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Home My WebLink About02-07-2005 Meeting I I I FINANCE & APPROPRIA nONS COMMITTEE COMMITTEE ROOM - February 7,2005 2:00 P. M. PRESENT: Hons. Boyles, Chairman; Grantham and Wi'lliams, members; Steve Shepard, Attorney; Fred Russell, Administrator; E. W. Reece, Tax Assessors Office; Chief Al Gillespie, Fire Department; Teresa Smith, Public Works Director; Paul DeCamp, Planning Commission; Chris Naylor, Downtown Development Authority; Lena Bonner, Clerk of Commission. ABSENT: Hons. Bob Young, Mayor; Beard, Co-Chairman. Mr. Chairman: Mr. Russell has one item to add and I'd like to get a motion to add this to the agenda. Mr. Williams: I so move. Mr. Grantham: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. The Clerk: We have a request from Rev. Dr. Simmons to delete Item 3. 3. Consider a request from Rev. Dr. Reginald D. Simmons for the waiver of 2004 and 2005 property taxes for the Universal Ministries Christian Fellowship Church on Highway 56. (Deferred from January 21 Finance) It was the consensus of the committee that Item 3 be deleted. CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS: 6. Consider a requesffor city sponsorship through the purchase of tickets for the 9th Annual Richmond County Neighborhood Alliance Banquet. 7. Motion- to approve refund on six accounts. 10. Consider a request from the United Way of the CSRA, Inc. for city sponsorship through the purchase of tickets for the 2005 Annual Meeting. Mr. Williams: So move. Mr. Grantham: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. 1. Approve request for abatement of penalty and interest for tax year 2003 on property known as Map 86-2, Parcel 72.01. '-_:.:_~~~~~;~~.i!: '.' Jtti~fA"!::'~' _ '" ..-!; Mr. Reece: This is the old Holiday Inn property on Gordon Highway. They have applied for the enterprise zone but it was done after the first of the year. The enterprise zone starts the year after the application is made so it would not be applicable for this year. It would go into effect next year. They thought it would be in effect for this year so they did not pay their taxes. The attorney has ruled in the past that the penalty can be abated but not the interest. I Mr. Grantham: I make a motion that we abate the penalty. Mr. Williams: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. 8. Motion to authorize the Board of Assessors to work with Information Technology to develop RFP's and accept bids on a new CAMA and a complete revaluation of all real estate parcels. The final contracts would be brought back to the Commission for approval. (Referred from February 1 Commission meeting) (See background information under Item 17 on Administrative Services agenda) 9. Motion to authorize the Board of Tax Assessors to advertise and accept bids to perform a business audit by an outside vendor. Once the vendor is selected the contractual agreement would come back to the Commission for approval. (Referred from February 1 Commission meeting) (See background information under Item 18 on Administrative Services agenda) I Mr. Grantham: I'll make a motion that we put 8 and 9 on the full Commission agenda without recommendation. Mr. Williams: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. 2. Approve the acquisition of One (1) Fire Rescue Truck for the Augusta Fire Department fromMed Tee Corporation of Bessemer, Alabama for $145,000.00 (lowest bid offer on Bid 04-093). Mr. Williams: I make a motion to approve. Mr. Grantham: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. 4. M9tion to establish a Special Tax District for roadways. I 2 I I I Mr. Shepard: We have many private roads that are presented to the county for dedication that do not meet county standards. Weare suggesting that special tax districts be established to finance the improvements to these private streets in preparation for their dedication to the county. A homeowners association would have to be in place and 75% of those members would have to agree with the improvements. Ms. Smith: Since we are responsible for the administration of this, we would need two additional staff people to work with it. Mr. Williams: We need to have the roads up to standard when they are built. Mr. Chairman: I think that they are now, but in the past they weren't done in the correct manner. After a discussion, Mr. Grantham: I'm going to make a motion that we receive this dialogue today as information and that we proceed in trying to develop some type of plan for these subdivisions or neighborhoods who want to bring their private roads into our system and go accordingly. Mr. Williams: I second that. Motion adopted unanimously. 5. Consider a request from the Downtown Development Authority regarding any available funding for the Heart and Soul tour sponsored by the Georgia Cities Foundation. Mr. Naylor: This tour generally comes to smaller cities and will be coming through Augusta this year for the first time. We will probably use the Commons to meet with the tour and I have requested the DDA to spend approximately $1,500 out of our marketing budget to help with this. I had talked to the Mayor about any extra funding that the city may be able to contribute in this regard. Mr. Russell: The Mayor has requested that up to $1,000 be funded for this from the Promotional Account. Mr. Williams: Perhaps we could waive the fees that would be charged for the use of the Commons. Mr. Russell: We could do that and then add some additional funding up to $1,000. If you could direct me'to find out if the dates are available, waive the fees and provide for the balance up to $1,000 out of the Promotion Account, I think that would get us to where we need to be. Mr. Grantham: I so move. 3 '. ,"..... -.. "'~~? :'~..... "...: -...,. -:... . . .... .~ -~~-.~-' .- -.,. Mr. Williams: Let's make it $500 and waive the fees. Mr. Grantham: I'll second that. I Motion adopted unanimously. Addendum Item 1. Authorize submission of a grant application to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to finance development of a Design Guidelines Manual for the Pinch Gut (Olde Town) National Register , Historic District. Mr. Williams: I so move that we allow them to apply for the grant. Mr. Grantham: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. Lena J. Bonner Clerk of Commission nwm I I 4 FINANCE & APPROPRIATIONS AGENDA COMMITTEE ROOM - February 7,2005 2:00 P. M. 1. Approve request for abatement of penalty and interest for tax year 2003 on property known as Map 86-2, Parcel 72.01. 2. Approve the acquisition of One (1) Fire Rescue Truck for the Augusta Fire Department from Med Tec Corporation of Bessemer, Alabama for $145,000.00 (lowest bid offer on Bid 04-093). 3. Consider a request from Rev. Dr. Reginald D. Simmons for the waiver of2004 and 2005 property taxes for the Universal Ministries Christian Fellowship Church on Highway 56. (Deferred from January 21 Finance) 4. Motion to establish a Special Tax District for roadways. 5. Consider a request from the Downtown Development Authority regarding any available funding for the Heart and Soul tour sponsored by the Georgia Cities Foundation. 6. Consider a request for, city sponsorship through the purchase of tickets for the 9th Annual Richmond County Neighborhood Alliance Banquet. 7. Motion to approve refund on six accounts. 8. Motion to authorize the Board of Assessors to work with Information Technology to develop RFP's and accept bids on a new CAMA and a complete revaluation of all real estate parcels. The final contracts would be brought back to the Commission for approval. (Referred from February 1 Commission meeting) (See background information under Item 17 on Administrative Services agenda) 9. Motion to authorize the Board of Tax Assessors to advertise and accept bids to perforn1 a business audit by an outside vendor. Once the vendor is selected the contractual agreement would come back to the Commission for approval. (Referred from February 1 -Commission meeting) (See background information under Item 18 on Administrative Services agenda) 10. Consider a request from the United Way of the CSRA, Inc. for city sponsorship through the purchase of tickets for the 2005 Annual Meeting. I ADDENDUM FINANCE & APPROPRIATIONS AGENDA February 7,2005 2:00 P. M. DELETION FROM THE AGENDA: 1. Item 3. (Requested by Rev. Simmons) I I