HomeMy WebLinkAboutRegular Commission Meeting September 20, 2011
REGULAR MEETING COMMISSION CHAMBER
SEPTEMBER 20, 2011
Augusta Richmond County Commission convened at 5:00 p.m., September 20, 2011, the
Hon. Deke Copenhaver, Mayor, presiding.
PRESENT: Hons. Lockett, Guilfoyle, Mason, Smith, Hatney, Aitken, Johnson, Jackson,
Bowles and Brigham, members of Augusta Richmond County Commission.
The invocation was given by the Reverend Larry Fryer, Pastor, Hudson Memorial CME
Church.
The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America was recited.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, sir, for that wonderful invocation. And could you please come
forward I’ve got a little something for you. Once again thank you for the wonderful invocation.
Office of the Mayor. By these present be it known that Minister Adolph Holland, Sharon Baptist
Church is Chaplain of the Day for his civic and spiritual guidance. Demonstrated throughout the
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community serves as an example for all of the faith community. Given under my hand this 20
Day of September 2011. Deke Copenhaver, Mayor. Thank you, sir. (APPLAUSE).
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, if we could go on to the recognitions.
The Clerk:
RECOGNITIONS
A. Mr. Robert Price, August 2011 Employee of the Month, Skilled Maintenance,
Recreation, Parks & Facilities Department.
The Clerk: While Mr. Johnson is coming. Dear Mayor Copenhaver. The Employee
Recognition Committee has selected Robert Price as the August 2011 Employee of the Month
for the City of Augusta. Robert Price is employed as a Skilled Maintenance worker with
Recreation, Parks and Facilities. He has been employed with the City of Augusta over three
years. Mr. Price was nominated by Mark Larimer with the Recreation, Parks and Facilities. Mr.
Price has stepped up his responsibilities since the transition of a pervious supervisor transferring
to the new Judicial Center. He goes above and beyond with the day to day responsibilities of the
operation of the Municipal Building. He has assisted with cross training employees and has
helped in moving and transitioning to the Judicial Center. Mr. Price is effective in daily
operations and concerns of safety and employees and staff. He’s always thinking of a better and
more efficient way of problem solving and accomplishing the workload for the maintenance of
the Municipal Building. The Employee Recognition Committee felt that based on this
nomination and Mr. Price’s dedicated and loyal service to the City of Augusta would you please
join us in awarding him the August 2011 Employee of the Month. (APPLAUSE)
Mr. Mayor: And, Robert, I just want to say to you and all the guys these are the guys I
get advice on how to do stuff in my own yard. They are good and I know how hard y’all work.
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And this is extremely well deserved. So thank y’all for all that you do. September 20, 2011.
Augusta 2011 Employee of the Month Mr. Robert Price, Augusta Recreation Parks and
Facilities. Dear Mr. Price. On behalf of the City of Augusta it is with great pleasure that I
congratulate you for being recognized as the Employee of the Month for August 2011. You’re
contribution to your organization Augusta Richmond County Government and the Citizens of
Augusta has earned you this recognition. I appreciate your willingness to go above and beyond
the call of duty and your outstanding work ethic. You are truly and asset to the Augusta
Richmond County Recreation parks and Facilities Department and the citizens of Augusta
Georgia. Please accept my personal congratulations on this wonderful award. You are truly
deserving of this recognition. Sincerely yours, Deke Copenhaver, Mayor. (APPLAUSE)
Mr. Johnson: He’s kind of shy. When I was mentioning to Sarah Hudson about Robert
Price getting the award she goes, Robert? And then when I said Price she said, “oh, Bob the
Builder.” So that says a little bit about him. He’s already got his own nickname down here. But
Robert is just an example of the many great workers we’ve got out here with the city and
especially with our department. We’re proud of all of them. Proud of you, Robert, for all that
you do. Thank you a lot. (APPLAUSE)
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk on to the consent agenda, please, ma’am.
