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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-28-1998 Meeting I I I FINANCE & APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE COMMITTEE ROOM - September 28, 1998 1:00 P. M. PRESENT: Hons. Larry Sconyers, Mayor; Bridges, Chairman; H. Brigham, Vice-Chairman; Beard and 1. Brigham, members; Randy Oliver, Administrator; Jim Wall, Attorney; David Collins, Finance Department; Harrison Sears, Tax Assessor; Rick Acree, Asst. Director of Public Works - Facilities Maintenance Division; Lillian Katharine Blanos, Augusta Clean & Beautiful Director; Tom Beck, Recreation Dept. Director; Lena Bonner, Clerk of Commission and Nancy Morawski, Deputy Clerk of Commission. Also Present: Tracy Powell of The Augusta Chronicle, Stacey Eidson of The Metropolitan Spirit, George Eskola ofWJBF Television and Hon. 1. 13. Powell, Commissioner. Tht: Clerk: We have one item to add concerning the renovation of the White Road Shop. Mr.. 1. Brigham: I so move. Mr. Beard: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. Th,e Committee first heard a presentation by Dr. Jim Birdseye regarding the International War Museum project for downtown Augusta. Dr. Birdseye outlined the plans for this military history museum and requested funding in the amount of $45,000 to begin the process for its establishment. Afler a short discussion, Mr. Oliver: I would suggest that we consider it as part of next year's budgetary process since all of our funds are committed this year. We proposed last year that the Museum be phased back and if we proceed with that, that would free: up $100,000 of hotel/motel tax money that would go to deserving organizations to enhance tourism in the area. Mr. Beard: I move that we accept this as information and direct him to sources that Randy referred to. Mr. H. Brigham: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. Tbe Committee next heard a presentation by representatives from University Hospital. They expressed the need for additional financial support from Augusta Richmond County for the growing number of indigent care patients who are treated at the hospital on a regular basis. They stated that they cannot continue to treat these patients with the present level of funding provided by the County and requested additional help in this regard. Mr. Beard: I would like for the Chairman to consider appointing a sub-committee to work with Randy and members of the hospital to come up with something we can all live with since this is a community problem for all of us. Mr. Oliver: I would see this being handled as part of the budgetary process. We are planning on scheduling a budget workshop the first Saturday in November, and then we will have a couple of public hearings and then bring back the budget for final consideration the second meeting in December. Mr. Chairman: I'll consider your suggestion and appoint a sub-committee to look at this. After further discussion, Mr. Beard: I move that we receive this as information. Mr. Chairman: I'll appoint a committee later on to come back with some recommendations. Mr. Brigham: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. A request for refund of 1996 taxes in the amount of $939.75 to Five-O Development, Inc. for overpayment of taxes on Map 39, Parcel 138.2, was read. A request for refund of 1997 taxes in the amount of $1,716.91 to Grady Smith for overpayment of taxes on map 32-1, Parcel 68, was read. A request for refund of 1997 taxes in the amount of $853.35 to Leasetec Corp. for overpayment of taxes on Account No. 2006292, was read. A request for refund of 1995 taxes in the amount of $565.23 to Kilpatrick & Cody for overpayment of taxes on Account No. 2055409.11, was read. A request for refund of 1996 taxes in the amount of $443.05 to Uniformals Unlimited for overpayment of taxes on Account No. 1136838, was read. Mr. Beard: I move that we approve these. Mr. H. Brigham: Second. Motion adopted with Mr. 1. Brigham voting "No". A request to approve $150,000 additional funding for Blythe Community I Center to be paid from Sales Tax Revenue Account. Mr. Powell: I asked that this item be placed on the agenda. The bids for this came in short. The property has been acquired and we need this additional money to complete the project. Mr. Oliver: We have two types of sales taxes. The Local Option Sales Tax is used to redluce the property tax value. We received funds that came in as a result of the State's problem as it relates to the collection of those taxes. Tht: Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax is used for capital expenditures and it will takt: reprioritization of the currently approved project list if you decide to take the money fi~om this. We received $450,000 in LOST funds back from the State and spent about $150,000 of it so we have about $300,000 left in the General Fund. After a short discussion, Mr. Beard: I move that we pass this on to the Commission and take this from SPLOST funds and reprogram. Mr. H. Brigham: Second. Mr. 1. Brigham: I think we should spend the money not on this project but on the South Augusta project which would benefit more people. I After further discussion, the motion was adopted with Mr. 1. Brigham voting "No". Mr. Oliver: I would like to point out that the Commission will have to make a decision as to how those funds will be reprogrammed. A request from the Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History regarding the acquis:ition of operational funds for the 1998-1999 year, was read. At this time Ms. Betts from the Lucy Laney Museum made a short presentation requesting funding in the amount of $76,000 for the operation at the Museum. Mr. Oliver: It would be eligible for funding from the hotel/motel tax funds next year. Mr. Beard: I move that the Lucy Laney Museum be thrown into the hopper with the other organizations to be considered when the sub-committee meets to consider this. Mr. H. Brigham: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. I A request for abatement of 1998 taxes for Map 170, Parcel 7, was read. Mr. Chairman: This is property that was sold to Richmond County Board of Education on Sept. 30, 1997. They were remiss in recording the deed and consequently, the property was not transferred to the Board of Education until that time resulting in a tax field being generated when in fact the property should have been exempt. And the financial impact is $994.00. Mr. 1. Brigham: I so move. Mr. Beard: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. A request to approve Resolution granting the consent of Augusta, Georgia to the transfer of controVconsent to assignment of the non-exclusive cable television franchise from Charter Communications to Paul G. Allen, was read. Mr. Wall: The resolution you have in your book is essentially the one I want you to adopt; however, Paul Allen has now formed an LLC which is Charter Communications LLC. It has no impact on us and I recommend approval of the new resolutions. Mr. Beard: I so move. Mr. H. Brigham: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. A request to approve Resolution authorizing judicial in rem tax foreclosures, was read. Mr. Beard: I so move. Mr. H. Brigham: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. A request to approve allocation of funds to renovate the former White Road Shop into an operations base for the Trees and Landscaping Department with $18,801 shortfall taken from capital reserves, was read. Mr. Oliver: This will move Trees & Parks to White Road and Mr. Siddall will move to where Trees & Parks currently resides thereby making room for the Senior Court Judge. Mr. Chairman: Has the issue been resolved with the Board of Education? I Mr.. Wall: Yes, but they have not sent us a list of the games at this time but we are expecting that. Mr.. Beard: I so move. Mr. H. Brigham: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. Lena 1. Bonner Clerk of Commission NWM I I