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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-30-2000 Meeting I I I PUBLIC SERVICES COMMITTEE COMMITTEE ROOM - May 30, 2000 4:00 P.M. PRESENT: B. Young, Mayor, R. Colclough, Chairman, J. Brigham, B. Kuhlke, W. Mays, members, U. Bridges, M. Williams, Commissioners, R. Oliver, Administrator, J. Wall, Attorney, B. Boshears, Director Daniel Field, T. Beck, Recreation Director, D. Leach, Library Director, L. Bonner, Clerk of Commission. ALSO PRESENT: S. Cooper, Augusta Chronicle, S. Eidson, Metro Spirit. Discuss issues related to areas of Lock and Dam Park that remain closed to the public as a result of damages to facilities as a result of the drawdown of the river. (Estimated costs to repair $31,847 - funds are not budgeted) l'vlr. Beck: This is an update on where we stand at Lock & Dam Park. As you remember we had the drawdown of the river which subsequently created damages in the park, some permanent which includes the north boat ramp that remains to be closed because of safery issues and the damages. We as a department have had many challenges over the last several months in managing the park with that ramp being closed. That ramp is the only ramp north of the dam until you get to the Augusta River Front Marina which is several miles up stream. That has always been a very popular area for boaters and fisherman. We have asked the Corp of Engineers for reimbursement in a February 2 letter that went to the Corp not only for emergency repairs that we expended initially but also to pay for the permanent damages that would bring these facilities back to order. The Mayor also sent a letter asking for an update where this issue stands. As of today we have had no response back from the Corp. l'vlr. Colclough: Mr. Wall how do we get the Corp of Engineers to respond in terms of getting funds. Mr. Oliver: We have one year from the incident to make a formal complaint. My last verbal conversation with them a couple of weeks ago is that they were looking favorably on reimbursing us the 563,000 but they were not looking favorably on anything else. They thought the lease agreement precluded that. But [ think we need to make a formal request. Mr. Wall: Yes you do need to file a formal claim under the Federal Court Claims Act. I thought they had tentatively agreed to reimburse us. Mr. Oliver: They verbally agreed to reimburse us for temporary measures of things that kept falling into the river. They wanted some additional paper work a couple of weeks ago. Mr. Wall: You have to wait for six months after you file the Federal Court Claim Court claim form to give them an opportunity to investigate it. [fwe're already on notice that they are not going to grant the full claim it would be not recommendation that we go ahead and put our claim together. assuming that we know the extend of the damages. Mr. Brigham: Tom have we made any request out the Department of Natural Resources for boat ramp repair? Mr. Beck: No, we have not. I Mr. Brigham: I think that is a funding source that we ought to look into. I think it is one that is available and I think it's one that we also used on the south boat ramp. l'vlr. Beck: The last time we went ahead and paid for it under a reimbursable program. Mr. Mayor: At an earlier committee meeting we were presented with a list of potential sources of funding. The Augusta Marina has a potential savings of $140,000 that is Port Authoriry money for a boat ramp on the river so perhaps that might be a source of funding if we wanted to take it from that. After further discussion, Mr. Wall: Ifwe agreed to repair it you would have to get the Corp of Engineers approval for everything that was done. They would go through a review process up front. Mr. Beck: They are the permitting agency for the ramp so we would have to go through a permit with them for that repair anyway. The only other area that concerns me that I do want to get proper testing on is the road that goes down to the ramp itself. We did stabilize the shoreline and remove some asphalt parking areas that had collapsed during the draw down however, the road itself was deemed safe by local engineers. . I Mr. Wall: We have got to do our homework before we file that formal claim because you can only sue for the dollar amount that you put in there. Therefore. you have to have a realistic number plus a fudge factor to put in that claim when you submit it. I think it would be important if we get to the point where we decide that we want to proceed with making the repairs rather than waiting on the Corp to file the claim at that time before the acrual decision is made to under take the repairs. Mr. Brigham: So move to receive this as information. Mr. Williams: Second. Motion carried unanimously. Award library Cleaning Contract to Southern Management for one year, renewable for two years at a monthly cost of $2,689.94. (Funds available in Library General Operating Budget). Mr. Leach: We awarded a cleaning contract in December to the low bidder, Maliki Custodial Services. Mr. Wall drew up a contract specified a probationary period stipulating that I the contract could be terminated at the end of 90 days if cleaning services were unsatisfactory. I I I Maliki Services were terminated on April 15 for failure to provide adequate cleaning services. Southern Management, the third lowest bidder and the company recommended by the Library Board has been secured as temporary cleaners. The Library Board is requesting that Southern Management be awarded the library cleaning contract for one year, renewable for two years, at a cost of$2,689.94 per month. Mr. Kuhlke: So move. Mr. Brigham: Second. l'vlr. Mays: Jim do we need to include in that motion any where, even though you're terminating one but you're still going to the third bidder dealing with a best bid situation. l'vlr. Wall: Yes we do need best bid in the motion. Mr. Brigham: That's ok with me. Motion carried unanimously. Approve Change Order in the amount of $10,045.50 to the contract with TeA Electrical, Inc. for the rehabilitation of runway lights at Daniel Field. Mr. Brigham: So move. l'vlr. Kuhlke: Second. Motion carried unanimously. Motion to approve an Ordinance to amend Augusta Richmond County Code Section 7-1- 90(c), providing for the charge for the temporary sign permit and inspection. NIl'. Sherman: The new ordinance that was approved defines temporary signs and it requires a temporary sign to be permanent but it didn't include a fee for the permit. This proposal is for a $25 permit fee plus a $15 inspection fee. We surveyed several cities, Macon, Columbus and Savannah for the most part they don't allow temporary signs. Columbia County does allow it but they charge $25. This is in line with what they do but we attached an inspection fee. The new ordinance calls for a sign inspector to be funded from the permanent fees that we collect. This in addition to the fees that we collect for the permanent signs will go towards funding that position. Mr. Oliver: On the temporary signs is this good for a year or is it for every time they put it in a new location? Mr. Sherman: You can have a temporary sign once per quarter for fifteen days. l'vlr. Wall: And it will be color coded, so if they try to move it from one place to another it will be detected. Mr. Brigham: So move to approve. Mr. Kuhlke: Second. Motion carried unanimously. Approval of Memorandum of Understanding between Augusta Housing Authority and Augusta Richmond County Recreation and Parks for Summer Youth Program funded by the Housing Authority and implemented by the Recreation Department in the amount of $50,000. Mr. Kuhlke: So move. Mr. Brigham: Second. Motion carried unanimously. With no further business to discuss the meeting was adjourned. Lena J. Bonner Clerk of Commission Ibb I I I I PUBLIC SERVICES AGENDA COMMITTEE ROOM - May 30, 2000 4:00 P. M. 1. Discuss issues related to areas of Lock and Dam Park that remain closed to the public as a result of damages to facilities as a result of the drawdown of the river. (Estimated costs to repair $3 I ,847 - funds are not budgeted) 2. Award Library Cleaning Contract to Southern Management for one year, renewable for two years at a monthly cost of $2,689.94. (Funds available in Library General Operating Budget). 3. Approve Change Order in the amount of$10,045.50 to the contract with TCA Electrical, Inc. for the rehabilitation of runway lights at Daniel Field. 4. Motion to approve an Ordinance to amend Augusta Richmond Counry Code Section 7-l-90(c), providing for the charge for the temporary sign permit and inspection. 5. Approval of Memorandum of Understanding between Augusta Housing Authoriry and Augusta Richmond Counry Recreation and Parks for Summer Youth Program, funded by the Housing Authority and implemented by the Recreation Department in the amount of $50,000.00. I