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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRegular Commission Meeting August 2, 2011 REGULAR MEETING COMMISSION CHAMBER AUGUST 2, 2011 The Augusta Richmond County Commission convened at 5:00, p.m., August 2, 2011, the Honorable Deke Copenhaver, Mayor, presiding. PRESENT: Hons. Lockett, Guilfoyle, Mason, Smith, Hatney, Johnson, Jackson, Bowles and Brigham, member of Augusta Richmond Count Commission ABSENT: Hon. Aitken, member of Augusta Richmond County Commission. Mr. Mayor: In the interest of everybody’s time I’ll go ahead and call the meeting to order. And I’d like to call on Fr. Scott Winchel, Parochial Vicar, St. Mary on the Hill Catholic Church for our invocation. Please stand. The invocation was given by Fr. Scott Winchel, Parochial Vicar, St. Mary on the Hill Catholic Church. The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America was recited. Mr. Mayor: Father, if you could come forward I have a little something for you. Thank you for that wonderful invocation. By these present be it known that Fr. Scott Winchel, Parochial Vicar, St. Mary On The Hill Catholic Church is Chaplain of the Day. For his civic and spiritual guidance demonstrated throughout the community serves as an example for all of the nd faith community. Given under my hand this 2 Day of August 2011. Thank you, sir. And, Madam Clerk, I believe we had a deletion from the agenda? DELEGATIONS A. Mr. Donald D’Antignac. RE: Concerns with the Administrator. The Clerk: Yes, sir, we have a deletion. It is delegation Item A and that was requested by Mr. D’Antignac. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Thank you, ma’am. With no other delegations let’s move on to the consent agenda. The Clerk: Yes, sir. Our consent agenda consists of items 1-18. Mr. Mayor: Do we have any additions to the consent agenda? Yes, sir. Mr. Jackson: Mr. Mayor, Item 26. Mr. Mayor: Okay, do we have any other additions to the consent agenda? Commissioner Bowles. Mr. Bowles: Mr. Mayor, I’d like to add Items 24 and 25. 1 Mr. Mayor: Any further additions to the consent agenda? Hearing none do we have any items to be pulled for discussion? Commissioner Lockett. Mr. Lockett: Mr. Chairman, I just want to show that on agenda item I vote No. That’s the only thing. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Yes, sir, Commissioner Mason. Mr. Mason: Yes, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Also agenda Item 5 and I believe that was the only one we don’t have to pull it but I’m going to register a no vote on five. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Okay, hearing no further items to be addressed on the consent agenda I’d look for a motion to approve the consent agenda. Mr. Lockett: So moved. Mr. Mason: Second. CONSENT AGENDA PLANNING 1. ZA-R-208 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Planning Commission to approve a petition to amend Section 2 (Definitions) of the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance for Augusta, Georgia by adding a definition for alcohol drinking establishments or nightclubs. (Approved by the Commission July 19, 2011 – second reading. 2. ZA-R-209 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Planning Commission to approve a petition to amend Section 22 (General Business) of the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance for Augusta, Georgia thereby conforming with changes that we made to Section 21 (Neighborhood Business) relative to permitting cafes, restaurants, taverns and drinking establishments as permitted uses. (Approved by the Commission July 19, 2011 – second reading. PUBLIC SERVICES 3. Motion to approve a request from Mobility Transit Services, LLC to amend the transit management agreement to provide for a semi-monthly payment schedule and to allow Mobility to take advantage of and allow Augusta to realize the benefits of maintaining Augusta’s bulk fuel purchasing power. (Approved by Public Services Committee July 25, 2011) 4. Motion to approve tasking the Administrator and Law Department to work on developing a Comprehensive No Smoking Ordinance for Richmond County and to schedule public hearing to receive public input. (Approved by Public Services Committee July 25, 2011) ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES 5. Motion to approve an Ordinance to amend the Augusta, GA. Code Title Eight Chapter One Article One Sections 8-1-5 through 8-1-9 relating to the Creation and Duties of the Planning and Development Department; to repeal all Code Sections and Ordinances and 2 part of Code Sections and Ordinances in conflict herewith; to provide an effective date and for other purposes. (Approved by the Commission July 19, 2011 – second reading. 