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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRegular Commission Meeting October 16, 2012 REGULAR MEETING COMMISSION CHAMBER OCTOBER 16, 2012 Augusta Richmond County Commission convened at 5:00 p.m., October 16, 2012, the Hon. Deke Copenhaver, Mayor, presiding. PRESENT: Hons. Lockett, Guilfoyle, Mason, Smith, Hatney, Aitken, Johnson, Bowles and Brigham, members of Augusta Richmond County Commission. Absent: Hon. Jackson, member of Augusta Richmond County Commission. The invocation was given by the Reverend Larry Cone, Pastor, St. Paul Baptist Church. The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America was recited. Mr. Mayor: Pastor, thank you for that rocking invocation. You got us all going with that. Madam Clerk, if we could turn now to the recognitions, please, ma’am. The Clerk: RECOGNITION(S) University of Georgia Carl Vinson Institute of Government A. Congratulations! Commissioner Alvin Mason for completing the required course work and receiving the Certificate of Achievement from the University of Georgia, Carl Vinson Institute of Government and the Georgia Municipal Association Congratulations! Commissioners Matt Aitken and J.R. Hatney for completing the required course work and receiving the Certificate of Recognition from the University of Georgia, Carl Vinson Institute of Government and the Georgia Municipal Association. Mr. Mayor: Well done, gentlemen. Madam Clerk, if we could now go on to the delegations, please. The Clerk: DELEGATIONS B. Mr. Andrew Garnett regarding a resolution of an old Urban Development Action Grant (UDAG) Loan. Mr. Mayor: And if you could keep it to five minutes, please, sir. Mr. Garnett: Okay, I was actually going ask for a couple more minutes. I’ve had some major difficulty getting in front of the Commission here as an audience and as you told me when I met you sometime outside here this may be the only chance that I got. So my presentation is about six, maybe seven minutes? 1 Mr. Mayor: I’ll tell you, sir, we do try to, because it says on the agenda five minutes. Mr. Garnett: I’ll be fast. Mr. Mayor: Please, sir, I try to be fair to everybody but the best way to be fair is to enforce that one. Mr. Garnett: Okay. All righty. My name is Andrew Garnett and my address is 2403 Young Drive Augusta Georgia 30906. I’m here about a UDAG loan that I received from the State of Augusta to open a Bucks Pizza and expand an existing restaurant called Baldino’s. The City of Augusta initially refused to grant my loan application even though it was fully collateralized and met all the requirements mandated by the City of Augusta for such a request. My loan request came at a time when the City of Augusta had failed an Housing and Urban Development audit. HUD was closely monitoring the city’s loan criteria and funding procedures at the time of my loan application. It appears that the City of Augusta was cited for preferential treatment when funding requests as and other types of funding. Much of the funding was going to well connected citizens and public officials and not much was being done in terms of economic development to needed small businesses of this city. As a matter of fact my loan package was disrupted for a, by back room deal by several Commissioners and other well connected people. When my initial loan packet was presented to the city there was an alternate package that was submitted at the same time by some other well connected people. That loan was approved without proper funding excuse me without proper collateral and not being within the guidelines of the new criteria that the city has set. When HUD objected to such blatant regard for HUD policies the Commission reneged and only then did they consider my request. It became obvious that the Commissioners, the Commission was not going to grant a political favor to the high powered politician with HUD breathing down their necks. They tentatively approved my application for an amount of funds that was far less than I had requested and was qualified for. I refused those funds and that’s when the troubles started. Dead animals started to appear at the front door of my restaurant, BellSouth began shutting down my phones at peak revenue periods, vendors issues arose out of nowhere and criminal attacks against my wife, mine and my wife’s business. My character and my health has also been attacked. I tried to illicit help from the District Attorney, the Sheriff’s Department, the FBI, the GBI, they all refused. I eventually did receive a loan for the amount that was legally allowed by the city criteria at that time and that I was more than qualified for. After receiving those funds the attacks against my character and my business intensified. At one point the City of Augusta locked my wife out of business for over a year claiming that they were renovating the building she had been renting because it was in a historically building or something like that as part of a façade grant. The city’s legal representative also disbursed a large portion of the loan proceeds to an equipment vendor who turned, who delivered and equipment package to the Buck’s Pizza restaurant that did not qualify for the franchise equipment package requirements. The city’s legal representative also did not file for a UCC filings for that equipment. This means that the City of Augusta immediately relinquished title to equipment without my knowledge and in my opinion was the primary cause of the failure of Buck’s Pizza. Everybody including the IRS Agent wanted to know what I was going to do with my equipment package and I didn’t have any idea why he kept asking that. It was just exploding out of no man’s land. The equipment was stolen shortly after the foreclosure and another Buck’s Pizza was opened in North Augusta with the same set of equipment. Trying 2 to successfully run two businesses in such a hostile environment began to take its toll. Both restaurants eventually failed. When I attempted to honor my loan obligations my loan contract with the City of Augusta the city stopped taking payments from me and accused me of being delinquent on my loan obligation. They foreclosed shortly after that even though my debt service on the loan was current. I filed for bankruptcy the day before the sale of the collateral was to take place. However the City of Augusta foreclosed on my property the next day anyway even though the automatic stay from the bankruptcy court was in place. The city sold the property to itself transferred the title of the property to itself and which is illegal which is an illegal title transfer and consists of contempt of automatic stay from the bankruptcy court. I here to ask the Commission to reverse this action, return the title of this property back to me, honor the automatic stay of the bankruptcy that was in place at the time of this fraudulent transaction and