The Clerk: Yes, sir. Our consent agenda consists of items 1-20, items 1-20. For the
benefit of any objectors to our Planning petitions once those petitions are read would you please
signify your objection by raising your hand. I call you attention to:
Item 3: Is a request for a Special Exception to establish a Family Personal Care Home
located at 2342 Dorn Road.
Item 4: Is a request for a change of zoning from a R-1C (One-family Residential) and an
R-2 (Two-family Residential) affecting property known as 921 and 923 Wrightsboro Road.
Item 5: Is for a change of zoning from a Zone A (Agriculture) and Zone HI (Heavy
Industry) to Zone HI affecting property at 1126 Horseshoe Road.
Item 6: Is a request for a change of zoning from a P-1 (Professional) to a Zone B-1
(Neighborhood Business) affecting property located at 3644 Walton Way Extension.
The Clerk: Are there any objectors to those Planning petitions?
Mr. Russell: None noted, Madam Clerk.
The Clerk: I call your attention to the Public Services portion of our agenda. If there are
any objectors to any of the alcohol petitions would you please signify your objection by raising
your hand when the petition is read. I call your attention to:
Item 7: Is a request for an on premise consumption Liquor, Beer & Wine license to be
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used in connection with Greene Street located at 4022 11 Street.
Item 8: Is a retail package Beer & Wine license to be used in connection with the SAI
RAM APPO, LLC located at 2161 Gordon Highway.
Item 9: Is for an on premise consumption Liquor, Beer & Wine license to be used in
connection with the Blue Topper Supper Club located at 1241 Steiner Avenue.
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Item 10: Is for a retail package Beer & Wine license to be used in connection with Costco
Wholesale located at 825 Alexander Drive.
The Clerk: Are there any objectors to those alcohol petitions?
Mr. Russell: None noted, Madam Clerk.
The Clerk: Mr. Mayor, Commission, our consent agenda consists of items 1-20 with no
objectors to our alcohol or planning petitions.
Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir, Commissioner Lockett.
Mr. Lockett: Mr. Chairman, on agenda item number three if I may I would like to see
whether or not Ms. Taylor or Mr. Burgess is in house?
Mr. Mayor: We have not gone to number three yet, Commissioner Lockett. I was going
to go to see if we had any items run through the standard procedure. First off there are many
items to add to the consent but do we have any? Okay, hearing ---
Mr. Brigham: --- deviated to the agenda, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: I see that, Commissioner Brigham, and I will do we have, we do have one
addition to the agenda and do we have unanimous consent to add that agenda item? Okay. Okay
do we have any items to be pulled for discussion? Commissioner Johnson.
Mr. Johnson: Thank you, item number eleven, please.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Lockett.
Mr. Lockett: I just wanted to ask if either Ms. Taylor or Mr. Burgess. I had a couple of
questions I wanted to ask them. I didn’t really want to pull the item, I just had a couple of
questions I wanted answered.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Is there anybody here to speak to agenda item number three?
The Clerk: Ms. Ellen Taylor or Mr. Joe Burgess regarding a Special Exception for the
Family Care Home at 2342 Dorn Road. Are you in the Chamber?
Mr. Lockett: Mr. Chairman, if they’re not, I can take care of it later.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, thank you, sir. Okay, are there any further items to be pulled? Mr.
MacKenzie.
Mr. MacKenzie: (inaudible).
Mr. Mayor: Okay, Commissioner Brigham.
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Mr. Brigham: Mr. Mayor, I’ve been asked to pull item 14 and refer it back to
Committee.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Bowles.
Mr. Bowles: I’d like to pull item 16, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Are there any further items to be pulled from the consent agenda? Hearing
none, could I get a motion to approve the consent agenda?
Mr. Mason: So moved.
Mr. Johnson: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk?
The Clerk: Are we adding the addendum to the consent. Did we do that?
Mr. Mason: Yes.
