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Home My WebLink About07-26-2004 Meeting I FINANCE & APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE COMMITTEE ROOM - July 26, 2004 2:00 P. M. PRESENT: Hons. Bob Young, Mayor; Boyles, Chairman; Beard, Co-Chairman; Williams and Grantham, members; Fred Russell, Interim Administrator; North Williamson, Tax Commissioner's Office; David Persaud, Finance Director; Geri Sams, Purchasing Director; Ron Crowden, Fleet Manager; Terri Turner, Planning Commission; Lena Bonner, Clerk of Commission. Also Present: Sylvia Cooper ofthe Augusta Chronicle, other members ofthe news media and Hons. Smith, Sims, Colclough, Hankerson, Mays, Cheek, Commissioners. 1. Receive report from Actuary on requested benefit increase for 1945 Pension Plan. (Deferred from July 12 Finance meeting) Mr. Chairman: I talked with the attorney for the pension plan and he could not be here today. We need to delete this until he notifies us that he's ready to bring it back. 3. Discuss contract renewal with the Augusta Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau. I At this time Mr. Barry White appeared before the committee regarding this above item requesting another term for the contract which expires on September 30 of this year. Mr. White noted that there were some small changes listed in the margins of the contract. Mr. Williams: I move that we accept this as information and review it at our next meeting. Mr. Grantham: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. 7. Approve the request from the Suburban Fire Company, Historical Preservation Society (Augusta, Ga.) for the donation of the 1963 Mack Thermodyne Fire Engine (Retired). At this time a delegation appeared before the committee regarding the above item. Mr. Williams: So move. I Mr. Grantham: Second. 1 Mr. Shepard: I would ask that you make that subject to working this out so that we don't give away any city property. I Mr. Williams: I'll include that in my motion. Motion adopted unanimously. 4. Receive report from Internal Auditor. Mr. Russell: Based on your policies and information requested at the legal meeting last week, I've requested an audit of the funding sources at the Aquatics Center. Mr. Williams: I think we need to have someone in place in our government to handle this type of work and address issues such as this. Mr. Russell: If you'd like as part of the budget presentation for the 2005 budget, . David and I can put together some information about how much it would actually cost to bring forth an Internal Audit Department and let you look at it as part of your budget deliberations. Mr. Williams: So move. Mr. Grantham: Second. I Motion adopted unanimously. 5. Consider abating of taxes on County-owned property. Mr. Williams: I so move. Ms. Beard: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. 9. Approve Bank of America for providing banking services for Augusta, Georgia. Mr. Persaud: The recommendation is to award the contract to Bank of America for two years. After a discussion of the matter, Mr. Williams: I make a motion that we send this on to the full Commission approving Bank of America to provide banking services for the City of Augusta. Mr. Russell: You might want to direct the attorney as part of that to develop a written agreement with Bank of America. I 2 I I I Ms. Beard: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. 2. Consider a request from Douglas Batchelor and Darren Meadows regarding an abatement of personal property taxes for Bank of America, N.A. Mr. Plunkett: The property taxes on the property are going to be paid but there is a problem with the personal property taxes on the equipment there. The tax bill is approxim<l;tely $162,000 and the equipment is valued at $102,500. So the tax bill is more than the property is worth. In negotiating the sale Bank of America is the security holder on this property and they've agreed to sell it for $102,500. We have gone back and basically recalculated what the taxes would havebeen for year 2000-2001 if the property had been valued at $102,500 versus what it was on the books for. Based on that we would receive $3,090 in back taxes for the interest and penalties on this personal property. Why this is significant is that if this does close, we would receive the $55,400 that is due on property taxes, $3,000 on personal property taxes and you will have an investment in the community with the creation of fifty jobs. If this does not go through, they are considering putting this company up in Tennessee. Ms. Beard: 1'd like to make a motion that we abate the taxes and go forward with this. Mr. Grantham: I'll second for discussion. Mr. Russell: I would suggest that we abate the taxes subject to the deal going through and the closing taking place and that we urge the company to look at local people to fill the jobs that will be created. Mr. Plm:lkett: It appears that the closing would take place within the next 30 days. Motion adopted unanimously. 6. Review second quarter June 30, 2004 fiscal year operating financial statements and accept as information. After a discussion of the financial statements, Mr. Grantham: I move that we receive this as information. Ms. Beard: Second. Motion adopted unanimously with Mr. Williams out. 8. Approve the purchase of 36 video cameras from Kustom Signal for a total purchase amount of $125,496 and installation at $7,200.00. 3 Mr. Grantham: A motion to approve. I Ms. Beard: Second. Motion adopted unanimously with Mr. Williams out. 10. Motion to approve resolution for budget amendment regarding flood buyout of 1 additional home (469 Boy Scout Road), miscellaneous expenditures relating to property acquisition and approval of final budget for HMGP Grant. Mr. Grantham: So move. Ms. Beard: Second. Motion adopted unanimously with Mr. Williams out. 11. Discuss funding request from Ft. Discovery. (Referred from July 21 Commission meeting) Mr. Russell: David and I have talked about this and the only funds available would be in the contingency account. We currently have $223,000 in that account. Mr. Rich Slaby appeared before the committee regarding the above item and noted that they have been able to raise about $140,000 locally. I Mr. Grantham: I would like to make a motion just receive this as information and ask Mr. Slaby to keep in touch with us as to how their funding is coming in. Mr. Williams: I second that. Motion adopted unanimously. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. Lena J. Bonner Clerk of Commission nwm I 4 I I I FINANCE & APPROPRIATIONS AGENDA COMMITTEE ROOM - July 26, 2004 2:00 P. M. 1. Receive report from Actuary on requested benefit increase for 1945 Pension Plan. (Deferred from July 12 Finance meeting) 2. Consider a request from Douglas Batchelor and Darren Meadows regarding an abatement of personal property taxes for Bank of America, N.A. 3. Discuss contract renewal with the Augusta Metro .Convention & Visitors Bureau. 4. Receive report from Internal Auditor. 5. Consider abating of taxes on County-owned property. 6. Review second quarter June 30,2004 fiscal year operating financial statements and accept as information. 7. Approve the request from the Suburban Fire Company, Historical Preservation Society (Augusta, Ga.) for the donation of the 1963 Mack Thermodyne Fire Engine (Retired). 8. Approve the purchase of 36 video cameras from Kustom Sigmi.l for a total purchase amount of$125,496 and installation at $7,200.00. 9. Approve Bank of America for providing banking services for Augusta, Georgia. 10. Motion to approve resolution for budget amendment regarding flood buyout of 1 additional home (469 Boy Scout Road), miscellaneous expenditures relating to property acquisition and approval of final budget for HMGP Grant. 11. Discuss funding request from.Ft. Discovery. (Referred from July 21 Commission meeting)