I’m asking for forgiveness of said loans and the retrieval of my equipment from Buck’s Pizza in North Augusta. Mr. Mayor: Okay and, sir, and I’ll get to Commissioner Mason. But I would, Mr. Attorney, as there’s some appear to be some legal allegations here is there any direction you want to give before we? Mr. Mason: Yeah, but can I say something before he starts? Mr. Garnett: (inaudible). Mr. Mayor: Sir, I did want to get that it before the Attorney as there have been some allegations made here. Mr. MacKenzie: I mean there were a number of different allegations that were made. I would recommend that he make a claim with the city the same as any other claim. We would be happy to look at it and evaluate the claim. Mr. Mayor: Okay, thank you. Mr. Mason? Mr. Mason: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I heard any number of allegations there that obviously we’re not going to be able to rectify today as the time does not allow for it. If I don’t know if this would be not necessarily dealing with the allegation part but getting more information on what he’s stating here. Is there a particular committee that would be appropriate to hear that? The Clerk: The history is in Administrative Services and I don’t think you received your packet, Mr. Mason. Mr. Mason: Well --- The Clerk: There is minutes --- Mr. Mason: Oh. 3 The Clerk: --- regarding this transaction and --- Mr. Mason: Well, maybe I’ll defer the Administrative Services Chair. Does that sound like something that would or should be discussed at some point? And I know we may not be able to get into everything but just to? Mr. Lockett: Reading the minutes --- Mr. Mayor: Mr. Lockett. Mr. Lockett: --- there are multiple pages of minutes dealing with this. And first of all I’d like to indicate some accusations where made relative to Commissioners. And I want the people to know that you’re talking about 1998. Mr. Garnett: Yeah, I’m not talking about --- Mr. Lockett: You’re talking about 1998 so I would prefer that if you’re going to make those kinds of statements you put a time so that the people will know, okay? Because I think it might be one Commissioner’s sitting up here on this Commission in 1998 and Commissioner Bill Lockett was not one of them. Now you have been through the Administrative Services Committee way back when Commissioner Beard was on the Commission. Right? This thing has gone back and forth from the Administrative Services Committee to the Commission back to Administrative Services and back again to include the foreclosures. So we’re talking about now in excess of twelve years. Mr. Garnett: I haven’t been in front of you since the foreclosure. Mr. Lockett: I didn’t say you had. The transactions began according to the minutes of 1998 and there are 2,000 minutes here that’s in reference to this. What has happened over the last twelve years relative to this? Mr. Garnett: What has happened? Mr. Lockett: That’s the question. Mr. Garnett: Okay, like I indicated in the statement here. I have been sick since then well, actually, the, it was foreclosed in 2002 so it wasn’t 1998. In 1998 when everything was being initiated. Mr. Lockett: That’s exactly what I indicated. Mr. Garnett: I’ve been sick, I’ve become disabled since that time and I’ve had some, I’ve had a condition where it took some time for me to actually even figure out what had happened in terms of the equipment. Like I didn’t know anything about a UCC filing until I had convalesced and became a little bit more lucid in terms of my illness and started to do my research and I 4 started to find out all these things. And I didn’t find out until here recently that the city had gone ahead with that foreclosure because it was in bankruptcy. Mr. Lockett: Mr. Mayor, if I may as Chairperson of Administrative Services, my recommendation would be that this go to the Law Department. Mr. Mayor: I agree and I agree that we should take the recommendation of the Attorney and if you could just state that one more time so that the gentleman’s clear on that. Mr. MacKenzie: Sure. I recommend that we process this as any other kind of claim. What we’ll do is evaluate the claim, conduct some research and give you an update on that, probably in a closed legal meeting since it’s now a potential litigation at best. Mr. Mayor: Okay, thank you, sir. And that would be the --- Mr. Garnett: So I can get with him in terms of what he’s talking about in terms of what the claim is --- Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir. Mr. Garnett: --- a real claim or --- Mr. Mayor: He’s about to give you his card so you can contact him. Okay, thank you. Madam Clerk, on to the consent agenda. The Clerk: Yes, sir, our consent agenda consists of items 1-4, items 1-4. For the benefit of any objectors to our Planning petitions once the petition is read would you please signify your objections by raising your hand. I call your attention to: Item 1: Is a request for a Special Exception to establish an inert fill on property located at 3020 Old McDuffie Road. Item 2: Is a request for a Special Exception to establish a Family Personal Care Home on property known as 1937 Julius Street. The Clerk: Are there any objectors to any of those Planning petitions? Mr. Russell: None noted, Madam Clerk. The Clerk: Our consent agenda consists of items 1-4. Mr. Mayor: Okay, gentlemen, do we have any additions to the consent agenda? Commissioner Mason. Mr. Mason: Yes, Mr. Mayor. I’d like to go ahead and consent off of the Engineering Services agenda items 27, 28, 29, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36. 5 Mr. Mayor: Thank you, sir. Commissioner Brigham. Mr. Brigham: Mr. Mayor, off of the Finance agenda I’d like to consent items number 21, refer item number 22 back to committee, item number 23 and item number 11 and 25 and item 26 --- The Clerk: Eleven and 25? Mr. Brigham: Eleven and 25 are the same item and I’d like to put both of them on the consent agenda. The Clerk: Okay. Mr. Brigham: And the, on item number 24 I want to move that to the next commission meeting. And on item number 26 there has been a subcommittee appointed to deal with this and I would ask that item number 26 be deleted. The Clerk: Add that to the consent with the subcommittee? Mr. Brigham: Yes, ma’am. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Commissioner Johnson. Mr. Johnson: Thank you. I do have a few items here as well on the Public Services Committee. Those would be items 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16. Mr. Mayor: Okay, thank you, sir. Commissioner Bowles. Mr. Bowles: Mr. Mayor, I’d like to approve the appointments on items 37 and 38. The Clerk: Thirty-seven and 38, sir? Mr. Bowles: Thirty-eight, I would just add that it be Cathy Green, nominee. The Clerk: Yes, sir. Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Lockett, I believe you had your hand up? Mr. Lockett: From Administrative Services I would like to send agenda item 17 back to committee and I’d like to put 18 on the consent agenda. The Clerk: We need the Administrator’s recommendation. Mr. Russell: I recommend that the committee’s recommendation of using Blue Cross/Blue Shield is our administrator and being self funded with the insurance as presented in the workshop a few minutes ago. 6 Mr. Mayor: So that’s referred back to committee with your recommendation. Correct? Mr. Lockett: No, only 17 went back to committee. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Mr. Mason: I would have some additional questions on that item, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Lockett: Which one, eighteen? Mr. Mason: Eighteen, absolutely. Mr. Lockett: You want that to go back to committee or what? Mr. Mason: Well, I don’t need, we can talk about it. Mr. Lockett: Okay. Mr. Mason: I just don’t want it on consent. Mr. Lockett: Okay. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Mr. Guilfoyle: Mr. Mayor? Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Guilfoyle. Mr. Guilfoyle: Can I go ahead and consent items number 19 and 20 please? Mr. Mayor: Does anybody want to do something from Public Services while we’re at it? The Clerk: We have all those just seven and eight. Mr. Mayor: Oh, we already did seven and eight? The Clerk: No, sir, we have but we have seven and eight on the regular agenda. Mr. Mayor: Okay, I got it. Okay, gentlemen, is there, yes, sir, Commissioner. Mr. Hatney: I’m not ready to consent 24. The Clerk: He’s moving it to the next committee. Mr. Hatney: Oh okay. 7 The Clerk: Commission meeting. Mr. Mayor: Next full Commission meeting. Mr. Guilfoyle: Would ya’ll mind if I shoot number nine back to the committee? Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Guilfoyle? Mr. Lockett: Number nine? Mr. Guilfoyle: Yes, sir. The Clerk: Number nine? Mr. Guilfoyle: And number ten. Mr. Mayor: Number nine and ten back to committee? Mr. Guilfoyle: Yes, sir. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Okay, Madam Clerk, for the sake of clarity prior to me asking for a motion to approve the consent agenda let’s rock it. The Clerk: All right. Consent agenda consists of items 1-4 with the addition of item number nine back to committee. Item ten going back to committee. Item 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 going back to committee. Item 19, 20, 21, 22 back to committee, 23, 24 next Commission meeting, 25, 26 with the appointment of the subcommittee. Item number 27, 28, 29, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38 with the appointment of Cathy Green. Mr. Mayor: Okay, gentlemen, can I get a motion to approve the consent agenda? Mr. Lockett: So moved. Mr. Mayor: Do we have a second? Mr. Aitken: Second. CONSENT AGENDA PLANNING 1. Z-12-56 – A request from concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to approve with the following conditions 1) that the only use of the property be a private concrete recycling operation for waste concrete generated by Chaplin and Sons or those uses allowed in an Agriculture Zone; and 2) that a CEC concrete jaw crusher or equivalent equipment in size and operation be used; a petition by Chaplin and Sons, on behalf of Henry William Cameron Jr., requesting a Special Exception to establish an inert fill area 8 per Section 26-1 (o) of the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance affecting property containing 14.7 acres and is known under the present numbering system as 3020 Old McDuffie Road. (Tax Map 083-0-107-01-0) DISTRICT 5 2. Z-12-57 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to approve a petition by Cynthia Cratic, on behalf of Jeffery Moffett, requesting a Special Exception to establish a Family Personal Care Home per Section 26-1 (H) of the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance affecting property containing .13 acres and is known as 1937 Julius Street. (Tax Map 058-4-406-00-0) DISTRICT 2 PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS 3. Motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of the Commission held October 2, 2012. OTHER BUSINESS th 4. Motion to approve the rescheduling of the regular scheduled November 6 meeting to Thursday, November 8, 2012. PUBLIC SERVICES 9. Motion to approve an operating budget for the Augusta Municipal Golf Course that will address anticipated operational expenses for the last quarter of FY 2012. 10. Motion to approve the full service project management and support of HEERY for Augusta Public Transit’s RFP-11-138 Architectural and Engineering Design for a Transit Operation and Maintenance Facility for Augusta, Georgia. 11. Motion to approve the Sec 5307 Augusta Public Transit grant application between the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and Augusta, Georgia. 12. Motion to approve AXTELL’s Construction, Inc. selection and contract for the Airside Pavement Crack Repair and Marking Project as approved by the Augusta Aviation Commission at their September 27, 2012 meeting. 13. Approve forfeiture of Surety Bond for Mr. Calvin Walker, d/b/a: C B Walker Contractor. 14. Motion to approve the acceptance of the Georgia State Grant for project no. AP013- 46(245) CrackSeal/ARFF Equipment in the amount of $11,979.00 as accepted by the Augusta Aviation Commission on October 10, 2012. 15. Motion to approve the Capital Improvement Program Manager’s recommendation to select KAMO, Mity-Lite, MTS Seating, Southern Aluminum and US Foods as suppliers of operating equipment for the Trade, Exhibit and Event Center. 16. Motion to approve the Capital Improvement Program Manager’s recommendation to select Modern Business to supply and install the furniture for the Trade, Exhibit and Event Center in the amount of $154,664.72. ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES 17. Motion to approve FTA EEOP Submission for Augusta, Georgia. PUBLIC SAFETY 19. Motion to award the plumbing bid #12-201 at RYDC to Avrett Plumbing in the amount of $38,827.00. 9 20. Motion to approve an Intergovernmental Agreement between the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice and Augusta, Georgia regarding the use of property formerly known as the Augusta Youth Development Center Main Building and Storage Building for a South Substation for the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office. FINANCE 21. Motion to approve a request to purchase 4 vehicles for the Augusta Fire Department. 22. Discussion for the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce Building on Broad Street. (Requested by Mayor Copenhaver) 23. Approve the replacement of two (2) prisoner transport vans for the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office-Jail Division. 