamson for a retail package
Beer license to be used in connection with Broad St. Tobacco located at 2006 Broad St.
District 1. Super District 9.
21. New Application: A.N. 07-35: A request by William E. Williamson for a retail package
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Beer license to be used in connection with 8 St. Tobacco located at 230 8 St. District 1.
Super District 9.
22. Discussion: A request by James C. Young for a Sunday Sales License to be used in
connection with Cuz’s Place located at 1979 Tobacco Rd. There will be Sunday Sales.
District 6. Super District 10.
23. Accept tentative allocation from FAA in the amount of $300,000.00 and amend the
airport 2007 budget and capital account to reflect this money.
25. Approve Work Authorization for Professional Services in the amount of $40,196.00
from W. K. Dickson.
PUBLIC SAFETY
29. Approve the Fire Department to acquire and implement software and hardware for a
computerized Automatic Vehicle Location system (AVL).
30. Motion to approve Amendment No. 1 to KSGW Architects’ Design Consultant
Contract for Expansion of the Webster Detention Center.
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31. Motion to approve expenditure of SPLOST funds for new security fencing associated
with the upcoming expansion of the Webster Detention Center, in accordance with
proposal from Boyd Fencing.
33. Approve the selection of ISI Telemanagement Solutions, Inc. for RFP Item #06-197A,
Telecommunications Audit of Telecommunications Invoicing.
FINANCE
37. Present 2008 Budget Calendar for approval.
ENGINEERING SERVICES
41. 1) Approve award to the low bidder for the emergency contract to make needed
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repairs to the 2 Street Lift Station and the 30” intake sewer line. 2) Approve additional
funds to the Eagle Utility Contract in the amount of $117,578.97 for the additional cost of
bypass pumping associated with the Laney Walker Sewer Line Repair contract as a result
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of the 2 Street Lift Station 30” line collapse.
42. Approve award of design contract modification in the amount of $28,800 to W.R. Toole
Engineers, Inc. for providing additional sewer services to 18 parcels in the Belair Hills
Subdivision.
45. Approve award of design contract modification in the amount of $36,742 to ZEL
Engineers, Inc. for providing additional engineering services for 3 separate construction
contracts in lieu of 2 for Project 10801-Morgan Road Pump Station/Ft. Gordon 20” Water
Main Connection.
51. Motion to approve OneGeorgia pass-through grant and letter of support request from
Marcie Wilhelmi, Special Projects Coordinator, Global Emergency Resources, on behalf of
“Project Cyber.”
APPOINTMENTS
55. Motion to approve the appointment of Ms. Geneice McCoy to the HB100 Regional
Board – Region 12 Board. (Requested by Commissioner Bowles)
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. Commissioners will now vote by the usual
sign.
Mr. Hatney out.
Motion carries 9-0. [Items 1-8, 10-13, 15-23, 25, 29-31, 33, 37, 41-42, 45, 51, 55]
The Clerk: Item 14, is that where you want to go?
Mr. Mayor: Yeah, we’ll start with 14, please, ma’am.
The Clerk:
PLANNING
14. Z-07-60 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta-Richmond County Planning
Commission to DENY a petition by Solomon Varnado, on behalf of Varnado & Associates
Inc., requesting a change of zoning from Zone R-1A (One-family Residential) and Zone B-1
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(Neighborhood Business) to Zone B-1 with a Special Exception to allow facilities and
grounds for special events per Section 20-2 of the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance for
Augusta-Richmond County affecting property containing .72 acres and is known under the
present numbering system as 2509 Meadowbrook Drive. (Tax Map 120 parcel 640)
POSTPONED FROM JUNE 4, 2007 MEETING. DISTRICT 5
Mr. Mayor: Do we have anybody here to speak to this issue? Mr. Patty?
Mr. Patty: This is a rezoning request from a residential classification to a commercial
classification at the, just behind the intersection of Meadowbrook Drive and Windsor Spring
Road and there is actually a church and a daycare in front of this property which has a residential
structure on it. The applicant wanted to use it for events, parties, weddings and that sort of thing.
Frankly it fits the surrounding zoning pattern but we had some objectors from the church and
from the daycare. They were concerned that this building sits right behind theirs and that it has
access through their parking lot which legal access does goes go through their parking lot and
they were just concerned about the interaction of the different types of businesses. And like I say
I think it’s one that could go either way. The Planning Commission’s heard the facts and they
voted I believe it was unanimously to turn it down. I believe the applicant and the objector’s are
present.
The Clerk: Do you want to hear from the applicant? Mr. Patty, is the applicant here?
Mr. Patty: I thought I saw him earlier but he doesn’t appear to be here at this time.
Mr. Grantham: What about the objectors?
Mr. Mayor: Any objectors?
Mr. Grantham: Well, I make a motion we ---
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Grantham.
Mr. Grantham: I make a motion we deny.
Mrs. Beard: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion?
Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign.
Mr. Cheek out.
Motion carries 8-0.
Mr. Mayor: Next agenda item, Madam Clerk.
The Clerk:
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PUBLIC SERVICES
24. Presentation by Mr. James Ramsey regarding taxicab requirements.
Mr. Ramsey: I guess I got to say my name, right?
Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir, your name and address for the record please, sir, and if you could
keep it to five minutes that would be great.
Mr. Ramsey: My name is James Ramsey. I live on 2418 Golden Camp Road. And my
request is to raise the taxi, raise the taxis from 11 to 15 because we are having a great problem
carrying people. We have to leave some behind. Just like at the airport, had to leave a whole
family behind because Delta Airlines asked me to carry at least thirteen people to Atlanta
Airport. I had to leave them behind because I didn’t have enough seat belts to accommodate
them. So I’m requesting for all the cab companies that you guys can raise the limit from 11 to 15
for us. We definitely need it. We are suffering, really.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Beard.
Ms. Beard: Mr. Mayor, I suppose he has enough seats in the van for 15 people?
Mr. Ramsey: We um, we have enough room for fifteen. You know that depends on what
size the person is but um, it’s by Federal and State regulations it’s made for 15.
Ms. Beard: Then, Mr. Mayor, I move for approval. I think it will help them.
Mr. Cheek: I’ll second that as well.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, we have a motion and a second. Commissioner Smith.
Mr. Smith: Mr. Mayor, was there something that came out of the Legislature this year
concerning those numbers in a vehicle, stopping at 12 unless you had some sort of special license
or something?
Mr. Ramsey: No, sir, that’s 16 and above. Strictly for 16 and above you need a CDL, 16
and above. But 15 on down just use a regular license.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Mr. Russell. Commissioner Bowles.
Mr. Bowles: I just had a, I assume you’re using a 15 passenger van? Is that correct, to
transport?
Mr. Ramsey: Yes, sir.
Mr. Bowles: Okay.
Mr. Ramsey: I do.
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Mr. Bowles: My concern, Mr. Mayor, is the National Highway Transportation Authority
has come out within the last few years with numerous concerns about 15 passenger vans and the
safety concerns when you load on luggage in the back. They’ve become top heavy and that’s
where you see most of your accidents occur when you’re transporting student bodies and
sporting teams across the nation. I have a concern with the 15 passengers being put in a 15-
passenger van even though it makes sense. It’s 15 passengers, it’s very dangerous.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Mr. Russell.
Mr. Russell: Mr. Mayor, if I may. We are going to have re-write the legislation that
allows this as part of the ordinance. It might be prudent then to have the Attorney rewrite that
and bring it back before our next commission meeting for your final approval and give us an
opportunity to research some of the issues that Commissioner Bowles has raised.
Mr. Mayor: Can I get a substitute motion to that effect?
Mr. Bowles: So moved.
Mr. Cheek: And I’ll second that, Mr. Mayor, with doing research with the NTSB on the
rollover potential for heavy loads and so forth.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Commissioner Brigham.
Mr. Brigham: Mr. Mayor, I believe that also needs to be included a research of the local,
I mean the state laws of the State of Georgia to make sure we’re complying. And I would have a
concern whether or not a 15 passenger has to be approved by the Public Service Commission.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Commissioner Cheek.
Mr. Cheek: Mr. Mayor, I’d just like to add that I’ve gone to other cities, Cleveland, New
York, different places where they have 15-passenger vans full of passengers heading to and from
convention centers and airports all the time. And why physics or whatever may be different in
the City of Augusta I’d sure like to see that in some calculations.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, we have a substitute motion and a second. Is there any further
discussion? Commissioners will now vote by the substitute sign of voting.
Motion carries 9-0.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, sir.
The Clerk:
14
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
26. Consider Proposed Procedure for Authorization of Agreements/Contracts for the
Housing and Community Development Department.
Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir.
Mr. Wheeler: Good afternoon to you all. My name is Chester Wheeler and I have
th
presented a process to allow us to facilitate the expenditure of funds by September the 30.
What we are asking 1) you have approved our consolidated plan and our annual plan already
with all of our expenditures in them. We’ve asked that you allow us to bring contracts directly to
the Mayor’s office to the Administrator’s office and to my office for signature that a signal
source contracts of Federal money only from the Department of Housing and Urban
Development. In the contracts that have another source of funding, SPLOST or anything else
will come back before the commission for approval.
Mr. Holland: Motion to approve.
Mr. Cheek: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Commissioners
will now vote by the usual sign.
Motion carries 9-0.
Mr. Grantham: That’s a good piece of work.
Mr. Mayor: Well done. Thank you, Mr. Wheeler.
Mr. Wheeler: Thank you.
The Clerk: Do you want go ahead and address the next item, Mr. Wheeler, while you’re
here?
Mr. Wheeler: Yes, ma’am.
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
27. Consider the Reprogramming of $1,032.392.14 in DCBG, HOME, ESG and HOPWA
Funds and Change the Scope of Services for the Boys Club and Augusta Mini Theatre
Projects.
Mr. Wheeler: Item number 27 was presented to you in May through the Administrative
Services Committee. Our 30-day comment period has expired regarding our reprogrammed
funds. We ask for one modification and that is to allow the Augusta Youth funds to remain in
our budget as originally established. As such I’m asking for approval for our recommended, our
reprogramming funds.
15
Mr. Holland: Motion to approve.
Mr. Smith: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion?
Mr. Williams: What item is that?
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Williams:
Mr. Williams: Twenty-seven? Mr. Mayor, if I can ask ---
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Williams:
Mr. Williams: --- a couple of questions. This general item talks about the boys club and
the Mini Theatre. What are we going to do, what will be done with those two entities if we
approve this? And I think $1,032,392.00 I believe.
Mr. Wheeler: If you’ll look I’ve attached a revised reprogrammed list and if you’ll look
on the left side, the left side of the document identifies, it outlines a source of funds that will be
de-obligated and if you’ll look to the right side it itemizes all the projects that will be
reestablished or established.
Mr. Williams: Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Williams: Mr. Wheeler, and I certainly appreciate this. We have been, I guess,
privileged to have the citizens of the Citizens Advisory Board to assist and look at a lot of things
and kind of help us adjust. Has this been through that board, I mean everybody’s satisfied with
the things that this ---
Mr. Wheeler: Yes, sir, it was presented.
Mr. Williams: Okay, that was my only question, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. If there’s no further discussion
commissioners will now vote by the usual sign.
Motion carries 9-0.
The Clerk:
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
28. Approve award of the contract RFQ #07-115 Comprehensive Disparity Study to NERA
in the amount of $598,113.
16
Mr. Mayor: Madame Clerk, just for my own clarification. I believe that that agenda item
is repeated as agenda item number 35 as well.
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
The Clerk: It’s a companion item.
Mr. Williams: Companion?
Mr. Mayor: Companion item. Mr. Russell, did you or do we?
Mr. Russell: Ms. Gentry should speak to this.
Mr. Mayor: Ms. Gentry.
The Clerk: Is she in the building?
Mr. Mayor: Okay, we’ll ---
The Clerk: Item 32 until she gets here?
Mr. Mayor: Yeah, we’ll go to 32 and then if we can ---
The Clerk: 32. Yeah 32.
Mr. Mayor: --- hit it on number 35.
The Clerk:
PUBLIC SAFETY
32. Presentation by Mr. Ron Rhodes of the South Augusta Flea Market regarding water
mains and fire hydrants on Doug Barnard Parkway
.
The Clerk: Mr. Brown, are you speaking on behalf of Mr. Rhodes?
Mr. Mayor: No, Mr. Rhodes is speaking on behalf of himself. Oh and Mr. Brown is
speaking on your behalf?
Mr. Rhodes: I would like to ask the commission and the Mayor to let Mr. Brown speak.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Mr. Brown, not that we don’t know you well but if you could state
your name and address for the record and keep it to five minutes please sir.
17
Mr. Brown: My name is Keith Brown. I reside at 4004 Pinnacle Way, Hephzibah
Georgia 30805. Mayor Copenhaver, honorable commissioners, Clerk of Commission, City
Administrator, Legal Counsel, Department heads and others assembled in these chambers. I
come before you today on behalf of the management, staff and vendors of the South Augusta
Flea Market. As most of you are aware there was a fire that destroyed the main building at the
South Augusta Flea Market. Hundred of thousands of dollars were lost by over forty vendors.
The city was also impacted by losses of revenue in the form of business licenses, sales taxes,
income taxes, property taxes and many jobs that were also lost. Fortunately no injuries were
reported. I have a copy of a petition with over 400 names of persons who are interested in the
main building at the South Augusta Flea Market being rebuilt and I will share a copy of this with
you. Today I come before you to make a request for permission to rebuild. The request is to
rebuild a brand new facility constructed by Central Steel. This new facility would meet the code
requirements of new construction. For this to be accomplished we would need enough water
supplied to that part of South Augusta to operate fire hydrants. The only water presently
available is a one-inch PVC pipe water line. I’ve discussed with Mr. Max Hicks, Mr. Abie
Ladson and Mr. Fred Russell the water situation. I realize the decision will ultimately be made
by the commission therefore I’m asking your support in allowing the owners the opportunity to
rebuild the main building at the South Augusta Flea Market. Respectfully, C. Keith Brown
representing the South Augusta Flea Market.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Keith. Commissioner Cheek.
Mr. Cheek: Mr. Mayor, several years ago we instituted a study and development plan for
the major commercial corridors in this city that did not have water and sewer on them and with a
program or a plan to go back and place water and sewer along these major industrial and
commercial corridors to allow for economic growth and development. I can see no reason in the
world with all the development that is occurring along Doug Barnard for us not to place this as a
priority and move forward with bringing the water out there that will enable us and the sewer out
there to develop that area and make this happen. So I’m going to support Mr. Brown in this
initiative and ask the commission to review and make it a priority to get water lines run in that
area. There’s land out there that’s waiting to be developed.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Williams.
Mr. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I’d like to hear from the Administrator and I’m in
support of rebuilding and trying to get that facility back up. But I do remember when we were
faced with the same issue with the flea market up the street that had to pay for their own service,
I mean when I say service their own water to be ran. There’s several churches that had to deal
with the same scenario for the church couldn’t grow because the county or the city held them to
the tune of not having the water supply. Windsor Spring Road is another example. I talked with
the fire department. He went out and looked at the extension the church wanted to do and they
couldn’t do it because of the water. I’m in support and I want to see us do that. We increase the
water every year, sometimes I guess automatically, Sylvia, but we, we have money in water.
Water’s life and we need to make sure that we have the protection that the people need in that
area whether it be for residents or commercial. But I want to hear from the Administrator
because I want to be fair. I’ve been shouting it all up and down this hallway but let’s how, what
18
can we do and what would that do if we do something different now. I guess that’s the question
I need to ask.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Russell.
Mr. Russell: Commissioner Williams, members of the commission you’re absolutely
right. In the past what we’ve done is asked for participation by the beneficiary of the water lines.
We’ve had churches that have had to participate. We’ve had other businesses and whatever. My
suggestion would be that you allow Max and Mr. Rhodes to get together, come up with what
might be an agreeable solution or a cost proposal whatever and see what we can come up with in
that particular area. I do believe that our past history would indicate that the beneficiary, which
would be Mr. Rhodes, would have to pay some portion of that new water line and make sure that
we are moving forward with that. Max can talk to that with better detail but I think that’s
probably the direction we need to take.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Williams.
Mr. Williams: And, Mr. Russell, I appreciate that and really thank you for your answer.
And I see Max over there who’s probably got every water question you can ask ready to answer
it. But I want to be fair to the businesses. As businesses develop, as economic businesses come
available we need to have the resources there for them. I don’t, I mean in the past we’ve been
penalizing businesses for trying to come and do something and we don’t have the resources there
for them to do it. So I see Mr. Hicks, I can support it, I just want to know whether or not we’re
going be ---
Mr. Russell: I think what we’ve done in the past if I may is areas that have opportunity
for development we’ve been able to participate in those too. And that’s on a case-by-case basis.
I think we need to look at that too. Max, go ahead.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, let’s hear from Mr. Hicks and then I’m going to go with Mr.
Grantham, Mr. Smith and Commissioner Holland. Mr. Hicks.
Mr. Hicks: I appreciate it. The other flea market, I think it’s called the Barnyard Flea
Market, a little further on down Doug Barnard Parkway. When they were ready to build they
approached us, they were going to build their own six-inch line and tie on to the water line that
we had in the vicinity and extend it to their facility with a six-inch line. We said fine, that’s good
but we’d like to have a sixteen so you go ahead and design it, put it in as a sixteen, bid it as six
under sixteen and we’ll pay the difference. So that’s what we did there. They funded the cost of
the six-inch line to serve their flea market. And as Commissioner Williams and others will
remember we’ve had churches have expanded and they needed additional fire protection and we
have participated with them. They would pay some we would pay some and in each instance
we’ve told them, now if you want to wait then we will be extending a water line in this area and
that time it won’t cost you anything for it to be extended. But if you want it now than we’ll will
go ahead and put it ahead and we’ll pay part and you’ll pay part. That’s the way we’ve been
doing it will all of them. So that’s the way we could do it here. It’ll be about 14 months before
that major water line along that portion of Doug Barnard Parkway is ready, or before bids are
19
opened on that portion. At that time we’ll be putting a major water line under construction, it’ll
be a 24- inch line, it’ll be on the other side of the road in that area from where the flea market is.
But we would bore and jack a line under the road to get over to the flea market there because as
you said there’s folks over there. Now we could look right now the most cost effective way to
get water to them in a hurry is to go up Nixon Road where there’s either a 6 or 8-inch line. Some
say one some say another, some asbestos some cement pipe lead get into it and some number of
years and extend it down Nixon Road to Doug Barnard Parkway, bore and jack under Doug
Barnard Parkway and provide water service for them more quickly. That would not be a waste
of funds and effort because then when we bring the 24-inch line up through there we could tie to
it with it. But it would get them water depending on what their needs are real quickly and we
could indeed meet with Mr. Rhodes and Mr. Brown and discuss these things and then bring back
to you a representative cost sharing which is what we’ve done in the past on churches and others
then you would all vote either up or down one way or another, advise it or revise it as you saw
fit.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Hicks: That’s all we’d like to do.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Grantham, or Mr. Russell.
Mr. Russell: If I can. In talking with Mr. Rhodes there are other businesses, bleah ---
Mr. Mayor: Spit it out.
Mr. Russell: Yeah, I’ll get it out there in a second. There are other businesses in the area
that might benefit from this. We would be more than happy to bring them into the fold as we
look at them and see if we could spread the cost among them too.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Grantham.
Mr. Grantham: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I think that’s important that we do provide the
utility service for economic development in particular on Doug Barnard Parkway. However I
caution you because I can recall on several occasions when Mr. Rhodes has appeared before this
commission with numerous violations in regards to his business and facilities that were there that
we had to deal with. So I’m not against him for that purpose, I’m just saying that if we do this
that he needs to participate like everyone else has participated in the past.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Mr. Hicks.
