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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommission Meeting - October 19, 2010 REGULAR MEETING COMMISSION CHAMBER OCTOBER 19, 2010 Augusta Richmond County Commission convened at 5:00 p.m., October 19, 2010, the Hon. Deke Copenhaver, Mayor, presiding. PRESENT: Hons. Lockett, Smith, Mason, Grantham, Hatney, Aiken, Johnson, Jackson, Bowles and Brigham, members of Augusta Richmond County Commission. The invocation was given by the Reverend Willie James, Pastor First Shiloh Baptist Church. Mr. Mayor: --- something for you. And I’d just personally like to thank you for that wonderful invocation. By these present be it known that Reverend Willie James, Pastor First Shiloh Baptist Church is Chaplain of the Day. For his civic and spiritual guidance demonstrated throughout the community serves as an example for all of the faith community. Given under my th hand this 19 day of October 2010. Thank you, sir. Madam Clerk, on to the recognitions. The Clerk: RECOGNITION(S) Commissioners Certifications A. Congratulations! Commissioners Joe Bowles, Joe Jackson, Corey Johnson and Bill Lockett for having completed all of the course work required for their certificate of recognition as a Certified County Official from the University of Georgia Carl Vinson Institute of Government in association with the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) and Association of County Commissioners of Georgia training program. The Clerk: Congratulations Commissioners. (APPLAUSE) Mr. Mayor: All righty Madam Clerk on to the Employee of the Month. RECOGNITION(S) Employee of the Month B. Mr. Steve Little, Assistant Director, Augusta Utilities Department, September Employee of the Month. The Clerk: Well, on our addendum agenda Mr. Wiedmeier has asked that we reschedule that Employee of the Month recognition to next month. Mr. Little is out of town so he’s not here. That’s a part of our addendum agenda. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Madam Clerk, on to the delegations. The Clerk: 1 DELEGATIONS C. Ms. Mary K. Eubanks. RE: Installation of streetlights on Daisey Lane, Augusta, Ga. The Clerk: Ms. Eubanks, are you in the chamber? Mr. Russell: Mr. Mayor, if I may, that’s, that is an area that requires a special street lighting district and requires a petition to do so. If you’d like we’d be happy to contact Ms. Eubanks and advise her of that. The Clerk: She wants a waiver of that. Mr. Russell: She wants to waiver all that, okay, then I can help her. Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Bowles. Mr. Bowles: Mr. Russell, you may want to tell her because looking at the detailed documents she was asking the people in the homes and most of them she said were renters and she needs to ask the homeowners not the people in the house. The property owner rather than the renters. Mr. Russell: We’ll be happy to tell her that but apparently she wants us to waive all of that. But I’ll tell her the procedure anyway. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Mr. Russell: Can anybody tell her the procedure? Mr. Mayor: Okay, thank you, Fred, on to the consent agenda. The Clerk: Our consent agenda consists of item 1-28, items 1-28. For the benefit of any objectors to our planning petitions, once those petitions are read would you please signify your objections by raising your hand. I call your attention to: Item 1: Is for concurrence to approve a change of zoning from a Zone A (Agriculture) to a Zone B-2 (General Business) with a Special Exception on property located on the northeast of Wheeler Road, Perimeter Parkway. Item 2: Is a request for a change of zoning from a Zone A (Agriculture) to a Zone B-1 (Neighborhood Business) and a Zone Light Industry to a Zone R-1 (One-family Residential) affecting property known as 2350 Gordon Highway. Item 3: Is for a change of zoning from a Zone B-1 (Neighborhood Business) to a Zone B-2 (General Business) affecting property known as 3330 and 3334 Washington Road. Item 4: Is a request for a change of zoning from a R-1C (One-family Residential) to a Zone R-2 (Two-family Residential) affecting property known as 1228 Pine Street. The Clerk: Are there any objectors to those planning petitions? 2 Mr. Russell: None noted, Madam Clerk. The Clerk: Okay. I call you attention to our Public Services portion of the agenda. If there are any objectors to the alcohol petitions, once they are read would you please signify your objection by raising your hand. I call your attention to: Item 7: Is for a retail package Beer & Wine license to be used in connection with Walgreens located at 3204 Peach Orchard Road. Item 8: Is for a retail package Beer & Wine license to be used in connection with Walgreens located at 3228 Wrightsboro Road. Item 9: Is for a retail package Beer & Wine license to be used in connection with Walgreens located at 3744 Washington Road. Item 10: Is for a retail package Beer & Wine license to be used in connection Bryant’s Express located at 3011 Wheeler Road. The Clerk: Are there any objectors to those alcohol petitions? Mr. Russell: None noted, Madam Clerk? The Clerk: Mr. Mayor and members of the Commission, our consent agenda consists of items 1-28. And for further information the omitted item on our addendum agenda would have been on the consent --- Mr. Mayor: Okay. The Clerk: --- for your information. Mr. Mayor: Okay. All righty, do we have any items to be added to the consent agenda? Commissioner Jackson. Mr. Jackson: Without any problems item number twenty-nine. Mr. Mayor: Okay, do we have any further items to be added to the consent agenda? The Clerk: (inaudible) Mr. Mayor: What’s that? The Clerk: --- for thirty-one? Mr. Mayor: I’m getting used to my computer still. nd The Clerk: Rescheduling of the November 2 meeting. 3 Mr. Mayor: Can we do thirty-one as well? Do we have any, do we have any further items to be added to the consent agenda? Okay, do we have any items to be pulled for discussion? Yes, sir, Mr. Mayor Pro Tem. Mr. Mason: Pull item eighteen. Mr. Mayor: Okay, do we have any further items to be pulled for discussion? The Clerk: Did you pull any? Mr. Mayor: He did, eighteen. Mr. Russell: If I could have a --- Mr. Mayor: Mr. Russell. Mr. Russell: Yes, the item that was unfortunately omitted from the consent agenda is that still on the consent agenda? The Clerk: Can we add it on? Do you have questions? Mr. Russell: So we need to pull that back out again then? That’s fine I just needed, just wanted to make sure it was one of two places. Mr. Grantham: Put it back on? Mr. Bowles: It hasn’t been added yet. The Clerk: Well, that’s what he’s asking, can it be added. Mr. Grantham: It can be added to the agenda but not to the consent. Mr. Russell: Okay, I was just curious what that would be then. It was voted on by committee so you want it pulled for discussion. That’s fine. The Clerk: Well, let me get the, we have unanimous consent to add it to the agenda? Mr. Mayor: To add to discuss. The Clerk: To the agenda? Okay. Thank you. Mr. Mayor: Okay, hearing nothing further can I get a motion to approve the consent agenda? Mr. Johnson: So moved. 