The Clerk: Okay, that’s what I need clarification on.
CONSENT AGENDA
PLANNING
1. A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to approve
the naming of a new road located within the Augusta Regional Airport “General Perry
Smith Parkway”.
2. FINAL PLAT – STONECREEK – S-811 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta
Georgia Planning Commission to approve a petition by Southern Partners, on behalf of
Crowell & Co. Inc., requesting final plat approval for Stonecreek Subdivision. This
residential subdivision is located on Dennis Road, east of Parker Street and contains 17
lots.
3. Z-11-34 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to
approve a petition by Ellen Taylor, on behalf of Joe Burgess, Section 26-1 (H) of the
Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance for Augusta-Richmond County affecting property
containing .46 acres and is known under the present numbering system as 2324 Dorn Road.
(Tax map 070-3-035-01) DISTRICT 5
4. Z-11-36 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to
approve a petition by APD, on behalf of Augusta Georgia Land Bank Authority, requesting
a change of zoning from R-1C (One-family Residential) and R-2 (Two-family Residential)
to PUD (Planned Unit Development) affecting property listed below located in DISTRICT
1: Tract A – This tract contains .28 acres and is known as 930, 932, 936 and 938 Boyd Lane.
(Tax Map 059-2-757-00-0, 059-2-758-00-0, 059-2-759-00-0 & 059-2-760-00-0) Tract B – This
property contains .03 acres and is known as 945 Boyd Lane. (Tax Map 059-2-710-00-0)
Tract C – This property contains .07 acres and is known as 949 Wrightsboro Road. (Tax
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Map 059-2-569-00-0) Tract D – this property contains .26 acres and is known as 943 and
945 Wrightsboro Road. (Tax Map 059-2-566-00-0 & 059-2-567-00-0) Tract E – This
property contains .28 acres and is known as 921 and 923 Wrightsboro Road. (Tax map 059-
2-561-00-0 & 059-2-562-00-0)
5. Z-11-38 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to
approve with the condition that a 400 foot natural buffer be maintained along the property
line adjacent to those properties located in Lewis Acres Subdivision; a petition by Walter
Sprouse, on behalf of the Development Authority of Richmond County; requesting a
change of zoning from Zone A (Agriculture) and Zone HI (Heavy Industry) to Zone HI
affecting property containing approximately 286 acres and is known as 1126 Horseshoe
Road. (Tax Map 323-0-039-03-0) DISTRICT 8
6. Z-11-39 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to
approve a petition by G.W.G Gold Buyers, on behalf of Bernard Dunstan et al, requesting
a change of zoning from Zone P-1 (Professional) to Zone B-1 (Neighborhood Business)
affecting property containing .39 acres and is known as 3644 Walton Way Extension. (Tax
Map 023-0-006-00-0) DISTRICT 3
PUBLIC SERVICES
7. Motion to approve New Ownership Application: A.N. 11-38: request by Devin Green for
an on premise consumption Liquor, Beer & Wine license to be used in connection with
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Greene Streets located at 402 11 St. There will be Dance. District 1. Super District 9.
(Approved by Public Services Committee September 12, 2011)
8. Motion to approve New Ownership Application: A.N. 11-39: request by Anupama
Rama for a retail package Beer & Wine license to be used in connection with SAI RAM
APPO, LLC located at 2161 Gordon Hwy. District 5. Super District 9. (Approved by Public
Services Committee September 12, 2011)
9. Motion to approve New Application A.N. 11-40: a request by Walter Sims for an on
premise consumption Liquor, Beer & Wine license to be used in connection with Blue Top
Supper Club located at 1241 Steiner Ave. There will be Dance. District 2. Super District 9.
(Approved by Public Services Committee September 12, 2011)
10. Motion to approve New Application: A.N. 11-41: request by Julie Cruz for a retail
package Beer & Wine license to be used in connection with Costco Wholesale Corporation
DBA Costco Wholesale #1102 located at 825 Alexander Drive. District 7. Super District 10.