Mr. Hicks: One of the latest examples of participation has turned out real well is that
Penske Truck Leasing facility over on, well it’s on down Doug Barnard Parkway and we
participated in the cost of the sewer line and that’s turned out real well. They built the Penske
Truck and we put in money, the developer put in money. It was an item to serve a specific need
and we do that. I mean we’ll work with it.
20
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Mr. Smith.
Mr. Smith: I just wanted to say whatever it takes I’m certainly encouraging them to do
this and work together with Mr. Hicks and Mr. Rhodes and surely we can work it out.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Commissioner Holland.
Mr. Holland: I just wanted to hear what Mr. Hicks had to say. That’s what he and I were
discussing. So he’s explained it very well.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Brigham.
Mr. Brigham: I make a motion that we ---
Mr. Bowles: Second.
Mr. Brigham: Hang on a second.
Mr. Mayor: Do what the Administrator recommended.
ask Mr. Rhodes and Mr. Hicks get with the
Mr. Brigham: That we give a, that we
Administrator and bring us back a proposal at our next commission meeting.
Mr. Bowles: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Cheek.
Mr. Cheek: Mr. Mayor, I ask the maker of the motion does that include working with the
businesses between the connection point and the South Augusta ---
Mr. Brigham: Yes, sir.
Mr. Cheek: --- Flea Market to see if we can do some cost sharing.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. We have a motion and a second. If there’s no further discussion
commissioners will now vote by the usual sign.
Motion carries 9-0.
Mr. Mayor: Thanks, Max.
Mr. Hicks: Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: Next agenda item, Madam Clerk.
The Clerk: We’ll go back.
21
Mr. Mayor: Is Ms. Gentry here now?
The Clerk: Ms. Gentry is in the chamber.
The Clerk:
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
28. Approve award of the contract RFQ #07-115 Comprehensive Disparity Study to NERA
in the amount of $598,113.
FINANCE
35. Approve award of the contract RFQ #07-115 Comprehensive Disparity Study to NERA
in the amount of $598,113.
Mr. Mayor: Welcome to the podium, Ms. Gentry.
Ms. Gentry: Thank you very much Mr. Mayor, members of the commission. The
Supreme Court landmark of 1989 --- rule and set forth a legal standard that indicated strict
scrutiny would be required on all Federal, State and local governments operating minority,
disadvantaged and small business programs. We must insure that we provide string evidence of
significant racial disparity and relevant contracting of this. As a result of the years following that
th
decision the federal court struck down a number of programs. As of February the 14 Augusta-
Richmond County’s DBE program has been enjoined. I come before you today seeking the
commission approval to begin negotiations with a firm to complete a Comprehensive Disparity
Study. The Disparity Study gathers statistical as well as anecdotal evidence of discrimination
against disadvantaged business for use of litigation, potential challenges in the future. Last year
the commission charged the department with identifying a cost along with the company to
complete the Disparity Study. Originally the department received only one proposal last year.
This was back in June 2006. We received one proposal and the committee met and reviewed the
proposal and we agreed that to identify why other vendors did not submit a proposal.
Additionally there were concerns as it relates to information to be able to compare one proposal
to the other. Therefore the committee decided to go back out for bids and which we did. We
submit new bids. The second time we received three proposals and an evaluation committee
established to, was established to review and interview the most qualified vendors who submitted
proposals. The evaluation committee consists of members of Augusta-Richmond County staff,
the City Attorney along with members of our Citizens Advisory Board and we do have members
here today. The Evaluation Committee selected and requested presentations by a company
st
known as NERA as well as MGT on May 21. Both companies presented a good proposal and
the committee was very impressed with both presenters. However, one company exceeded in
experience with legal proficiencies and their ability to convert their findings into executive and
legal legislation recommendations. Based on the evaluation criteria the proposal and the
presentation of the Evaluation Committee unanimously selected NERA. The Evaluation
Committee was based on qualifications of the firm and not based on the lowest responsive
bidder. Some of the key factors that we looked at was demonstrated quality as well as quantity
of successful relevant experience and background. We also looked at the organizations capacity
22
for expert witness qualification experience and perform and related litigation, work plan and
staffing and management. I am before you today recommending approval of a contract to, for
NERA in the amount of $598,000.00.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Commissioner Williams.
Mr. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I have a couple of comments I want to make.
Ms. Gentry shared a lot of information with us but, Ms. Gentry, if you could answer I guess two
questions for me. One is that why is and I know we had a study and we didn’t use it. We let the
time go out on it and we need this study. But why is it that this firm, one firm is charging almost
a hundred plus thousand dollars more to do the study. The second question is why has it taken a
complete year to do the study when the other firm said they can do it in I think six months. This
is something that we should have had done we should’ve moved on earlier. But if you could
answer those two questions right now, why is it that the cost is so much greater. When you’re
talking about a hundred plus thousand, I could say 135 or 40 but I didn’t have the exact figure
but a hundred plus thousand dollars more. Then they’re going to take six months longer. So can
you help me up with that?
Ms. Gentry: Yes, sir, I can. Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: Please.
Ms. Gentry: Okay. One of the biggest differences between the companies is the time
frame. You’re exactly correct. One company proposed six months to complete the project
opposed to the other company more realistically saying twelve months. Based on one of the
biggest factors of this Disparity Study is looking at the performance in terms of our historical
procurement practice. We must go back and look at if a contract was awarded to a prime what
subcontractors did that prime utilize. Up until last year that data has not been collected. And
even with last year some of the majority of the data is there but not all of it. And you’re
absolutely correct. The first Disparity Study was done back in 1994 prior to our consolidation
and prior to you bringing me on in 2005. The second most biggest factor here is the legal
support. MGT proposals include a principal investigator. One who analyzes businesses under
utilization, economics, the physical analysis and in looking at the Disparity Study holistically
opposed to the legal counsel that specialize in public sector affirmative action programs in which
this is what we have. Once the data has been collected and recommendations are made in which
both companies are equally qualified to do the difference here is that we will require the service
of an attorney to review the findings of the legal sufficiency’s and convert that study findings
into the executive legislative recommendation which the committee felt NERA had the best
qualifications. Again we’re looking at a legal support of a principal investigator versus and
attorney that has expertise in throughout the United States in working with government agencies
as far as small business.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Williams.
Mr. Williams: Yes, sir, Mr. Mayor. Thank you Ms. Gentry. With all the attorneys we
have here, well with all the attorneys we’re paying here we ought to have somebody here to do
23
the legal side that you’re talking about and I understand how important that is. But this other
firm you’re saying don’t have any legal staff at all to do the job that they’ve been doing all over
this United States. I mean if they have legal, and I know cheaper ain’t always better but here we
are now you’re talking about six months more which we wouldn’t be able to do anything on
along the line for the next year. Well to me that says what Ms. Gentry’s going to do. I mean if
you’re going to be here for the next year until the study comes back then if you add that cost in
you’re going to be addressing another issue. I just need to know if this firm been proven have
done studies before have successfully done the studies correctly. I don’t need somebody just to
do a study. I can get Commissioner Cheek just to give me a study if I just wanted something but
to have somebody to do it and do if professionally because we’re paying professional money.
But I just think that there’s a problem when we got to wait a year then it’s going to be a hundred
plus dollars more and all we’re getting is supposed to be I guess a professional legal person
that’s on their staff that we’re paying for. So that’s my comment, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Just to kind of clarify with my view on this and, Ms. Gentry, I think I agree
with Commissioner William’s concerns but I think you and I discussed that really to get the best
firm to do it is going to keep us out of litigation in the future. And that’s really what we’re trying
to do here is get the best so that if we do get sued in the future, you know we’re trying to save
money through the long run. Is that correct?
Ms. Gentry: That is correct. And in addition to that as of today we have solicited the
services of an additional attorney to come in and to assist us with our ordinance, redrafting our
ordinance. That is where we created, or the federal judge had a problem with enjoinment. Our
ordinance was written back in 1994, was written in 1994. There’s been numerous lawsuits
throughout the United States as it relates to disadvantaged business programs. You all brought
me in in 2005. So the ordinance has to be, and what we’re asking for Commissioner Williams is
this to be done in simultaneously to the ordinance. We need to repark the ordinance so that we
can get the program under, go back to the federal judge and get the program from under the
enjoinment. In addition to that we have to have the legal statistical data to prove that there is a
disparity. I understand that cost is an issue there but again you charged me with looking at the
best-qualified company to come in and to do this. We sent out an RFQ and the RFQ does not
take in consideration costs. It looks at the qualifications, the experience. We went back and we
reviewed the reference, we made sure that we contacted even and all of the references. So based
on what you charged me with this is what we’re presenting to you today.
Mr. Mayor: And I’m going to go to Ms. Beard next but I’d like to say we’ve had
experiences recently where you get what you pay for so we’ve got to pay a little bit more for the
best. Ms. Beard.
Ms. Beard: Mr. Mayor, I’d simply like to say that this Disparity Study is very, very
important to the health and well being of this city. I believe, are you still chairman of the board?
Could we hear from him for a minute because I’m sure he was very active in this selection?
Mr. Mayor: Okay, your way up, Mr. Brown, Mr. Russell had his hand up.
Mr. Russell: If you can I’d like to speak after him.
24
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Mr. Brown.
Mr. Brown: Good afternoon again. My name is Keith Brown and I am the Chairman of
the Small Business Advisory Board. Our board was fortunate enough to have a few of our
members to serve on the committee that was put together to select the company to recommend to
the commission to do the Disparity Study. We reviewed the information that was sent in the
three proposals that the three companies sent in. Of those companies we selected two that we
wanted to interview. We interviewed those companies and graded them based on the
information and questions we were able to ask them and decided unanimously that NERA would
be the best company to recommend to the commission to do this study. The, one of the major
factors in our decision was the fact that they did have someone who had legal background who
could assist our attorney with putting together not only putting together this doing this study but
assist our attorney with the injunction that we are presently under which does not allow our
vendors at this time to be included in contracts. The amount of time we did take into
consideration the reason that there is disparity in the amount of time is the fact that there, the
records that we have normally does not track the amount of subcontractors. It only gives
information and dollar amounts about the prime. So that was one of the main reasons that we did
select the company that we are offering as our recommendation.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Commissioner Grantham.
Mr. Grantham:
Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Based on the charges we’ve given this
I’m going to make a
department and this department head and what they brought back to us
motion that we approve the proposal to enter into this agreement and to if possible
negotiate any downward prices that we can on the figure that they’ve offered to us and to
ask our Administrator to see about the funding since it’s going to take a years time that we
pay half of it in this present current year and half of it next year.
Mr. Bowles: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, we have a motion and a second. Mr. Russell?
Mr. Russell: Yeah, that’s where I was going with the funding issue but I would like the
flexibility to be able to negotiate a better deal than that if I could. If I can, don’t tie me to half
and half. If you could, allow me the flexibility to negotiate a final price and a payment schedule
that would fit into our budget. That money is not, is not currently budgeted. We would have to
go outside the normal budget to do that. We have money in contingency that could be available
for a down payment and I would like the flexibility to be able to negotiate that payment process
over the next year.
Mr. Mayor: Could you amend your motion to incorporate that?
Mr. Grantham: Yes, sir.
25
Mr. Mayor: Okay, if there’s no further discussion commissioners will now vote by the
usual sign.
Mr. Williams abstains.
Motion carries 8-1.
Mr. Mayor: Next agenda item, Madam Clerk.
The Clerk:
PUBLIC SAFETY
33. Approve the selection of ISI Telemanagement Solutions, Inc. for RFP Item #06-197A,
Telecommunications Audit of Telecommunications Invoicing.
Mr. Mayor: Was that not added to the consent agenda?
The Clerk: That was on the consent? Okay, I might have missed that one. We’re down
to 34 then.
The Clerk:
FINANCE
34. Discuss request for $2,000 from the General Fund in support of ASU Ladies Golf Team
visiting Augusta’s Sister City in France to compete in golf tournament and represent
Augusta. (Requested by Commissioner Grantham)
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Grantham.
Mr. Grantham: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. It’s my pleasure today to introduce the coach of
the Augusta State University Ladies Golf Team. This is Laura Coble. Laura, please stand up
over there. (APPLAUSE) We’re going to want you to make a few comments. Mr. Mayor and
fellow commissioners this girl’s team was just started about five years ago now and they have
made outstanding accomplishments throughout major universities here in the United States.
They’ve done an outstanding job and under Laura’s leadership they’re now going to be able to
go to Biarritz, France, which is our sister city. And in doing so they’ll participate in the golf
tournament over there. I think she has some of her girls with her today and I’d like for Laura to
explain this to you. I think it’d be very important and most note worthy that we support this
effort in showing our sister city in France that we not only send talented young ladies but we
send beautiful young ladies over there. So Laura would you give us a few comments in regards
to that.
Ms. Coble: Yes, thank you, Mr. Grantham and Mr. Mayor, thank you for having me here
today. I do have a couple of my girls with me, Kristen Bragg and Sara Moon. They’re both
from Augusta and of course the rest of my girls are at home. At lot of them live overseas as
well. And Kristen and Sara are both going with me and as well as Anna Lindenborg and Tamara
Litchery who are going to meet us over there and we were asked by Dr. Servy, Dr. Edouard
26
Servy who has been familiar with the sister city program for a number of years along with Mr.
DeVaney previously for originating this program and support of it. And he approached us a few
months ago with our athletic director at the school to possibly look into the, to going to Biarritz
to play in the Biarritz Cup and represent the school and represent the city in the Sister City
Program. We were fortunate enough to raise some money to be able to go and are looking for
the support of the city to take you know my team over there to play this summer. And we will
also be competing in, my girls will be competing with the team from Italy, France and also from,
Italy, France and ---
Mr. Mayor: Spain.
Ms. Coble: --- Spain, that’s right. You’re right.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Ms. Coble: Italy, France and Spain. So there will be four teams competing in the
Nations Cup and my girls will be competing against those other teams over there and myself and
my husband Rusty will be going to accompany them as well. So any questions about that trip ---
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Bowles.
Mr. Bowles: I would just like to add to coach Mays to make sure you all take a red scarf
because it’s in the Basque region of Spain. And to leave a little early because when I went there
10 years ago to play in a golf tournament we got lost in the City of Biarritz and never made the
tournament. It’s a difficult drive so look out.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Williams.
Mr. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I wanted to hear a little bit more and I’m in
support. I want to hear from our Administrator. What’s been our normal practice when we have
this kind of request from not only from some of the schools but the other teams that’s been
traveling? How would it be because I want to address this the same way as the others.
Mr. Mayor: Fred? Mr. Boudreaux.
Mr. Boudreaux: Mr. Williams, in the past with other similar type events we have a
contract that we have entered into with the group heading out. That has some specifications on
how the money’s used in their representation of the city. In fact they are traveling as
representatives of the city so we’ve done that in the past in that manner.
Mr. Williams: And I’m just trying to get clear on how we handled the other. I think this
is a worthy cause I think it’s a great opportunity and I congratulate the ladies just being able to
take the trip. Sylvia Cooper’s going to write about y’all but that’s all right you enjoy yourself
while you’re over there and try to win. But I want to make sure that we address this issue the
same way we address you know the other entities that come. We get this request all the time.
Sometimes we buy tables when there’s an event that we’re going to buy a table for. Sometimes
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we buy tickets if that’s the event. I just want to know how are we going to apply this to the other
entities or other schools or other teams that come and approach this the same why. And I can
support it but I want to make sure we’re doing the same thing every time. Mr. Russell’s coming
back in the door so ---
Mr. Grantham: Yeah, let him ---
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Mr. Russell, we had a question for you.
Mr. Russell: It’s been my position that while these are wonderful things and we need to
support everything we can that we not support anything outside of the general function of
government. Not that this isn’t a great thing to do and a good thing to happen and all of that
other stuff but I’ve given you that speech every time somebody is asked. Most of the time I lose
and most of the time you support it anyway but um, it’s my position to be prudent with your
dollars as best we can and I would recommend that we not approve this.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Beard.
Ms. Beard: Mr. Mayor, I think this is a wonderful opportunity for these young people
and I think they should be given the opportunity and this is only partial help so ---
Mr. Coble: Yes, ma’am, and this is something I think will be a great tradition that I plan
to do every four years for my girls that we’re allowed to that by NCWA regulations. Every four
years take an outside funded trip. So if a young lady is a member of my team every four years
they’ll have the opportunity to go on a special trip like this. It just enhances their college
experience and I think it’ll be great memories we can bring back. We plan on staying in touch
through our sports information director while we’re there to provide information back here to
Augusta on our progress through the week while we’re competing and look forward to the
opportunity.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Ms. Beard.
Ms. Beard: I move to approve.
Mr. Grantham: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion?
Mr. Holland: Yes, sir, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Holland.
Mr. Holland: Not that I don’t support this. I think it’s a very good project for this golf
team to travel and be a part of this program however I’ve already received a letter from a Ms.
Jodie Wilson I believe with the Education Department at Augusta State and they have some
students that will be traveling abroad also and they are requesting some funds to help them travel
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abroad I think beginning in April. So if we’re going to work with this particular group I just
hope that we will be consistent about assisting the other people that are going to be coming
forward to uh, that will be traveling with the Education Department from Augusta State
University also. And I’d like to admit the fact that I am an alumnus of Augusta State so I
support the program and I also want to support the program that is coming from the Education
Department from Ms. Jodie Wilson who is seeking funds to assist those students that will be
traveling abroad also.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you. Commissioner Grantham.
Mr. Grantham: Mr. Mayor I think that is important and it is to the point that when we
have the request based on a group of educational people that are going to a another location that
would be representing this city then we should establish a certain criteria in that area to where
we’re supporting the people who are supporting us. And that’s the thing I’m looking at in this
regard. They’re going to a location that we have a relationship with so I think it’s one that we
need to maybe let Fred bring back some information to us on another date in regards to how we
would establish our way of supporting these particular requests. And so to me I think that’s
important, I appreciate Fred looking out after our money but I think these young ladies will do a
much better job over in France if possible.
Mr. Mayor: All righty, commissioners will now vote by the usual sign. And we
appreciate you all being ambassadors for Augusta. I’ve got a proclamation for you to deliver I
believe to the Mayor of Biarritz.
Ms. Coble: Thank you very much.
Motion carries 9-0.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, Madam Clerk, next agenda item.
The Clerk:
FINANCE
36. Presentation by the Director of the Downtown Development Authority regarding
Downtown Augusta Business Improvement District.
ATTORNEY
57. Motion to approve ordinance creating a Business Improvement District (BID) in the
Central Business District.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Mr. Lloyd, are you going to speak for the group or are y’all ---
Mr. Loyd: I will try to give that effort.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
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Mr. Loyd: And that way most of the time.
Mr. Mayor: Okay and if you could just state your name and address for the record and
keep it to five minutes please sir.
Mr. Loyd: My name is Sanford Loyd and our business address is 753 Broad Street, Suite
603 Augusta, Georgia.
Ms. Woodard: I’m Margaret Woodard, 1107 Green Street Augusta, Georgia.
Mr. Loyd: Lady and Gentlemen, we are here today in what we think is the beginning of
something great for the City of Augusta. That something is the establishment of a Business
Improvement District. We want to answer a few questions in terms of telling everybody what a
Business Improvement District is and then fielding any questions anybody may have in regards
to running that district. First of all to tell what a Business Improvement District is, is the
establishment of a territorial area where the property owners in that particular area agree to
assess themselves a tax and the use of those funds will be to enhance services already being
provided in there. Generally the services are security as well as cleanliness and sometimes
promotion and advertising and marketing. This particular area we’ve established or trying to
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establish extends from 13 Street eastward, I believe it’s Avian Alley which is right at the
thth
Augusta Chronicle Building beginning between 7 and 8 Street. We have actually two zones in
this particular area. Zone one which is everything except the hotel, Marriott Hotel and the area is
assessing itself a millage rate of 7.25%. And zone two will be assessed at 6% millage rate.