4 Mr. Hatney: Second. CONSENT AGENDA PLANNING 1. Z-10-53 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Richmond County Planning Commission to approve a petition by Tony Free, on behalf of David S. Wilson, requesting a change of zoning from Zone A (Agriculture) to Zone B-2 (General Business) with a Special Exception to establish an extended stay hotel per Section 22-2 (d) of the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance for Augusta-Richmond County affecting property containing 2.9 acres and located on the northwest right-of-way line of Perimeter Parkway, 312 feet, more or less, northeast of Wheeler Road. (Tax Map 030-0-255-00-0 & 031-0-052-01-0) DISTRICT 3 2. Z-10-58 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Richmond County Planning Commission t approve a petition by Zack Claxton, on behalf of Solid Rock Church, requesting a change of zoning from Zone A (Agriculture), Zone B-2 (Neighborhood Business) and Zone LI (Light Industry) to Zone R-1 (One-family Residential) affecting property containing 2.0 acres and is known as 2350 Gordon Highway. (Tax Map 067-0-014- 00-0) DISTRICT 4 3. Z-10-59 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Richmond County Planning Commission to approve a petition by Darren Meadows, on behalf of HReal LLC, requesting a change of zoning from Zone B-1 (Neighborhood Business) to Zone B-2 (General Business) affecting property containing .69 acres and is known as 3330 and 3334 Washington Road. (Tax Map 010-0-005—01 and 010-005-02-0) DISTRICT 7 4. Z-10-60 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Richmond County Planning Commission to approve a petition by APD Urban Planning, on behalf of Augusta Richmond County Land Bank requesting a change in zoning from Zone R-1C (One-family Residential) to Zone R-2 (Two-family Residential) affecting property containing approximately .13 acres and is known presently as 1228 Pine Street. (Tax Map 059-2-019- 00-0) DISTRICT 1 5. ZA-R-198 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Richmond Count Planning Commission to approve a petition to amend the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance of Augusta-Richmond County by amending Section 28-B-10 (A) Off Premise Signs – St. Sebastian Way from Walton Way to Reynolds Street, 500 feet from the right-of-way line. PUBLIC SERVICES 6. Motion to approve the authorization of 2011 Augusta CVB tourism grant applications from Recreation and Parks. (Approved by Public Services Committee October 11, 2010) 7. Motion to approve New Application: A.N. 10-45: request by Hans C. Wethal for a retail package Beer & Wine license to be used in connection with Walgreens #06632 located at 3204 Peach Orchard Rd. District 6. Super District 10. (Approved by Public Services Committee October 11, 2010) 8. Motion to approve New Application: A.N. 10-44: request by Jeremy Gosche for a retail package Beer & Wine license to be used in connection with Walgreens #09789 located at 3228 Wrightsboro Rd. District 5. Super District 9. (Approved by Public Services Committee October 11, 2010) 9. Motion to approve New Application: A.N. 10-46: request by Hans c. Wethal for a retail package Beer & Wine license to be used in connection with Walgreens #11827 located at 5 2744 Washington Rd. District 7. Super District 10. (Approved by Public Services Committee October 11, 2010) 10. Motion to approve New Ownership Application: A.N. 10-47: request by John M. Bryant for a retail package Beer & Wine license to be used in connection with Bryant’s Express located at 3011 Wheeler Rd. District 7. Super District 10. (Approved by Public Services Committee October 11, 2010) 11. Motion to approve Augusta Public Transit’s purchase of mobile surveillance equipment for transit buses and vans from FTA Grant GA-90-Z235. (Approved by Public Services Committee October 11, 2010) 12. Motion to approve the award of the Leased Tire contract to Firestone (Bid Item #10- 164 – single bid) for a three year period with an option for two one year extensions. (Approved by Public Services Committee October 11, 2010) 13. Motion to approve the naming of the new picnic pavilion at M.M. Scot Park for Mr. Futhey R. Babcock. (Approved by Public Services Committee October 11, 2010) 14. Motion to approve request from the Augusta Airport Commission of RFP Item #10-169 bid and contract award to APAC – Tennessee for the reconstruction of Runway 17-35 at the Augusta Regional Airport. (Approved by Public Services Committee October 11, 2010) ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES 15. Motion to approve contract with ADP to implement Time & Attendance Module of the ADP systems. (Approved by Administrative Services Committee October 11, 2010) 16. Motion to approve changing the Painter I Position at the Municipal Building to Maintenance Worker I. (Approved by Administrative Services Committee October 11, 20101. 17. Motion to approve an Ordinance to amend the Augusta Richmond County Charter and Laws of Local Application, Section 1-30; to modify the term of Mayor Pro Tempore; to have the term of Mayor Pro Tempore coincide with the terms of Commission Committee Chairs and Commission Committee members; to repeal all Charter, Code Sections and Ordinances and part of Charter, Code Sections and Ordinances in conflict herewith; to provide an effective date and for other purposes. (Approved by Administrative Services Committee August 30, 2010) FINANCE 19. Motion to approve ordinances for reallocation of Hotel/Motel tax and care rental fees. (Approved by Finance Committee October 11, 2010) 20. Motion to deny a request from Phil-Am Development, Inc. regarding an adjustment and refund of taxes on property located at 1026 Bertram Road. (Approved by Finance Committee October 11, 2010) ENGINEERING SERVICES 21. Motion to approve that a portion of Fairhope Street, as shown on the attached plat (shown as Parcel “B”) and consisting of 1.63 acres (71,042 square feet)[legal description attached], has ceased to be used by the public to the extent that no substantial public purpose is served by it or that its removable from the county road system is otherwise in the best public interest, according to results of a public hearing held October 8, 2010 6 regarding the issue of abandonment pursuant to O.C.G.A. Sections 32-7-2 and 8-3-153. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee October 11, 2010) 22. Motion to approve and accept a Deed of Dedication, Easement and Maintenance Agreement on Flowing Wells Road. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee October 10, 2010) 23. Motion to approve a resolution approving ARC’s application for the GDOT GATEway Grant 2010 for the beautification of the Gordon Highway/Deans Bridge Road intersection. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee October 11, 2010) 24. Motion to approve Georgia Power Company Governmental Encroachment Agreements 31238 and 31239. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee October 11, 2010) 25. Motion to authorize condemnation to acquire title of a portion of property for permanent easement and temporary easement for the 50202 Horsepen Sanitary Sewer, Phase 2-B Project, PIN: 128-0-032-00-0, 2923 Old Tobacco Road. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee October 11, 2010) 26. Motion to authorize condemnation to acquire title of a portion of property for permanent easement and temporary easement for the 50202 Horsepen Sanitary Sewer, Phase 2-B Project, PIN: 128-0-172-00-0, 2857 Tobacco Road. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee October 11, 2010) 27. Motion to approve the Program Manager’s recommendation to select Total Systems Commissioning, Inc. as the Commissioning Agent for the Augusta, Georgia Sheriff’s Office Building for a lump sum price of $28,850.00. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee October 11, 2010) PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS 28. Motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of the Commission held October 5, 2010, and legal meeting held October 11, 2010. PUBLIC SAFETY 29. Motion to approve solicitation to Fort Gordon to process and impound stray animals delivered by Fort Gordon to Augusta-Richmond County Animal Control. OTHER BUSINESS 31. Motion to approve the rescheduling of the November 2, 2010 regular meeting to Thursday, November 4, 2010. Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign of voting. Mr. Hatney: Madam Clerk, on alcohol I abstain. Thank you. That’s so kind of you. Mr. Hatney abstains. Motion carries 9-1. [Items 7-10] Motion carries 10-0. [Items 1-6, 11-17, 19-28, 29, 31] Mr. Mayor: Okay, Madam Clerk, let’s go to the pulled item first. 