24. Motion to approve TEE Center contracts (1) Amendment to Leases and Construction, Operating and Reciprocal Easement Agreement (2) Agreement for Right of First Refusal (3) Assignment of TEE Center Management Agreement (4) TEE Center Catering Agreement (5) TEE Center Reciprocal Easement Agreement (6) DEED. (Requested by Commissioner Jerry Brigham) 25. Motion to approve FY2012 5303 Transit Planning Assistance Contract. 26. Discussion of the Two tax districts. (Requested by Commissioner Bowles) ENGINEERING SERVICES 27. Approve the assignment of the contract between Augusta and Commonwealth Data Communications, Inc. to AMCS Group relating to the customer management software for the Environmental Services Department and allow Augusta to convert to the web based software solution. 28. Approve the purchase of (1) 2564 from H & H Equipment Sales, Inc. 29. Approve the purchase of (3) end dump trailers from Freightliner of Augusta. 30. Motion to approve Water and Sewer Revenue Bonds Series 2012 bond resolution and authorize the Mayor and Clerk to sign all necessary documents. (No recommendation from Finance and Engineering Services Committees September 10, 2012 deferred from the ndth October 2 Commission meeting to the October 16 meeting. 31. Motion to approve the Augusta Richmond County Flood Reduction Program budget 2012 for acquisition of 35 structures. 32. Approve and receive as information the Emergency Construction Services on the Lumpkin Road Flooding and Storm Sewer System Replacement in the amount of $81,105.01 to Blair Construction; funded from SPLOST Phase VI as requested by AED. 33. Approve award of the On-Call Vegetation Maintenance Contract for Roadways, Street Shoulders, Right-of-Way Easements and Detention Ponds to Augusta Lawn & Turf, Inc., subject to receipt of signed contracts and proper bonds. Also approve $500,000 to fund the proposed on-call vegetation maintenance services. Funding is available through Fund Balance. 34. Approve the deeds of dedication, maintenance agreements, and road resolutions submitted by the Engineering and Augusta Utilities Departments for Spring Creek Village Subdivision. 35. Approve a street sweeping contract with Inland Services and make available the Crosswind sweeper to Daniel Field for as needed ramp and runway sweeping. 10 36. Motion to approve the sole source purchase from Environmental Products of Georgia of a Pipeline Inspection System Camera by Envirosight, LLC at a total cost of $81,750.00 for the Utilities Department. APPOINTMENTS 37. Motion to approve the reappointment of the following on the Richmond County Board of Health to a four-year term Deborah Presnell, Rosa Clemons and Shirley Evans ending 12/31/14. (Requested by Commissioner Jerry Brigham) th 38. Consider the recommendation(s) of the 10 District Nurses Association to appointment one of the following to the Richmond County Board of Health: Cathy Green, Patricia Coo, Patricia Lynch-Hayes for a four-year term. Mr. Mayor: We have a motion that’s been properly seconded. Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign of voting. Mr. Mayor: Mr. Russell. Mr. Russell: After this --- Motion carries 9-0. [Items 1-4, 9-17, 19-38] Mr. Mayor: Mr. Russell. Mr. Russell: Mr. Mayor, if I can ask you to call item 30 next. It involves the sale of our bonds and there’s some things they need to do prior to the end of the day that we need to get accomplished. So I’d like to go ahead and get them started on those if the bond’s approved. Mr. Mayor: Okay, Madam Clerk, if we could call number 30 first. The Clerk: ENGINEERING SERVICES 30. Motion to approve Water and Sewer Revenue Bonds Series 2012 bond resolution and authorize the Mayor and Clerk to sign all necessary documents. (No recommendation from Finance and Engineering Services Committees September 10, 2012 deferred from the ndth October 2 Commission meeting to the October 16 meeting) Mr. Bowles: So moved. Mr. Brigham: Second. Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion? Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign of voting. Mr. Russell: This is a matter of record. If you’d like I can get Diane to tell you what rate we got and how much money we saved. 11 Mr. Hatney: Hasn’t this been voted on? Mr. Russell: Well I just, we’re happy. Mr. Mayor: Let’s just say thank you. Thank you. Motion Passes 9-0. Mr. Russell: You did good. Mr. Lockett: Hey, uh, Mr. Administrator? I don’t know why you’re smiling because I’ve got a problem. Mr. Mayor: Okay, Madam Clerk, next agenda item, please. The Clerk: PLANNING 5. Z-12-58 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to approve a petition by Paul E. Burton requesting a change of zoning from Zone R-1C (One- family Residential) to Zone B-1 (Neighborhood Business) affecting property containing .72 acres and is known as 1919 Watkins Street. (Tax Map 035-1-413-00-0) District 2 Mr. Mayor: Mr. Patty. Mr. Patty: Yes, sir, this is an item that was not contested but we failed to put a condition on it that we had intended to put on it. We had asked the Commission to do that. It is a 7,000 square foot building that was formerly a Girls Inc. It is within the Harrisburg Neighborhood within a strictly residential area and the property presents a problem because it’s not usable as a residence. But we certainly wouldn’t want this unregulated commercial to develop the property. The applicant’s I believe is present. He wants to use it for a daycare which the building appears and we recommend you approve that with the condition that the only to have been built for use of the property would be a daycare center or a use allowed in an R-1C Zone. Mr. Mayor: Does anybody have any questions or do we. Anybody want to make a motion? Mr. Johnson: Move to approve. Mr. Hatney: Second. Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. If there is no further discussion Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign of voting. Motion Passes 9-0. 12 Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Madam Clerk, next agenda item, please. The Clerk: PLANNING 6. Z-12-59 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to approve with the condition that the only use of the property by for support parking for seasonal use by the haunted house located on Tax Map 154-0-004-01-0 and 154-0-004-02-0 or those uses allowed in a R-MH Zone; a petition by Mark Jackson and Brian Carter, on behalf of Plantation Blood LLC, requesting a change of zoning from Zone R-MH (Manufactured Home Residential) to Zone B-2 (General Business) affecting property containing approximately 2.69 acres and is known as 4127 Wallie Drive. (Tax Map 154-0- 004-00-0) DISTRICT 6 Mr. Mayor: Mr. Patty. Mr. Patty: Yes, sir. This came before the Commission, actually it was one of the committees in May. There were a number of allegations made and problems identified and as a result of that we took a look at it we really hadn’t taken before from a code standpoint and also from a zoning standpoint. And since then the owners have spent a lot of money bringing this thing up to what we believe are reasonable