What the requirements for establishing this BID is that you get the approvement which is
through signed petitions from the property owners who have 51% of the property value in the
area or 51% of the actual property owners. In this particular district there are 200 property
owners and 51% of those property owners will be approximately 102 or three petitions and of
course 51% of the value will be 51% of the value. In this case we have actual secured petitions
from 54% of the number, the number of property owners and approximately 70 plus percent of
the value of the property in that district. The actual I think enhancement improvement that it
brings it changes the scope, the design, the look the feel. It changes everything about that
particular area. It keeps it clean and I mean clean. I don’t mean one part of it clean and another
part of it not so clean. I don’t mean one part of it so clean and the other one so unclean that the
one who is clean thinks it’s clean but it’s really not because it’s comparing it to other dirt. It also
makes the city a much more friendly place to be in. When you have people coming into the city,
we’ll have ambassadors on the street there, we’ll be there to provide you with some assistance if
needed whether that is direction whether that is help with a flat tire, all of those things. And it
then helps improve the actual security or law enforcement in the area because you have people
on the street, many more years than I on the street who have communication and contact with the
law enforcement agency regarding reporting anything that’s happening. And fortunately it is
something that lasts for five years unless the property owners at the end of that period decide
they want to renew this because they recognize the benefits of the service. If it doesn’t provide
the benefits that everybody thinks it will they don’t have to renew it. They’re not obligated to
pay the tax beyond that point. Of course bringing this to you to actually adopt the plan that has
been proposed benefits everybody in this district whether they were one of those 54% petition
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signers or not is obligated to pay that tax and participate in this particular project which have
been some questions regarding that. Margaret do you want to pick up and ---
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Commissioner Beard.
Ms. Beard: Mr. Mayor, I’d just like to say as I have attended our Regional and National
meetings we have found all over the state and all over the country they’re doing this type thing
and I’ve been asking when, when will be begin some of these of projects. So that he could
actually go out and find enough people willing to say yes I am willing to participate, give a little
more to help my city it’s just a wonderful thing. So with all that you have done I want to say
thank you (APPLAUSE) and we really ---
Mr. Mayor: Okay, everybody. Even though it’s good applause let’s hold your applause
until then, please. Okay, Commissioner Cheek.
Mr. Cheek: A couple questions. One having grown up here and spent 50 years of my life
in the City of Augusta downtown is logically considered the area between Gordon Highway and
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12 Street. Why did we cut if off there, why are we going to piecemeal, do a Business
Improvement District and not do the entire length, I mean I’ve got abandoned warehouses in
front of the museum that we could put streets in and shops. You know I guess my question is
why stop it there when there’s some area of great need just down below that. And I have just
one more question, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Ms. Woodard: Originally that’s how we wanted the district to look and just by the way
of, the way the property owners when we started getting initial feedback there would be pretty
much one property owner that would be paying over 50% end of the BID. So the good news
about this and I know you’ve been traveling, Commissioner Cheek, is that Mr. Morris has agreed
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to voluntarily contract and will take the BID all the way down to 6 Street which is really, and
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then we have several folks on 5 Street who are going to voluntarily contract with us as well.
Mr. Cheek: And that volunteer, Mr. Mayor, I just want to revise and extend my
questioning here. On that contract, is it the same period of time and will cover the same
activities that will be conducted in the other proposed areas for the BID.
Ms. Woodard: It will be done on, it’s like what you do with a non-profit. They will
determine what services they may need and it’s based on a dollar amount. In five years or in a
year, excuse me, Andy, in a year the board can bring them in, the board of directors for the BID
can bring them in at that rate.
Mr. Cheek: How will need be determined, I guess. My concern and I hope you
understand is if you own more than half the property downtown you know that means that
you’ve got lots of money and lots of real estate property. That shouldn’t preclude us taking a
Business Improvement District and improving our whole central business district you know just
because. I’m just interested in making sure that we evenly address Broad Street and that it
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doesn’t look like the desert in one area a garden in the next. I guess, Mr. Mayor, I support this.
The only concern that I have is and I would make a recommendation to approve, or a motion to
approve with the caveat that we get a report back on the selection process for board members and
that methodology in that we be allowed to review and approve that as well before this proceeds.
Mr. Loyd: May I add ---
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Loyd.
Mr. Loyd: I was just going to ask, Mayor, to add this comment as it relates to Mr.
Cheek’s question. A little bit more extensive explanation of where this district starts is that as
Margaret stated there was a greater opposition further east towards the Business Improvement
District. Our position was the area needs a Business Improvement District. We felt we could get
a Business Improvement District established in this particular area and then it moved forward. It
wasn’t done though for one person. If that is a concern or comment it wasn’t done for one
person.
Mr. Cheek: No that is not ---
Mr. Loyd: There’s a lot of opposition on the other end.
Mr. Cheek: And I bet I know the opposition because I’ve received calls in the middle of
the night ---
Mr. Mayor: Well, but let me, can I just comment and then I’m going to recognize Mr.
Williams. I was the co-chair for the steering committee for the BID with Mr. Loyd years ago
and Mr. Cheek I just want to help because I was the co-chair of the steering committee for the
BID. It logistically to define the area and to get 51% to participate as Mr. Loyd said you’re
selling vision to a lot of people. I would also like to say that in Columbus because Ms. Beard
and I sat through a workshop at the Georgia Municipal Association Conference. In Columbus
the first time it was approved their BID was approved in 2000. It was approved by about 51% of
the value and 51% of the total. In 2005 when they re-upped it was 73% of the total and 93% of
the value. The only one of these nationwide that’s ever failed was in Miami and that was
because they turned it over to the government to operate. Commissioner Williams.
(LAUGHTER) It’s the truth!
Mr. Williams: Mr. Mayor, I think the concept is really, really good. I can appreciate the
work and the effort that’s been put into it. I’ve got several questions that I’m sure y’all got
answers for. The first question I got is the 49% that doesn’t sign up that’s going to be taxed
anyway. Representation, tax statements not representation is pretty bad if you don’t agree you
wouldn’t want to have 51% you’re still going to taxed anyway. What are we going to do with
those businesses who said that I don’t want to pay the additional monies that everybody else is
paying? What would happen to those is my first question.
Mr. Loyd: We’d have to do the same thing with those that we do with every tax situation
and that is in every taxing situation there is somebody who does not want to pay. And the
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percentage sometimes is greater than 49%. But if it becomes a, and the majority in this case does
rule that they have no choice but to pay the taxes. Which is the same thing that applies.
Mr. Williams: Well and I understand that and I kind of agree. Sylvia wrote some stuff
the other week about taxes and I know a lot about that, I can talk to you about that. But my point
is though everybody ain’t at the same place at the same time and people who are in this city
shouldn’t have to be taxed more because they want to be a part of the city. And I think our city
ought to be clean. I’m with you with that. I’m, I was delighted to hear that we’re going to have
some other kind of security, or some other people doing it besides the people doing it now
because I think the people doing it now are doing it terribly wrong. That’s just my personal
opinion. So I would love to see somebody else who could, could be polite and know how to treat
people to share with them when they are violating and not causing confusion but you know when
they need to move on. The other question if the city’s going, if this is approved and the city’s
going to collect the funds from these people who’s going to pay for those services that are going
to have to take place in order to collect that. Because the regular taxpayers are not going to
receive it out there saying well I can’t get my service done so you got folks collecting money to
do something else for a certain group. And I really think it’s good but those are questions I had
and I hadn’t got answers to. The 49% that’s going to be taxed even though they may not want to
be they fall in line by I think they got just as much rights and privileges as that 51% because it’s
only a very small margin that’s separating them. So those are the kinds of things that really
concern me. If we’re going, if this government’s going to adopt that we’re going to collect the
money from those people we’re going to tax these people but we’re not going to tax the people
on the next block over who you leave Broad or you leave the area that you got designated and
they say well we don’t have those benefits. You know it’s like going from one part of the city
already to another part and you can tell the difference. Like you went to another state. So it’s
bad. I think that we as a government need to do something to make sure our city’s is a whole.
We’ve been called the Garden City for many years. We need to enforce we need to make sure
that the people are not allowed to do some things.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Williams: You’ve got a lot of people doing stuff because we let them do them.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Williams: I just think those two questions are in my mind.
Mr. Mayor: And I will say and I will let y’all, I’d just like to help clarify with some of
this. One of the great things about BID’s is that they’re expandable. So if next year once they
start the services downtown people say we want the services too you can expand it to where ever
you want and they don’t have to be contiguous. If you wanted to do one on Laney Walker you
can set up your own one on Laney Walker. You can do them wherever you want within a certain
district. So Mr. Loyd you want to, or Margaret? Fred?
33
Mr. Russell: To answer one of Commissioner Williams’ questions. The city does get an
administrative fee for collecting those dollars. So it’s about 1% of the collection. It’s pretty
much what we figure for our other collection fees so we do get money for doing that.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Brigham.
Mr. Brigham: Ms. Woodard, you went to explain a while ago how the board was going
to be picked. I never heard that explanation. Could you please?
Ms. Woodard: Commissioner Brigham, we didn’t want to really present how the
property owners wanted to set up their own board so what we are doing right now is getting
models from different cities. We’ve got a model from Columbus, Atlanta has 9 BIDs and we’re
going to get some models for the board of directors to look at so they can see how different ones
are set up and let them move forward and make that decision on how they want to.
Mr. Brigham: I assume that will be part of the ordinance then.
Ms. Woodard: Pardon?
Mr. Brigham: The way the board is picked will be part of the ordinance to establish the
district.
Mr. Byrd: This -- once it’s up and running the merchants control the board of directors.
Mr. Brigham: Right. I understand that.
Ms. Woodard: The property owners.
Mr. Byrd: The property owners I mean. The property owners that pay the tax elect the
board and they decide how they’re going to spend their own money.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Byrd: This is their money. The city tax assessor gets one and a half percent for the
collection turns the money over to the board of directors in the 501C3 or C6 I think it is so it’s a
non-profit merchants association.
Mr. Brigham: So the selection of the board of directors will be included in the ordinance
when ---
Mr. Byrd: Yes.
Mr. Brigham: --- we get the ordinance to adopt.
Ms. Woodard: You have copies of the ordinance.
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Mr. Brigham: It sounds like the method of selection was up in the air.
Mr. Byrd: (INAUDIBLE)
Mr. Brigham: Okay, that’s what I wanted to know.
Mr. Grantham: Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Grantham.
Mr. Grantham: Mr. Mayor I make a motion that we accept the recommendation
and waive second reading on this.
Mr. Bowles: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. Commissioner Cheek.
Mr. Cheek: Mr. Mayor, I ask the maker of the motion to amend. He’s heard it right here.
All of us have heard it right here that we don’t have a process for selecting the members of this
board which we presumably control millions of dollars.
Mr. Mayor: It’s $350,000.00
Mr. Cheek: I’m saying over the period of time.
Mr. Mayor: But the thing about the BID districts is that they are, it’s not controlled by
the Downtown Development Authority. They are autonomous. They’re self-governed.
Mr. Cheek: Let me see now that this is going to be enough to support the BID. I always
have. I’ve seen this done in other cities but we as a body are going to approve a BID that doesn’t
have the selection process written down in plain language for us and the public to review and
that will be determined at some, the representative will be determined at some point later by
some process later to be designated.
Mr. Byrd: --- in the materials that each property owner receives is voted on that once
they sign the petition they will be the ones to select the board of directors not the city council ---
the money. It’s their money.
Mr. Grantham: Mr. Mayor, there’s one thing ---
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Grantham.
Mr. Grantham: --- one thing we can do in this regard. If you pass this you’re approving
something today by this body. You can abolish it. You do have the right to abolish this, this
same approval you’re giving today if and when you ever want to. If you don’t think that it’s
being run properly by those merchants out there or by the owners of that property you can
35
abolish this thing just as easy as you brought in. Mr. Byrd, I think you’d better check that one
out.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Williams.
Mr. Williams: And that’s why I would like to see, and I keep talking about these
contracts I keep talking about agreements and ordinances that we put together and expect this
board to vote on it and then not be sure of what we’re voting on. I mean and Mr. Grantham
brought a good point that we can’t. I think that ought to be in there as well. We ought not to be
voting on ordinances and contracts that we as elected body got to pass and don’t know. And
that’s my comment.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, we have a motion and a second. If there’s not further discussion
commissioners will now vote by the usual sign.
Mr. Holland: What are we voting on, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Lena, could you? The motion was made by Commissioner Grantham and
was seconded by Commissioner Bowles.
The Clerk: Was to approve the recommendation and waive the second reading to
approve the Ordinance creating the Business Improvement District and waiving the second
reading.
Mr. Cheek: Point of clarification, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Cheek.
Mr. Cheek: Mr. Mayor I, in light of what I’ve heard today I will support this BID. I will
say it with reservations that we are, I don’t think the language is defined enough, we have
enough gray areas and rules and regulations governing money in this city. But I have a concern
about it but I will support this BID. It is a good thing for this city.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you.
The Clerk: The motion carries. Mr. Holland, are you going to vote?
Mr. Holland: I’m thinking.
Mr. Williams and Mr. Harper vote No.
Mr. Holland abstains.
Motion carries 6-2-1.
Ms. Woodard: Thank you.
Mr. Loyd: Thank you.
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Mr. Mayor: Thank you all. I know how hard you’ve worked on that and so and the
entire committee thank you so much.
The Clerk:
FINANCE
38. Presentation by Ms. Mattie Guy regarding the tax recalculation and homestead
exemption for Parcel 129-0-061-00-0 Account 8260.
I asked for this to be transferred to the Finance
Mr. Brigham: Mr. Mayor,
Committee at the next scheduled meeting.
Mr. Mayor: Can you?
Mr. Brigham: In the form of a motion.
Mr. Cheek: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second by Mr. Brigham to transfer this to the
Finance Committee meeting. Is there any further discussion? Is she here? Oh, yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: We have a communication from the tax assessor. Do you want that?
Mr. Brigham: I want to have it in the Finance Committee meeting. I’ve got some
questions I want to go over with the tax assessor. And I don’t want to do it here.
Mr. Mayor: Who was the second on that?
Mr. Brigham: Mr. Cheek.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Bowles, did you second the motion?
The Clerk: Mr. Cheek seconded that.
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 9-0.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Russell.
Mr. Russell: Can I get you to call 40 before you call 39.
Mr. Mayor: At your request we will flip flop 40 and 39. Okay, Madame Clerk, if we can
call agenda item number 40.
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The Clerk:
FINANCE
40. Approve 2007 proposed mill rates in accordance with OCGA 48-5-32.1.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Russell.
Mr. Russell: Mr. Mayor, members of the commission. What we are doing today is
bringing back per the state law the mill rate that we balanced the budget on in November. As
you remember in November I made a recommended budget that y’all passed. That budget was
based on mill rate of .34 mills increase. That increase is approximately $9.00 a month on a
million dollar house. For a house $100,000 that increase is about 3 cents a day. We passed that
we based the budget on that we’ve been living off of that for the last six months. Because of the
state law we are required to review that again. We are required to go through a process and
based on our new digest that was just received reflected some growth where we were required to
go through three public hearings advertise in the paper and then move forward with that. And
then at the end of that period you will have the opportunity to vote and set the actual mill rate for
which we are going to tax our citizens for last year. What we are doing today is asking you to
tentatively, not tentatively what we’re asking you to do is approve the beginning of the process
which would allow us to advertise the mill rate as approved in November have, hold the public
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hearings and bring that back to you after the public hearings on January, July 26 to have a
special Called meeting to officially adopt the mill rate. At that point in time that mill rate can be
moved up, down. It cannot be moved up if that’s the will of the body but it would give us the
opportunity to listen to public to hear what they want to do and to move forward with that. So I
would ask and it would be appropriate at this time to have a motion to approve the advertisement
of the current proposed mill rate, approve the tentative scheduling for the public hearings and
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request that the Mayor call a special Called meeting on July 26 to set the actual mill rate.
Mr. Cheek: So moved.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion. Is there a second?
Ms. Beard: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second.
Mr. Brigham: Mr. Mayor, I make a substitute motion that we limit the increase to .25 of
a mill.
Mr. Mayor: Is there a second?
Mr. Smith: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, we have a substitute motion. Commissioner Bowles.
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Mr. Bowles: I’d like to know from Mr. Russell what the .34 millage rate increase would
bring into the general fund.
Mr. Russell: Approximately 1.116, $990 million dollars.
Mr. Bowles: Okay, and my concern with that, Mr. Mayor, is we sent out and RFP on a
golf course that’s losing $300,000 a year and we probably could’ve generated positive cash flow
with that, with leasing that golf course out. We chose not to look at the RFP. We’re losing
money on transit we have yet to do an audit of our transit department and are sure deficiencies
there and my concern is before we go out looking for, even those it’s only $9.00 a year on a
$100,000 you know we could easily recognize a million dollar savings in those two areas alone.
So until we start looking to streamline our operations I have a hard time voting for a millage
increase.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Cheek.
Mr. Cheek: Mr. Mayor, while I agree with my colleague on the need to streamline and to
continue to push from this body for streamlining and efficiencies like safety programs and
energy conversation programs my concern is that over the years we have operated this city on a
shoe string budget and for us not to allow the Administrator and staff to fully fund and operate
this city and continue to play games with people over two or three dollars a year like this body
has done in the past when we could’ve balanced the budget and not gone into reserve funds
several years ago when we re-evaluated properties. We continue to play this little political game
of we’re fighting raising taxes and the bottom line is we’re running this city into the ground. If
you want to do something for the people let’s grow the tax digest. Let’s get more business and
industry in here. Let’s make the city look good and make it a place people want to come and live
not continue to stream out for Aiken County and Columbia County. In order to do that we’re
going to need people to clean the streets we’re going to need people to clean the ditches, cut the
grass and do the many other services that we’ve frozen hiring on. We need to quit setting
ourselves up for failure by playing these little games. If we’re going to cut this point whatever
mill to say well we cut taxes when in essence we’re again putting them and us in a position to
fail and have to go into reserves because we haven’t got the guts to stand up here and say we’re
going to give you the tools to operate and expect you to do the job. And yes we’re going to
continue to press for the efficiencies. But we don’t need to play games with the people and act
like we’re doing something to stick our chest out when in fact we’re basically setting our staff up
and us to fail. So it’s why it’s important we give them this go ahead.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Williams.
Mr. Williams: I think Mr. Cheek was right on it, Mr. Mayor. We have not done in the
eight years I’ve been here that I don’t see the things that we’re doing to enhance or to increase
economic dollars for people to come to Augusta to do anything. We keep talking about raising
taxes a half mill .34 mill whatever we’re going to do. People wouldn’t mind paying more taxes
if they could see something for what they’re paying for. We do the same thing. We cut out
services we interrupt the same events every year. Now we just found a bunch of money and
nobody wants to talk about that. We found all this money that was, I mean you know when our
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sales taxes were really doing well and we was going to sell off all this property. We sold one
piece and forgot about it. We had to auction off the cars that we have, the excess equipment
because it’s going to help us balance our budget. It was going to get us out of the hole. And all
we’re doing is marching in time. We’re really not getting anywhere. So I’ve got a problem, I
got a problem when we won’t do the things that are going to generate monies to come in this city
and have people to come to this city. We keep doing the same thing and expecting different
results. That would not happen. We’ve got to come out of the box Commissioner Holland that
you’ve always talked about. We’ve got to some things differently in this city so people will want
to come to this city and be able to enjoy the quality of life. We’re still doing the same thing Mr.