7 The Clerk: FINANCE 18: Motion to approve the recommendation of the Administrator for a temporary across the board salary reduction for all exempt and nonexempt employees (except temporary and part-time personnel), all supplemental pay and all elected officials that volunteer to participate in the amount of 3.5% for the five remaining pay periods in 2010. The two thnd furlough days for most employees will be November 24 and December 22 and for 24- hour operations, alternative dates will be used. (Approved by Finance Committee October 11, 2010) Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Mason, I believe this was your pull. Mr. Mason: Yes, thank you, Mr. Mayor. I really don’t have a problem with the furlough days per se and I’ll certainly do my part as far as from a Commission standpoint volunteer my pay. But I do have a problem in terms of public safety folks. That includes our fire department our sheriff’s department any 911, anything having to do with public safety. I just have a real issue with any of those guys being off the streets when we have a shortage of personnel and we never know when an emergency’s going to happen. So from that standpoint as far as the public service folks go for me it’s real difficult to approve something like that that includes our public safety personnel. And I just have a real problem with that, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: Okay, thank you, Commissioner Mason. Commissioner Johnson. Mr. Johnson: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Fred, I know we talked about this last week briefly in regards to the two furlough days that are left for the employees. And I know you mentioned about breaking these, the (unintelligible) up. Mr. Russell: Yes. Mr. Johnson: How, can you explain and elaborate how that’s going to work versus it being one or two hits. Mr. Russell: You’re currently approved two furlough days in the budget. You approved four, we were able to manage to do away with two of those due to physical conditions that were favorable at that point in time. Based on the conditions current I would recommend that we go ahead and take those two furlough days. If everybody worked nine to five on a regular schedule it would be fairly simple. Unfortunately we do provide services that are around the clock in some particular areas. In addition to that because of our concern for the employees we’ve come up with this particular proposal that was passed by Finance last week. What that would do we st would reduce, institute a temporary reduction in the salary scale from November 1 2010 to st December 31st 2010. The salary scale would revert to October 31, 2010 levels on January 1 2011. What that basically means is instead of during those two pay periods where the furlough days are scheduled which would be the first day prior to the Thanksgiving holiday and the day prior to the Christmas holiday as we’ve discussed that gives us additional savings due to saving 8 electricity, heat and these kinds of things. We would take those two days off. We would close operations down on those days but we would take the reduction over a five-week pay period. The five-pay period, period of time as opposed to during two pay periods. That actually reduces the impact on our employees, no let me take that back. It does not reduce the impact on our employees it simply spreads that over a longer period of time. So instead of having a big chunk taken out on two pay periods you have a smaller amount taken out of five pay periods. What this also does is give those areas in public safety that we’re concerned about the level of protection on the streets, the firemen in the firehouses, and the 911, it gives us the opportunity to spread those days out over two months as opposed to over a one week pay period. This lessens the impact of the loss of those particular people. We’ve had numerous discussions with both the fire chief and the sheriff and they have schedules available to do that at this particular point in time. While I agree with Commissioner Mason that in these particular times that are tough if you exempt the public safety people particularly the Sheriff’s office in this particular area you basically have reduced the impact of the furlough day. As you’ll see in the budget presentation e most of our general fund dollars go to the Sheriff’s office. If you do that you’ve then reduced th significantly so it would be counter productive to eliminate them. And I think our plan to spread those over a period of time is, it gets us where we need to be given the financial constraints we’re looking at. Mr. Johnson: Okay, so what impact then primarily as far as the days now? Would they be subject to the same days or would the Sheriff be responsible for working those days out? Mr. Russell: The Sheriff has worked out a schedule to take those two days off and spread that among the last five pay periods as opposed, he’ll close operations like the office and those kinds of things that can actually close during the two days. Similar to what we would do in a normal holiday. The coverage on those days would be holiday coverage and basically those two days would be spread out over the two-month period for those people to take those off. Mr. Johnson: Okay, so won’t have to initially impact that. I know Commissioner Mason was alluding to --- Mr. Russell: Well, there will be some impact. It will be more of a holiday schedule on those days than what, what you would fear being a close down situation there basically. So you’ll spread those days over five periods instead of over two. Mr. Johnson: Yes, okay, thank you. Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Hatney then Commissioner Lockett then Commissioner Jackson. Please in that order. Sorry, Don, I didn’t see you there. Mr. Hatney: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Administrator. Mr. Russell: Yes, sir. Mr. Hatney: I’ve got some concerns here about the, if you don’t, could folks pay and do furlough days? 9 Mr. Russell: No, sir, it’s the, the pay cut, the pay cut is in effect the furlough day. It’s the same thing. Mr. Hatney: It ain’t the same thing. Mr. Russell: Yeah, it is. Mr. Hatney: No, it ain’t. Mr. Russell: Yeah, it is. Mr. Hatney: My concern about this is that the money you’re trying to recoup here is the exact same amount of money that we rolled back last, this year, the same amount of money. And all of a sudden now we’ve got to take it back from an employee. What’s wrong with that picture? Mr. Russell: What’s wrong with that picture is --- Mr. Hatney: Something is wrong with that picture. Mr. Russell: What we face --- Mr. Hatney: Who wants to go, you roll back for some thousand dollars and now you’re trying to recoup that on the backs of the employees. Something’s wrong with that picture. Mr. Russell: What you had two few months ago was an anticipation of about $1.7 million dollars in franchise fees that we did not get from Georgia Power. What you had two months ago was a different financial situation then what we had here today. You know two months ago I think we made a decent decision. What’s happen is the facts have changed since then and that’s the reality of what we face. Mr. Hatney: (inaudible). Mr. Mayor: Okay, Commissioner Lockett then Commissioner Jackson then Commissioner Grantham. Mr. Lockett: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just wanted to clarify something. I notice on the media they were talking about furlough days and the question came up about Commissioners. I just want to set the record straight. The Administrator sent out a form for us to fill out. I volunteered to have my pay reduced and I’m quite sure my other colleagues did. I just want to make that point straight for the media. Mr. Mayor: As did I, Commissioner Lockett. Commissioner Jackson. 