(Approved by Public Services Committee September 12, 2011)
12. Motion to approve the final amendment to the 2011 Cooperative Agreement and to
approve the 2012 Cooperative Agreement with CSRA Regional Commission for senior
nutrition services for Augusta-Richmond County. (Approved by Public Services
Committee September 12, 2011)
PUBLIC SAFETY
13. Motion to approve Master Agreement and a two year contract extension for city
Centrex services. (Approved by Public Safety Committee September 12, 2011)
FINANCE
14. Motion to approve entering into a contract with the necessary modifications as to the
form (which will be available at the Commission meeting) with Sapelo Asset Recovery
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Service, the only qualified proposer, as agent for the City to acquire certain unclaimed
funds held by the State of Georgia and other entities. (Approved by Finance Committee
September 12, 2011)
ENGINEERING SERVICES
15. Motion to approve change order to the existing design contract with Cranston
Engineering Group for additional engineering services in the amount of $118,407.50 for the
Fort Gordon Raw Water Distribution and Irrigation System. (Approved by Engineering
Services Committee September 12, 2011)
17. Motion to deny a Bid protest by Berry Smith Sanitation. (Approved by Engineering
Services Committee September 12, 2011)
18. Motion to determine that Kingston Street, as shown on the attached plat (west of Holley
Street and being north of and parallel to Brown Street) has ceased to be used by the public
to the extent that no substantial public purpose is served by it or that its removal from the
county road system is otherwise in the best public interest, and to receive as information
the results of the public hearing held regarding the issue of abandonment pursuant to
O.C.G.A. §32-7-2, with the abandoned property to be quit-claimed to the appropriate
party(ies), as provided by law and an easement(s) to be retained over the entire abandoned
portion for existing or future utilities as directed by Augusta Engineering Department and
Augusta Utilities Department and adopt the attached Resolution. (Approved by
Engineering Services Committee September 12, 2011)
19. Motion to determine that a portion of Young Street, as shown on the attached plat and
consisting of 0.483 acre (21,031.19 square feet) has ceased to be used by the public to the
extent that no substantial public purpose is served by it or that its removal from the county
road system is otherwise in the best public interest, and to receive as information the
results of the public hearing held regarding the issue of abandonment pursuant to
O.C.G.A. §32-7-2, with the abandoned property to be quit-claimed to the appropriate
party(ies), as provided by law and an easement to be retained over the entire abandoned
portion for existing or future utilities as directed by Augusta Engineering Department and
Augusta Utilities Department and adopt the attached Resolution. (Approved by
Engineering Services Committee September 12, 2011)
PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS
20. Motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of the commission held
September 6, 2011 and Legal Meeting held September 12, 2011.
ADDENDUM
22. FINAL PLAT – WILLHAVEN, PHASE 3, SECTION 1-S-822-1 – A request for
concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning commission to APPROVE a petition by
John Brewer and Associates, on behalf of Brent Holdings, LLC, requesting final plat
approval for Willhaven, Phase 3, Section 1. This residential subdivision is located in
Willhaven Subdivision and contains 14 lots. (Reviewing agencies approval 9-19-2011)
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. Commissioner Hatney.
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The Clerk: That motion carries with Mr. Aitken out.
Mr. Hatney: And Mr. Hatney abstaining on alcohol.
The Clerk: Okay, that motion carries with Mr. Aitken and Dr. Hatney abstaining on the
alcohol petitions.
Mr. Aitken out.
Mr. Hatney abstains. [Items 7-10]
Motion carries 9-0. [Items 1-6, 12-15, 17-20, 22]
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, ma’am. If we could go to the first agenda item pulled first,
please, ma’am.
The Clerk:
PUBLIC SERVICES
11. Motion to approve the Lease Agreement for the Augusta Municipal Golf Course (“The
Patch”). (Approved by Public Services Committee September 12, 2011)
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Beck.