Mayor and I got a serious issue when we as elected officials sit here and act like we don’t see it.
You’re going to get criticized either way. My friend Sylvia Cooper’s going to write about you
anyway I mean, Sylvia, that’s your job, you do your job well but if they can’t stand the heat they
ought not come in the kitchen. That’s the first thing I would tell them. But we have not done
those things that we need to do to make people want to come to Augusta and spend money in
Augusta. Nobody’s going to come in because we got fresh air. Fresh air’s everywhere.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Williams: We need to do some things different, Mr. Mayor, and I think Mr. Cheek
was right on it. I’ll say the same thing he said.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Russell and then I’ll go back to Mr. Bowles.
Mr. Russell: Mr. Mayor, members of the commission. I think in the next report from our
auditor you’re going to find that we can manage our money well. You’re going to hear that
we’ve done a decent job in reducing the expenses of government and you’re going to hear that I
did what you asked me to do. A year ago you asked me to put money in the fund balance and
you’re going to find out that we did a pretty darn good job of doing that. But we did that at a
cost and that cost was the things we didn’t do for our citizens. We didn’t cut the grass in the way
that we could have we didn’t pick up the garbage on the street as well as we could have we
didn’t do some maintenance stuff on our roofs and buildings and we didn’t do those things.
We’re catching up with that. We were able to use SPLOST money out of Phase I to take care of
some major maintenance issues. In addition to that we were able to use our money from the
capital account to continue to move forward. I think you’ll find that we are very prudent with
are dollars and how we spend them and I think the auditor will verify that in a few minutes. Are
we perfect? No. Do we continue to have problems in certain areas? Yes. Are we going to work
to fix those, you can take that to the bank. What we can’t do is make up for the increased costs
that we had no control over. The cost of gas, the cost of electricity, the cost of food for our
prisoners, the cost of medical benefits for our employees, the cost of giving our employees raises
and getting them decent salaries so they can live like other citizens in our community. I can’t do
that without a continued revision of what we ask for in our taxes. The taxes they pay is the cost
of doing business for government. You go any place in this country and you’ll find that our
taxes share favorably with that. Three cents a day on a $100,000 house is what that .34 mill
gives you. Three-cents a day, not even the sales tax on a dollar purchase. And with that I am
telling you we can move this city to the next level. You need to give us that. We need to move
forward with that and if you don’t you need to approve this today so that we can hear from our
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citizens over the next couple weeks to give us an opportunity to know what they really want.
Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: Exactly. Commissioner Bowles.
Mr. Bowles: Yeah, I would just like an update on the Energy Conservation Plan. Mr.
Cheek just told me it was passed in 2002 and these are the types of things that upset me. That we
pass these things to save money any nobody wants to make the hard decisions to actually
implement these items. So I’d like to know a status report on that.
Mr. Russell: Well, I’ll tell you. We haven’t done a good job of that one. That’s one that
we’re not proud of. And we continually talk with Mr. Cheek about that. Part of the reason we
haven’t done a good job with that is as we look at the resources we have available to us, we
continually cut, cut, cut and the people that could be doing that are probably doing some other
things there basically. We need to continue to move forward and that’s what we need to do.
That’s a process we say.
Mr. Bowles: But if ---
Mr. Russell: In this building itself, if you let me finish we’ve replaced the lights, we
replaced a lot of the heating and as we do some of the repairs here we’re becoming more energy
efficient. You just recently passed an opportunity for us to change the windows here. They’re
going to be more energy efficient. And those are the kinds of things we’ll continue to do. So
while we haven’t done a good job of telling you what we’ve done we’ve done a pretty good job
of putting it together.
Mr. Bowles: I agree with you but generally most of those items have come from
SPLOST and considering it’s taken over a year and a half to decide on what type of elevator
we’re going to order to replace and who’s going to fix the roof I think that, it’s just, that’s what
gets taxpayers unhappy is inaction rather than action.
Mr. Russell: And I don’t disagree. And part of that was our fault and part of that was
other people’s fault.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Brigham.
Mr. Brigham: Mr. Russell, I’m going to get back on property taxes since I think that’s
what we’re talking about. I believe that we had a 6%, at least a 6% increase in the digest.
Mr. Russell: That’s correct, sir.
Mr. Brigham: And I believe that you could get by with a much smaller percentage I
know three-quarters, what was it a little over a third of a mill is what?
Mr. Russell: .34 mill is would bring us $1.4 million dollars.
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Mr. Brigham: Okay.
Mr. Russell: .25 mill as you suggested would bring us $769.000.
Mr. Brigham: Right and I know that you had a very good year because I’ve already been
apprised by the auditors of our financial situation. I do believe though we’d do a much better job
in managing how we spend the money we do have and not only grow our reserve fund which
we’ve done a pretty good job this year of doing but we also need to do a better job like Mr.
Cheek and Mr. Bowles has said of picking up the trash on the right-of-ways. We do a pretty
good job of picking them up at houses. We need to do a much better job of cleaning ditches and
those type things. That’s where I see the problems, the biggest part of the problems with this
government. I understand those are areas that we have tied your hands in pretty tightly ---
Mr. Russell: I wasn’t going to say that, sir.
Mr. Brigham: --- but mowing --- were your recommendations.
Mr. Russell: Let me share with you. If you talk about the difference between the .34 mill
and the other you’re talking about a difference of $8.00 and a difference of $11.00 on a $100,000
house. The good citizens of Augusta are going to be just as angry over paying $11.00 more as
they are paying $8.00 more. I think most of the citizens of Augusta will recognize the fact that if
they can maintain that kind of increase in their light bill, their power bill, their gas bill they’ve
done a fairly good job of increasing their own personal value there. We are, still have a long
way to go. You’re right. We had a good year last year but to make that a good year next year
we need to absorb those costs of increase that aren’t going to go away. As I told one citizen
several weeks ago when they asked about raising taxes I said you know you go to the power
company and you go to the gas company and if you can get them to promise you they won’t raise
your costs I’ll promise you I won’t suggest raise your taxes. It’s not realistic in today’s world.
We need to do better and there are lots of things we can do a lot better. But you can’t, you can’t
do things with nothing and that’s part of the problem we’ve had and you need to move forward.
Mr. Brigham: Mr. Russell, I have a contract with the utility company that they don’t
raise my costs. I pay a premium for it. I’m not as fortunate with this government to have the
same type of an arrangement.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Grantham then Commissioner Cheek.
Mr. Grantham: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. The information and the release of information
in regards to the 6% increase in our tax digest is good news. And it’s good news in that we’ve
looked for something like that for three years or more. However I don’t want us to jump up and
brag about what we’ve done in order to increase that. That’s something that’s been mandated by
the State now for quite a few years that we bring our assessed values of our properties up to date.
That we have done. In addition to that I don’t think that we would be prudent in using those
dollars based on our increase in tax digest to pay salaries, to cut grass, to clean ditches or to do
that type of work. The reason I say that is that to me that’s not a guaranteed increase that you’re
going to have every year. That digest is going to change. It can’t fluctuate. What you do have is
42
hopefully with economic development and economic involvement coming into this city that
we’re going to increase our base for our taxes, our income taxes our sales taxes and everything
else. So yes .34 may not be a whole lot but is a lot to some people and it is a lot to folks when
you start digging deeper into their pockets such as we have with gasoline costs with other types
of costs. So the main thing, and I’m saying today that we need to be very careful in how we
approach this method of either increasing taxes or decreasing taxes or just what we do with it.
So I’m not in support of an increase or was I last year but it was something we had to do in order
to balance our budget. Now that we have additional funds and you have performed admirably
throughout the year, you and your staff in making us more responsible in our financial resources
then you know I can support you in your efforts but not with this one today.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Mr. Cheek.
Mr. Cheek: Mr. Mayor, the real service and the real affect of us continuing to piecemeal
and hamstring our staff in the operations of this government is the fact in the real estate market in
this region it is difficult to get market value for a home in Augusta-Richmond County. That is a
fact. The same home that you have in South Augusta will cost you 50% more in Columbia
County. People can’t give them away because people do not want to move here and it’s because
if you drive across the river or you drive up Washington Road you go into these communities
where they’re putting in bike paths, where they’re putting in green ways, they’re cutting the
grass and landscaping. They’re doing the things that we haven’t been able to do here. And
we’re going to thump our chests and say we’re doing something for the public by making
Augusta a second rate city. Energy costs are continuing to rise and fluctuate. We’re going to
have to cover that and have some money in the bank or we’re always going to run on the margin
depending on what happens in the market for energy of going into our reserve fund or not. It’s
time to turn the corner and quit playing games with the people and the future of this city. $8.00
gains to say we did something when in fact we continue to drive down the real value of people’s
homes the real value of their communities and as people turn these neighborhoods who can’t sell
their houses, turn those properties into rental properties the neighborhoods decline. And you see
this occurring all over this city. And we are not addressing it by doing what we need to do
consistent with our neighbors across the river our neighbors to the north of us in Columbia
County and every place else I’ve been in the last two weeks. People are doing things. They
don’t mind paying for services they get. Consistent with what my colleague has said we need to
continue to work on the efficiencies. I think we’re moving in the right direction in a lot of ways
but we don’t need to play games with the people and say we’re doing something when in effect
we’re taking thousands of dollars out of their pockets by our inaction and lack of fortitude.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Commissioner Beard.
Ms. Beard: Mr. Mayor, I do think we have to think about our citizens but I want
everyone to know we are making a difference and we are moving forward. This is the best year
we’ve had since I’ve been here and I’m very excited. I’m very excited to live in Augusta
because I’m probably paying less taxes than anywhere in the country. Now we were at an
important ribbon cutting yesterday with ADP I believe which is a Fortune 300 company that has
decided to locate in Augusta, will eventually hire about 1,000 employees. And we’re so excited
about the quality of the people in this area for jobs. Now I was talking with someone and he was
43
saying how excited the people were to move from other places to Augusta. And he specifically
talked about one who lived in New Jersey and said you know, she had to rent in New Jersey but
she has come in and purchased a house here. Believe me, and another thing if you read some of
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the articles in the paper they talked about how wonderful our 4 of July activities were and they
were. They were exceptional from 2:00 o’clock until it ended. And as I was out there I met
someone from Greenville who stated you know I looked all around and I decided to come to
Augusta and we’re having a wonderful time. And everybody who was out there had a wonderful
time and if you don’t start attending these activities you don’t know what you’re missing. So
yes, we are doing a lot of things right and we’re making a difference ---
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Ms. Beard: --- and we’re going to move forward and I hope all of you will eventually see
it.
Mr. Mayor: Okay um, I think everybody has had and Amen to Ms. Beard. I think that
everybody has had a chance that wants to speak to this. Once again Mr. Russell you just need to,
we have a substitute motion and a second. You just need to get something approved today and
the actual official approval of this whether or not it’s going to go up go down will be after the
public hearing portion at a date later in the month. Correct?
Mr. Russell: Yes, it would be my position that we need approval to start the process.
The actual vote on the millage rate would occur after the public hearing and we need a Special
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Called meeting on July 26 to accomplish that. But I do need something today. Obviously my
recommendation would be the .34 mill but the substitute motion is on the table.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Russell: If I can at no point from whatever is approved today you cannot go up
without restarting the process. You can always go down but you cannot go up.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, the substitute was not to exceed .25 mills and the original motion was
to approve as submitted. Correct?
Mr. Mayor: We have a substitute motion and a second on the floor. Commissioners will
now vote by the substitute sign of voting.
Mr. Williams, Mr. Harper, Mr. Cheek, Ms. Beard and Mr. Holland vote No.
Motion fails 5-4.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, we’re now going to vote on the original motion. In order for Mr.
Russell to move forward I think we do need to go ahead and approve this. Mr. Russell.
Mr. Russell: Let me make sure we clarify something. As we talk about this, we’re
always talking about the .34 mills. That impacts on the general fund but as we do this we’re
44
approving the millage rates that are here on the charts. That’s what we’re looking at. But the 3.4
mill is always the basis of our conversation.
Mr. Mayor: Is everybody clear on that? Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign.
Mr. Brigham, Mr. Smith, Mr. Bowles and Mr. Grantham vote No.
Motion fails 5-4.
Mr. Russell: Mr. Mayor, if I may.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Russell.
Mr. Russell: By not passing something today --- the process we have available in front of
us. Whatever you pass today can be amended. But by not passing something today you’re
putting in jeopardy our collection of taxes and our continuation of providing services. I’m not
too sure that that’s something we really want to do at this particular point in time.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Beard.
Ms. Beard: I know that it’s very important for us to be able to move forward today so if
we could I’m wondering if we could reconsider the first vote. How do we do that? Andy, tell
me how to do it.
Mr. Mayor: Would you like to make a motion ---
Mr. Cheek: At this point ---
Mr. Mayor: --- to reconsider the agenda item.
Mr. Grantham: Make a motion.
Ms. Beard: So moved.
Mr. Brigham: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second.
Mr. Cheek: Is this to approve the recommendations of staff?
The Clerk: To reconsider.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Would anybody like to speak to? Obviously Mr. Russell ---
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. Commissioners will now vote by the usual
sign.
45
Motion carries 9-0.
Mr. Williams: Mr. Mayor I make a motion we follow the staff recommendation of .34 of
a mill.
Mr. Cheek: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second.
Mr. Brigham: Mr. Mayor I make a substitute motion that we limit the millage rate to .25
of a mill.
Mr. Bowles: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Gosh, this is really productive. We’re going to go down the same
road again. There’s a substitute motion to, it’s the same substitute motion that was made before
and the same primary motion as made before. Commissioner Cheek and then I’ll come to you,
Commissioner Williams.
Mr. Cheek: Just on the substitute motion. Is the intent of that motion to limit prosperity
and growth in the City of Augusta or am I misreading that?
Mr. Mayor: No direct questions, please, sir. Commissioner Williams.
Mr. Williams: I think the Administrator and I want to get some clarity from him that we
can’t go down. If we approve what, but we can’t go down. If we go down we cannot go up.
Mr. Russell: That’s correct, sir. If you pass the original motion at .34 upon the public
hearings and the input from the public you can go down from that. You cannot go up. If you
pass the .25 today you cannot go up from that either.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Grantham.
Mr. Grantham: However, keep in mind if you pass .25 you can go down.
Mr. Russell: That’s correct. You can lower from .25.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, I think we’ve adequately discussed this. We have a substitute motion
on the floor and a second. The commissioners will now vote by the substitute sign of voting.
Ms. Beard: What is the substitute? I’m sorry.
Mr. Mayor: To limit the increase to .25.
Mr. Williams, Mr. Harper, Mr. Cheek and Mr. Holland vote No.
Motion fails 5-4.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay, prior to voting on this motion in order for the Administrator to move
forward there is still time for the public input. There is still time to change it. But I don’t want a
handicap our staff in moving forward on this so that being said commissioners will now vote by
the usual sign on the primary motion.
Mr. Brigham, Mr. Bowles, Mr. Grantham and Mr. Smith vote No.
Motion fails 5-4.
Mr. Grantham: Motion to reconsider.
Mr. Holland: Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Holland, wait. We’ve got a motion to reconsider. Do we
have a second?
Ms. Beard: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. Commissioner Holland.
Mr. Holland: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor, we can sit up here and play
checkerboard with this all day long. We need to at least give the public and opportunity to voice
their opinion in reference to this because you know as commissioners we can sit here and go
backwards and forwards with this and still not giving the public an opportunity. We need to
move on move forward and let the public at least have an opportunity to voice their objections
voice their approval of this and then come back to this commission and let us make a final
decision as to whether or not we’re going to approve this increase.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, we have a motion and a second to reconsider. Is there any further
discussion on the motion to reconsider? Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign.
Mr. Brigham and Mr. Bowles vote No.
Motion carries 7-2.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Williams.
Mr. Williams: Mr. Mayor, I make a motion that we follow the Administrator’s advice
and take his lead.
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 of voting.
Mr. Brigham, Mr. Smith, Mr. Bowles and Mr. Grantham vote No.
Motion fails 5-4.
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Mr. Brigham: Call for Order of the Day, Mr. Mayor.
The Clerk: All right. The next item?
Mr. Mayor: Next item.
The Clerk:
FINANCE
39. Receive as information 2006 audit report from Cherry, Bekaert and Holland.
Mr. Cheek: So moved.
Mr. Brigham: Second.
Mr. Russell: Mr. Mayor, if I may we ---
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Russell.
Mr. Russell: --- very seldom do we get an opportunity to present an audit report on time.
We haven’t done that in the last four years. We also haven’t presented one in the last several
years that has been as clean as this one and while it does have some issues that we will continue
to address I would like to at least have the opportunity to have the citizens be informed on what
we’re doing there. Ms. Cox is here with us and hopefully in the goodness of your hearts you
might be able to listen to the audit report and maybe reconsider the other amendment that we had
there in front of us and move back.
Mr. Mayor: Ms. Cox.
Ms. Cox: I thank you for that opportunity. I am Bonnie Cox. I am the audit partner on
the audit engagement for the City of Augusta. I’ve also here with me Mr. Doug Cates who
serves as the partner in charge of our Augusta office with Cherry, Bekaert and Holland. I’ll be
brief given our, but I will say for questions that may come up at the end. First of all as Mr.
Russell said we did have a clean opinion this year. We did deliver the audit to the State
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Department of Audits on time by the June 30 required deadline. That is the first time in several
years that that’s been done. It is solely attributable to the hard work of your staff in getting the
information ready and available for us. There has been tremendous improvement over the past
year in the function of the finance department as well as the accounting department and other
related departments that all feed into the financial operations of the city. As evidence of that, last
year when we presented the audit report, which actually didn’t get filed until December of 2006,
was the audit for 2005. It took us that long to get everything worked out. But six months earlier
as well as we had seventeen findings in the compliance section of last years report and this year
there are only four findings and I think that is a true testament to the hard work that they’ve
done. In connection with that the rules have actually changed and the bar has actually been
lowered as to what actually gets reported as a finding. So in addition to be subject to new rules
48
that are stricter and more restrictive then what has to be communicated as a finding you went
from seventeen findings last year to only four findings this year. I was going to make a brief
comment on the operation results of the general fund. Lovely to follow the path of discussion
but if we go back to 2003, it’s important to look at the general fund operations and in 2003 and
in the years previous to that the general fund had been at about a breakeven operation. The profit
in 2003 was less a million dollars, about 900,000 which given the size of your budget is a very
breakeven operation. In 2004 there was a $2.1 million dollar deficit in the general fund. It was a
use of fund balance of $2.1 million dollars in 2004 and in 2005 that deficit was $5.9 million
dollars. So over those two years alone you used $8 million dollars of the fund balance and
general fund. In 2006 there was an increase to fund balance to $3.5 million dollars that’s barely
bringing you out. It’s not even cut that hole in half that was created over the past two years. But
it was a positive and better than budget because the budget is adopted at a balance budget,
breakeven budget and so you came in $3.5 million dollars above that. Other than that I’ll be glad
to take questions.
Mr. Brigham: We’ve already made a motion to receive.
Mr. Grantham: Yeah, we’ve made a motion to approve. I just want to compliment them
on doing ---
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Grantham.
Mr. Grantham: --- what they did, Mr. Mayor, because we have fought this for the last
three years in trying to get an audit report on time. And I applaud, this has been the same group
who has done it in the past so I think it’s been from an internal situation more so than from and
outside situation and not only do I applaud them for doing but I applaud Ms. Williams and our
staff for bringing the information forward that was needed to handle this audit. So that I think is
very much in order.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Commissioner Cheek.