code standards. And during that process we also realized that while this was approximately a five acre tract it actually consisted of three parcels. The one that the buildings were on where the activities are occurring are zoned commercial B2 which allows that type of use. So there’s no purpose here to deny this. Not to debate the use of that parcel but there’s an adjoining parcel that appears to be part of the property in its entirety that’s within a fence, the fence line of the other property that we found that was not zoned commercial. Not zoned properly for the use that they we making use of it which was parking. So they’re here before you today to ask for this property to be zoned B2 with the condition that it can only be used for parking for this seasonal venue. And that’s all that’s before you today. And the Planning Commission heard both sides of this. There were a number of objectors and a number of people there from the neighborhoods supporting it. Their decision was to approve it with the condition that I just read to you and that’s what I recommend too. Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Mr. Patty. Can we hear from the petitioner on this one and then we’ll also hear if there’s a representative of those opposing this. And if you’ll state your name and address for the record, please, sir, and I’ll give you five minutes to be fair. Mr. Carter: Brian Carter 1618 Swint Road Harlem Georgia 30814. Mark Jackson 4320 Hardy Road Martinez Georgia 30907. I guess basically when we came forward with this, like I said it was approved for a seasonal venue approximately three years ago. The property was zoned commercial. We purchased it for the sole purpose and had it approved and it was zoned commercial in 1979. A lot of people are stating this is a neighborhood. This is not a neighborhood. This is a street, okay. The other properties that adjoin this property around are zoned commercial. These tracts of property are anywhere between an acre to ten acres. Yes there is some residential areas that backs up to this that’s who we’re getting some opposition 13 from. But this property was like I said was zoned commercial in 1979 and we had it approved we purchased the property to do this venue and it was approved. And then like I said then later on after we started getting this there was some state regulation and you know we had a new fire commissioner, excuse me a fire chief that came in and we went and met with him and there was a you know, we spent a lot of money we got a big investment in this. And we invested ya’ll in south Augusta. We took this venue from Columbia County, we were renting a location we bought in south Augusta we bought property. We feel as though we bring a lot of positive revenue to south Augusta and Richmond County. And like I said we made an investment, we made a huge investment this year. Also when we heard the complaints of the neighbors we went out and we purchased and put up sound barriers. So the accusation being made we heard them and we responded by trying to reach out and do something about it. There’s a lot of things that have been said about this that, it just isn’t true. There’s no truth to some of what’s being said. We’ve been getting you know complaints when we have five deputies, four and five deputies present and a fire marshal present at our venue we’re getting complaints that we’re loud and the police officer event the ones who respond to the complaints as they want it on record to be a complaint they’ll do a tape recording and the tape recording showing no sound, no more than any traffic leaving our location. And so there’s been a lot of truths and a lot of untruths on this. And I guess that’s kind of where we’re at today. Like I said we asked for the zoning to be done, we found out we have no intention they were stating that we were going to open up a haunted house year round. I don’t think we’re going to be scaring people in July or January. You know we’re doing it as a seasonal venue. We do it like I said we bring a lot a good people who made accusations we’re bringing you know we’re bringing bad people to their area. If churches and school children are bad people I mean I don’t what gives. I mean we have a lot of you know a lot of people that come out and visit us over there and there’s no truth to us using this but for the 26 days like I said 26 days that we’re open. And that’s the end of it. And like I said there’s absolutely no truth to you know us adding on and doing that. There’s no truth to it. We just all we want is a temporary status of the parking and that’s it. Mr. Mayor: Okay and thank you, sir. And, gentlemen, do we have any questions? Commissioner Guilfoyle. Mr. Guilfoyle. Sitting here listening to you speak what’s in question today is has nothing to do with the business. The business is already licensed to operate. The whole thing that we’re bidding on or voting on today is the parking. And I know with the zoning that we want to, well actually ya’ll want to make sure that ya’ll don’t have cars in the road to accommodate your neighbors. Mr. Carter: That’s correct. Mr. Guilfoyle: All right. Thank you. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Mr. Smith: Did you say --- Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Smith. 14 Mr. Smith: --- when you said at night, each night how many patrolmen do you have on duty? Mr. Carter: We have on our busy nights we have four and a fire marshal. Mr. Smith: All right. Thank you. Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Guilfoyle you had? Mr. Guilfoyle: I like the motion to approve. Mr. Lockett: I second. Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. Okay I do, do we have somebody representing those opposed? Okay Representative Smith and if you could state your name and address for the record and keep it to five minutes as well please sir. Mr. Smith: State Representative Ernest G. Smith District 125 Augusta Georgia. I’m coming to you as a representative for the residents of Wallie Drive but I’m not coming as a state representative. I come as a PMP, a Project Management Professional. As you know I’m a member of the same team so this is not a complaint. This is information that I think will be prudent and logical for this team to already know. As you know Wallie Drive is in a rural part of Hephzibah, the country. And streets in the country are a little smaller and tighter than they are in the city. And most importantly Wallie Dive is a dead end street. It’s a dead end street. It’s not a cul-de-sac. You can’t loop around and then turn around. You have to go in someone’s yard to turn around. For this haunted house it’s one way in one way out which is an ingress and egress hazard. If there were a fire it would be a wholesale catastrophe out there. Secondary to that I went out last week for the first time and looked at the place and there’s ply board all around