Mr. Beck: Mr. Mayor, members of the Commission based on some of the discussion last
week regarding the water rates we wanted to make sure that that issue was addressed in the lease
and we have done so. And we have negotiated with the Lessee in this case for flat rate water and
the Clerk is handing out the ad to the lease which is 9.06. It’s on the screen also to address water
rates and it simply says, the Lessee shall pay a flat monthly rate for irrigation system water to the
lessor through the Augusta Utilities Department in the amount of $275.00 per month. All other
water and sewer use will be metered and billed at the standard commercial rate which means all
the water from the clubhouse plus the maintenance building, the rest rooms on the course, all of
the water will be metered normally. So we did want to address that in the lease and we wanted
to make sure that you were aware of that before you made the vote today.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Commissioner Johnson.
Mr. Johnson: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Tom I spoke with you earlier in regards to this
contract here and of course you explained to me at the time you were unable to negotiate any I
guess set fee as far as what they were going to, well put it this way a bottom out price that they
would charge as far as the fees and things like that goes. I know the guy mentioned yesterday in
regards to I think the membership fees would probably be a little bit more feasible but we don’t
have a cap if you will on what he can charge without coming before the Commission. And I had
some concern about that because I understand there’s some things that they’re going to have to
do. But at the same time I understand the wellness program he was not willing to join into this
contract and that’s his option to do that or not. But if we’re going to negotiate a rate of $275.00
on the water I think there’s should’ve been some room in there to work out some other things.
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And I just didn’t see that overall with this so me personally I can’t support it at this time. I
thought that we’d probably be able to do a little bit more as far as partnering with some of the
other things that we have been doing from the city’s perspective because I don’t really want it to
get so far that the private aspect of it becomes overwhelmed in the public and the public can’t
take advantage of those you know the public facility that we want, what it’s known for. So but
you don’t have any other information at this point?
Mr. Beck: No, the only response to that would be and I think this came up last week that
we felt like in the lease that we could not address rates. That rates would actually be addressed
by the market itself. And so that was the approach that we made and did not address rates in the
lease, did not think that that would be and equitable way to negotiate that. As far as the wellness
program I don’t think they’re ruling that out it’s just at this time they don’t want to have it as a
part of the lease. I think there is room to negotiate that once they get in and see the potential
benefits. But at this time they just felt like they didn’t want to enter into any agreement.
Mr. Johnson: And I can respect that. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you Commissioner Johnson. Commissioner Mason.
Mr. Mason: Um, is this, is this uh, that 275, that’s raw water, right?
Mr. Beck: No, that’s clean water.
Mr. Mason: Clean, filtered, the whole deal. Now right, now we heard from First Tee last
week or so that they’d been paying somewhere 4,000, 5,000 a month for water. This 275
although it’s better than 143 at the end of the day it’s a bad deal in my mind. We’ve already
given away thousands maybe millions over time with the other deals that’s going on around here.
I’m not sure how we can do that if we’re, you know, in the deficits that we’re in. Can you tell or
can somebody tell me how many gallons of water irrigated water that is utilized on an average
day out there at The Patch? Somebody’s got to have that information certainly.
Mr. Beck: I don’t have that information. I can get it. Maybe Mr. Wiedmeier’s got that.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Wiedmeir.
Mr. Wiedmeier: I apologize I don’t have those numbers with me but I, they’re more than
what First Tee’s been using.
Mr. Mason: That would be pretty substantial.
Mr. Wiedmeier: Yes.
Mr. Mason: Okay.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Commissioner Guilfoyle.
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Mr. Guilfoyle: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Tom, I actually had brought this up to our
Attorney the clause where it’s convenient to terminate a clause in there. Where is that at?
Mr. Mayor: Mr. MacKenzie?
Mr. MacKenzie: Sure, there’s no convenience termination clause in this agreement.
