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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-11-1997 Meeting I I I FINANCE & APPROPRIATIONS COMMISSION CHAMBERS - November 11, 1997 COMMITTEE 1:00 P. M. PRESENT: Hons. Larry E. Sconyers, Mayor; J. Brigham, Chairman; Handy, Vice-Chairman; Bridges and Beard, members; Harry Siddall, Fleet Manager; Randy Oliver, Administrator; Glenn Greenway, Acting Comptroller; Clifford Rushton, IT Director; Jim Wall, Attorney; Lena Bonner, Clerk of Commission and Nancy Morawski, Deputy Clerk of Commission. Also Present: George Eskola of WJBF Television, Stacy Eidson of The Metropolitan Spirit and other members of the news media. The Clerk: We have a request for two addendum items. One is consideration of funding of $2,500 for the Miss Augusta Scholarship Pageant. The other is to rescind waiver of taxes on property at 334 Greene Street. Mr. Beard: I so move they be added to the agenda. Mr. Bridges: Second. Motion adopted unanimously with Mr. Handy out of the room. A request to approve declaring property on 5th Street shown on the attached sketch as surplus and authorizing sale of same, was read. Mr. Wall: This property has been appraised at a value of $15,000 and that building is not currently being utilized. This would be brought back to you to determine if you want to sell it at the amount bid in. Mr. Bridges: I move that we declare the property surplus. Mr. Beard: I second. Motion adopted unanimously with Mr. Handy out of the room. A request by Mr. Hiram C. Kirkland for a waiver of penalty and interest on his 1995 and 1996 taxes, was read. Mr. Oliver: In our opinion it doesn't meet the criteria for waiving this. While we are sympathetic to his position, we feel there should be no action taken. Mr. Bridges: I move that it be denied. Mr. Beard: Second. Motion adopted unanimously with Mr. Handy out of the room. A request to approve the transfer of a contract from Bell South to KMC for telephone service, was read. I Mr. Oliver: At this point we would like to change our recommendation back to Bell South because they have given us a competitive alternative that we believe is in our best interest. We are recommending that we go on a year-to-year basis to give us flexibility. Mr. Bridges: I move that we approve the agreement with Bell South. Motion dies for lack of a second. Mr. Beard: I move that we forward it on to the full Commission without a recommendation at this point. This would give us more time to look at it. Mr. Bridges: I'll second it. Motion adopted unanimously with Mr. Handy out of the room. A funding request to procure a line construction truck at a total cost of $130,000 for the Traffic Engineering Department, was read. Mr. Bridges: I so move. I Mr. Beard: Second. Motion adopted unanimously with Mr. Handy out of the room. A Resolution to transfer the designated portion of Tatnall Street (Tract II) to the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame, was read. Mr. Beard: I so move. Mr. Bridges: Second. Motion adopted unanimously with Mr. Handy out of the room. At this time Mr. Paul Simon appeared before the Committee and made a presentation outlining recommendations of the sub- committee of various groups regarding the division of funds among the recipients of the proposed increased hotel/motel tax money. (Mr. Handy enters the meeting) Mr. David Jones, Manager of the Sheraton Hotel, noted that of the area hoteliers he had recently surveyed, 26 out of 27 did not favor the new tax. After further discussion of the matter, Mr. Chairman: I think today we need to vote on whether or not we want to have the I I I I tax and then the issue of how it will be divided can be discussed. Mr. Bridges: I make a motion that we not have a 1% hotel- motel tax. Motion dies for lack of a second. Mr. Beard: I will vote present on this issue and I think it should come before the full Commission. Mr. Handy: I would like to make a motion that we receive this as information and refer it back to our sub-committee for a recommendation before we bring it to the full Commission. Mr. Beard: I'll second that. Motion fails with the Chairman and Mr. Bridges voting "No". Mr. Chairman: This issue goes on to the full Commission without a recommendation. A request to approve $100,274 of funding from Phase II Sales Tax for Savannah River Lock and Dam project, reimburse general fund in the same amount, authorize repayment to CDBG program and fund $100,274 in improvements to be made to Laney Walker area from CDBG reimbursing Phase III Sales Tax, was read. Mr. Bridges: I so move. Mr. Beard: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. The Committee next considered a request for funding of $2,500 for the Miss Augusta Scholarship Pageant. Mr. Oliver: We feel that this should have been more appropriately discussed under Amendment 73 and it is currently not budgeted. It would have to come out of contingency and we would reluctantly have to recommend against it. Mr. Beard: I move that we deny this. Mr. Bridges: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. A request to rescind the waiver of $1,111.17 in 1997 ad valorem taxes on Map 47-4, Parcel 88, 334 Greene Street, which was mistakenly submitted by Tax Assessors' Office as being owned by United Way of CSRA, was read. Mr. Oliver: This was inadvertently included and we're trying to correct the error. This is still in the name of the Knox Foundation. Mr. Bridges: I move that rescind the waiver. I Mr. Handy: I'll second it. Motion adopted unanimously. A review of the Third Quarter 1997 Financial Results, was read. The Clerk: The Acting Finance Director has requested that this item be added to the next agenda. Mr. Chairman: That's fine, we'll postpone that to the next meeting. Mr. Handy: I so move. Mr. Bridges: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. Mr. Handy: On item #3 I would ask that that be reconsidered and send it forward with a recommendation. I'd like to make a I motion to accept the staff recommendation to continue the service with Bell South on a year-to-year basis. Mr. Bridges: Second. Motion adopted with Mr. Beard voting "Present". ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. Lena J. Bonner Clerk of Commission NWM I