10 Mr. Jackson: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Fred, and I know we talked about this once before but we’re getting into the holiday season on these employees. And my concern is you know people put stuff on layaway because their making ends meet at the time. And if we consider doing this again I would much rather see quarterly or I don’t know the great answer. I mean there’s going to be a problem but you know you’re getting into the holiday season and it’s going to affect their bottom line to a point. And I just, that’s just a concern that I have. Now it’s all about living within your mean. Mr. Russell: I think I would respond to that and saying that those days were budgeted in at the beginning of the year. We made a decision based on the fact that we thought that the economy was going to be such that we were hopefully going to be able to do away with those days. If we had taken those days away at the beginning of the year we’d be in a similar situation then where we are now where the employees wouldn’t have the dollars. We gambled on the fact that we thought we were going to be able to do away with those days and that’s the pitch I gave you. We did away with two because of the financial situations that we had. We ran into some financial conditions that were not advantageous at the moment and I’m hesitant in going forward without taking these other two. I understand the holidays, I understand whatever but you know we could’ve spread the cut out over the whole year but we took a swing at that and we got it 50% right. Mr. Jackson: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Grantham. Mr. Grantham: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. And, Fred, you just mentioned one of the things I was going to say is that first we’ve had recommended was four furlough days. And I think what you’ve done is pretty darn good in being able to cut two of those out. But I wanted to know too when we’re talking about public safety and yes that is a major concern for all of us. And it appears that our Administrator has discussed this with the Sheriff and with our fire chief and has received their blessings in being able to work these out so that we don’t bring any of our citizens in harms way. However let me say too that that the state of Georgia is furloughing their state patrol as well as other people and I think we need to be aware of that as well and understand that you know if we’re going to have that state then I think we need to look at it on the standpoint of how we’re treating our personnel around here. We always talk about give everybody the same raise, give everybody the same insurance, give everybody the same everything. So if we’re going to take away something, let’s take it away from everybody. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Mr. Mayor Pro Tem. Mr. Mason: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I think overall you know based on what we’ve had to do and based on what we’ve looked at it’s a pretty good way of operating. But I still have a problem and I can’t support the fact of having our public safety folks off, period. Is it, I don’t see the Sheriff here, I don’t see the fire chief or anybody from the Marshall’s office. I don’t see any of these folks here to even query and ask the question. I know Mr. Russell has had some conversation but at the same time I would’ve liked to have an opportunity to pose some specific questions to the Sheriff and our fire chief as well. Obviously that’s not going to happen today. 11 We’ve heard all year long and for years how short we are public safety wise and those sort of things. And there comes a time, I understand what the Georgia State Patrol is doing and what others are doing but there comes a time where we’ve got to make a stand. And we can do that here with this Commission. I can’t see period allowing any of our public safety people off. There’s nobody sitting here today that can tell me what type of impact or that there won’t be an impact or the impact will be lessened. Nobody can say that with any true conviction of what that result is going to be around those times. So I just can’t support this motion here as long as public safety is a part of that. And there are some difference between public safety and our other employees; remarkable differences that we just have time to go into today. But if you really stop and think about this there are huge differences between our public safety folks and our other employees. That doesn’t mean they’re less important but there are some differences. I’m going to make a motion to deny. Mr. Hatney: Second. Mr. Russell: To make a motion to deny, sir, it would be appropriate to identify a funding source and that funding source would have to be out of the fund balance. Mr. Mason: That’s where it’s coming from? There it is. Mr. Russell: And would that include all employees or just public safety employees? Mr. Mason: That, do you have a number? Mr. Russell: Public safety would probably be in excess of half of the amount, probably more than that if you divide it by the, by the different funds. Your fire fund would be different 911 would be different. But it would be my recommendation based on the fact that it’s the amount that would be lost in the reduction in public safety it would be my recommendation that you do away with the furlough days completely. It would take $400,000 dollars out of the fund balance. Mr. Mayor: Mr. Mayor Pro Tem, just to clarify, sir. You’re making a motion to deny moving forward with furlough days, period. Mr. Mayor Pro Tem, just to clarify, sir. Your motion is to deny moving forward with furlough days, period. Is that correct? Mr. Mason: Yeah, I need some specific numbers. I’m not really hearing that right here. In terms of public safety that --- Mr. Mayor: Okay, so it’s just --- Mr. Hatney: Why don’t we table this until --- Mr. Grantham: That’s a good idea, Mr. Mayor. I don’t think it needs to be tabled I think this needs to go back to Finance until we get some more definite answers. Either that or go on and vote this thing the way it is right now. 12 Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second on the table. Mr. Russell? Mr. Grantham: I’m going to make a substitute motion then, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: Okay, if you want to make a substitute motion. Mr. Grantham: The substitute motion is to approve the request as presented. Mr. Bowles: Second. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Okay, we have a, Mr. Brigham? Mr. Brigham: Mr. Russell, since we’re going to get things about while we are talking to be in the same financial situation that we’re in right now if we exempt Public Safety from the furlough days does that mean we’re going to go and put four furlough days on everybody else since it’s about fifty-fifty between public safety and the rest of the employees. Mr. Russell: That would not be my recommendation, no. Mr. Brigham: I understand that it’s not my recommendation either to break out the financial condition or even put it on the taxpayers by going to fund balance. That’s what we’re doing is we’re putting in on the taxpayers. I thought what we had done in your original recommendation was split it between the employees and the taxpayers. We gave half to the taxpayers and the reduction because we reduced the fund balance. That was money for that. And then we eliminated two of the four furlough days was your recommendation if I’m not mistaken. Mr. Russell: Yes, sir. Mr. Brigham: I thought that’s what we did. Now we’re going to go back and we’re going to put it all on the taxpayers. We’re taking their half back from them if we vote to exempt the furlough days. That’s exactly what we’re doing. Mr. Russell: Yes, sir, like I said, that’s not my recommendation. Mr. Brigham: I think --- Mr. Russell: My recommendation is the program you have in front of you, sir. Mr. Brigham: I think and that’s what I’m saying is I think we need to go forward with the program we already have. We already had agreed to that. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Mr. Brigham: We don’t need to be backing up and changing the plans at this point. 