What it does have in it is there’s termination for default and that was part of the RFQ that was
put together I guess to optimize the opportunity for potential bidders to bid on the project. So
that clause is not in this contract.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Guilfoyle: As far as that when we spoke about it this past week you said you would
look into it and I’m pretty sure you were going to implement it into this contract. Now that’s to
cover us people, the citizens of Augusta. Is that correct?
Mr. MacKenzie: Part of the reason it wasn’t implemented originally was because it was
not part of the RFQ. Typically I believe the part of that process was to be all inclusive with
regard to the number of potential bidders. And this would minimize the risk to bidders because it
would not be putting them in a position where they would have a substantial amount of resources
they made them put into it and then we could terminate for any reason with a 60-day notice
provision. So it was not part of the RFQ process so it would be appropriate for us to add it
afterwards unless the other party agreed to it.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Raising the water rates on them was not part of their RFQ as well.
Mr. Wiedmeier: Right.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Have we inquired with the owner of The Patch about the convenience
terminate clause sir?
Mr. Wiedmeier: I haven’t done that, Tom.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, Commissioner Hatney.
Mr. Hatney: Mr. Beck, thank you, Mr. Mayor. I think you mentioned that even though
the, that was not a part of the contract there would be room for negotiations outside the contract.
But according to what was mentioned by the individual that we’re speaking of he said that you
can’t have your cake and eat it too. That’s what he said according to his TV appearance. I doubt
very seriously there’s going to be any outside negotiation on that.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, gentlemen, Commissioner Lockett.
Mr. Lockett: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. You know it seems like over the past ten years
The Patch has been set up to fail. There was a commission meeting on September 5, ’06 a
couple of my colleagues were on the Commission at that time. This was when the Recreation
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Department was going to transfer $35,000.00 from a fund they had to pay for part time
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employees. And the rationale was they said as of August the 10 of ’06 we have spent
$54,215.00 on water for The Patch. And they said in order for us to make it through the
remainder of the year we’re going to need an additional $35,000.00. And several
Commissioners were extremely upset because of this. Now this happened and within a week
later the director of utilities put out a letter stating that The Patch would only have to pay
$143.00 a month. Now you all have known for some time and during that meeting in September
it was said that we are sick and tired of supporting The Patch. We’re having to pay 60-100
thousand dollars a year. We’re having to subsidize them. But if you look at the water rate they
were paying if they would not have had to pay that exorbitant rate for water they would’ve been
breaking even. You know and I cannot understand how people of good conscience can let The
First Tee and let The Patch pay that ridiculous amount for water when you have Forest Hills, you
have Augusta Country Club and others paying nothing. It doesn’t make sense. And I think one
other thing we need to make sure that we understand I think the past LLC thinks they are buying
The Patch because they’ve already changed the name. We’re not selling it to them and I think
what we are doing are really giving them a heck of a subsidy in order to get $1,000.00 a month in
return.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Lockett: I think that’s a bad deal. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Commissioner. Commissioner Bowles.
Mr. Bowles:
Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Being one of those members of the Commission
up here in 2006 we voted to lower the rates for the Municipal Golf Course so it would be
$143.00 a month so they wouldn’t lose 170/200,000 a year. And it did cut the loss down to
about 160,000 dollars a year. We’ve tried everything to salvage The Patch and now I hear
people saying we need to raise the rates because somebody else is going to run it. All that’s
going to do in terms is raise the rates on the people playing golf there. If we want to keep this a
public golf course and affordable let’s keep it a level playing field for the people running the golf
course to try to do that. And let’s take the burden off our taxpayers of 200,000 just because we
have 95-200 members of The Patch golf course. This is a golf community but it doesn’t mean
that everybody in Augusta plays golf. We need to make it a level playing field and this is going
to save out tax payers $160,000.00 a year and this is the best deal we’ve had. And we can keep
saying we need to work wait more time, more time more time and look at this and look at that.
