HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-10-1998 Meeting
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FINANCE & APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE
COMMITTEE ROOM - August 10, 1998
1:00 P. M.
PRESENT: Hons. Larry E. Sconyers, Mayor; Bridges, Chairman;
Beard and J. Brigham, members; Jim Wall, Attorney; Randy Oliver,
Administrator; Harry Siddall, Fleet Manager; Lena Bonner, Clerk
of Commission and Nancy Morawski, Deputy Clerk of Commission.
ABSENT: Hon. H. Brigham, Vice-Chairman.
Also Present: Stacey Eidson of The Metropolitan Spirit,
Sylvia Cooper of The Augusta Chronicle and George Eskola of WJBF
Television.
The Committee first heard a presentation by Mr. Doug Barnard
regarding the Jessye Norman - Home for the Holidays Christmas
Special for PBS.
Mr. Barnard made a presentation regarding the proposed
television special which will include performances by Ms. Norman
and highlight people and areas of Augusta which influenced her
life. He requested that the City contribute funding in the
amount of $85,000 or any portion thereof in order to help defray
the costs related to this production.
Mr. Beard: I feel that we should definitely participate in
this and I would move that we allocate $15,000 from the
"Commission Other" account.
Mr. J. Brigham: I'll second that.
Motion adopted unanimously.
A request to award a purchase order for one (1) cargo van
for the Information Technology Department at a total cost of
$15,986.00 (Bid #98-153), was read.
Mr. J. Brigharrl: I move we approve this as the best bid.
Mr. Beard: Second.
Motion adopted unanimously.
The Committee next discussed Aiken Economic Development
Partnership request for funding regarding SRS plutonium
disposition.
Mr. Mayor: This would be funding from us as well as three
other counties plus the Metro Chamber of Commerce. This is for
lobbying for the SRS plutonium mission and I think if we could
give them $50,000, the others would come up with the remainder of
$100,000.
Mr. Oliver: This could come from General Fund Contingency.
Mr. Beard: I'll include that in my motion. Could we
possibly have more input into this than we currently have?
Mr. Oliver: If you are so inclined to approve this, we
could make that known.
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Motion adopted unanimously.
The Committee next discussed the renewal of the External
Auditor's contract for 1999.
Mr. Oliver: We are recommending that we accept the proposal
of Cherry, Bekaert and Holland for the audit for 1999.
Mr. J. Brigham: I so move.
Mr. Beard: Second.
Motion adopted unanimously.
Communication from Mr. William R. Thompson regarding a
request for funding in support of a study to assess an economic
development package for Richmond County, was read.
Mr. Thompson: This relates to a request that Sen. Walker
made of Augusta Tomorrow several months ago. His idea was to put I
together an economic package for our area where we have matched
local funding. And he in turn would take that package to Atlanta
to attract state funding for those projects. It is an extremely
large package and the projects look like they will total about
$60 million. In order to attract state funding for these, they
have to be bondable projects and we have to show that they have
an economic impact on our area. The proposal you have is from
LDR who has done a lot of work for our community, and we're
asking them to assess the economic impact of these various
projects. We're requesting part of the funding for this to come
from the City in the amount of $15,000.
Mr. Oliver: You have previously allocated $250,000 for
studies but the problem there is that HUD requires you to go
through a competitive process which would take a few weeks.
Mr. Beard:
And I'll move we
the $250,000 and
$15,000 from the
Why don't we determine what HUD can do on that?
look into the possiblity of funding this out of
if that is not feasible, then we consider
"Commission Other" account.
Mr. Bridges:
I'll second the motion.
Motion fails with Mr. J. Brigham voting "No".
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ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, the meeting
was adjourned.
Lena J. Bonner
Clerk of Commission
NWM