13 Mr. Grantham: Mr. Mayor, I’m going to call the question. We’ve had a lot of discussion on this thing. Mr. Mayor: Okay, I just recognized Commissioner Johnson so I’ll let him speak and then. Commissioner Johnson. Mr. Johnson: Fred --- Mr. Russell: Yes, sir. Mr. Johnson: --- we talked about rolling back the millage rate here about a month ago. How much of an impact would that have if we didn’t roll back the millage? I know it was very, very small. Would it build it up enough if we just left things status quo to not do the furloughs and just leave it where it is? Mr. Russell: If you had done that you would’ve advertised a tax increase based on the based on the laws of the state of Georgia at this particular point in time. While the millage rate would’ve been the same it would’ve been greater and you would have to advertise a tax increase. Mr. Johnson: Okay. Mr. Russell: It was not my recommendation at that point. I think the general feeling is and general feeling’s always been that we need to look at government first before we start putting the burden back on the taxpayer. And that’s what we would have done had we not rolled the tax base back. You know once again while I’m not happy with having to do furloughs you’re going to hear that word again in the very near future. But as you look at the impact that I feel it’s going to have on our public safety and other opportunities I think both the Sheriff and the fire chief will put together a plan that will minimize that impact. And I’m not uncomfortable with that. Mr. Johnson: Now how much would this impact us if we did not furlough anybody or the public safety officers going into next year? Mr. Russell: I now have the numbers there and we’re talking about $400,000 dollars total savings for two furlough days. Mr. Johnson: For public safety. Mr. Russell: For both, for everybody. Law enforcement is about two hundred and twenty-eight of that and the balance in the general fund is about one hundred and seventy-two. So what I said what was about fifty-fifty that’s about what it was. A little bit skewed towards law enforcement. Mr. Mayor: Okay, the question has been called for. We have a substitute motion on the floor. Madam Clerk, for the point of clarity if you could read back that substitute motion. 14 The Clerk: The substitute motion was to approve the recommendation of the Administrator. Mr. Mason: We need a roll call vote, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, a roll call vote has been called for. The Clerk: Okay. Substitute motion to approve the recommendation of the Administrator. Mr. Aitken. Mr. Aitken: I vote for the motion that the Administrator put before us. The Clerk: You’re voting yes? Mr. Aitken: Yes, ma’am. The Clerk: Okay. Mr. Bowles. Mr. Bowles: Yes. The Clerk: Mr. Brigham. Mr. Brigham: Yes. The Clerk: Mr. Grantham. Mr. Grantham: Yes. The Clerk: Mr. Hatney. Mr. Hatney: No. The Clerk: Mr. Jackson. Mr. Jackson: Yes. The Clerk: Mr. Johnson. Mr. Johnson: No. The Clerk: Mr. Lockett. Mr. Lockett: Yes. The Clerk: Mr. Mason. 15 Mr. Mason: No. The Clerk: Mr. Smith. Mr. Smith: Yes. Motion carries 7-3. Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Madam Clerk, and on to the regular agenda. The Clerk: We’re going to do --- Mr. Mayor: We had an addition to discuss. The Clerk: Yes, sir. The Mayor: The addition that didn’t make it on the consent agenda. If we could take that one first. The Clerk: OTHER BUSINESS 33. Approve the selection of BlueCross BlueShield of Georgia as the Augusta, Georgia Health Insurance Provider for 2011. Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Grantham, I believe you? Mr. Grantham: Yes, thank you, Mr. Mayor. And this has been a concern of mine for some time and I just right now during these tough economic times and during the tough time of getting Medicare coverage. But we have been dealing with BlueCross BlueShield now for quite a few years. And the last two years we’ve been very fortunate in being able to have a zero increase in our insurance rates. But that’s in the past and that’s something that we can’t go back in and redo again. This year to my understanding with our Administrator that the initial increase presented to us in the 38% percentile and after working that down somewhat we’ve ended up with about a 19.75% increase, almost a 20% increase on our rates for our employees and for our government. This is going to amount to about 2 ½ million dollars and I’m questioning first of all where are we going to get it and why did we not for the last two years look into another method of healthcare coverage when we knew what was coming nationally as well as locally. And it concerns me that we’re going to be punishing our people our employees more with the type of healthcare coverage that we’re going to be demanding that they pay and that they have. I can give you a lot of conversation on this however I don’t a remedy, I don’t think we’ve got a solution for it. It looks like we’re stuck with BlueCross BlueShield again but I’m going to ask that this commission require that our staff start immediately looking into the necessary health coverage of whether we become partially self insured and whether we go out and try to attract additional types of plans and programs throughout our employees. There are many, many programs that are out there that are being handled by numerous corporations and governments 16 that would exceed our number of employees. And I think this is the time for us to step up and do the same thing. Mr. Mayor: Okay, thank you, Mr. Grantham. Commissioner Bowles. Mr. Bowles: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I completely agree with Commissioner Grantham and I think we’ve got one expert in here that I’d like to hear from. Mr. Powell, could you come up here and give some possibilities to how we can because every year we’ve been saying we’re stuck with BlueCross we’re stuck with BlueCross and I know I’m sick of saying it. So, Mr. Powell, what’s your solution? Mr. Powell: Good evening, Commissioners. Last year actually if you looked at the experience rate we had about thirty-two of our employees that used over $5 million dollars worth of our coverage. We’ve got some people who have some serious medical issues so that’s part of what we call the experience pool. Because of that actually by having a fixed rate for the last year we actually ended up avoiding, and I’ve got the expert with me. I brought backup from Analytics our analyst in this case. But we actually avoided payment of about $5 million dollars if I understand it correctly, about $5 million dollars that BlueCross had to eat because we paid them a fixed rate yet our actual insurance costs went significant above the fixed rate that we had negotiated for the year. So we were fortunate this past year. However to speak to Commissioner Grantham’s issue and your issue too we also believe that because we had basically a free ride for two years zero percent increase I don’t know of any organization in my experience that’s had two years consecutive without a increase. So very fortunate. But we knew someday the bell would toll and we would have to make a move. We actually planned in our budget for next year setting aside money to hire a benefits consultant so we can move to or at least analyze and move to self-funded. And organization of our size quite frankly in most cases ought to be self-funded and if you put in place the self-funding provisions along with what’s called reinsurance to insure you so we can have these overages paid by insurance we would be in good shape. So our plan is already in place for early this coming fiscal year to move in the direction of hiring a consultant that will help us set up a customized plan and look at self-funding. So we actually passed that on to the bidding parties in this case so we’re where this will very likely be our last year of fully insured and we will go to self-funding. We believe with proper establishment of the rules and reinsurance we’ll save money next year. Mr. Mayor: Thank you. Commissioner Hatney then Commissioner Grantham. Mr. Hatney: Mr. Mayor, thank you. I personally have no problem with shopping around to get better possibly consideration but self-funding I’ve got some problems with because you can’t pay employees now. That really makes no sense at all because right now you can’t pay employees but you’re going to make self-funding insurance on their backs. Come on, man. You can’t pay your employees now. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Mr. Hatney: They don’t know what we’re going to do to them next year. So I don’t have no problem with going out and looking at some different companies. No problem with that. But 17 the self-insurance for them, I’m scared of that man. We couldn’t even afford to waiver two days furlough now we’re going to talk about self-insurance? You just said 30 employees cost $5 million dollars last year. Mr. Powell: Right. Mr. Hatney: It may be sixty and cost ten million next year. Mr. Powell: Self-insured is a little more, it is more risky than fully insured. Mr. Hatney: It’s more risky than we’re in position to take. Mr. Powell: But if you, right if you have --- Mr. Hatney: But to go out for other bodies and get some other stuff that I can deal with. Mr. Powell: Still we’ll be bid out because --- Mr. Hatney: I can do that. Mr. Powell: --- you still need an insurance company --- Mr. Hatney: Okay. Mr. Powell: --- to actually process the claims and have a plan. This would be just how we manage the budget associated with this. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Commissioner Grantham. Mr. Grantham: Yeah, thank you. Mr. Mayor, that all, you know, sounds good about being able to insure everybody once again and do everything we can. It’s just going to get cost prohibitive. However let me just say that one way we could encourage our employees to help with our rate increase or whatever is it when they get a splinter in the finger just don’t go to the emergency room. You know we need to go to a clinic. We’ve got places in town that can take care of people of that nature and just because you have insurance and a card in your pocket it doesn’t mean when you’ve got a little fever, you’ve got a splinter, you’ve got something else wrong with you that you go to the emergency room to get that taken care of. Now believe you me they’re going to add that cost on top of what you’ve got. The second thing is that we have 2700 employees. Now I may embarrass some people and I don’t care if I do. But let me tell you I’m 72 years old and I have Medicare card and I have supplemental insurance and if we have employees that are sixty-five and older they can have a Medicare card and continue to work and have supplemental insurance. That is a tremendous savings on that employee and on this government. So this needs to be looked into. There are many avenues that has not been explored as far as our Medicare coverage goes for our employees and the people that work for this government. 18 Mr. Mayor: Okay. Mr. Mayor Pro Tem. Mr. Mason: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. And I agree with my colleague here, Commissioner Grantham. I think for right now we’re once again being reactive versus proactive. Is there a representative from BlueCross BlueShield here? Mr. Powell: I believe there’s James Ford here today. We invited James. We do have Analytics here. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Mr. Powell: James, could you please come up. Mr. Ford: Good evening. Mr. Mason: In the last year and a half or so or more BlueCross BlueShield has lost a number of their contracts to include the one with the Board of Education right here in Augusta Richmond County. Can you give us some sort of idea of what’s going on from that standpoint and the loss of contracts or the reasoning behind that? Mr. Ford: I certainly can’t speak to the Board of Education. I still work in Special Accounts, which is larger than 1,000 employees. In reference to other entities such as the Board of Regents I primarily was the network access. I can’t speak to the smaller groups below 1,000, Mayor Pro Tem. Did you have a specific question or? Mr. Mason: Well, but I know BlueCross BlueShield you’ve got to pull them out of the state of Georgia pretty much? Mr. Ford: Pull them out of the state of Georgia. Mr. Grantham: They pulled out of Augusta. Mr. Mason: You pulled out of Augusta definitely. Mr. Ford: Who’s pulling out of Augusta? Mr. Mason: BlueCross BlueShield, you’re not? Mr. Ford: That’s incorrect, sir. Mr. Mason: Okay, so the fact that you lost the contract or was it a lost contract with the Richmond County Board of Education? Mr. Ford: Richmond County Board of Education would be a client of ours and I’m not sure if we ended that contract or that agreement or not. 19 Mr. Mason: Well, I know it’s ended. There’s no two ways about that. You’re not even their carrier anymore. Mr. Ford: No correlation of pulling out of the city though. Mr. Mason: But you don’t have any idea why that, because that was a pretty large contract. Do you have any idea why there was a loss of contract there? Mr. Ford: I have no idea. Mr. Mason: Okay. Mr. Ford: --- follow up for you, Mr. Mayor Pro Tem, but it has a correlation again with pulling out of the city of Augusta. We have arrangements with providers and we have several other employees that we manage here in the city. Mr. Mason: Well, I would hope that in the future as this government and that’s all I have for you. That this government would take a close look as we’re doing our analysis and whatnot at these potential companies that you’re looking at any get some answers as to why some of these things are happening. There’s a trend here and we need to know why. And if you do your research I’ll bet you come up with concrete answers and we owe that to this government, we owe that to the tax paying citizens and there has been a loss of contract several of them in the last year, last year and a half. And you need to take a close look at that. It may not have an effect on us at all but again it may and I think it’s something we have to do to ensure that we’re doing our dull diligence to make sure that we’re doing what’s necessary for these citizens. So that’s all I have on that, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Can we get a motion on this item? Mr. Bowles: Motion to approve. Mr. Mayor: Do we have a second? Mr. Lockett: Second. Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and second. If there’s no --- Mr. Hatney: What’s the motion? Mr. Mayor: Motion to approve. Mr. Hatney: Approve what? Mr. Mayor: Motion to approve the agenda item. The Clerk: What’s on the screen. 20 Mr. Russell: My recommendation, sir. The Clerk: The Administrator’s recommendation. Mr. Mayor: Okay, if there’s no further --- Mr. Hatney: We have no choice. It ain’t like we got a choice. Mr. Mayor: Okay, if there’s no further --- Mr. Hatney: We ain’t got no choice. Mr. Mayor: --- if there’s no further discussion Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign. Mr. Mason, Mr. Hatney and Mr. Grantham vote No. Motion carries 7-3. Mr. Mayor: Okay, gentlemen, Madam Clerk, next agenda item. The Clerk: ADMINISTRATOR 30. Presentation of 2011 Proposed Budget. Mr. Mayor: Mr. Russell. Mr. Grantham: Are you sure you want to do this? Mr. Russell: We’ve got to, sir, it’s the law. Mr. Mayor: We’re getting a briefing on this to give us a chance to read this before we get in the meat of it. Mr. Russell: It would be appropriate to have a motion to approve the budget as recommended by the Administrator at this particular point in time. Mr. Mayor: Negative. Mr. Hatney: My motion is to receive this as information. Mr. Mayor: Let’s let him give us a brief over the year and hit the highlights. Mr. Russell: Dr. Hatney’s motion would be appropriate at this point in time. 21 Mr. Mayor: Mr. Russell, have at it. Mr. Russell: Yes, sir. The two discussion points that we had reference the furlough days and the healthcare issue are going to be magnified by the presentation of the budget. As you know we’ve taken a fairly conservative approach to everything that we’ve done over the past several years. And the conservative approach is I think has served us well in the economic conditions that we have. As you all know we have