It’s time to move
We’ve been doing that for five years since I’ve been on this Commission.
forward and I make a motion we approve this contract.
Mr. Jackson: 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.
Mr. Johnson, Mr. Mason, Mr. Lockett and Mr. Hatney vote No.
Motion carries 6-4.
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Mr. Mayor: Thank you, ma’am, next pulled agenda item, please, Madam Clerk.
The Clerk:
ENGINEERING SERVICES
16. Motion to approve the negotiation and execution of month to month contract extensions
to the current Solid Waste Collections Contracts. (Approved by Engineering Services
Committee September 12, 2011)
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Bowles, I believe this was your pull.
Mr. Bowles: Mr. Johnson, what is the time line of this month to month? How far do we
expect to go into the future?
Mr. Hatney: Maybe we need to ask the Administrator?
Mr. Bowles: It’s simple question.
Mr. Johnson: It’s as short as feasibly possible. Our intent is not to drag this out. But
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what situation we found ourselves in is our current contract expires as of December 31. In our
current contract there is no provision for month to month extensions. There is by mutual
agreement a one-year extension. So if we want to do anything other than that we need some
latitude to go back and negotiate with our haulers to get that done. So that’s where we are. So
it’s as efficient as possible to get through our next contract. We have a current bid protest that
we’ve got to clear before we can even consider opening the bids. So we’re kind of at a stalemate
and we’re in September. I have three months to have a plan of action.
Mr. Bowles: Motion to approve.
Mr. Johnson: 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.
Mr. Mason and Mr. Hatney vote No.
Mr. Lockett out.
Motion carries 7-2.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, Madam Clerk, on to the regular agenda, please, ma’am.
The Clerk:
PLANNING
21. Z-11-35 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to
approve modification of condition #1 of Z-93-57 to read that existing parking and
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ingress/egress configuration of the rear of the property shall be retained; a petition by Jud
C. Hickey Center for Alzheimer’s Care requesting to modify part of the conditions from a
1993 zoning case (Z-93-57) relating to off-street parking for an adult day care center
affecting property containing .20 acres and is known under the present numbering system
as 1901 Central Avenue. (Tax Map 045-3-027-00-0) DISTRICT 1
Mr. Mayor: Mr. DeCamp.
Mr. DeCamp: Mr. Mayor, members of the Commission, this is a request by the Jud
Hickey Center for Alzheimer’s Care located at 1901 Central Avenue, the corner of Baker
Avenue. A little background. In 1993 a Special Exception was approved for the Alzheimer’s
Care Center at this location with two conditions. That a site plan showing proper parking and
ingress and egress in the rear yard be approved by the executive director of the Planning
Commission before occupancy. And secondly that the use of the daycare center be limited to
persons diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. The petitioner of the center is requesting a
modification of that first condition to remove the requirement for off street parking but to retain
the ingress/egress configuration that they actually did build on the property.
Mr. Mayor: What’s the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission?
Mr. DeCamp: Planning and Zoning recommended approval with the condition as stated
in the agenda item to modify that condition #1 of the original zoning case to read that the
existing parking ingress/egress at the rear of the property shall be retained as it is now.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, as with, do we have any objectors to this in attendance?
Mr. Russell: If we could get the objectors to raise their hands. Is there a spokesperson
for that?
Mr. Brigham: One objector noted.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, and if you could state your name and address for the record, please,
sir and keep it to five minutes.
Mr. Fergus: My name is Carl Fergus. I live at 909 Georgia Avenue. I actually own the
property directly behind the Hickey Center at 1906 McDowell Street and because of the
employee parking situation on the street results in me having cars parked all the way down the
side of my house everyday and in front. And we look at it one issue is it was a safety problem
because pulling out of our driveway when you’ve got these cars parked down McDowell coming
down Baker you can’t hardly see to pull out of the driveway. And with McDowell Street right
there at the corner too McDowell Street residents have also complained about the same thing.