Mr. Cheek: Just to piggyback on a Super District commissioners comments. I think the
extraordinary improvements are the results of the extraordinary improvements in leadership in
Finance and I’d like to thank Cherry Bekaert for the outstanding job you guys have done and
always do.
Ms. Cox: I appreciate those kind comments but the truth has to go to your staff. We just
do the audit. It’s how they get the work together.
Mr. Mayor: Okay we have a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion?
Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign.
Ms. Beard out.
Motion carries 8-0.
Ms. Cox: Thank you.
49
Mr. Mayor: Thank you all.
The Clerk:
ENGINEERING SERVICES
43. Authorize Augusta Utilities Department to implement the recommendations outlined in
the Engineering Report prepared by Cranston Engineering Group entitled Augusta Canal
Bank Study in the amount of $735,000.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Cheek.
Mr. Cheek: Mr. Mayor, having reviewed this with staff having gone through the study
exhaustively, the study is indeed a very fine study presented to us. There are some changes and I
just wanted to clarify with uh, I guess Mr. Goins was pretty much the point man on this that we
in fact did make the changes in the priority. I want to remind both the public and the
commission that this study is a result of actions taken over four years ago to initiate inspections
on the canal. Our towpath as been found to be built upon shaky ground and we have seepage in
some areas. This study addresses correcting the problems with the trees and the bank collapses
and comprehensively looks toward improving this. We have money from the Deutsche Bank
I urge the commission to vote to approve this
transfer to do this beginning immediately and
and task our staff with beginning this work within the month of July where possible.
Mr. Mayor: So you’re making that in the form of a motion.
Mr. Cheek: Yes, sir.
Mr. Bowles: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion?
Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign.
Motion carries 9-0.
The Clerk:
ENGINEERING SERVICES
44. Approve Construction Project Budget Change Number Three (CPB 323-04-299823999)
for the Augusta County Regional Flood Control Feasibility Study in the amount of $55,000
to be funded from SPLOST Phase III Recapture as requested by the Engineering
Department.
Mr. Cheek: So moved.
Mr. Brigham: Second.
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Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion?
Commissioner Williams.
Mr. Williams: Yes, Mr. Mayor, I’d just like to know what areas I guess this study, it says
Augusta County Regional. What areas is this study considering? Is it all over, where ---
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Ladson.
Mr. Ladson: It includes Rocky Creek, the Augusta Canal, Phinizy Swamp and Raes
Creek drainage basin.
Mr. Williams: Those are the only four areas?
Mr. Ladson: Yes, for this right here. Yes.
Mr. Williams: Is there any other studies that, on flooding?
Mr. Ladson: I think there’s, the Corp is uh, is doing a study on Butler Creek and I can
actually research that information for you and come back to you.
Mr. Williams: Okay.
Mr. Ladson: They’re actually looking at that too.
Mr. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Ladson.
Mr. Mayor: Okay we have a motion and a second. If there’s no further discussion
commissioners will now vote by the usual sign.
Motion carries 9-0.
The Clerk:
ENGINEERING SERVICES
47. Approve CPB #323-04-299823595 Change Number 3 in the amount of $1,820,000.00
with funding of $400,000.00 from the GDOT State Aid Contract and $1,420,000.00 from
SPLOST Phase III Recapture for project construction. Also, approve award of
construction contract to Beam’s Contracting, Inc. in the amount of $3,519,984.30 for the
Bungalow Road Improvements Project, subject to receipt of signed contracts and proper
bonds as requested by the Augusta, GA Engineering Department.
Mr. Smith: Move for approval.
Mr. Cheek: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. Commissioner Williams.
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Mr. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, and I think Abie can answer this question. We’ve
been working on Bungalow Road for quite some time. I really thought that that project was
winding down. When I saw the three million five hundred something figure, how much more
work and how much longer will it be before this project is completed. I guess that’d be my first
question.
Mr. Ladson: Well this is a project that we just actually bid for the approval here today. It
would actually go under construction probably within a month’s time. It would probably take
about a year.
Mr. Williams: Okay, but I guess the reason I asked that question was because we have
already spent a large sum of money. We’ve been working there for quite some time and the
work kind of just stopped at Bungalow Road. We’ve been doing some work over there before
and when I saw this you know the light came on and it stays off most of the time maybe but the
light came on and I wanted to know how much we done spent in this time on that project I guess
it is to complete it. Is this something all together different?
Mr. Ladson: I think it’s something different because the um, the original budget for this
project was $1.7 million dollars which was budgeted probably about eight years ago. Now the,
as you can see the construction bid came in, the low bid came in at $3.5 million dollars which is
double but as far as Bungalow Road it never went under construction before.
Mr. Williams: You are not aware of any projects ongoing on Bungalow, what
construction has been going on over there?
Mr. Ladson: Not construction. No, sir.
Mr. Williams: Not construction. Okay. I’ll try to get some information and put it on the
committee so you can be abreast of it as well. We’ve done some work over there. Don, are you
familiar with that, Bungalow Road?
Mr. Grantham: I know we’ve been talking about it for about eight years and I’ve only
been here now about three and a half but nothing’s been done to my knowledge on Bungalow,
cleaning out ditches and that type of work.
Mr. Williams: But you haven’t been to Bungalow Road since you moved on the other
side of town ---
Mr. Grantham: All right.
Mr. Williams: --- but I ride through there all the time and it has been some construction.
We spent a great amount and I’ll get that information to you Abie so we can look at it. I got no
problem with it, Mr. Mayor, I just want to know when we’re spending money on roads we
already spent money on sometimes we spend it twice. I just wanted to know about that.
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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 9-0.
The Clerk:
ENGINEERING SERVICES
46. Award of Construction of Deans Bridge Road MSW Landfill Scale house and
Customer Drop Off center to the lowest responsive, qualified bidder.
Mr. Cheek: Move to approve.
Ms. Beard: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion?
Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign.
Motion carries 9-0.
The Clerk:
ENGINEERING SERVICES
48. Approve Engineering Contract from ZEL Engineers for the design of a sewer line to
serve properties along Brown Road and a new middle school.
Mr. Cheek: Move to approve.
Mr. Grantham: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion?
Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign.
Motion carries 9-0.
The Clerk:
ENGINEERING SERVICES
49. Approve the Financial Closeouts of SPLOST projects that were programmed over 10
years ago for the Engineering Department and never designed or constructed. The funding
for these projects will be redirected back into their respective Fund Recapture Account.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Cheek.
Mr. Cheek: Mr. Mayor, I may need a couple more minutes other than my two minutes
but you know there’s a disconnect and I want to address that. It doesn’t take design it doesn’t
53
take engineering to remove obstructions and remove debris and to dredge channels and to clean
out silt. This is funding that we need desperately to maintain and these drainages basins the silt
collection pond on the side of Gordon Highway at the end of Oates Creek it’s full it needs to
cleaned out to keep Phinizy Swamp from filling up with silt and raising the water level in the
lowest part of the city which is in District 2 and the largest flood plain area. I can go on and on
about Crane Creek, Raes Creek, Butler Creek. God knows we’ve got five beaver dams across it
that we funded three years ago to have them cleaned out. That still hasn’t been addressed. So
the transfer of these funds, I’m for this transfer and I applaud this effort but I’m going to make
the following motion and we’re going to have to do here Lady and Gentlemen like we did with
the Canal as a governing body have to move forward with authorizing our Purchasing
Department to send out requests for contracts to clean these channels. The tropical season is
upon us. We have funds to go in and remove trees, refrigerators, tires in which you’ll find in
everything from Raes Creek to Rocky Creek and these funds are here. Phinizy Swamp needs to
be, we need to at least begin cleaning the channels and the drainage in those areas. We can say
we’re going to wait on the feasibility study but Lady and Gentlemen we are very close in some
areas to having some major flooding if we don’t correct some problems if we have a tropical
event. So I make a motion that we approve transfer of the funds with the exception of the funds
for Cranes Creek, $150,000 that that be placed and maintained in Cranes Creek and again all of
these we instruct Purchasing to go out for bids from subcontractors since we don’t have staff to
clear the channels of debris and obstructions. New Savannah Road for $1.431 million dollars be
put in Oates Creek which is silted up and to dredge the detention pond or the retention pond on
the south side of Gordon Highway, Raes Creek, $257.000. If you look at Raes Creek the initial
part of Raes Creek off of I-20 you can see trees laying across and blocking the channel. Third
Level clean up which we haven’t been able to do because we can’t hire someone to oversee the
convict crew so we subcontract to clean up the homeless and drunk and drug infested areas along
this canal to make that beautiful waterway visible $491,000.00, Phinizy Swamp drainage,
$273,884.00. That fixed fee contracts be lit to clean and clear banks, remove trash and
rd
obstructions from Cranes Creek, Oates Creek, 3 level of the Canal, Raes Creek and Phinizy
Swamp at Butler Creek. That subcontractors be sought from local contractors for such fixed-fee
services and that this should begin no later than September which would allow over 30 days for
us to send out the bids for proposals and be completed by November of ’07. The money’s in the
bank Mr. Mayor the needs have been there for years we haven’t had a tropical event in the last---
Mr. Mayor: Okay ---
Mr. Cheek: --- five years to speak of ---
Mr. Mayor: --- but you’ve made your motion, Mr. Cheek. Is there a second?
Mr. Williams: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, we have a motion and a second. Commissioner Beard.
Ms. Beard: While we’re discussing that I had questions about Martin Luther King Drive
improvements. Could you tell me that location?
54
Mr. Ladson: Um, we actually had this on the uh, we actually did some research and
couldn’t actually find out where the actual starting point was at and where the actual termination
point was at on a lot of these projects ---
Ms. Beard: And what about New Savannah Road?
Mr. Ladson: We don’t have any information on it, ma’am.
Ms. Beard: But I travel those roads and I know they have real problems and I was going
to allow this to go but I still intend to talk with you about it. So if we’re going to keep some than
I’d like to get with you in reference to those. Wouldn’t you like to get with him in reference to
it?
Mr. Williams: Yes, ma’am.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Williams.
Mr. Williams: Mr. Mayor, thank you. I think Ms. Beard and Commissioner Cheek is
right but my problem is how can we go over ten years and nobody has addressed this. I mean
it’s bad enough that Commissioner Cheek brought out what we’ve done. How can these projects
be over ten years old and never been designed, or the contract’s never been let. I want to know
where the ball stopped bouncing at, I guess, Abie. Was it the Administrator’s job, was it your
job?
Ms. Beard: He wasn’t here.
Mr. Williams: Well, I’m asking was did he do it. I want to know where it stopped at. I
mean he ought to know where it stopped at he’s the head of the department. Can anybody, Mr.
Mayor, I just want to know.
Mr. Ladson: I mean we did the research and we can’t find anything.
Mr. Williams: I mean but once, Mr. Mayor ---
Mr. Ladson: (INAUDIBLE)
Mr. Williams: --- we put the money there, we done listed these projects we put money to
them to be done and they have not been done, then somebody’s not been doing their job. And I
think that’s the person or those of the persons that we need to be contacting and talking to or
letting go is probably the best word. But how can we have a ten-year project that’s not been
addressed all this time. I’m disappointed.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Commissioner Grantham then Commissioner Smith.
Mr. Grantham: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I’m going to try and help you answer than one,
Marion. You know I’m going to applaud Mr. Ladson because I think that he has made a strong
55
effort when he took over his position in trying to assist this government in making sure the
SPLOST projects and other projects were brought forward and was taken care of. The delay in
these projects took place prior to his involvement, prior to his administrative work. Therefore
the delay that was there ahead of him created an increase in all of those projects. So we didn’t
have the money to fund them they just had to stop. And that’s what they did. And we kept
asking if you’ll recall on numerous occasions why don’t we get some of these SPLOST projects
started. And if we hadn’t gotten them started then what should we do as to recapture these funds
and bring them back and do the ones that are necessary or that recommended by Engineering
Services Department and the Administrator to make sure we get moving in the right direction
with what funds we have. So to me that’s part if not all of the answer and I think other people
might have something to add to that.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Smith.
Mr. Smith: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. As part of the Engineering Committee, Services
Committee I want to applaud Mr. Ladson for what he has done. He’s accepting responsibility for
things that were done long before or were not done long before he came and we have talked and
tried to put together a list of projects that needed to be done and this doesn’t mean that the others
or not going to be done. But we just take what we can at the time and then we’ll come back and
do some more later. But I just urge you to go along with his list here because they’ve spent a lot
of time and energy trying to put a list out here that we need to do and have the funds to do it
with.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Commissioner Cheek.
Mr. Cheek: Mr. Mayor, the whole point here in, and I’m not shooting the messenger. I
want to set you free to go in and clean these channels, which haven’t been cleaned in ten years.
They need to be done. That doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure this out. If we don’t have
staff let’s hire subcontractors to go in and clean the trees and the trash out. Flood season is
coming up in October and November. Let’s set staff free. If we, we design the SPLOST, the
commission does. We put the gray language in there that doesn’t give him a clear path forward.
It’s our fault. But now what I’m asking for in my motion is to go in and allow staff to contract
with subcontractors to do what we can’t do with staff in a timely fashion. Since we have the
money clean out the drainage channels that haven’t been touched in over ten years. That is
simple. These are the main drainage basins in the City of Augusta. If they plug the city floods,
hundreds of people have water in their homes. This ain’t rocket science.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, and let me hear from Mr. Ladson first and then Mr. Williams please.
Mr. Ladson: Let me just mention that these are projects that hadn’t even, we don’t even
have a design consultant on. And the thing is this was done about eight, nine years ago. So
these costs that you see here that was budgeted, this is actually going to change. This is going to
be a whole lot higher. So you’re not going to be able to do, I mean some of the, most of the
projects listed on here you’re not going to be able to do those, complete these projects anyway.
And what we’re proposing is the projects we actually have that we’re doing right now that are in
design and are actually close to construction to go ahead and basically put that money to those
56
projects. I have a handout here that basically shows the price difference and what was actually
budgeted and when we actually bid these projects what the bids are coming in at. And um, ---
Mr. Williams: Mr. Mayor, if I can while Mr. Ladson ---
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Williams:
Mr. Williams: is, I’m not going to applaud you like the rest of them applaud to you,
Abie. I think you’re doing your job and I think that’s great. You hadn’t come and presented us
something that you did you just reminded us of something that hadn’t been done. I mean and
that’s good. I don’t think you ought to be criticized for bringing us some stuff but this stuff has
been sitting dormant for nine to ten years. It had not been done and now the price done doubled
on it. Commissioner Cheek made a motion about some projects that he named and that need to
be done and I think we need to prioritize what we got and take the money we got and what we
can do and do some of them. But to have them sit and laying around all this time say somebody
didn’t do their job. And if Engineering at that time didn’t do the job and we didn’t request it or
we didn’t do anything or the Administrator didn’t do anything then we, he or this body was liable
more so than that person. We got to have somebody guiding the ship. You can’t just float.
Somebody’s got to be turning it, somebody’s got to be pedaling somebody’s got to be doing
some other things. For ten years none of this got done so that means somebody wasn’t doing
their job and that’s why. And I think it ought to be prioritized, let’s end the gate and lets use
what we can to get those things done and work on the other ones.
Mr. Ladson: With the projects we actually have ---
Mr. Mayor: Go ahead, Mr. Ladson.
Mr. Ladson: --- that are actually close to construction right now which we have quite a
few that we’re actually planning on bidding this year. If you look at those numbers there we’re
going to fall short.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Brigham.
Mr. Brigham:
Mr. Mayor after looking at this list I don’t think this is something we’re
I’m going to make a substitute motion we send this to the
going to get resolved today.
Engineering Subcommittee.
Mr. Mayor: We have a substitute motion to send it to the Engineering Subcommittee or
Services.
Mr. Brigham: Engineering Services Committee, I’m sorry.
Mr. Mayor: We have a ---
Mr. Smith: I second that.
57
Mr. Mayor: We have a substitute motion and a second.
Mr. Brigham: Call the question, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. We have a substitute motion and a second. This is to refer to
Engineering Services this agenda item. If there’s no further discussion commissioners will now
vote by the substitute sign of voting.
Mr. Cheek: Mr. Mayor, when is that next meeting.
th
The Clerk: July 30.
Motion carries 9-0.
Mr. Mayor: Next agenda item Madame Clerk.
The Clerk:
ENGINEERING SERVICES
50. Discuss exemption from garbage service of property owners who live 300 or more feet
from the public right-of-way. (Requested by Commissioner Smith)
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Smith.
Mr. Smith:
Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I put this on the agenda because in District 8 there’s
so many people in the rural Richmond County that live way off the road. Yesterday I was out
there checking there was one lady that lives a quarter of a mile back on the back who is a widow
and has to get a friend with a four-wheeler to bring her buggy up to the right-of-way. And we
. They need the right to be able to eliminate our
feel like that this needs to be eliminated
garbage service but that does not eliminate the fact that they have to have garbage service.
So they can revert back to their private hauler who would go up in a little pick up truck
and pick up their garbage and bring it out. They wouldn’t have to go to the street. And
this is county wide it’s not in a particular one area but I put that in the form of a motion.
Mr. Grantham: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. Commissioner Williams.
Mr. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Commissioner Smith brought this to us several
times and we talked about it and I guess my position is that there other areas, other people that’s
disadvantaged in a lot of ways, handicapped or whatever and if we’re going, if you’re going to
be in the city and you’re going to be a part of this program a part of our garbage collection, two
things. We talked about the pickup truck blowing trash all over the street we talked about how
that wouldn’t be a good thing to do if we implemented this service we get cans out there and put
them in people yards. We even stopped the truck from going up in the driveway to try to assist
and try to work with. But if we’re going to be a city, we’re consolidated and that’s was we did.
58
What are we going to do about the other entities the other people in this community that are
disadvantaged to the fact that they can’t even get to put their garbage on the street where they
live on one of the main streets in Augusta. So we’re going to waive it or we’re going to get
people the opportunity to come on board or not come onboard I think we’re going to create
something. I think we’re going to have a snowball effect. I mean one person’s going to say well
you know I don’t use the garbage but once a month and at my age why should I have to pay the
same service. It’s going to create a snowball effect Mr. Mayor and that’s why I think that’s not a
good thing to do. I know some people live in District 8, which is the outer areas of Augusta-
Richmond County, and they chose to do that. But I just got a problem when we don’t consider
everybody. Once we start this we’re going to open the flood gates and the people have already
started coming we going to hold them up again and create a situation. Those are my comments.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Commissioner Cheek.
Mr. Cheek: Mr. Mayor, we passed at some point in the past and it’s been lost in the
works a similar arrangement of criteria. This is consistent with that and my only concern is that
we don’t have pickup trucks picking up trash if they have to be in conforming vehicles. I just
wanted the clarity on that. They conform to solid waste collections criteria not two men in a
truck driving and dumping trash all over Willis Foreman Road and Highway One. As long as
this conforms to that I support approval as consistent with the criteria of safety, distance from the
road, haulers and damage to personal property that we passed probably in ’03 or ’04 when we
first passed this. So this needs to be passed, it’s valid it’s consistent with what we’ve done in the
past.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, we have a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion?
Mr. Williams: I’d like to ---
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Williams.
Mr. Williams: --- get clear on Commissioner Cheek’s statement. If this is going to be
conformed like we’re doing now which would be the same thing we got now what difference is
that going to make? If we’re going to get a private company to use the same kind of equipment
the same type of equipment haul it the same way what, I don’t see the significant in changing if
that’s what ---
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Johnson.