6. Motion to approve tasking the Administrator and related staff to develop in thirty days for Commission review an RFP and/or RFQ for a solicitation from professional human resources firms and for an independent audit and assessment/efficiency study of Augusta Richmond County Government. (Approved by Administrative Services Committee July 25, 2011) PUBLIC SAFETY 7. Motion to approve an Ordinance to Amend the Augusta, GA Code creating Title Two Chapter Two Article Six Section 2-2-57 Relating to Imposing a 9-1-1 Charge on Prepaid Wireless Service; To Repeal All Code Sections and Ordinances in Conflict Herewith; To Provide an Effective Date and for Other Purposes. (Approved by Commission July 19, 2011 – second reading) FINANCE 8. Motion to approve acceptance of EMW-2010-FO-00697, 2010 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Programs award. (Approved by Finance Committee July 25, 2011) 9. Motion to approve the purchase of (2) Felling Air Tilt Trailers from Bobcat of Augusta, the lowest responsive bid, for the Environmental Services Department. (Approved by Finance Committee July 25, 2011) ENGINEERING SERVICES 10. Motion to authorize Georgia Power Company to proceed with the necessary procurement, underground rough-in and timely installation of site lighting for the expansion parking lot. The cost is $124,300.00 including trenching, underground conduit, wiring, installation of decorative poles and lights for the new parking lot serving the Judicial Center and John J. Ruffin Courthouse. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee July 25, 2011) 11. Motion to award subject contract to the Allen + Batchelor Construction Company in the amount of $1,173,032.00 for the renovations to the Customer Services Metering Division Building for Augusta Utilities Department. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee July 25, 2011) 12. Motion to approve the contract with Cooks Direct, Inc. in the amount of $25,849.44 for the purchase of Food Trays and Food Carts (Bid Item #11-132) for the Charles B. Webster Detention Center Expansion. This is the low bid. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee July 25, 2011) 13. Motion to approve a request from the Downtown Development Authority for the City to match a DOT Enhancement Grant to complete the James Brown Blvd. Streetscape Phase 2 with the Administrator to recommend if HUD or SPLOST funding should be used for the project. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee July 25, 2011) 14. Motion to approve a request by Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence Inc. to place a 6” x 9” plaque at the Signer’s Monument on Greene Street. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee July 25, 2011) 15. Motion to approve and authorize Augusta Engineering Department (AED) to accept the proposal from EMC Engineering to provide design and regulatory permitting professional 3 services for Rocky Creek Basin & Flood Hazard Mitigation project in the amount of $350,000, subject to receipt of signed professional services contract. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee July 25, 2011) 16. Motion to approve the selection committee’s recommendation to issue a contract to Johnson, Laschober & Associates, P.C. for Professional Design Services for the New Webster Detention Center, Phase II. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee July 25, 2011) 17. Motion to authorize the Engineering Department to approve CPB #323-041110- 299823786, Change Number Nine and Supplemental Agreement Number Nine from Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc. (JEG) in the amount of $37,141 for the purpose of preparing a new Noise Study to comply with GDOT Guidelines which went into effect July 13, 2011; prepare an Ecology Addendum which will incorporate determinations of waters of the state in accordance with an EPD site visit; and incorporate these new studies into the environmental document which will have to be re-evaluated and approved by the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) and Federal Highway Administrations (FHWA) so state and federal funds can be used to fund the right of way acquisition on Windsor Spring Road Section V, ARC project. Funds are available in the project engineering account. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee July 25, 2011) PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS 18. Motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of the Commission held July 19, 2011 and Legal Meeting held July 25, 2011) APPOINTMENTS 24. Motion to approve the recommendation from the CSRA EOA to appoint Brenda Bonner. 25. Motion to approve the recommendations of the (Augusta) Department of Family & Children Services Board to reappoint Dr. Thomas Gardiner and Mr. James Kendrick. 