HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-24-2000 Meeting
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SPACE STUDY
WORK SESSION
COMMITTEE ROOM - February 24, 2000
3:05 P. M.
PRESENT: Hons. Bob Young, Mayor; J. Brigham, H. Brigham, Colclough,
Beard, Mays, Bridges, Williams, Cheek, Shepard, Kuhlke, members of Augusta
Richmond County Commission; Elaine Johnson, Clerk of Court; Sheryl Jolles, Solicitor;
Hons. Fleming, Overstreet, Allgood, Dickert, Slaby, Jennings, Hamrick and Wheale,
Judges; Jim Wall, Attorney; Danny Craig, District Attorney; Randy Oliver,
Administrator; Rick Acree, Facilities Management Director; Charles Webster, Sheriff
and Lena Bonner, Clerk of Commission.
Also Present: Sylvia Cooper of The Augusta Chronicle, Stacey Eidson of The
Metropolitan Spirit and other members of the news media.
Invocation given by the Rev. Williams.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Mr. Oliver presented some options which had been previously proposed.
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Option 1. Renovate the current Municipal Building to add a wing which
would accommodate everyone.
Option 2. Move the administration portion of the government to the Davison's
Building and renovate the Municipal Building with an addition for the
courts. (Approximate cost $42.7 million)
Option 3. Move courts and administration to Regency Mall.
Option 4. Move courts to Regency Mall and renovate Municipal Building for
administration. (Approximate cost $43.1 million)
Option 5. Construct a new building for the courts and administration.
(Approximate cost $62 million)
He also noted other options which had been presented. These included
purchasing the block adjacent or across from First Presbyterian, renovating existing
Municipal Building for administration and constructing new court building on the 500
block of Greene and renovating existing Municipal Building for administration and
constructing new court building in the 600 block. The existing cost of these projects
would be between $50 and $60 million. As of today, the cost to renovate the Municipal
Building and construct an ADA accessible core would be about $19 million.
Administration at Davison's is estimated at $12 million. Renovation of the Belk Building
is also about $12 million. Additional options would include the purchase of the First
Union Building or the Richmond Hotel Convention Center space and the adjacent
parking deck. Mr. Oliver stated that he would like to have three or four options from
which he can bring back a detail~d analysis relating to the costs, the timing, the pros and
cons and some structural assessment to meet the required needs.
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Judge Fleming outlined the need for additional courtrooms for the seven Superior
Court judges and the desire for all judiciary functions to be located in one building. He
noted that courtrooms could be made smaller in size.
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Judge Pickett noted that planning ahead is important to serve the needs of the
future with the additional growth in the area.
Mr. Mays noted that issues regarding parking areas would also have to be
addressed regardless of where new courtrooms are located.
Ms. Jolles and Judge Hamrick addressed the needs for additional space for State
Court and their desire for a new judicial complex as a possible solution to the problem.
As a result of discussion, it was the consensus of the judicial representatives
present that their preference would be a new judicial complex and if that is not possible, a
new addition to the Municipal Building.
Options presented for consideration included:
The First Union Building for administration
The Richmond Hotel Convention Center for administration
A new court building on the 600 block of Greene Street
A new court building in the Augusta area where there is adequate space
A new court building on the Pension Plan property
A new court building at the Farmers Market/Fairgrounds
The Belk Building for administration
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Mr. Oliver suggested that the square footages and calculation numbers be
supplied to the judiciary and the constitutional officers review those within the next two
weeks and allow them to make their own recommendations and then the costs can be
recomputed based upon those revised numbers. He stated that he would try to have a
report back in six weeks subject to all information being returned from the judiciary and
the constitutional officers.
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
Lena J. Bonner
Clerk of Commission
NWM
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