Mr. Johnson: (INAUDIBLE)
Mr. Mayor: Bringing you in to provide a little clarity.
Mr. Johnson: Okay what’s the? Can I re-get, can I ---
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Williams, can you repeat the question?
59
Mr. Williams: Yes, sir. Mr. Johnson, Mr. Cheek just stated that he can support this
provided we do it I guess with private industry the same way we’re doing it now with the same
type. You could’ve have a pickup truck going out picking up garbage that was naturally was not
going to be covered as well and one day it’s going to be good and one day the top the canvas is
not going to be on it. So we don’t want to litter up the city. He said he could support it if it’s the
same type situation that we’re doing now. My question is what would be the difference, why
will be change if we’re going to use the same criteria for picking up the garbage with a private
business versus the city coming out and doing it. The private truck wouldn’t be able to go up in
the yard it wouldn’t be able to turn around in those narrow driveways. It would have to be a
private thing. So what difference what advantage would that do?
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Johnson.
Mr. Johnson: If I understood Mr. Cheek correctly it’s the criteria that would be the same.
The methodology in which it got picked up would be the difference. For example, the vast
majority of our trucks are 3-axle trucks. They’re very large under our contract. And we did not
contract our companies to go on to the property so they didn’t purchase smaller vehicles. Our
ordinances that address litter are the items that would enforce whether the debris blows, so on
and so forth. So there are components on the books that would enforce blowing litter from a
pickup truck, so on and so forth. It would just be a private industry collecting it versus a
contracted entity picking it up.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Commissioner Cheek.
Mr. Cheek: Just to be consistent I guess and to provide additional information the
criteria, the four exemption criteria that we used in the past apparently never made it to the books
and as long as these trucks conform to the blow out problems the ooze that comes out of garbage
leaking on to our roadways and their closed contained in inspected vehicles I don’t care who
picks it up on these rural routes. The problem you have with a lot of areas is driving up to three
or four hundred a quarter of a mile on to some people’s property. We’ve had broken water lines,
broken trees, damage to trucks from them trying to go on the property and do the job. This
addresses this nicely and basically addresses it in a manner that we somehow missed getting on
the books in the past.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Grantham: Call the question.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. If there’s no further discussion
commissioners ---
Mr. Holland: Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Holland.
60
Mr. Holland: Mr. Mayor I’d like to know whether or not since we have this special
exception that we are supposedly going to approve I’d like to know if there are any other areas in
that particular district that have the same kind of problems. And if we’re going to do that
perhaps we may be opening up somewhat of a Pandora’s box. So we need to think very
seriously about this so if there’s some other areas that would come back before this commission
requesting the same thing from the commission.
Mr. Mayor: This is citywide.
Mr. Holland: Citywide.
Mr. Cheek: Primarily impacts areas ---
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Cheek, the question has been called for. Commissioners will now vote
by the usual sign of voting.
Mr. Williams votes No.
Motion carries 8-1.
Mr. Mayor: Next agenda item Madam Clerk.
The Clerk:
ENGINEERING SERVICES
52. Approve recommended site, management agreement term sheet, and operation and
maintenance plan for the Trade, Event and Exhibit (TEE) Center.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Russell.
Mr. Russell: Mr. Mayor, members of the commission. As you know over the past
several years we’ve been talking about the development of a Trade Center for the City of
Augusta. We have gone back and forth on locations, we’ve gone back and forth on sites, we’ve
gone back forth on an agreement with the manager of the current Marriott and the current center
that we have now. Several weeks or several months ago now you asked me to come back and
look at other sites. You’ve asked me to look at the management agreement you asked me to do
some more exploration into the potentials for Augusta. After doing so it’s my recommendation
and I’ll go through that very quickly. You have that in front of you and I’d just like to go
through it. We’ve evaluated other sites but the Reynolds Street location attached to the city
owned conference center is still the recommended site. This site outside metro Atlanta, Augusta
has the best facility in the State of Georgia offering 347 hotel rooms, 50,000 square feet of
banquet and meeting space and 40,000 feet of exhibit space all under one roof. To look at other
sites would require the development of a 350 room hotel and 50,000 feet of banquet and meeting
space provide considerable a comparable package and will cost the city 10-20 million to
subsidize a headquarter hotel and build meeting space and acquire land. What we had several
people talk and several people come and several people provide interest nobody wanted to put up
the money. Nobody showed up with the dollars. Everybody thought it was a great idea as long
61
as we paid approximately 10-20 additional million dollars to make it happen. In my mind we
can’t afford that. At the end even so if we put it someplace else we would actually be competing
with ourselves as we have a convention center in the Marriott and it’s currently stated. In
addition to that we have another center someplace else if we could have found an appropriate
location and that would have competed against ourselves which is not in anybody’s mind good
business. As we looked at our customers we looked at the original study as we looked at
everything that was available to us or myself, we still believe and I still firmly believe that the
TEE Center located next to our current convention space is the best business deal for the City of
Augusta. Our initial agreements required funding of about $350,000 annually, $250,000 to cover
the anticipated operating deficit and $100,000 to cover the capital costs. We looked at those we
know you had concerns about that we looked at compared and we looked at other places that do
similar kinds of programs. We could not find a deal that’s any better than that. We studied
comparables in Georgia and in Augusta’s competitive area where we would be competing.
Annual costs of other cities in Georgia range from $408,000 in Dalton, $800,000 in Savannah to
$1.2 million in Athens. For Augusta the $350,000 is much less than other cities. They’re facility
in our mind not only in our mind but in the ground and in the practice will be a better facility.
The four options that we talked about for funding are enclosed in your packet. None of the
operations come out of the general fund. We thought long and hard about that and all of these
would generate in excess of the $350,000 outlined in the management agreement. It would be
my recommendation if you look at the options that are available to you for funding that if
decided on that we should go with funding option B which is to add a dollar amount per night
occupancy fee for each hotel room in Augusta. That would be estimated to bring us an
additional $1.1 million dollars. That is based on a 60% occupancy of the rates that we have and
that’s a conservative number. Of that $350,000 would be dedicated towards the TEE Center
operational costs, and capital that we leave a balance of $750,000. It would be my
recommendation that we use that $750,000 to support our Transit System one area of
government if you looked at the budget and looked at the audit report that still has initial
problems there. It still has issues that we need to look at and impacts greatly on a good majority
of our citizens unable to provide for themselves in that particular area. It’s our opinion based on
the law we can do that and that we would recommend that as a funding option not only for the
Tee Center but as an option to fund our ailing system at the moment. As you move from the
funding we looked at the management agreement and let me tell you initially the management
agreement that was proposed is not one that I thought was favorable to the city. We have
rearranged that in some ways, we have come to several impasses and moved past those in several
other areas. The counter proposal was in your package to the Augusta LLC. We already have a
current long-term agreement with them and it only makes sense to continue to move forward
with that. Under the 1992 agreement between the city and Augusta LLC for the existing
conference center the city has very few rights and relatively no control over the existing city
owned conference center. That was unacceptable to you and that was unacceptable to me as
someone negotiating on your behalf. The proposed agreement for the TEE Center changes for
the first time given the city some say and how the conference center is managed and the new
agreement requires one rent free day per quarter for the city. In addition to that we have an
oversight of the rental rates structure for the Tee Center and a room block agreement. Let me tell
you how significant that room block is. That would give us the opportunity to book large
citywide conventions. That would require that the LLC give us a block of rooms that would be
used. So we bring in things like GMA, ACCG or those kinds of conferences that you’re familiar
62
with. In addition to that other conferences of professional organizations or whatever. Not only
are we selling the 350 bids downtown but we’re able to sell the 5,000 bids that are available
throughout our city. Currently there are no incentives for the conference center to book these
large conferences. This would change that totally and give our people in the convention and
business bureau a tool to work with. This is a fairly new thing only done in Charlotte and a
couple other cities now so we’re cutting edge with that and it lets us compete with cities a whole
lot larger that we are in that particular market. Either we benefit it over and we’ve talked about
that over the several years of about 1.8 million in taxes and ceded directly to the city in 2006 but
currently there’s no incentive for them book large events to spill over to other hotels. This
agreement, that room block agreement that we negotiated would be that incentive. The new
agreement also gives some control back to the city. Requires LLC to accept bookings for large
citywide conventions, commissioners will spend at least 200 hotel rooms in other cities. Since
the cap on the rates the LLC can charge the hotel rooms the citywide events. Augusta currently
loses those events because the city doesn’t have exhibit space nor strong agreement with the
LLC for the conference center. I know we lost an event for HUD several years ago because we
could not negotiate a capped rate. That would give us the opportunity to do that. Convention
business is good for the entire city it’s one that will not increase without these kinds of
agreements and without these kinds of working arrangements with a private partner. The
objective of the TEE Center is to enable the city to host large citywide conventions to provide
space for them to do that. We believe and I firmly believe the package that you have in front of
you provides us the best opportunity to do that. It provides us with the funding mechanism to
pay those costs, it provides us with the tools to work with the LLC to demand that Augusta gets
it’s fair share of the dollars that they collect from the conventions and demand that they
cooperate with other agencies and other hotels to continue to move forward to book even bigger
and larger conventions. We’ve looked we’ve scoured the ground we’ve attempted to do exactly
what you say is find other opportunities. Looking at all those other opportunities and my best
recommendation is that they all pale in comparison to the one we have in front of us today. I’d
be happy to try and answer whatever questions you might have in addition Barry White’s here
with us and he has a whole lot better detail than I do. The staff has worked hard to negotiate this
agreement. It’s not perfect it’s a whole lot better than what we started out with six months ago
and I would suggest and recommend that we can move forward with this agreement.
Mr. Smith: Move for approval.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion for approval. Is there a second?
Mr. Cheek: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, there’s a motion and a second. Before I move to the questioning I’d
just want to state my own opinion on this. Based on the fact that we’ve exhausted other site
options, we only have one site option, this is a transaction that to me is important not only
because it sets us up in a situation to where we’re competitive with cities larger than us but to be
able to take $750,000 a year and put it into our Transit System which needs it desperately that’s
thinking outside the box. Other cities have not done that with regards to funding transit. Many
of my colleagues up here attended the GMA convention recently in Savannah. The only two
cities that can host that convention are Savannah and Atlanta. They’re the only two cities with
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the facilities to do so. This puts us in front of Savannah and I agree with Commissioner
Williams with what he said earlier today, we have got to put things in this city that are going to
draw people in and this does that for us. I’d just, that’s my own personal opinion I’ll now turn it
over to Commissioner Grantham.
Mr. Grantham: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I’d like to ask the motion maker to make an
amendment to this and that we adopt the proposal of the Administrator but in doing so that we
also adopt Option B and in Option B that we designate that those funds be allocated to Transit.
That was a recommendation I understand. Is that correct?
Mr. Speaker: Yes, sir, Mr. Commissioner.
Mr. Grantham: I would say that be designated to the Transit Department for the use of
those funds.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Smith, are you willing to amend your motion? Commissioner Brigham
then Commissioner Bowles then Commissioner Williams.
Mr. Brigham: From my understanding of the Administrator’s presentation and correct
me if I’m wrong that we were only going to put $750,000 of the $1.1 million dollars in transit.
The other $300,000 plus, what ever it was, was going to stay in the uh, the uh, oh God ---
Mr. Grantham: Operations.
Mr. Brigham: --- operational side. I’m sorry. And I want to make sure that is what the
motion is that it has not changed with this amendment. Because I don’t think we need to put all
of it in transit.
Mr. Mayor: No, that’s stated by the motion.
Mr. Brigham: So with the establishment of the service district we’re going to establish it
for the purpose of transit and for the, not the entertainment but the ---
Mr. Russell: TEE Center.
Mr. Brigham: Tee Center operational ---
Mr. Russell: Operational and capital costs. Yes, sir.
Mr. Brigham: More like the Trade Center or convention, little more loosely worded for
the hosting facilities.
Mr. Russell: It would be my recommendation the first $350,000 go towards the operation
and capital cost of the Trade Center, the balance which is approximately $750,000 go towards
transit, yes, sir.
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Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Bowles.
Mr. Bowles: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. As a member of the CDBG’s Trade Center Board
we’ve looked and looked and looked the past year and a half. I did research over the last
weekend going back to 2002 identifying all the articles written on the Trade and Exhibit Center
everyone except for one article from March ’05 identified the site as the Radisson, which was the
previous name of this location. The only idea came in March of ‘05, which was Bob Young’s
idea to place it on the Reynolds Street location, the old pension property in hopes of inducing
another hotel to come downtown. The problem with that is Macon tried that with their
Centerplex five years ago and still have no hotel downtown. The benefit we have with this
agreement is as opposed to Savannah with their agreement we have a room block agreement
whereas Savannah does not. I think this is a win, win for downtown. It’s what the voters voted
on and so I encourage support for the Administrator’s recommendations.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Williams.
Mr. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I’ve got a couple of questions that I need to ask.
I’ve looked at the site and we heard it, we’ve been looking all around trying to find something
suitable. I think this site may be suitable but I’ve got a problem with the agreement side of it.
Not only that Mr. Mayor you said that Atlanta and Savannah was the only ones now that we’re in
competition with that can host this. Unless we get a facility that can house another thousand I’m
going to say possibly more. When you look at Savannah and what a trade center is what’s going
on in Savannah you said earlier that we got to do something to attract people to Augusta. Just
building a building in my mind just won’t do it. I mean if you’re going to get another 40,000
square feet and you’re going to end up with the Trade Center and the Tee Center and you’re
going to end up with 80,000 square feet. But just a building is not going to do it. We have got to
build something unique and different that people will want to come to Augusta and be willing to
stay on the edge, on the outskirts until we get the hotel. And if we get a hotel, we’ve got to get a
hotel that’s going to be willing to come and join to or participate with what we’ve already got. I
think that’s the best site but if you’re going to go ahead now and approve it it’s like putting your
foot in the door. You would never close the door as long as somebody’s foot is in it. I mean if
you put that site there now I mean we might as well approve the agreement as well. I know
there’s some changes been made Mr. Russell I know we made some concessions that benefited
this city. But when I met with Barry White I explained to him that my thoughts were that if you
don’t build something totally unique and something totally different nobody’s just going to come
to Augusta because you got a TEE Center. I mean that just won’t work. When you’re talking
about attracting the major conventions and you only got what 350 rooms, 400 rooms and you got
a 1200 unit convention center that want to come and everybody else has got to be somewhere
else the presenters or the people putting on the convention’s going to be the first ones there. So I
mean we’re going to be limited. What comes first the chicken or the egg? Okay, I guess that’s
what we got to do Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Maybe we ought to hear from Mr. White. Barry, would you like to speak?
Mr. White: You’re right, Mr. Williams, we cannot just build this and expect people to
come but it is the tool that allows us to go out there and sell the space and get the people here.
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And that’s what it’s going to take is that sales effort. We can accommodate the large event. Just
recently a few weeks ago we hosted The National Wild Turkey Federation for one of their
smaller events, which was about 1200 people. And they were here and they spread out at all the
hotels, up and down Washington Road and around I-20 in that area. We can accommodate those
types of groups. They’re going to require a headquarter hotel and they’re going to require some
larger space. This was one of their small ones. But there are plenty out there, we’ve got several
identified right now we’re ready to go after and obviously GMA is one of those.
Mr. Holland: Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Holland.
Mr. Holland: Mr. Mayor, thank you, Mr. Mayor. I’m also on that board with Mr.
Bowles and I’ve also spoken to Barry in reference to this agreement also and one of the things
that concerns me is the managerial agreement in reference to this TEE Center. My concern I
think the site is a good site by my concern and I wanted to ask the Administrator and ask Barry,
do we have anybody, do we have any other developers that have expressed an interest to come in
and try to put up a hotel near this area so that this would enhance the TEE Center rather than just
having the TEE Center where it is and having just one particular hotel. Just get all of the rooms
out at one time. I mean we don’t have any other spacious hotels to compliment this TEE Center.
Mr. Russell: Yes, sir, if I may, Mr. Mayor, Commissioner, we have had people come
down and look. We, their interest is specifically with this particular site where they can connect
into that at this particular point in time. We’re in the preliminary stages of talking to somebody
who’s actually waiting in the wings to determine what we do today. Barry’s had conversations
with them as recently as last week. So there is that potential. It’s the tipping point and it’s the
foot in the door that Commissioner Williams was talking about I believe that people are standing
not so much in line but looking at very closely what we do in this particular case to determine
whether or not they want to continue that kind of investment. I can’t promise you that somebody
will come but if you look at the business deal that we have with this particular group, if you look
at the opportunities that are available and look at what’s going on in Augusta today the things
that we are doing better than we have in the past I’m very optimistic that that would happen.
And that hotel is talking about up to 150 rooms within a connected corridor for that particular
facility. We’ve mentioned to them about some other space and they weren’t interested in that.
They want the synergy of having the places together is what they were looking at. So it’s a very
good question and I’m happy that I could provide that answer.
Mr. Holland: Thank you. Mr. Mayor, is it possible that we can have someone from the
audience to speak in reference to this?
Mr. Mayor: Sure. Let me get Commissioner Cheek and then Commissioner Cheek and
then we’ll recognize, when they’re speaking, who are they representing to speak or?
Mr. Holland: I would imagine they’re representing the community, the public you know
to share any interests in reference to the TEE Center.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay, Commissioner Cheek and then we’ll.
Mr. Cheek: Mr. Mayor, I’m not in favor of having a public hearing. We need to decide
and this is the thing that, in my few months are up and I’m going to step back as a citizen and
look because we as a body want to pick and choose. The whole idea behind the TEE Center is to
put people in our stores, in our restaurants in our shops in our hotels to grow our local economy.
Other cities as disingenuous of anybody on this board to be against this and for other venue just
because it’s my pet project in my particular part of town or against one because I don’t think
that’s what government ought to do. People, the cities around us in the southeast are building
convention centers consistent with what we’re looking at. People in west of New Orleans, east
of New Orleans are building and Kansas City are building racetracks. People they’re building
white watercourses in Charlotte. We need to be doing all these things if we want to lead instead
of tread water. And we as a body and God knows as I become a civilian want to step back and
someday see when this group quits following the pet projects of their peer groups and starts
acting in the best interests collectively of this entire city and approves things that will fill our
hotels fill our stores and help the economic heart of the CSRA which Augusta is grow and
become stronger not continue to linger on life support. This project needs to pass as well as
several others. Passing this project is the first step in the right direction.
Mr. Mayor: I agree and Commissioner Holland there was an opportunity for the public to
speak and presentation on the first part of the agenda. The meeting was advertised and so they
had their chance. Mr. Russell, is there anything else?
Mr. Russell: I don’t know what else I could say at the moment. We looked at this the
Convention and Visitor’s Bureau has looked at it. I think that what you have in front of you is a
sound business deal based on sound business practices that will benefit the city of Augusta and I
would recommend approval.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Brigham.
Mr. Brigham: Mr. Mayor, in my opinion this commission made a very right decision
when it did the Max Hicks plant for the water system for this county. To do this TEE Center is
as forward looking as the Max Hicks Plant was when the commission did that to improve our
tourism base therefore I call for the question.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, the question has been called for. We have a motion and a second.
Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign.
Mr. Williams and Mr. Harper vote No.
Ms. Beard and Mr. Holland abstain.
Motion fails 5-2-2.
Mr. Cheek: Motion to reconsider.
Mr. Grantham: Second.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay we have a motion to reconsider and a second.
The Clerk: Who seconded?
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Grantham. Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign.
Mr. Williams, Mr. Harper, Ms. Beard and Mr. Holland vote No.
Motion fails 5-4.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, Madame Clerk, next agenda item.