26. Motion to approve the recommendations from the Sheriff’s Department to appoint Dan Weigle replacing Russell Malone and Quincy Robertson replacing Daniel Cross, Sr. to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Merit Board. (Requested by Commissioner Joe Jackson) Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. If there’s no further discussion Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign of voting. Mr. Lockett and Mr. Mason vote No. Motion carries 7-2. [Item 5] Motion carries 9-0. [Items 1-4, 6-18, 24, 25, 26] Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, on to the regular agenda, please. The Clerk: PUBLIC SERVICES 4 19. Motion to rescind the July 19, 2011 action of the Commission to lease the future operations of the Augusta Municipal Golf Course to The Patch In Augusta, LLC. (Requested by Commissioner Corey Johnson) Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Johnson, I believe this was your request? Mr. Johnson: Yes, it is. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Actually there was an error in the print on that. Actually it’s supposed to be revote this item not to rescind the action of it. Of course was out of the office to get this clarified so it is to revote the item not to rescind the action of the item. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Yes, sir, Mr. Attorney. Mr. MacKenzie: Actually according to the rules you can’t revote the item until you do do the rescind action first. Because you have to void the first action before you can revote on it. So you would have to do the rescind first --- Mr. Johnson: Protocol? Mr. MacKenzie: Yes. Mr. Johnson: Okay. Mr. MacKenzie: The motion to rescind, if the action is rescinded then the old action will be voided then you could do the motion to take a new action. Mr. Johnson: Okay. Okay. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Mr. Johnson: Okay, Mr. Mayor, we’ll go in the order that the Attorney mentioned there to rescind the action and then go in and revote on it. Mr. Mayor: And you’re putting that in the form of a motion? Mr. Johnson: In the form of a motion, yes. Mr. Mayor: Okay, we have a motion and a second. Commissioner Bowles. Mr. Bowles: Mr. MacKenzie, what happens if this action’s passed and that puts us back to square one which is not exactly where I don’t want to be. If the next motion if there is a motion to approve Infinity if that doesn’t pass we’re back to the city running the golf course? Mr. MacKenzie: That would be correct. The action, if this motion passes then you would’ve voided the action that was taken at the last meeting. If you then do a motion to 5 approve the Affinity option and that vote fails then no action would’ve been taken which would be to continue status quo. Mr. Bowles: Mr. Russell, how far away are we on the contract negotiations on The Patch, LLC? Mr. Russell: Mr. Beck has had conversations with The Patch, LLC. I have not yet been involved in those conversations as he tells me that they’re moving along fairly well. They did look at a smaller lease period and were receptive to that. But I have not had that conversation with them yet. I assume that would happen in the near future. Mr. Russell: Tom, do you know how fast you’d have that --- Mr. Mayor: Mr. Beck. Mr. Bowles: --- to bring that back to us? Mr. Beck: Mr. Mayor and members of the Commission, we did meet last week with the Attorney for The Patch Augusta, LLC, Andrew and I did, and I would my best guess we might be a couple of weeks away from having a lease to inform where we can bring back to you possibly a meeting in September. Mr. Mayor: Okay, is there any? Commissioner Johnson. Mr. Johnson: Let me ask Andrew this. Andrew, how about if we do a motion to rescind the item and approve Affinity. Could you do that all in one or would you have to one and then do the other? Mr. MacKenzie: You would have to do the motion to rescind first so you don’t have two competing actions out at the same time. Mr. Johnson: Gotcha, okay, I just want to be clear on that. Okay. Mr. Mayor: Okay, we have a motion and a second. If there’s no further discussion Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign of voting. Mr. Bowles, Mr. Mason, Mr. Lockett, Mr. Jackson, Mr. Brigham and Mr. Guilfoyle vote No. Motion fails 3-6. Mr. Mason: Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir, Commissioner Mason I’ll recognize for a point of personal privilege I believe. Mr. Mason: Thank you. This unfortunately is an unfortunate situation and uh, I’ve about the process, I’ve been about protocol and I’ve about procedures since I’ve been up here on this 6 Commission. To do anything different today would be hypocritical as far as I’m concerned. I didn’t allow Mr. Smith to do it a couple two three weeks ago or four weeks ago and so it wouldn’t be right on my part for me, I’m just talking about me because that’s who I am. People’s other people’s actions shouldn’t determine who you are as an individual. You have to continue to be true to who you are and that’s what I’m doing here today. And I do want to say this, Mr. Mayor, as I just finish this up. If any Commissioner