not raised taxes and I believe that would be a good thing for the citizens of our community. As part of that we had to cut services, had to look at organizations and do things that might not have been the most easy thing to do. We have not taken the path of least resistance in everything that we’ve done here. The total budget for 2011 as proposed is $685 million, $685.7 million dollars. We are a very large operation and a very large organization. The 2010 budget, last years budget was over $800 million dollars so we reduced that significantly. Those reductions have come as we have completed SPLOST projects. We completed capital projects and water and sewer projects are being completed on a daily basis. We’ve been able to reduce those expenditures through completing those kinds of projects. Most of the budget is in areas outside the general fund, water and sewer those kinds of things and that’s been noted in there. But the general fund is what part becomes the most interesting part in the part that’s mainly concerns the operation that we have because that concerns the things that we do on a day-to-day basis and impact our citizens. Of the general fund I’ve got $685.7 million dollars, $133.6 million is general fund dollars, $133.6 million. Of that $17.6 million goes to the operation of our courts and $57.4 million dollars goes to the operation of our law enforcement. That’s the Sheriff’s budget, $57.4 million or almost half, a little bit less than half of the entire general fund budget. These are important factors to note because these are the things that people seem to think have the most impact on their lives, and they do. In addition to that, that budget supports all the operation of the general government, it supports recreation, it supports the library it supports everything else that we do. So you can where our priorities have been set in the past and that’s in the courts and law enforcement. Let me say that in the past we’ve had a judicious use of our fund balance to continue to move forward and I think that’s an appropriate thing to do. That’s why you have that money in the bank. That money’s in the bank for those days when the income is slight or the new reductions in incomes and we’ve used that. And we continue to look at that as a funding source for next year’s budget. Let me tell you that is not a funding source without some hazard in the fact that if you continue to take money out of the fund balance you begin to jeopardize your financial situation there. We have not done so yet. Our bond ratings went up last year and we’re very proud of that. But the continued use of fund balance to serve our day to day needs are not recommended and we would continue to look at that with a very jaundiced eye as this particular point in time. There are increases that we look at and those are costs that are increasing some of which are within our control some of which are not. Out healthcare insurance costs if things work the way we propose will be at 16.75%. We had that conversation a little while ago. Natural gas increase is targeted about 3% next year. Power electricity increase is about 7% and those are the numbers that we have to budget for. The new facilities that we’re opening will have some additional costs that we recognized that as we built these buildings. There’s maintenance costs involved with that, operational costs and some personnel issues as we continue to move forward. Such things as the Judicial Center will have more power, more lights, more gas and more opportunity for cost there. The Webster Detention Center as we move forward with that we are convinced that down the road there’ll be savings there as we look at the efficiency of operating that versus the efficiency of operating the 401 as it 22 is today. Those savings unfortunately will not be reflected next year as we begin the transition period. Those are savings that will hopefully be there in the future. Our prisoner population, as you know, in past conversations we talked about holding 1300 hundred people. Those numbers are down. We’re down to a little bit less than a thousand on a day-to-day basis now. So that’s a good thing for us. But those are additional costs that we’ve got to look at as part of the budget. Revenue projections is always an interesting part as we try to project those amount of revenues that are coming in. With no tax increase and a flat digest we project the ad valorem tax will be about the same as it was this year. In addition to that electric franchise fee was lower this year. That created a lot of our problems invariably beyond our control. What happened there is some of our larger industries shut down during the summer for three to four weeks. That reduced the amount of electricity that was being used and that cost us about S1.7 million dollars last year that we did not anticipate losing. That was the reason we had to talk about the furlough days. That’s one of the reasons we had to in mind we had to recommend that we move forward with that. We believe that that number will be back. The companies haven’t shut down this summer because it was a hot summer the electric uses are up higher than what they had been. So we’ve added that money back in. But that keeps us flat, that’s not a growth there that fills a hole that was created by that loss last year. In addition to that sales tax we still continue to hold our own with sales tax. We anticipate a little bit of a growth there too as we continue to move forward. But that small growth is not enough to get overly excited about and it’s still within the margin of error that we have. We projected 3% growth in the budget and we’re comfortable with that. It could be a little more. Our numbers this year are ahead of last year. Slightly behind last year but ahead of what we budgeted for this year so we’re holding our own with sales tax and we feel pretty good about that. But what that basically does mean is that we’ve got a flat projection. I’m not comfortable recommending any great revenue increases at this particular point in time. So if you take no increases in revenue and increases in cost and increases in programs desired you end up with a hole that you have to fill. Okay? The initial look at that hole we’re talking about is about $9.4 million dollars. We started out with about $8 million last year and because of the things we’ve already mentioned in this little presentation those numbers have gone up. Let me tell you that’s a rough cut. We took that number based on the requests from departments and requests from areas and we as the staff have not made a very significant dip into that yet. Simply because there are programs there that we think are appropriate and we think that we would prefer some advice from the Commission on how to deal with that. That $9.5 million dollar hole is new personnel in some areas. It includes money set aside for economic development. It includes some dollars set aside for other funding sources that we think are good but we want to make sure that you have your input in that and that they’re on the table as we talk. That in my mind needs to be a political decision at this point in our lives as opposed to a staff decision. All that being said is that I think that this year we need to look at some fairly extraordinary measures to deal with the budget issues. Those extraordinary measures include holidays. Not something I like at all, not something I think is something that I’d like to do but something I think we need to keep on the table and that’s five of those for one million dollars. What I’d also like to do is talk about redirecting $2.3 million in capital dollars. Those capital dollars would go into the general fund and slow some of our capital projects but not the day-to-day necessity of paying for the car leases and those kinds of things. In addition to that you’re going to see in the budget potential service reductions and reorganizations for a saving of about $1.5 million dollars. Those I think are crucial as we look at making