The Clerk:
ENGINEERING SERVICES
53. Approve leasing property from Waste Management.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Russell or Mr. Johnson.
Mr. Johnson: This item is a lease to rent Waste Managements Transfer Station which
would give us the ability to move our own recycling. Currently our recycling goes to North
Augusta where we’re paying $26.00 a ton. On a month-to-month lease we would be paying
$1,000 a month. If you factor in about $5.00 a ton for us to pick the material up and load it, it
puts us at a positive $4,350.00 a month versus a loss of six thousand and something a month.
Mr. Grantham: Motion to approve.
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. Bowles out.
Motion carries 8-0.
Mr. Mayor: Next agenda item, Madam Clerk.
The Clerk:
SUBCOMMITTEE
54. Request/receive status report from the Administrator relative to Hyde Park.
(Requested by Commissioner Marion Williams)
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Grantham.
Mr. Grantham: Mr. Mayor, thank you. I know Mr. Williams requested this but as the
Chairman of the Subcommittee I’m going to refer this comment to our Administrator at his
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monthly report for discussion in item number 56 if Mr. Williams has any other comments he’d
like to make.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Williams, is that okay with you?
Mr. Williams: That will be fine, Mr. Mayor. We need something to take back to. Some
of the members of Hyde Park are here today but if that’s going to be discussed (INAUDIBLE).
The Clerk:
ADMINISTRATOR
56. Discuss Administrator’s Monthly Report.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Russell, just get up there and wow us. We’ve got a lot of good news to
report.
Mr. Russell: I’m not going to tell any of it to anybody. Somebody bring me the hard hat
that was in the other office. We do have a lot of good news and we need to be very proud of a
lot of the kinds of things we’re doing. I don’t know if you actually understand the significance
of the audit report but that’s something each and every one of you and each and every person that
works for the City of Augusta and lives here needs to be proud of. We were able to do
something this year that we have not able to do for a while and that’s very, very important. As
we looked at the SPLOST projects we understand your concern and your criticism for the
SPLOST II and SPLOST III projects that are not going as fast as well as we anticipated. But let
me assure you that not only ten years but further back than that back we had SPLOST I. For the
first time we’ve closed that particular SPLOST out. And two weeks ago y’all authorized the
spending of the last of those dollars so we’re moving things forward. And I can promise you that
these other projects will be here again and again and again until we get those projects taken care
of and move forward with that. We are showing that we are good stewards of the citizen’s
money and moving forward as quickly as we can with some of those things. We are correcting
some of the mistakes of the past but that’s always what you’re doing in government on occasion
and I’m proud of the kinds of things that we are doing. Not only are we receiving recognition
here but also nationally and internationally. Our technology department, our website. Let me
say that one more time. Our technology and our website was one of the best in the country and
we were awarded because of that. One of the highest grades in the whole country for our
website that gives information about our city. The Utilities Department has received the
following award and you saw what kind of percentage here. So that’s the kind of things we’re
doing that are good. Our Recreation Department was recognized as a Georgia trendsetter. And
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for those of you who did not come and look and visit with us on the 4 of July downtown you
missed a wonderful experience, an experience that was paid for out of private dollars and private
donations. The fireworks that we had were the biggest and best ever. That was $50,000 worth
of fireworks that was there all of which was paid for by private donations because those people
see and those people were enthused about what’s going on in Augusta and the kinds of things
that we’re doing. And that’s a good thing for us. If you go through our city you look every
place you see walls going up and you can do that from here. You can look out the back and see
people building stuff downtown and that’s a good thing. I met on the street just a little while ago
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the gentleman that’s redoing the White’s building down here into condos and he told me that he
pre-sold 15 condos down there. That’s a sign that Augusta’s growing. It’s a good sign that
things are happening downtown. And that’s a sign that we’ll continue to move forward. We’re
going to have our arguments we’re going to have our discussions we’re going to have our
disagreements but we need to make sure that we continue to fall forward in everything that we
do so we continue to move the city forward and do so in a reasoned yet cautioned way. I mean
for those of you who have worked with me over the last five years I’m not a very big of a
spendthrift. We’re going to make sure we get the best bang for the buck for every dollar that you
give us as best we can. I would add that you should probably give me some dollars to work with
but you know we need to continue to move forward with that. The Hyde Park issue is one that’s
haunted Augusta for years and years and years. Way longer before I got here and a lot longer
before that. And we are finally under the direction of Commissioner Grantham, Mr. Williams
and the subcommittee beginning to move forward in that particular area. What I have today is an
announcement that we have selected an individual to be our lead, the point of the spear in the
Hyde Park area. That will be Mr. Steven Kendrick. I just wanted to call him Mr. Kendrick,
Kendrick but Steven Kendrick I think. He’s met with the Brownsfield people and we’re working
forward to move with that. The Brownsfield area in my mind needs to be continually enhanced.
We need to work harder on our Brownsfield commission. We need to make sure that those
people have the tools and the opportunities to work and make sure that we address not only Hyde
Park but Brownsfield needs to be concerned with other areas in our community that need to be
addressed and worked with. And I will suggest to you that in the budget coming up you’ll see
money to be funded for Brownsfield to continue that to move forward. In addition to that we
need to specifically look at Hyde Park. We need to make sure that we bring forth the dollars
there that are available through the State and through other grants and whatever to deal with
those conditions in that community not only clean-up but revitalization. Not only revitalization
but moving the community forward. It’s not going to be easy but we don’t do easy things. It’s
going to be tough but we’re going to make it happen because we’ve got the commitment not only
with you as commissioners but of the citizens in Hyde Park that are working with us. We’re
going to make everybody happy there? Probably not but I’ve learned as you have in government
you don’t make everybody happy. What you do is do the best you can to move forward and
make the most people happy that you can and be fair and equitable, words that Commissioner
William uses all the time and that’s what we need to be is be fair and equitable in those particular
opportunities. What we also need to do is think outside the box. And I’ve heard that said up
here fairly regularly too. And we need to make sure we don’t close the door to any opportunities
for those people in Hyde Park. Do some thinking and do some opportunity putting together that
might not be traditional but just because nobody else has ever done it doesn’t mean we can’t
make it work and I can’t see why we can’t be the star in that particular area as we finally rally
our resources to do that. You’re going to see me request financial support for that particular
item. In the budget you’ll look at, in next year’s budget you’ll look at fairly substantial costs for
revitalizing the Brownsfield commission, moving it forward. Short term I’d like to be able to use
$25,000 out of the contingency account to move the Hyde Park area forward and get somebody,
and get seed and get started on putting together that particular area in moving forward. Property,
you’ll be seeing in the near future a list of properties that I think we need to sell and in Legal
today I’d like to be able to talk to you about a couple pieces of property that we would like to
buy. We’re moving forward with a couple other options we have available to us and as you
know those areas are always sensitive to deal with but I think they’re important to us and in
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Legal I’d like to be able to do that. What I’d like to use this report for on a regular basis is not to
add action items but to add items for interest and whatever. I apologize for the request for
funding for the Hyde Park issue but it’s something I think we need to go ahead and move
forward. In addition you’ve asked me to come back and look at the study of our departments and
look at the study of our people. We had a proposal several months, weeks ago in which we
looked at Buck Consultants. You’ve asked me to go back and deal with them and I’ve been able
to get them down to a figure that we think is appropriate to move forward with that and that I
think is important as we go forward with our budget process. So I will in the next few weeks be
asking you for funding for that and move forward with that out of the contingency dollars. What
I wanted out of this was an opportunity to say good things about what’s going on and I
appreciate that opportunity. If you have any questions about anything specific I’d be more than
happy to respond to those.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Williams.
Mr. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, and I heard every word the Administrator
said. I’m a little bit disappointed. We asked the Administrator I know at least twice maybe three
times the subcommittee asked him to come back and bring us a report before he put a report out.
I got no problem with Mr. Kendrick and I hope he’s got the expertise to and needs for somebody
to do this particular job. But we asked the Administrator to come back to the subcommittee to
let us know as a subcommittee which path we were going down and who we were going to select
versus putting something out, paying somebody to do that. But like I said I hope he’s got the
expertise and can do the job. The other thing is the people in Hyde Park been hearing a song and
a dance by Mr. Russell for too long and I hadn’t heard anything that’s going to be substantial
enough to have them know within the next 90 days if not sooner that something’s going to be
done. You got children you got seniors you got people we finally go to the point of saying it was
contaminated. We said in the meeting that we’re not going to agree as to the extent, how much
contamination was actually there but any amount of contamination is bad. We act as if that’s
going to go away and that’s going to stop until we get those people out. I don’t think none of us
would spend one more night in an area that’s been classified as contaminated if we didn’t have to
and I don’t think the people in Hyde Park should have to deal with or spend an additional night
over there as well. So I didn’t hear anything except a bunch of words that’s going to do anything
for the people in Hyde Park to get them out of that situation as quick as possible. When you’re
talking about children and seniors now I know some folks can swim for themselves, some folks
just going to drown but what about the young and the old that’s there?
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Williams: They got to be there. They can’t help themselves. And so I’m very
disappointed, Mr. Mayor. I hadn’t heard anything that’s going do anything. I just heard a name
put out there that we as a subcommittee was supposed to be brought back.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Williams: We asked him to bring it back to us. This is the second maybe third time.
I know this is the second time that that has happened and we gave some direction.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay, Ms. Beard.
Ms. Beard: Fred, could you explain just a little further how you expect to use Steven
Kendrick and what do you have in mind for Brownsfield and how they differ.
Mr. Russell: Yes. Brownsfield in my mind needs to be the over-arching group that looks
at contaminated areas in our city. Despite what some people might think Hyde Park is not the
only area we have that needs assistance. It’s one of many areas that need to be looked at an
environmental standpoint. We have some city owned property that we could convert and I know
Commissioner Cheek has talked about that time and time again that we can convert, a good use
there basically. I think Browsfield needs to be the group that does that over-arching look that
looks at the entire city that’s brings back recommendations and brings back potential funding not
only for Hyde Park but for these other areas that need to be cleaned up. In addition to that I think
Steven needs to be the point of the spear there in Hyde Park. And I understand what
Commissioner Williams has said about only hearing words and those words have been ongoing
for a while but it takes a while to translate those words into action and I’ve been tasked with
doing that in the past several months and I think we’re getting there. I think Steven needs to be
the one who helps bring forth that with the assistance of Brownsfield and look for dollars that
can move the people out if necessary. They can give people opportunities to move if necessary if
that is merited by the level of contamination. And that’s something that is still a point of
discussion among everybody at this particular point in time. But I think what I heard from my
directions was that we need to at least look for opportunities for anybody that wants to leave.
Not that the city would write them a check of the Feds would write them a check but we would
do everything we can to facilitate them leaving if they, leaving that area if they want to. So I
think that all those pieces come together citywide with the Brownsfield Commission and
specifically in Hyde Park for those people there.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, Commissioner Cheek.
Mr. Cheek: Mr. Mayor, Fred, I really like the format of having an Administrator’s report
bringing this to us. One I’d like to say over an earlier issue my frustration continues to be and
has been is there’s a disconnect between the direction of commission and how staff proceeds and
executes the orders. And a good example would be the drainage projects we mentioned earlier
and the perceived need to engineer removing trees and refrigerators from ditches also to follow
on and I look forward to this on a monthly basis hopefully. But I never heard what technical
confidence Mr. Kendrick brings to the table other than being a former candidate for Mayor that
would justify an appointment of the Hyde Park Subcommittee when we have people sitting so
close by that have been the point of the spear for the Brownsfield initiative and other things. I’m
looking for any maybe I’m not aware of but tell me what technical confidence, what leadership,
what committees, what grants Mr. Kendrick’s have brought to the table that would make him be
the point of the spear in this important initiative in Hyde Park.
Mr. Russell: I think what Mr. Kendrick brings to the table is the ability to communicate
well with people. Not that we don’t have other people that do that or that we have we a different
voice that we’re looking to. He has the organizational and managerial skills to bring forth a
72
focused approach to dealing with this particular problem and the ability to take advantage of the
ground that was already broken by several people that you mentioned, Reverend Utley for one.
And he’s, Rev. Utley expertise in a larger field than this particular area. Sometimes you need to
in my mind sharpen the spear or maybe change to an arrow and that’s what we might be doing in
this particular case. But as we looked at this you asked me to bring forth what I thought to be the
best person and I’ve done so.
Mr. Cheek: We are talking about the same individual, aren’t we?
Mr. Russell: Yes, we are.
Mr. Cheek: Okay.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, Commissioner Grantham.
Mr. Cheek: The annual salary on this job?
Mr. Russell: It will be a consulting position. We anticipate paying $40 an hour for 20-
hour weeks.
Mr. Cheek: And we’re hiring a consultant because they can communicate well. They
have no other technical expertise. I hate to put you on the spot ---
Mr. Russell: There’s a plethora of other technical expertise that are there but as we all
know ---
Mr. Cheek: I’ve asked for and please tell me.
Mr. Russell: Communications is probably the key to success in most everything we do
and I think that’s probably where I would like to hang my hat.
Mr. Cheek: We’ve established that technical expertise and environmental transport and
all that are not criteria.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Grantham.
Mr. Grantham: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. And I think in response to that Mr. Cheek is you
know the technical information has come from the EPD, the EPA the Gannett Fleming people
and all of the folks that have been there to talk to us and make these studies and to do the
information that was needed years ago. And yes it’s been some time coming. And I’ve been
involved in this now for seven months, six and a half months and so I feel like we made more
progress in this six and a half months than we have in the last six and a half years and to the
standpoint that we’ve had better dialogue and a better understanding for the people in the
neighborhood and for the people there knowing now what can happen. Here before they didn’t
have the information as to what could happen. The only information that they had was that
you’re going to get moved and you’re going to get a new house and you’re going to get a check.
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Well, that’s certainly not the case. We need to address this in a very professional manner and in
one that I feel like that Mr. Russell’s bringing us a recommendation on an individual that has no
ties into that area, is unbiased in a standpoint of the Hyde Park area but he’s very biased to
Augusta and to Richmond County. And he loves Augusta and he wants to do what’s right by it.
So along those lines I’m going to make a motion that we take Mr. Russell’s recommendation in
securing the services of our consultant Mr. Steven Kendrick.
Ms. Beard: I’d like to second that.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion?
Commissioner Cheek.
Mr. Cheek: Mr. Mayor just briefly. I would for the sake of all the PhD’s in Augusta-
Richmond County who have, for expertise in environmental transport and actually reading the
studies that pile that political hacks quite frankly can’t read or interpret that we would at least on
our blue ribbon committees appoint people that are technically competent to read the studies and
then implement them, not pretty faces that are politically connected.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Commissioner Beard.
Ms. Beard: Mr. Mayor, the way I see that, most of that will be done through the person
who will head our Brownsfield situation. And we do plan to move forward there because you
have all types of grants out there and we expect to go after some of them and make a difference
in our city. Now as far as Steven Kendrick is concerned I did not support him when he ran for
Mayor but I have known him all of my life and I know he is very competent, very energetic, very
professional and with whatever he does he does a good job. And the way we see it he will be
working with the residents out there and trying to do what is in their best interests. He’s already
gone out there and spoken with them. But there is not one doubt in my mind that he will not do a
good job. And we don’t have anyone here better and I’m going to leave you with that. He’s a
fine person for this position.
Mr. Mayor: Ms. Beard, I know that this isn’t going to come as a shock to anybody in this
room but I didn’t support Steven’s run for Mayor as well (LAUGHTER) but I do support him for
this position. Commissioner Williams.
Mr. Williams: Mr. Mayor, I’ve two questions and this is not whether you support Steven
for any job. I’m just wondering how the Administrator came up with it and not come back to
this subcommittee. My question is though who else are we going to be paying. If there’s going
to be an assistant to him and he’s going to be the go-between person that’s going to be making
$40 an hour for 20 hours a week, how much more are we paying and who else are we paying
because I think the whole package ought to be laid out on the table so we’ll know exactly how
much money we’re looking at in salary. And who are these other persons would be my question.
Don’t entirely surprise us.
Mr. Russell: I don’t anticipate any additional salaries in that particular, at this particular
point in time for that particular function.
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Mr. Williams: So you think somebody’s going to volunteer to give the information to a
paid person or give them direction to a paid person who’s making $40 an hour, just yes or no. I
mean if you think that just say yes.
Mr. Russell: I think the information’s readily available. I think that’s part of the job is to
research and find that.
Mr. Williams: Okay, my last question is, is there a time period we’re talking about or
trial period for people who we bring into this government and put to work. Are we going to give
Mr. Kendrick or anybody else a time period to perform versus just being here or being paid for
the duration of the uh, the state? And all of them people are out of there pretty fast I mean we
talk about we’re talking about wooden chairs. We’re talking about children, living people that’s
living there which this ought to be our priority. This ought to be the main thing on our list so but
are we talking about a time period or grace period or a trial period where we can see some results
or something happening versus doing what we’ve been doing, paying somebody just to be on the
clock. I mean I just want to know those answers because I think it is too important and I think
it’s too much money that we don’t have some stipulation that goes with it so we won’t be just out
there somewhere.
Mr. Russell: And I firmly agree with you. The only funding I would ask for is through
the end of the year and as part of the budget process you would have an opportunity to review
any additional funding. So I’m looking at four months before you ever review.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, we have a motion and a second. If there’s no further discussion
commissioners will now vote by the usual sign of voting.
Mr. Williams, Mr. Cheek and Mr. Holland vote No.
Mr. Harper abstains.
Mr. Bowles out.
Motion fails 4-3-1.
Mr. Williams: I call for order of the day, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: What’s that?
Mr. Williams: Call for order of the day. Let’s go on to the next uh ---
Mr. Mayor: Next item, Madam Clerk.
The Clerk:
ATTORNEY
58. Approve policy change in reference to release of SPLOST V funds to outside agencies
and contractors in accordance with the approved disbursement schedule.
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Mr. Mayor: Mr. Shepard.
Mr. Shepard: Mr. Mayor, members of the commission. You may want to look also at
Item 60 in this regard. We have crafted an agreement; it’s called the SPLOST V Contractor
Agreement. And we did that because in last June, excuse me, in June a year ago we put
disclosure and other controls on the contractors so there would be accountability to this
government. And SPLOST contractor agreements basically now come before this board until
instructed otherwise and my suggestion in agenda item 58 is that, you could delegate this money,
which is already specified in the schedule. For example the Canal is scheduled to receive $2.5
million dollars and the Canal Authority I believe secured more than six signatures and there can
be a ratification of that disbursement today. The SPLOST Contractor Agreement requires the
recipient to have its SPLOST funds in separate accounts. It requires quarterly reports of these
intervals established with the input the Finance Director, the Interim Finance Director and Kim
Shore who is the SPLOST accountant. And I also commend to you the idea that a committee
composed, and you can reformulate this committee in any way you want if they are within the
amount of the disbursement schedule that you delegate to the Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem and the
Administrator. You can include the Attorney you can leave the Attorney off I don’t care. You
can also put the Finance Director there but have these agreements come before that agency, not
agency but before those individuals and have the approval done by them. The alternative would
just have the money returned, I mean the authorization continue to come back through here as
number 60 so it’s a streamlining of process that I said I would recommend some streamlining so
that the money can get on out into the community. Mr. Shore today when I was coming in the
building also suggested that we require the recipient to have an annual audit if it’s not already
having an annual audit and that we’d be a recipient of that audit. So I would commend the
amended SPLOST contractor agreement to you for approval. I would also commend ratification
of the number 60
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Can we get a motion on that?
Mr. Brigham: Mr. Mayor I make a motion that we approve the policy as defined as
presented to us by the Attorney and to include the annual audit as a part of the policy.