that includes myself and every single one of us up here bears severance to this Commission and be unprepared that is not the way to be. It is incumbent upon us to come in here ready to do the people’s business period and it’s unfortunate there’s a number of things that I can go back and look at and say let’s revote it. I’m not happy with reorganization, I’m not happy with the Policies and Procedures Manual, there’s any number of things I’m not happy with. And there’s any number of things I think some Commissioners may be weren’t quite prepared to vote on. But the bottom line is we can’t turn around and revote or rescind all of those things. And there’s a proper way to do business up here on this Commission. So for those reasons, Mr. Mayor, I hate this fact because I have a Commanding General who has a definite interest in this and unfortunately I can’t make a decision that’s going to benefit him today. I have a lot of past loyalists who are out there but I can’t make a decision that’s going to benefit them today because I have to be true to who I am. So I wanted to put that out there. And it’s nothing against anybody that’s sitting in this audience or has an interest in it but we’ve got to be true to who we are and that’s what I’m about. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Thank you, Commissioner Mason. Madam Clerk, oh, Commissioner Lockett. Point of personal privilege? Mr. Lockett: I don’t want to repeat everything that Commissioner Mason has said but I don’t think there’s anybody in Augusta Richmond County can say that I didn’t work extremely hard for The Patch. It wasn’t a result of my action that got us in this position. Now we’re setting ourselves up for litigation. We can’t continuously go back and say I misvoted, revote because on a regular basis we’d be doing that. We’d be making a mockery of this government and body. It’s unfortunate, I have the utmost respect for my colleague Commissioner Johnson but we can’t go back and undo what is done. I know that I’m going to have a loss of constituents and lots of people that’s not constituents are going to be upset with me but so be it. I’ve tried for the last 20 months to do the very best that I can do to work with you on this Commission but I have certain principles I’m going to stand by. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Mayor: Okay, thank you, sir. Madam Clerk, next agenda item, please. Oh, Mr. Russell. ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES 20. Motion to approve an Ordinance to amend the Augusta, GA Code Title One Chapter Two Article Three Section 1-2-36 relating to the Duties of the Administrator of Augusta, Georgia; to repeal all Code Sections and Ordinances in conflict herewith; to provide an effective date and for other purposes. 21. Motion to approve an Ordinance to amend the Augusta, GA Code Title One Chapter Seven Article Four Section 1-7-51 relating to the adoption of Personnel Policies and Procedures of Augusta, Georgia; to modify Administrator’s Recommending Authority; to repeal all Code Sections and Ordinances and parts of Code Sections and Ordinances in 7 conflict herewith; to provide an effective date and for other purposes. (No recommendation from Administrative Services Committee July 25, 2011) Mr. Russell: Mr. Mayor, if I can, if we could ask the Clerk to put 20 and 21 as companion items. I’d to address that and what I’d like to do is that involves some changes in the Personnel Manual and the Code involving my authority. In addition to that as we discussed over the past several weeks there’s some other editorial and some other changes that would need to be done to the Personnel Manual. I think it was the feeling I got from committees we could do that And I would like to have those, these items postponed all in one fell swoop at a later date. until we did that. Mr. Hatney: So moved. Mr. Lockett: Second. Mr. Mayor: Okay, are we giving a specific date for these? Mr. Russell: What I’m looking at is probably in September if not sooner. Mr. Mayor: Okay, we have a motion and a second. Commissioner Johnson. Mr. Johnson: Thank you. Fred, would it be too premature to maybe I need to ask Andrew this, it’s a few more items in that that I would like for us to revisit in conjunction with these two as far as the authority of the Administrator. Would we need to do that now or just do it in conjunction with the -- Mr. Mayor: Mr. Russell or Andrew? Mr. MacKenzie: I’d be happy to address that. I think the plan that we’re proposing is that we come back with a proposal that will include a redline version of changes that I think everyone would agree they were just editorial changes and will also have a list of those changes so it will be very clear to everyone what’s being proposed to change. And among those will include some other recommendations of changes that have been brought up as well that we need direction from Counsel on. Mr. Johnson: Okay. Mr. Russell: And if I may, Mr. Johnson, if you have those specific items you need to get those to either Andrew or myself so we can include those. And that would include anybody else obviously. Mr. Johnson: Okay, thank you. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Commissioner Lockett. 8 Mr. Lockett: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think we need to do things a little differently. The Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual belongs to the Human Resources Director. The Human Resources Director is the one that’s supposed to put this thing together not the General Counsel, not the Law Department. I hope that being the Chairperson of Administrative Services that the Human Resources Director would be allowed to do his job for the Law Department to check it out to make sure that it is in accordance with the law and then let it come to this body for approval. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Mayor: Okay, thank you, sir. Mr. Russell: And that’s the plan, sir. Mr. Mayor: Okay, thank you. We have a motion and a second. If there’s no further discussion Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign. Motion carries 9-0. Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, next agenda item, please. The Clerk: FINANCE 22. Discuss and approve the proposed mill rates (computed rollback rates) for 2011 and th proceed to advertise their adoption on August 4 (proposed rated), scheduled adoption date, and advertise 5 year history of digest in the Augusta Chronicle as required by state law; the scheduling of a 10:00 A.M. August 19 10:00 Special Called Meeting to approve proposed mill rates as advertised. Mr. Mayor: Mr. Russell. Mr. Russell: Mr. Mayor, members of the Commission we’re here before you today to talk about finishing up the business we started in November when we adopted the budget. As you know we adopt the budget in November based on a proposed mill rate. That mill rate is not finalized until later in that fiscal year that we’re in and we’ve come to the time to do that. The digest has been looked at by our tax commissioner, the tax assessor. They rate all those properties, they do all that stuff and do the formula that the State of Georgia has established for each of the tax districts to you. That formula is based on the previous year’s digest, the current digest, tax rates which is sort of sundry things that gives you a number. In this case what we’ve done is maintain a very stable digest. There’s been some growth in some areas and loss in others and the evaluations have been somewhat, what are we doing here? I’m just not talking into it. Mr. Mayor: He’s trying to make you look like you’re in Washington. Mr. Russell: One place I don’t want to be. I’d rather be in Augusta, Georgia. Mr. Mayor: We’re not trying to raise the debt ceiling. 9 Mr. Russell: But based on that what we did was establish a budget in November that was based on a proposed millage rate. After all those gyrations in filling out the formula we get a rollback number that’s based on that particular formula that’s available to us. That rollback number is in affect slightly greater than what we base the budget on slightly greater than the county M&O. I’m talking about .019 mills which is a fairly insignificant number. To adopt the rollback rate we would not have to advertise the tax increase when in effect it is actually a tax increase upon itself. Because of the flatness of our digest that’s the way that particular number worked out this time. The recommended county M&O which the rollback figures would be 8.075 Urban Services net M&O 8.002, Capital Outlay is .784, Fire Protection is 1.602, (inaudible) is .808. As you know there are no county bonds that we’re paying off so there’s no debt level there. In addition to that there are no Urban Services Bonds that we’re paying off so Urban Bid District Five and Six is 7.60, 6.0 mills accordingly. If you look at the rollback rate from the adopted numbers we adopted the general fund at (unintelligible) for 2009 8.149 in 2010 8.056. The proposed 2011 millage rate would be 8.075 and the county general funds in Urban Service Districts 8.002. The Capital Outlay is 7.84 (unintelligible) 1.602. Life is 2.808. The county bonds is still zero as they’ve been for the last several years. Urban Service District is 5.760 and the Urban Services District 6 is 6.0. You’ll notice while there’s a slight increase over the 2010 adopted it is lower than the 2009 rate. The differences in those M&O are on this chart here are those rates are on this chart here is .09, 19 0019 and 002. For the raises (unintelligible). The effect that we use on a $100,000 house that we normally look at is very simple. For a suburban house out in the suburban area the total increase based on the rollback millage rate is .88 or 88 cents a year for a $100,000 house. In the urban area that increased a $1.33 a year. Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Hatney, did you have a question? Mr. Hatney: Mr. Administrator, these percentages look great but what is bottom line money? Mr. Russell: Give me a couple of seconds and I’ll get there. Mr. Hatney: Okay. Mr. Russell: But if you look at the house the bottom line for a $100,000 house in the urban area is $1.33 a year for $100,000. In the suburban area it’s eight-eight cents per year. We usually divide that by twelve and try to give you a hands on idea of what you couldn’t buy that month if you paid your taxes. I haven’t found anything for less than ten cents yet to compare that to so we’ve got some issues there. The increase revenue by funds Dr. Hatney would be the county M&O is $37,872 dollars. Balance of other is line item to be $119,924. For the county M&O would be about $150,000. Capital Outlay is $32,313, the Fire we’d gain about $88,326, Urban M&O would go down a little bit and lose $439.99. The Urban Bid District would lose $21,738 in Urban Bid District 2 (unintelligible). Grand impact on the general fund itself is approximately $150,000 additional dollars. If you look at the next one I couldn’t get up here without showing you some comparisons between other localities. If you’ll notice ours is the one on the far left in the horrible shade of yellow. Our proposed millage rate is rollback rate of 8.075. Columbia County is lower than that. Floyd, Muskogee, Fulton, Chatham down through 10 Clark are all a lot higher than that. Once again even with our rollback rate we’re still relatively low. If you look at the next one is that actual tax cap calculations. If you look at that it’s very simply the tax cap would put us at 17.630. We’re about 84% of the tax cap so we’re right at twenty-six or so percent below the tax cap that you see now. Urban districts are at 63% below the tax cap. Fire protection runs at 52% of the tax cap so we’re 48% below that cap. Once again you know that’s important in the fact that the dollars we (inaudible) manage I think we’ve done a fairly good job of managing those dollars. And even with those 1976 figures and what the tax cap would be we’re still significantly below that. And that’s important. If we were to raise money to the tax cap and raise the rate to tax cap you’d have about extra 12-million dollars in the general fund to play with. Obviously, given the nature of the economic conditions at this particular point in time that you know that’s totally impracticable in my mind. Obviously we need to help our citizens the best we can and I think that we made conscience efforts over the last several years to do that. As you know we haven’t raised taxes in a while and I don’t anticipate doing that in the future as we go forward with that. It does make the questions that we ask as we continue fairly hard but from a profession standpoint and based on the system itself I think I’d be remiss if I didn’t recommend that we take the rollback rate. As you see the impact is fairly small. The question becomes is it actually is a tax increase you know one of insignificant size in my mind. But that would be what I recommend that we do. The path forward would be to either approve that in a public hearing. If you decided to go higher than that for some reason you would have to go through a series of public hearings. I don’t have that schedule because I didn’t anticipate that happening to be honest with you. And the other option would be to adopt the rate that we first proposed which would be lower than the tax cap. It would still require the one public hearing and it would be a net loss of about $150,000 dollars for the general fund and about $88,000 for the Fire fund. It would be my recommendation that the proposed motion above is passed and that’s to accept the proposed millage rates for all tax districts advertise the required 5 year history and accept the dates to adopt the mill rates on August 19 at 10:00 to have a Special Called Meeting to go that. It would be appropriate to have somebody make a motion to that affect at this time or another motion to if that’s what you feel. Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Hatney. Mr. Hatney: Just one question, please. When you say a proposed rollback millage if I’m not mistaken I think last year we did the same thing but before the year ended that amount of money that was rolled back was taken back from the employees? Mr. Russell: No, that’s --- Mr. Hatney: That’s something all together different? Mr. Russell: --- totally different, sir. What you’re doing now is just adopting the taxing rate. Mr. Hatney: Okay. Mr. Russell: And we build a budget based on one rate. The rollback rate it comes back a little bit higher than that .019 mills higher. So that would be the only difference you’re 11 making. It’s still designed to give us about the same amount of money coming in. It should not impact anything (inaudible). Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Bowles, Mr. Mayor Pro Tem. Mr. Bowles: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Fred, the next time I see the graph on the taxes our citizens are paying compared to other counties, can we please include the School Board. Because I think that’s, a tax is a tax and we need to show all the taxes the citizens are paying. If you could include that next time please. We’ll, I asked you last time but you evidently didn’t update it. Mr. Russell: I’m sorry. Mr. Bowles: Maybe you elected not to. Anyhow you’re saying rollback so if your house value stayed at say $100,000 dollars, you’re actually going to decrease the millage rate a little bit? Mr. Russell: No, if your house value stayed at $100,000 dollars your increase in the millage rate .019 mills for a grand total of if you live the suburban area of $1.33. If you live in the rural area it’s 88. Cents. Mr. Bowles: So it’s going up a little bit. I’m trying to figure out how that’s a rollback Mr. Russell: Despite the language and that’s the state of Georgia’s language. I’ve been trying to say that. The State of Georgia calls that a rollback in all practical you raise taxes. Mr. Bowles: If we didn’t do anything what effect would that have? Mr. Russell: We’d lose about $150,000 dollars. Mr. Mayor: If we just approve what was proposed. Mr. Bowles: I make a motion to accept the rollback. Mr. Lockett: Second. Mr. Mayor: Okay, so you’re making a motion that was on the screen a minute ago. Mr. Bowles: Okay. That would be to accept the proposed rollbackmillage rates for all Mr. Russell: taxing districts advertise the required 5 year history and set the adoption of the millage rate as August 19, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. And let me share with you that while that’s a prudent thing to do you make sure you understand you have in fact raised taxes on a $100,000 suburban house by $1.33. 12 Mr. Hatney: We heard that. Mr. Brigham: Second. Mr. Hatney: Don’t talk about it. Mr. Mayor: Okay, we had a --- Mr. Russell: Make sure that, so that’s what you’re going to see is that you know --- Mr. Mayor: --- we have a motion and a second. If there’s no further discussion Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign of voting. Mr. Mason, Mr. Jackson and Mr. Guilfoyle vote No. Motion carries 6-3. Mr. Russell: Just as a matter of notice we will publish those as required by law. And th there will be a Special Called Meeting on August the 10 to pass the final millage rate. Thank you. Mr. Mayor: Okay, thank you, Mr. Russell. Madam Clerk, what I believe is our final agenda item. The Clerk: APPOINTMENT(S) 23. Appoint of Commission representative to the 2011 Redistricting Committee. (Requested by Mayor Copenhaver) Mr. Mayor: And, gentlemen, I made this request. As we go through the redistricting process we had agreed to go through a similar process as was done ten years ago. The School Board has named their four representatives. The Legislative Delegation it’s my understanding I had spoken to Lynn Bailey last week they have yet to name their four representatives. But you said it’s crucial that we do get these representatives named prior to the delegation going back to Atlanta to deal with the redistricting process. I know I’ve had some Commissioners input on this. I know that in speaking to the Super District Commissioners it would make sense to me that they would have some input on the process. And I would look to them to see if they had had recommendations on this. And Commissioner Hatney I believe you had. Mr. Hatney: Yes, I recommend Brother Lockett and Mason. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Commissioner Smith, I know that you have strong --- Mr. Smith: (inaudible). 13 And Commissioner Smith recommends Mr. Brigham and Mr. Mayor: Okay. himself. Can I get a motion to approve those four representatives? Mr. Mason: So moved. Mr. Guilfoyle: Second. Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. If there’s no further discussion Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign of voting. Motion carries 9-0. Mr. Mayor: Thank you, ma’am. And to the four of you guys thank you for agreeing to serve in that capacity as I know it’s not going to be an easy task. And, Mr. Attorney, I don’t believe there’s a need for a legal meeting is there? Mr. MacKenzie: There’s no need for a Legal. Mr. Mayor: Okay, if there’s no further business to come before the body we stand adjourned. Thank you, gentlemen. [MEETING ADJOURNED] Nancy Morawski Deputy Clerk of Commission CERTIFICATION: I, Nancy Morawski, Deputy Clerk of Commission, hereby certify that the above is a true and correct copy of the minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Augusta Richmond County Commission held on August 2, 2011. ______________________________ Clerk of Commission 14 15