the entire facility. That’s a tinder box for a fire. If a fire truck had to get back there it couldn’t with everybody trying to get out. So what I’m sharing with all of you is the fact that this maybe a litigators dream with respect to any problems that may be coming down for this city as a member of this team just for information and what I would hope is that perhaps you send your engineers out again to do a relook and hold all of this in a abeyance until you can get further instruction from them on this because again this is not good. Typically when you have a haunted house you have it space. This is almost like you have a one bedroom apartment with nine people living in that apartment. That’s how cramped it is back there on Wallie Drive. And you don’t have to believe me. You can go out for yourself and look. Again this is information. This is factual truth. I’m not engaging in any kind of innuendos or anything else but I know this is apples and oranges as for what was on the agenda for parking but again as a concerned citizen, as a Project Manager not as a litigator not as a member of the legislature but as a member of the team to help you understand that this may be pending problem because it is a dead end street. Mr. Mayor: Thank you, sir. Mr. Mayor Pro Tem. 15 Mr. Bowles: George, get back up here. George, I assume that members of your Planning and Zoning Commission went out and visited the site like you usually do? Mr. Patty: Yes, sir, we were out there several times. Mr. Bowles: And what was their recommendation? Was it unanimous or was there any? Mr. Patty: No, I think there was one objector. One that withheld their approval. You know it’s not an ideal situation. There’s traffic there’s going to be traffic. For the number of days they’re in operation there’s no way to solve that problem. They there, they’re operating legally. The fire chief’s here. They took a thorough look at it, made them spend a bunch of money frankly to bring it up to code as did my inspectors on other code issues. And you know it kind of is what it is. Mr. Bowles: Thank you. Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Johnson. Mr. Johnson: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I guess this will be for Fire Chief James. Mr. Mayor: Come on down, Chief. Mr. Johnson: Hey, Chief. Let me ask you just straight up. If something was to occur and you guys needed to get in there and take action could you properly do it without any real issue? Chief James: It would truly depend on how they did their traffic control. So if, I mean as we go out there and we inspect this building during the day time the building meets the code they have made the changes that we mandated to be made. If it were an event night and there were cars parked all over the street it would be up to their security and road patrol guys to make sure that those roads are clear. As we go out there and inspect it during the day time you could drive down that road because it’s not full. And they would be required to keep that open so that we would have access down there during the day time, I mean during the event night while the event was taking place. Mr. Johnson: So this parking should relieve the congestion on the road enough that in an event something did happen with proper I guess direction or indications from whoever was out there that they can escort who’s ever in and make sure they can get in without it being a real serious issue of hazard to anyone there or the neighbors in the area. Chief James: That would truly depend on the size of the crowd that they had on that evening. If they had adequate parking it would depend on how many people that they had come out there that evening to visit their venue. And then they would be required to if they’re going to hire the deputies to do the special event duty for that they would need to keep that road clear so that the fire apparatus could get down the road. If they did not keep it clear and it was over, you 16 know with so many people there that they would block the road it would be difficult for a fire truck to get down the road. Mr. Johnson: And last but not least would it be any litigation possibly, and I mean anything could come about but could the city be liable in any way if anything did happen and we could not get in there in adequate enough time to deal with it. I know that’s a tough question but I just want to make sure just for the record that we have totally assessed all areas and we know that within our you know control we know that it’s legitimate and it’s technically not a hazard to anybody’s health or life or what have you in an event. Mr. Russell: Uh, --- Mr. Mayor: And, Mr. Russell, I was going to say I think anybody can sue over anything - -- Mr. Johnson: Well, yeah, I do know that --- Mr. Mayor: Mr. Russell? Mr. Johnson: --- but I was making sure are we clear on --- Mr. Russell: You’re asking the Chief to make some assumptions that I don’t think are really in his purview at the moment. I think he said on several occasions that that depends on how they manage the traffic and whether or not they had sufficient parking. It would seem to me that adding parking would increase the likelihood that they would be able to transfer, trans, go up and down the road is where I’m going. I’m sorry. Mr. Johnson: I just wanted to make sure we crossed all our T’s and dotted all our I’s to make sure that if everything is operating the way it should be that we can assess the building or the area without any real issue or any threat or hazard to anybody’s life. That’s what I wanted just to make sure that we got on the record with that. Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Lockett then Commissioner Guilfoyle then Commissioner Hatney then Commissioner Mason in that order. That’s the way I saw it. Mr. Lockett: Okay, Mr. Chairman. Most of the conversation we had is not germane to the agenda item. The agenda item is about parking. You would think if they had a parking lot there it’s probably going to be lined with parking spaces if it would alleviate some of the potential problems that we’re talking about. If you don’t have a parking lot all you have is grassy areas and people park all kinds of crazy ways. So when you have a parking lot that’s lined people usually try and park within the lines. So that would alleviate that. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Mayor: I try to keep it between the lines. Commissioner Guilfoyle. Mr. Guilfoyle: How’s that working out for you, Mr. Mayor? 17 Mr. Mayor: I’m Mayor of Augusta, not too well. Mr. Guilfoyle: I just wanted to say that I know that Commissioner Johnson had some ‘what if’ questions and by us not doing this I think we’d be doing a disservice to the people by not making more use of the property for the parking to keep them off that street. So if there is an incident that we have our good fire chief and his good quality people come in to save the day. Thank you. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Commissioner Hatney then Commissioner Mason. Mr. Hatney: Question, the parking situation. Is this going to be paved where folks can be or the cars be off the street because if it’s a street where there’s no way out but then make a circle and it’s traffic on both sides there’s no way for your emergency vehicles to get down there so. Mr. Carter: No, with this, are you familiar how they set up the parking kind of like at the Augusta National the new parking, Berckman Road area? What we did it’s a grassed area, okay? And what we do is we do line it. We streamline it and you know we have a way, there’s actually three ways onto the property. And when I mean big I have heavy equipment I could pull tractor trailers in and out of this property. So the egress is coming in and out are wide and they’re open. And we secure them. We actually have attendants. Not only do we have the deputies working we have, we pay people to park so it’s very organized how you’re doing this parking to keep ways in and out. As you’re doing it you only have limited amount of parking places. We keep ways so you can get everybody on and off and we have emergency. You were talking about the areas. We also have emergency area only that can be opened up you know it’s just chained but it can be opened up in case of an emergency that nobody’s in front of. Mr. Hatney: Mr. Fire Chief, are you aware of all this they’re talking about now? Because you mentioned if the cars are parked a certain way there’s no way your vehicles can get in there. And what they’re saying is they’ve got them marked off and everything and triangulated at least. My concern is safety. And if they develop it this way and it won’t be no hazard I can vote for it. If they go this other way and be no hazard I can’t. If you are, (unintelligible). Chief James: I’m saying if they have parking where they’re not on the road and there’s no cars blocking the road --- Mr. Hatney: You’re talking about a perfect atmosphere. Chief James: Right then we can get down --- Mr. Hatney: We don’t have those. Chief James: But I can’t control, I mean, I can control the crowds so to say but how many customers they get --- 18 Mr. Hatney: Are you saying you’re going to be able to make sure that nobody’s on the road? Mr. Speaker: We never park on the road. There’s never any cars parked on the road. Mr. Hatney: (unintelligible) to fella behind you. Mr. Speaker: That’s not the word that I got --- Mr. Hatney: I ain’t talking about the word now, are you aware? Mr. Smith: What I’m aware of is the, I went out there last week and this street is extremely narrow and it’s dead end. Unless they’re going to get an easement to expand the room not just for parking but for egress and ingress it’s going to be problematic. This is, this business really and truly should not have been placed in this particular location. I commend you gentlemen for wanting to have a business but this is a very compressed area. If you were to see that you will see what I’m talking about. Mr. Hatney: Okay, the business has already been licensed and approved. We’re not talking about that. Let me ask Mr. Patty something if I can, Mr. Mayor. When you went out and looked at this did you take, you and the Fire Chief and all you guys were you together or separate. How’d you do this? Mr. Patty: We’ve both been out there several times. I’ve never seen it at night in operation I can tell you that. I’ve never seen it. Mr. Hatney: But do you, traffic on each side of the street you see that as being a hazard if it happens. Mr. Patty: If it happens, yes, it would be a hazard. Hopefully they can maintain a one lane through which you know they police folks on duty. I’m assuming that would be part of their job to maintain one lane through. Ms. Speaker: (inaudible). Mr. Mayor: Ma’am, please. Mr. Hatney: Mr. Mayor, what’s got me concerned here is that we do have the residents’ concern about this. I’m hearing what these young men are saying and I don’t have anything against their business but they’re already licensed to do business that’s fine because that’s not the discussion here. It’s whether or not the parking places they’re providing will be sufficient so those vehicles will be out of the way so there won’t be no safety hazard going in and out of the place. That’s all I’m concerned about. 19 Mr. Patty: Well, I mean the issue is whether or not to allow them to do this parking and I can’t see where it could possibly be anything other than a good thing to get those cars off, you know, what happened is this used to be a cabinet shop. It’s got some heavy commercial buildings on it and at some point you know the cabinet shop left and these guys found it and took it on. And they started out with the parking in the front which I’m guessing this thing was way more successful I’m just guessing this was way more successful than they ever dreamed it could be. And now they really need this other area for parking. And to not give it to them means they’ll have to park in front of the business or along the street because there’s nowhere else to park. Mr. Hatney: Last question. Is there any way to assure these folks that live out there that there can be some means put in place that would prohibit these folks from blocking that street where there’ll be safety going in because without something in place you don’t know what we’re going to end up with out there. Mr. Patty: I would hope our Sheriff’s Department would be aware of the situation. I’m sure that they are, I can’t speak for them and that they would during this season that this thing is in operation they’d be out there watching that traffic situation. Mr. Mayor: Okay Commissioner Mason then Commissioner Smith. Mr. Mason: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I hope I can remember what I had to say at this point. I’m trying to get in for a minute here. I take a lot of these phone calls because this board is my district and so I get a lot of the phone calls. I’ve been out there myself and I’ve talked with these two gentlemen as well. I appreciate the thought process of the business and bringing something out to south Augusta, trust me I do. But there’s two issues here that I’m struggling with. Number one first and foremost is the safety issue which is paramount to any and everything else. So I got one question I got to comment for you. How many parking spaces are we talking about because I haven’t heard that yet? Mr. Jackson: Approximately about, I would say about 500. Mr. Mason: 500 parking spaces. Mr. Speaker: On the whole, on the rezoning I would say 250 on the rezoning, 260 on the rezoning not on the part that’s already zoned. Mr. Mason: So you’re telling me then that you have 240 or so already? Mr. Speaker: (inaudible) Mr. Mason: That’s pretty full. Mr. Carter: I mean we haven’t built it up