Ms. Beard: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. Commissioner Williams.
Mr. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor: I’m glad that the Attorney brought those
comments forward. I guess my question is on item 60 what happened that this did not get done
in the appropriate time that it had to be done this way without allowing anything else. I’m I
mean I need to know how, I mean if we’re going to redo something and I got no problem with
that but how did this not get done last year I think November, is that right Steve?
Mr. Shepard: Well, it was done in June, the guidelines were ---
Mr. Williams: I can’t hear you, Steve.
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Mr. Shepard: Well, do you hear me through my microphone?
Mr. Williams: Yeah, if you talk into it.
Mr. Shepard: Okay, I’m trying to talk into it.
Mr. Williams: Okay.
Mr. Shepard: Why this did not get done it was, it was necessary to modify the old
th
agreements because of the June 6 resolution and none of the outside contractors came up until
recently. For example we had other commitments in the SPLOST distribution schedule, which
this didn’t move out of the house here so to speak and we had to pay the bonds first installment,
principal and interest. It was it was necessary to do the signature agreement because we had
rescheduled these meetings and had we had a meeting on time I believe Dayton could’ve paid off
the note on time. Here again it’s just one of the things, sure it could’ve been done earlier but um,
we did it um, we did it when we thought it was appropriate.
Mr. Williams: Well, and Mr. Mayor I understand. I talked to Dayton as well am I’m
glad he had the signatures that he needed or whatever he had to do that but I’ve got an issue
when we wait, and I understand about the bonds being paid and the meetings got to be going on
but I don’t think the Attorney actually pays the bond. I think that’s something that’s done
through a finance or some other entity rather than the Attorney now. Maybe there’s some
document that he needs to sign and I’m sure there’s somebody in his office that does that. But
when I looked at this I was very disappointed and I shared that with Dayton when I talked to
him. I was willing to sign I wasn’t readily available when it came about but I thought it was very
wrong. You’re talking about $2.5 million you’re not talking about the salary I get Steve, we’re
talking about a very substantial amount of money that should’ve been handled and it wasn’t.
Now if we vote to change this what reassurance do we have that something like this don’t
happen again. What, does this guarantee that this is going to the department heads and to the
Mayor where it would not come to your office? Is that what you’re saying?
Mr. Shepard: Well, it would just not come again. If you would see fit to delegate the
authority to a subgroup to release these funds according to the schedule that the voters voted on.
I mean that’s determining the vote. Do you follow me?
Mr. Williams: Well, and I think I do but I think, I think if the money was disbursed
through the funds had the proper signatures of the Attorney’s office and I don’t know about the
Mayor’s office but if it was signed I think that the Canal Authority would not have to go and
bind the commissioners to do a letter on this and I’m just trying to understand the way that we
can prevent that from happening where these go straight to the department heads then to Mayor
or ---
Mr. Mayor: And, Commissioner Williams, I think that basically Item 58 is creating a
situation where it would give the authority to sign to approve to a smaller group of folks to where
we didn’t have to get into the position where we had to do number 60. So it streamlines the
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process similar to what Mr. Wheeler did with some of the funds that he administered earlier
today.
Mr. Williams: And, Mr. Mayor, my problem, my problem with that though if it needs, if
it needs the signature of an attorney and ---
Mr. Mayor: No, but that’s, it doesn’t need the signature of the Attorney it would need the
signature of the ---
Mr. Williams: Of the group that you put together.
Mr. Mayor: Yes.
Mr. Shepard: Well, the group that I would suggest is the Mayor, the Mayor Pro Tem, the
Finance Director or ---
The Clerk: --- the contract.
Mr. Shepard: Well, the contract ---
Mr. Mayor: Exactly.
Mr. Shepard: The template is done now.
Mr. Williams: Okay, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. Did your motion include the approval of
60 as well?
Mr. Brigham: No, sir, it didn’t.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, we have a motion and a second. If there’s no further discussion
Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign.
Mr. Bowles out.
Motion carries 8-0.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Mr. Shepard?
Mr. Shepard: If we could go ahead and do number 60. That’s a SPLOST matter.
Mr. Mayor: I’ll call number 60.
The Clerk:
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ATTORNEY
60. Motion to ratify authorization letter regarding approval of the release of SPLOST V
funds to Augusta Canal Authority-SPLOST V Contractor Agreement.
Mr. Cheek: Move to approve.
Mr. Brigham: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion?
Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign.
Mr. Bowles out.
Motion carries 8-0.
Mr. Mayor: Item 59, Madame Clerk.
The Clerk:
ATTORNEY
59. Motion to approve Recodification of Augusta Code, 2007 Revision.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Shepard.
Mr. Shepard: This is a matter that has been pending in my office since I took office as an
attorney. It had been pending long before that but the last time we comprehensively redid the
code was 1997 and it’s now three volumes. It will be electronically updated. We expect quicker
turnaround times with the Municipal Code Corporation. Once we finish work with the
Municipal Code Corporation you can check our charter on their website if you so desire. It will
also be on our website. This is just a continuum of all the ordinances that we have passed over
the last ten years since we’ve been qualified before so.
Mr. Cheek: Move to approve.
Mr. Shepard: Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion. Is there a second?
Mr. Brigham: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion?
Mr. Williams: Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Williams.
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Mr. Williams: Three binders thick and we’re going to sit here and approve it like we and
I mean and it may be straight up. I mean how can we sit here and approve that when we had not,
I mean what, shouldn’t that be in committee where we would at least have the opportunity that
the Administrator or the lawyer explain to us what we’re finalizing? I mean we’re just going to
vote for it and not know what we’re doing.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Shepard.
Mr. Shepard: Mr. Mayor, you have been using the ordinances but the ordinances have
not been in a loosely format that makes for easy changes, authorized changes, Mr. Williams, not
unauthorized and the Planning Commission uses a format similar to this so that when they
change the ordinance it’s readily available to the public and this here is the result of votes in the
Legislature to establish this government. It’s the result of votes in this chamber to handle the
various pockets that are in the code. I’m you know, it was a matter that needed to be pushed
through and I’m pushing it as soon as I could.
Mr. Mayor: It’s just putting the code in easier to use more user-friendly fashion
basically. I mean that’s all it’s doing.
Mr. Shepard: It’s the codification (INAUDIBLE).
Mr. Mayor: Exactly. It’s not changing the code whatsoever. It’s just approving having
it re-codified so it’s user-friendly.
Mr. Shepard: (INAUDIBLE).
Mr. Mayor: Okay. We have a motion and a second. If there’s no further discussion
commissioners will now vote by the usual sign.
Mr. Williams abstains.
Mr. Bowles out.
Motion carries 7-1.
Mr. Shepard: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, members of the commission.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, I believe that disposes of our, excuse me we’ve got the addendum
item.
Mr. Brigham: Did we take of that addition to the agenda, Super C’s?
Mr. Mayor: No, that’s what we’re going to go into now.
The Clerk:
ADDITION TO THE AGENDA
1. Discuss business license and incident at Super C’s. (Requested by Commissioner Cheek)
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Mr. Mayor: Mr. Russell, did ---?
Mr. Russell: No, sir.
Mr. Mayor: Is Rob?
Mr. Russell: Commissioner Cheek.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Cheek.
Mr. Cheek: I understand Mr. Mayor what, I mean there’s some questions about due
process of and I think to save us all some time we all know the nature, the fact that this has been
before us more than once. The fact that this has come, this will be the third time and it’s resulted
I make a motion that we begin the due process required by law the revocation
in a fatality
or suspension of business and alcohol licenses at this business establishment.
Mr. Mayor: There’s a motion. Is there a second?
Mr. Grantham: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. Commissioner Harper.
Mr. Harper: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I believe before you know we do this I think all the
facts need to be ascertained and all the issues that have taken place be looked into and resolved.
We’re moving fast on addressing his business license and the Richmond County Sheriff has not
even moved that fast. They did even send, a representative is not here to make a
recommendation and I believe that particular club is in my district if I’m not correct. I think that
uh, we should wait until all the facts come in and he’s allowed to present his case what
happened. To my knowledge not knowing all the facts adequate security was there so there was
a breakdown with Richmond County in the building and outside the building so it was a
breakdown somewhere. And I think before we rush to judgment and it’s unfortunate what
happened I don’t condone what happened it could happen in this building it happens to clubs all
over. We can’t just go out and start shutting people’s clubs down and taking their licenses from
them. I guarantee in 48 hours you’ll have another shooting somewhere. So we need to be
mindful of that and like I said he should have the opportunity just like any other citizen in this
county to be able to come before this body. Now when the Sheriff speaks up and the Sheriff says
we want to make a recommendation fine, but I just don’t think that us as policy makers, we’re
not Sheriff’s should be rushing to judgment to try to suspend to pull this man’s liquor license. I
just don’t think that’s fair.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Russell.
Mr. Russell: They way I understand the motion it would begin the process
Commissioner Harper that you’re talking about. And I’ve had several conversations with
Commissioner Cheek in the past hours or so in reference to that. And there is a due process
81
hearing that we would require input from the Sheriff we would require input from License and
Inspection and that would process would also allow the owner to participate in that and give us
some information. So I think what we’re just doing there is beginning that which you just
described and I think that’s something that would occur with or without the motion.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Commissioner Brigham.
Mr. Brigham: I agree with what the Administrator just said. My understanding of the
motion is that he’s calling for a public hearing and that’s all. It’s not a summary judgment or
anything else.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Cheek.
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Mr. Cheek: Mr. Mayor, that was in my district I believe longer than it has been in the 4
District the past 8 years and I’d hate to be in an election year and not call the Sheriff over a
murder not review the facts that this club has been before us on numerous occasions and that and
other violent actions have occurred as a result of this establishment. I’d hate to be on record as
supporting and sustaining something that devaluing the properties of Sandridge, Pepperidge,
Fairington, High Point, Clark Estates and Quail Hollow, which represent about 7,000 homes
surrounding this area. But that’s okay all we need is the due process to begin and I believe the
neighborhoods of those that I’ve mentioned and the many more in that area that are fighting gang
violence and other problems to where this has become a mecca will come out and let the
commissioner from that district and the rest of us know how bad this problem is and why we
need to resolve it. I promised the people when that district was redistricted out of my district that
I would represent them as I had in the past to get their drainage projects and sewer projects in
and protected and try to preserve the quality of life in their communities. I’m doing this today.
I’m fulfilling my promise. I think we need some ground truths as far as some of our commission
members need to go to these places and see what’s actually going on not listen to the phone calls.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, we have a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion?
Mr. Grantham: Read the motion.
The Clerk: The motion was to begin the due process for the revocation and suspension of
the liquor license.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Williams.
Mr. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. And that would be coming to committee from,
you know the committee forum and I think that’s for due process so I can support that.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, we have a motion and second. If there’s no further discussion
commissioners will now vote by the usual sign.
Mr. Bowles out.
Motion carries 8-0.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay, I believe that disposes of our agenda. Mr. Russell.
Mr. Russell: Mr. Mayor, if I can as a point of personal privilege begin a fairly long
conversation that will hopefully encourage somebody to at least reconsider the budget issue that
is on the table today. It needs to be done so to be moving forward. I understand that there is a
difference in philosophies on all these issues here but for us to provide what I assume to be a
reasonable opportunity for the public to have public comment of this we need to get this on the
table and move forward. Be it a .34 increase, a .25 increase whatever the will of the body is.
Obviously what I do believe that we’re jeopardizing the opportunity of the public to have that
comment and do it in a manner that’s appropriate unless we move forward with that. And I
would ask and I very seldom have come to you as a point of personal privilege and ask you to
something but I think in the eyes of good government and the opportunity to continue to move
our city forward we need to at least consider that motion again and give the public an
opportunity to speak be it at a .34 level a 2.5 level or whatever.
Mr. Williams: I make a motion to reconsider.
Mr. Cheek: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. Commissioners will now vote by the usual
sign.
Motion carries 8-0.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Grantham.
Mr. Grantham: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I’m going to go back to the remarks of Mr.
Russell. And I think this is very important because the request he made was based on what was
passed last year, end of last year in ’06 to balance our budget was a .34 millage increase. But
now with the recovery we’ve made in our tax digest of 6% he has indicated that .25 is sufficient
enough to do what is necessary for this government and in talking to our Tax Assessors Office
there’s an opportunity that there are more funds that will be forthcoming. So what he’s asking
for is us to pass something that he is agreeing with that is very workable. And what we’re saying
though is want to understand that we cannot go up once this is passed today but we can come
down if that’s necessary. But with a .25 it gives the citizens an opportunity to know that what
recovery has been made is being afforded to them as well as services still carried on as been
carried on in the past. So I’m going to put in the form of a motion that we approve the request
with a .25-millage result.
Mr. Mayor: Is there a second?
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Cheek.
Mr. Cheek: Mr. Mayor, I’m going to make a substitute motion that we follow the
original recommendations of staff and to recount what Mr. Russell said initially.
Certainly
83
if we sustain the type of economic recovery that we seem to be seeing after the hearings and the
input from the community we can always go down. I for one am very tired of hamstringing this
government in telling our citizens that we’re going to maintain cutting their grass and their roads
twice a year.
Mr. Williams: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, we have a substitute motion and a second. Actually I guess that
would be a motion due to the fact that there was no second on the original motion. Okay. We
have a motion and a second. Mr. Russell, would you like to hammer it home one more time?
Mr. Russell: I’ve said everything that could be said, sir. You all have wonderful points
and I bow to your expertise in running our government and hope you do it in a good manner.
Mr. Mayor: We have effectively got to pass something today but --- Commissioner
Beard.
Ms. Beard: May I add that it can be changed later?
Mr. Mayor: Yes.
Ms. Beard: Whatever we vote on today can be changed.
Mr. Grantham: It can’t be changed today.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Shepard.
Mr. Shepard: If you just incorporate by reference.
Ms. Beard: A little cooperation.
Mr. Mayor: What’s that?
Mr. Cheek: Incorporate by reference Mr. Russell’s first proposal.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Smith: Mr. Mayor, can you read the motion?
Mr. Mayor: Ms. Bonner.
The Clerk: The substitute motion was to approve ---
Mr. Mayor: Actually the primary motion.
The Clerk: --- the recommendation of staff regarding the .34 mill increase.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay commissioners will now vote by the usual sign.
Motion fails.
Mr. Russell: If I can for another point of personal privilege. Can I ask you all what you
want me to do? That’s all I’m asking. I mean, tell me what to do.
Mr. Mayor: Yes, would y’all please, Ms. Williams, would you please let us know what
happens now due to the fact that ---
Ms. Williams: I’m going to ask Mr. Hicks to come up here and help me out. But
included in y’all’s packet is a timeline. The State of Georgia requires you to go through a certain
procedure and each step in that procedure has a specific amount of time between those steps.
rd
Mr. Hicks has an appointment to deliver this digest to the State on time on August the 3. You
are just about at the point where you are not going to have enough time to complete this
rd
procedure by August the 3 if you don’t do something and I’m able to get it advertised. The
quickest I can get this advertised, I’ve got the newspaper holding space because I knew that one
way or another I would have a proposed mill rate today. It’s going to be advertised, supposed to
be advertised on Thursday. That would let us complete the procedure by a Special Called
th
Meeting on July the 26 get this done to get the digest to the State on time which allows us to
collect taxes.
Mr. Mayor: And the repercussions of not taking action today.
Mr. Hicks: We’re going to have to first of all request an extension be granted
rd
(INAUDIBLE) the digest is supposed to be there by August 3. In speaking with them the
rd
Department of Revenue indicated they would accept the appointment on the 3. But beyond that
(INAUDIBLE) digest on time the timeline is such (INAUDIBLE) certain notice to be given to
advertise what’s being done (INAUDIBLE) that Fred has referred to.
Mr. Mayor: So basically if we don’t we’re costing the city money if we don’t approve
anything today.
Mr. Hicks: Yes.
Mr. Williams: Motion to reconsider, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Cheek: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second to reconsider. Commissioners will now
vote by the usual sign. Now is there a chance we’re going to get this passed on this vote.
Mr. Russell: We are talking about the 2007 budget. It’s the millage that we talked about
in November not 2008, it’s 2007 the current year that we’ve already gone half way through
basically.
85
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Williams.
Mr. Williams: I want to make a motion we follow the Administrator’s advice and to do
the advertising what he said. We can always come done if it’s feasible with the community.
Mr. Holland: I second the motion, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. Commissioner Grantham.
Mr. Grantham: I make a substitute motion that we follow his recommendation with a .25
cap.
Mr. Brigham: Second.
Ms. Beard: And I have a further recommendation ---
Mr. Mayor: Ms. Beard.
Ms. Beard: --- that we take a quorum, I’m not joking about this, that we take a quorum
and one side calls for --- go with the majority.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, I’m going ---
Ms. Beard: We do need to get it done.
Mr. Mayor: I’m going to do this. I have a sneaking suspicion that we’re going to come
out the same way on this vote. But let me say can we split the difference on this between .34 and
.25?
Ms. Beard: Well, I have no problem then.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Ms. Beard: It needs to be done.
Mr. Mayor: Let’s go ahead and take the substitute motion is the .25. Commissioners will
now vote by the substitute sign.
Mr. Williams, Mr. Cheek and Mr. Holland vote No.
Mr. Harper abstains.
Mr. Bowles out.
Motion fails 4-3-1.
Mr. Mayor: Now the original motion was to approve the original recommendation from
the staff. Madame Clerk.
86
The Clerk: Yes, sir, and that’s to hold a public hearing and to advertise.
Ms. Williams: Can I clarify something? I know Fred has given you the schedule but we
are using the mill rate in fire protection and in urban services and we are maintaining the mill
rate for capital outlay. The only mill rate that you’re talking about here is the general fund and
law enforcement. There will some decrease. I made a quick calculation a while ago while Fred
was talking about on the .34 will be an increase of $11.00. The fire protection decrease will be
$4.00. Urban would be $4.00 the Fire would be a little over a dollar. The sum total you’re
talking about less than $10.00
Mr. Mayor: But ultimately we’re going to cost the taxpayer’s money by putting
ourselves ---
Ms. Williams: --- $48 million in tax collection.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, can we get a motion, excuse me we have to vote on the original
motion first. Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign.
Mr. Brigham and Mr. Grantham vote No.
Mr. Bowles out.
Motion carries 6-2.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Brigham: Motion to reconsider the TEE Center.
Mr. Mayor: That we reconsider? We have a motion. Is there a second?
Mr. Grantham: To what?
Mr. Mayor: To reconsider the TEE Center.
Mr. Grantham: I’ll second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. Commissioners will now vote by the usual
sign.
Mr. Williams, Mr. Harper, Ms. Beard and Mr. Holland vote No.
Mr. Bowles out.
Motion fails 4-4.
Mr. Mayor: Having disposed of all the agenda items, Mr. Shepard, I seriously doubt
we’re going to have a quorum for Legal but Mr. Shepard.
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Mr. Shepard: Can we try, Mr. Mayor. I think I come in at this at 6:05 now. We will
have it done by 6:30.
Mr. Mayor: Well, that would be up to the will of the body so if you would like to request
the motion.
OTHER BUSINESS
61. Motion to go into a Legal Meeting.
Mr. Shepard: I do request the motion to go into Legal not to exceed the previous time of
about twenty minutes.
Mr. Brigham: So moved.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion. Is there a second?
Mr. Grantham: I’ll second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. If there’s no further discussion
Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign.
Ms. Beard votes No.
Mr. Cheek and Mr. Holland abstain.
Mr. Bowles out.
Motion fails 2-1-2.
Mr. Mayor: With no other 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
July 10, 2007.
____________________
Clerk of Commission
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