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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-26-1996 Meeting I I I FINANCE & APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE COMMITTEE ROOM - August 26, 1996 2:00 P.M. PRESENT: Hons. Larry E. Sconyers, Mayor; J. Brigham, Chairman; Bridges and Beard, members; A. B. McKie, Jr., Interim Comptroller; Linda Beazley, Interim Administrator for Administration; Charles Dillard, Interim Administrator for Operations; Jerry Saul, Tax Commissioner; North Williamson of the Tax Commissioner's Office; Lori D'Alessio of the Attorney's Office; Glenn Greenway of the Finance Department; Kip Plowman, Interim Internal Auditor; Drew Goins, Asst. Com. of P.W. & Director of Engineering; Tom Beck of the Recreation Department; Harrison Sears, Tax Assessor; Lena Bonner, Clerk of Commission-Council and Nancy Morawski, Deputy Clerk of Commission-Council. ABSENT: Hon. Freddie Handy, Vice-Chairman. Also Present: Sylvia Cooper of the Augusta Chronicle, Gale Mino of WBBQ Radio and George Eskola of WJBF Television and Hons. Zetterberg, H. Brigham and Mays, Commissioners. The Comm~ttee first discussed Automated Clearinghouse Transfers for Water Bills. Mr. McKie: We are proceeding on our data processing and general ledger applications and we want to run one budget next year. I'd like to get through with our ledger system first and then phase this in. We will probably be ready to go by the first of the year and then we can do it on one system. Mr. Bridges: I move we receive this as information. Mr. Beard: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. A request for purchase of prior year service for Helen A. Norris, was read. Mr. Bridges: I move we approve it. Mr. Beard: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. A request for purchase of prior year service for Billy M. Eubanks, was read. Mr. Bridges: I move for approval. Mr. Beard: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. A request for purchase of prior year service for Thomas E. Price, Sr., was read. Mr. Bridges: I move for approval. Mr. Beard: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. A request for purchase of prior year service for Jack F. Murphy, was read. Mr. Bridges: I move for approval. Mr. Beard: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. The Committee next considered approval of a list of business and personal property accounts to be declared insolvent. Mr. Williamson: These remain on the execution dockets and if any try to reestablish themselves in the future, they have to pay these accounts. Mr. Beard: I move for approval. Mr. Bridges: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. The Committee next considered approval of a list of city tax accounts for years 1984 through 1988 to be declared insolvent. Mr. Williamson: These accounts have expired and we have no means to collect them. There were no fi fa's created for them and the Attorney says we should just write them off. Mr. Bridges: I so move. Mr. Beard: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. Communication from Mr. North Williamson requesting abatement of taxes on government owned property, was read. Mr. Chairman: We need to add this one. Mr. Bridges: I move we add it. Mr. Beard: Second. I I I I I I Motion adopted unanimously. Mr. Beard: I move that we approve the request. Mr. Bridges: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. The Committee next discussed the Mid Year Review. At this time Mr. McKie gave a detailed presentation regarding the highlights of the report. Mr. Bridges: I move we receive the report as information. Mr. Beard: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. Communication from the Interim Comptroller regarding the need for the purchase of equipment for the Recreation Department Maintenance Shop using SPLOST funds designated for Recreation, was read. Mr. Beard: I move that we accept this as information. Mr. Bridges: Second. Mr. Brigham: I'd like to add that we ask the County Attorney to investigate whether or not we could use SPLOST funds for this purpose and report back to us. Motion adopted unanimously. Mr. McKie reported on the Kick Off Bond Meeting. He stated there was a target date to validate which is September 30 and to market around the last week in October. The total new money involved would be about $30 to $32 million dollars with a total bond issue of around $70 million. You will review this at the next meeting. Communication from the District Attorney regarding renovations on the fourth floor of his building in the approximate amount of $14,800 and requesting approval to hire John Brown to write specifications for a fire escape so that it will meet fire codes. Mr. Brown would also oversee the project from start to finish for 6% of the construction cost, was read. Mr. McKie: This will require a change in budget to do this. It is not in the budget this year. There will be Phase III money next year. Mr. Chairman: I think we need to inform him that he could do it next year then. Mr. Bridges: I move that we go ahead and proceed with the specifications on the fire escape as he requested subject to work beginning through the SPLOST III funds next year. I Mr. McKie: We can advance him some money to do that. Mr. Beard: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. The Committee next considered approval of an invoice from the architects of Lake Olmstead Stadium in the amount of $32,830.00. The invoice is requesting, in part, $29,670.00 for additional services provided for the design of adding a metal roof over the south and north stands. Mr. McKie: We didn't budget this but it could come from the capital replacement fund, 06 reserves. Mr. Bridges: I move it be approved. Mr. Beard: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. Communication from the Richmond County Department of Family I & Children Services requesting approval of the annual operating budget for the Food Stamp Distribution Program in the amount of $117,932 for fiscal year July 1, 1996 through June 30, 1997, was read. Mr. McKie: This has already been budgeted and we recommend you approve it. Mr. Beard: I so move. Mr. Bridges: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. Communication from Johnson, Wilson & peard, Inc. regarding their services for utility bill audits, was read. Mr. McKie: We did this a couple of years ago on a 30% commission rate and it did save us some money. Before we go with these people if we want to do it on the City side, we'd recommend an RFP be done. Mr. Bridges: I move that Butch or the Administrator do an RFP and see what kind of response we get. Mr. Beard: Second. I I I I Motion adopted unanimously. Communication from the Richmond County Board of Tax Assessors regarding a refund recommendation in the amount of $335.73 for Cheryl C. Maddox, was read. Mr. Sears: This was for a homestead exemption that was dropped in error. Mr. Bridges: I so move. Mr. Beard: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. Communication from Paul H. Dunbar, III submitting a request from KMC Southeast Corporation for an extension of approximately 180 days within which to begin work on the installation of its fiber optic cable lines system within the City limits of the City of Augusta, was read. Mr. Bridges: I so move. Mr. Beard: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. Communication from the Attorney submitting a letter from Jimmy Findlay concerning a request for a partial waiver of the demolition charges for Map 61-2, Parcel 169, was read. Ms. D'Alessio: There was an assessment for a demolition charge and he's asking if you will waive part of the assessment to allow him to give you the sales price less the back taxes which would come out to about $650 as opposed to the $1900 assessment. Mr. Chairman: I'll make a motion that we accept this to get the property back on the digest and clear up title. Mr. Bridges: Second it. Motion adopted unanimously. The Committee next considered a form for financial summary report. Mr. Bridges: This is a summary form that all Commissioners can review rather than looking at all the paperwork and financial reports that are generated. This is something Kip has recommended for us to consider either monthly or quarterly. Butch hasn't had time to review it so we are asking that you receive this as information today and let him come back with his recommendations. Mr. Beard: I move we receive this as information. Mr. Bridges: Second. I Motion adopted unanimously. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. Lena J. Bonner Clerk of Commission-Council NWM I I