Now when I was here at the Planning Commission meeting I brought a petition and gave it to all
the planning commissioners that had the signatures of seven residents on McDowell Street, seven
in addition to me that are property owners and residents that have a problem with this, with these
employees parking on McDowell and Baker. Problems with driveways being blocked, trash cans
couldn’t be picked up and really was just looking for them to go with the original zoning
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ordinance that was given to the Hickey Center that they provide and off street parking, the same
as they would for any other adult daycare center. Because I’ve seen the regulations for adult
daycare centers in Richmond County and it requires an off street parking plan which is what they
were told to do before they started it. Now I’m a recent owner of this property and I’m having
you know these issues. I’ve also talked with two realtors that have property for sale right there
within just a few houses that say this is causing them some problems for selling their property.
So I feel like it’s affecting property values as well. I know that when I did bring the petition that
was signed by these residents like I said there was eight signatures that I had of people that had
an issue. Now the Hickey Center had 24 people in favor of them which I’m favor of the Hickey
Center but none of those 24 people live on McDowell Street or Baker Avenue so they were not
affected by this parking issue at all. And I was just asking, I would ask you the same as I asked
the Commission to just provide this you know this parking requirement that was part of the
ordinance. At the very least in my situation Mr. Patty did mention that he could look at some
you know possibly some additional yellow striping down the curb on Baker and you know on my
property that would be you know be a help and probably help some of the people who are pulling
into Baker Avenue. But as far as the issues they have with the blocked driveways and that sort
of thing you know that’s another situation but they are you know they are residents of District 1
and Mr. Aitken was, you know, at the Planning Commission meeting so they were looking for
some support there.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, thank you, sir. And I know that we do have a number of people here
that are here to support this request so if we could get a show of hands for those as well.
(33 supporters noted)
Mr. Brigham: Motion to approve.
Mr. Hatney: Second.
Mr. Fergus: May I ask again how many might raise their hands who live on McDowell
Street or own property on McDowell Street who are in favor?
Mr. Mayor: No, sir, that’s, we don’t.
Mr. Fergus: Because I really think ---
Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir, well, thank you.
Mr. Bowles: Mr. Mayor ---
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion ---
Mr. Bowles: --- for the record I’d like to state that Georgia Avenue where this man
resides is North Augusta, South Carolina which he chose to omit.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, we have a motion and a second. Commissioner Johnson.
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Mr. Johnson: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I know he mentioned as far as the yellow curb
goes is it anything in particular that’s stopping it from being extended. I mean because Baker
Street I understand is no parking on Baker Street. Correct?
Mr. DeCamp: I had a call, I have a call into the traffic engineer in regard to that. It looks
like at some point in time between McDowell and Central that there was yellow curbing. And I
don’t know if it’s just worn away ---
Mr. Johnson: Okay.
Mr. DeCamp: --- but we’ll certainly follow up on that.
Mr. Johnson: Yeah, I was wondering because I know Baker Street is already tight ---
Mr. Decamp: Right.
Mr. Johnson: --- so to try to have curb parking it’s got to be quite difficult to have it
there so you might want to check and find out.
Mr. Russell: It looks like there’s some that’s been there.
Mr. Johnson: Right.
Mr. Russell: We’ll take a look ---
Mr. Johnson: Right okay. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion that’s been properly seconded and the question’s been
called for. The commission will now vote by the usual sign of voting.
Mr. Lockett out.
Motion carries 9-0.
Mr. Mayor: Gentlemen, the Attorney has stated we have no need for a Legal Meeting.
And thank you all for your participation in the meeting. With no further business to come before
the body we stand adjourned.
[MEETING ADJOURNED]
Lena Bonner
Clerk of Commission
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CERTIFICATION:
I, Lena J. Bonner, 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
September 20, 2011.
______________________________
Clerk of Commission
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