sure we maximize our resources and look at the ways that we do business. This budget does not present business as usual for the city of Augusta it presents an 23 opportunity for us to take what some people have classified as a financial crisis and make it into a situation where we can do better to determine our future. It requires taking a look at what we do, taking a look at how we do it and taking a look at what you want to do as a government and what kinds of services you want to provide. In addition to that we’ve looked at using $3.9 million out of our fund balance, the number that does not make me uncomfortable but a number that does not make me very happy either. If you looked at our fund balances at 12/31/09 we’re at about $31 million dollars which, Dr. Hatney, is 74 days of operation. Mr. Hatney: Seventy-four. Mr. Russell: Yes, sir. If you look at our projective for 2010 it was 65 days of operation and out projected using that money as I said up above we reduce that to 56 days of operation. Those reductions are not what we want to see we want to maintenance and a whatever and maintenance and a growth if at all possible. We need to continue to look at some of our operations. The general fund transit has a transfer of about $2 million in this budget for transit for both in the general fund and both for local services. The Municipal Golf Course as a transfer of about $145,000 dollars. What you’re going to see as we talk about this is a new face in government, a new opportunity. What we’ve done in this budget is include funding at the same level as last year for the people we give gifts to. Those gifts involve $1.7 million dollars that we give to community groups and work with to provide services to our community. That’s 1.7 outside of the number given to the public health organization. That’s another amount on top of that. So you’re going see talk in the next several weeks as we talk about the operation of how we can look at those operations and determine whether or not we can now afford and continue to afford to give away $1.7 million dollars worth of our dollars tax dollars. In addition to that we’ve been able to balance the other groups like the emergency telephone, the building inspection, fire protection with minimal use of our fund balance. So we’re holding our own pretty good. We’re pretty happy about that. Part of the issue we continue to face is unfunded state mandates where on a regular basis the people in Atlanta pass laws that sound really good when you talk about them but have a very negative impact on our budget and put us in a position where we are going to have to raise taxes at some point on our, on your constituents to pay for what they think are good ideas. Some of that is a move into the board of equalization. Some of that is the fact that now based on one of their house bills we have to send out tax notices to each of our residents more than once a year. Not only to the ones that have their assessment changed but to everybody. When you start talking about sixty-three some odd, sixty-three some odd parcels that gets to be very expensive very quickly. And it’s sounded good in Atlanta but does it play good here when it costs each and every one of our taxpayer’s additional money to make that happen. I’m not that it does. This is the beginning of the conversation and that’s all it is. You’ve got a lot of information in front of you. We’ll be scheduling workshops over the next couple weeks to talk specifically about on how to move forward. Our target date for passing the budget is sometime in late November and that’s where we’d like to go. To the public the budget will be on the web after 7:00 o’clock today or my proposal at this particular point in time. Hard copies will be available in the Clerk’s office, in my office and in the main library. And something we haven’t done before is before we make copies for anybody that wanted them and we’ll do that too but they’ll be for sale for $12.00 dollars apiece as we continue to move forward to try to make thing work a little bit better. It’s on the web if you want it for free. If you want a piece of paper to carry around you have to pay for the cost. That sort of sets the tone for how 24 we’re going to have to do government in the future. We’re going to have to do it in a manner that gives our employees what they need, it gives our citizens what they need but make sure that we have it done in a way that it’s the most cost effective way possible. I look forward to talking about this over the next couple weeks in a whole lot more detail than what you’ve got today. As I said this is the beginning of what’s going to be a very difficult conversation as witnessed by the conversations about the furlough days and the healthcare costs. I will have as most of you know more specific recommendations as we go forward but right now I wanted to make sure we had the general topic on the table as required by our own order. Thank you for your attention and I’ll But it would probably be appropriate to refer this be happy to respond to any questions. back to Finance and the workshop for further discussion. Mr. Hatney: So moved. Mr. Jackson: Second. Mr. Russell: We have public workshop scheduled for November --- Mr. Hatney: Call for the question Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. If there is no further discussion Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign of voting. Motion carries 10-0. Mr. Russell: Thank you, gentlemen. Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, our final agenda item. The Clerk: OTHER BUSINESS 32. Discuss adding an additional 1-cent to the Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) to fund Pubic Safety Department. (Requested by Mayor Deke Copenhaver) Mr. Mayor: Thank you, ma’am. And I’ll go ahead and make this quick because I think everybody’s getting a little bit antsy. This is meant to begin a dialog. We had this dialog earlier this year but the reason I put this on here is we’ve got the Legislative Session starting in January. Next year the state is projecting a $2 billion dollar deficit, a $2 billion dollar shortfall and having worked with the Georgia Municipal Association for many years now we have got to somehow figure out how to fund things locally. Because it’s my personal opinion we are not going to be able to get things from the state. This would be a potential and ultimately would like this referred back to Finance too but to look at away to fund our Public Safety through issuing of any sales tax. You could do a fractional sales tax but to focus this strictly on public safety and put it before the voters and allow them to decide. So I would say that I would offer any y’all any questions of comments but once again this is what I think is the beginning of dialog prior to 25 getting to a point where we go into the session. And I would hope that this would be referred to Finance Committee as well. Mr. Grantham: Mr. Mayor? Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Grantham. Mr. Grantham: Mr. Mayor, thank you and this has been something I’ve talked about for about three years as well. And it’s certainly a needed reason to support our Public Safety in all cases. However I do think that we need further investigation as to how we can do this legally what the state laws are. Have some comparison with others that are doing the same thing and as refer it to Finance and I’ll be happy to make that motion that we do so. you said Mr. Jackson: Second. Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and second. If there is no further discussion Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign of voting. Motion carries 10-0. Mr. Mayor: Thank you, gentlemen. Mr. Attorney. Mr. McKenzie: We have no need for a Legal Session today. Mr. Mayor: That is always music to the ears of eleven men sitting here before you. If there’s no further business, 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 October 19, 2010. ______________________________ Clerk of Commission 26 27