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Home My WebLink About07-08-1996 Meeting I I I FINANCE & APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE COMMITTEE ROOM - July 8, 1996 2:00 P.M. PRESENT: Hons. Larry E. Sconyers, Mayor; J. Brigham, Chairman; Handy, Vice-Chairman; Bridges and Beard, members; A. B. McKie, Jr., Interim Comptroller; Linda Beazley, Interim Administrator for Administration; Charles Dillard, Interim Administrator for Operations; Jim Wall, Attorney; Lena Bonner, Clerk of Commission-Council and Nancy Morawski, Deputy Clerk of Commission-Council. Also Present: Sylvia Cooper of the Augusta Chronicle, George Eskola of WJBF Television and Gale Mino of WBBQ Radio. Mr. Chairman: We have several things to add to the agenda. We first need to add a Resolution exempting properties from the additional tax execution. Also, we need to add a quit-claim deed and approve a Resolution concerning E-911 and another item to consider the sale of 2.94 acres. We also have an item from University Hospital about the ambulance service for funding. We also have a report about the 1995 financial audit results. Mr. Bridges: I move we add these to the agenda. Mr. Beard: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. Communication from the Golden Harvest Food Bank requesting approval for the Food Bank to be included in the budget to receive funding from the City-County government in the amount of $20,000, was read. At this time Mr. Michael J. Firmin appeared before the Committee to make a short presentation regarding the above communication. Mr. McKie: This request would double the size of the program and the budget policy adopted in this first year of consolidation was that we would not expand any existing programs we had. This is why it was not included in the budget. Mr. Handy: I'd like to move that we accept this as information until we get a little more information about it. Mr. Beard: Second. Mr. Chairman: Mr. Firmin, if you would get us your financial ~tatement, we would appreciate it. Mr. Firmin: I'll do that. Motion adopted unanimously. Communication from the Attorney submitting a Resolution exempting all properties for which an initial tax execution has been issued from transfer of execution. This matter was subject of a public hearing held on June 24, 1996 and there was no opposition to same, was read. I Mr. Wall: This resolution is a third step in a process you earlier approved. We had the public hearing on June 24 and there were no objections. I recommend this for approval. Mr. Handy: I so move. Mr. Bridges: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. Communication from the Attorney submitting the original of a Quit Claim Deed from Augusta-Richmond County and Regency Condominiums, Inc. Richmond County currently has a number of outstanding Fi Fa.ls against First Union National Bank of Georgia and this Quit-Claim Deed is to allow the purchaser of Unit No. 2669, who is paying the delinquent taxes as to this Unit, to obtain title free and clear of taxes that are owed on other pieces of property, was read. Mr. Wall: This would allow this property to stand for its own taxes. The unit has been sold and they will pay the I taxes on this unit since there are fi fa's against First Union for other properties in the County. This would free this particular property so that they would not have to payoff every one of the fi fa's. Mr. Bridges: I move the quit-claim deed be granted. Mr. Handy: Second. Motion adopted with Mr. Beard voting "No". Communication from the Attorney submitting a Resolution concerning E-911 service. This does not change the fee, but reaffirms the necessity of imposing the fee. You will recall that the Board of Commissioners approved a contract in August, 1995 to provide for the continued existence of 911 service, was read. Mr. Wall: This resolution would continue in effect the existing charge of $1.15 per month per line. Mr. Bridges: I make a motion the resolution be approved. Mr. Handy: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. I I I I Communication from the Attorney requesting consideration of the sale of 2.94 acres which was acquired in connection with the right-of-way for Riverwatch Parkway. Brandenburg Properties has expressed a desire to purchase this property, was read. Mr. Wall: Brandenburg Properties wants to acquire this property which Mr. Murphy feels we will not have any use for. If we declare it surplus, then the adjoining property owners, which would be Brandenburg Properties, would have to make an offer and it would be up to you to accept that. There may be some discussion concerning the value of the property. It has been appraised considering access to the property and without access to the property. Mr. Murphy thinks the DOT will not grant a right-of-way cut in there so the only access will be from Brandenburg's other properties. It makes a tremendous difference in the price. This initial step is to declare it surplus and they have expressed an interest in buying it. Mr. Handy: I move we receive this as information until a later date. Mr. Bridges: I second that. Motion adopted unanimously. Communication from University Hospital stating we would like to make the Rural/Metro subcontract effective on July 8, 1996. That date is the first day of the next contract renewal of the University-Richmond County ambulance service agreement. A July 8 effective date aligns the subcontract term and the subcontract payment schedule with the University-Richmond County agreement. University will determine by July 31 the amount due under the Richmond-University agreement for the period January 1, 1996 through July 8, 1996. There have been no bills submitted for that period. The $600,000 called for in the subcontract will cover the period from July 8, 1996 through July 8, 1997. University requests that Richmond County pay that amount in $50,000 installments with the first installment paid on August 1, 1996. Please let me know if these arrangements are acceptable to Richmond County. Rural/Metro is committed to buy all of the equipment used by the University Hospital Ambulance Service for its fair market value. University believes that the easiest way to accomplish the transaction with Rural/ Metro is for University to acquire the Richmond County equipment and then transfer it to Rural/Metro in a wash-through sale. University is developing a list of the property and a valuation. Tom Schneider will be available to discuss the property list and valuation. If the sale is acceptable to the County, I propose that Tom and the appropriate County official execute the transaction, was read. Mr. Wall: I received a letter from Ed Burr saying they are putting in a July 8 effective date where Rural Metro would take over the ambulance service. University Hospital would then determine by July 31 the amount due under the Richmond- University agreement for the period from January 1 through July I 8. No bills have been submitted for this time period. They are asking Richmond County to pay $50,000 per month beginning August 1 or $200,000 for the remainder of the year in addition to some unknown amount we will be billed for from January 1 through July 8. Mr. McKie: That may be about $400,000 if it holds true as it has in the past. Mr. Handy: I make a motion that they submit a bill to us for the period January 1 through July 7. Mr. Bridges: Second. Mr. Wall: You may want to appoint a committee to come up with a value on the equipment. We have also just bought two new dispatch stations out of 911 funds. We've got to decide how we will handle that also in addition to the ambulances. Mr. McKie: This ambulance contract is a reimbursement. Rural Metro should provide you the same profit and loss statement that University has and if they lose m6ney, then they might be entitled to the subsidy but if they do not lose money, then there is no need for them to be paid a subsidy under the terms of the original contract. Mr. Chairman: Do we need to appoint a committee regarding determination of the value of the equipment? I Mr. Beard: Why don't we let the full body look at it or let the Mayor appoint the Committee? Mr. Bridges: Is your motion to let the Mayor appoint the Committee? Mr. Beard: Yes. Mr. Bridges: I'll second that. Motion adopted unanimously. The Committee next heard a presentation from representatives of Serotta, Maddocks and Evans regarding the 1995 financial audit. Mr. Handy: I move that we receive this as information. Mr. Bridges: Second. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, the meeting I Motion adopted unanimously. I I I was adjourned. Lena J. Bonner Clerk of Commission-Council NWM