you know. We move them in and out. You know I would love to fill it up and maybe we will. But at this point we have had no issues of blocking what they’re calling an egress is what I call a paved road. And on this paved road we 20 have not blocked where you can’t, as a matter of fact the fire truck from the local, they come down when we’re in operation because they want to learn the venue. They want to learn the venue. They come down in operation in a fire truck, come down there park in front and learn the venue. Both shifts do, day and night because there’s a fire station within two miles --- Mr. Mason: Right. Mr. Carter: --- they learn it day and night in operation and they come out there in the fire truck. Mr. Mason: And I’m glad to hear that because we need to have all the safety measures in place. What bothers me at this particular point is there’s a number of assumptions that are being made some reasonable some not so reasonable. The assumption is, is that if in fact there’s more parking it’s going to alleviate the issue that we have out there. I’ve been down that road on any number or occasions more than I care to remember. It is an extremely narrow road. What Representative Smith talks about in terms of ingress and egress issues they are issues in my mind as I see it. But then I’ve got to weigh the decision on having additional parking will that alleviate some of my concerns safety wise because the road is extremely narrow. And all the traffic that does come back and forth through there and you’ve got a very popular event by the way. And I believe it’s going to continue to get more popular and more popular and that’s not a bad thing necessarily for you as a business person but I’m going to take issue with something that you said in terms that it’s not a neighborhood. It’s absolutely a neighborhood for the neighbors that live out there. And that’s so, to say it’s not a neighborhood and I don’t want to you know belabor that point but it’s a neighborhood. It is a neighborhood and it’s a certainly a neighborhood to those who live out there. So that’s why they’re voicing and you need to go ahead again Mr. Mayor that’s fine. I think I’ve probably got about six more minutes based on what you gave the last one. Mr. Mayor: No, because I was cutting you off while he was asking questions. I only time you when you talk. I recognize you again. Mr. Mason: I’m good but what I’m saying is, is that for the folks that live out there we’ve got to listen to those concerns and take into consideration. At the same time at the end of the day I’ve got to make a decision based on the overall safety as a whole as I see this big picture. Now you most likely are going to become even more popular and you’re going to bring in more individuals. So the assumption that the parking lot will alleviate all the problems for anyone not necessarily you making it but anyone up here is going to alleviate all the problems I would say that’s a false premise. Because we don’t know what additional problems with a more additional traffic will actually come and I’m not looking for an answer. All I’m saying is there’s a lot of unknowns that in variables that we have to deal with when we’re making this particular decision. So that what I’ve heard is that you are looking for 260 or so additional parking spaces on that land on the land there. So does that mean that you are going to increase the number or policemen that you have out there because you’ve been using four now. If you give them some additional 260 vehicles with potentially is that going to increase the --- 21 Mr. Carter: Yes, we have. If we got on a busy night there’s so many people per police officer is if they were to grow then we of course they have to, they have to. But with that being said I’ve done a little homework out there also. Wallie Drive actually goes to Tobacco Road. As my event grows you know and I think Richmond County will agree to if we’re operating a good business bringing in positive revenue for Richmond County we would push for them to open Wallie Drive up to Tobacco Road because it goes to Tobacco Road. It just happens to be closed off right there. Mr. Mason: Yeah and that’s not an issue that’s before us today so I’m trying to stay focused. Mr. Carter: I understand but I’m --- Mr. Mason: But then I think, what’s that going to cause me to do to start to ask you some additional questions that’s outside the scope of where we are. I’m not sure you want to go there for that. So I’m trying to stay right in that little realm that we’re talking about as far as the parking space right now because that’s what’s before us. Okay? Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: Thank you. Commissioner Smith. Mr. Smith: (inaudible). Mr. Mayor: Okay, thank you, sir. Well, the question has been called for. There’s a motion on the floor to approve that’s been properly seconded. Commissioners will, oh excuse me prior to taking the vote I did want to see a show of hands of those who are here in opposition so we can take a count of that. This is just for those here in opposition to the, okay. And could we, okay thank you Ma’am I think he’s got everybody. Could we now get a show of hands of those here in support? It’s just people who have, citizens who have come to support and citizens who, what’s that? Okay, thank ya’ll you can put your hands down now. Okay, Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign of voting. (9 objectors noted) (10 supporters noted) Mr. Mason votes No. Mr. Hatney abstains. Motion Passes 7-1-1. Mr. Mayor: Okay, thank you, Madam Clerk, and onto what I believe is our final agenda item. The Clerk: We have seven and eight to go. Mr. Sherman? PUBLIC SERVICES 22 7. New Ownership Application: A.N. 12-4-: A request by Maulik Patel for a retail package Beer & Wine license to be used in connection with C.K. Food Mart, LLC DMA Bodie’s th located at 306 13 St. District 1. Super District 9. Mr. Sherman: Number seven is a New Ownership Application. Is a request by Maulik Patel for a retail package Beer & Wine license to be used in connection with C.K. Food Mar, th LLC DBA Bodie’s located at 306 13 Street. District 1. Super District 9. Mr. Speaker: Good evening Mr. Mayor and Commissioners. My name is Maulik Patel and my 3934 High Chaparral Drive Martinez 30907. Mr. Sherman: Are there any objectors to this alcohol (inaudible). Mr. Mayor: Can we get a motion? Mr. Johnson: So moved. Mr. Mayor: Thank you. Do we have a second? Mr. Guilfoyle: Second. Mr. Mayor: We have a motion that’s been properly seconded. If there is no further discussion Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign of voting. Mr. Hatney abstains. Motion Passes 8-0-1. The Clerk: PUBLIC SERVICES 8. Motion to approve and receive as information a pre-qualified list of Architectural and Engineering service providers for the Recreation, Parks and Facilities Department. Mr. Bowles: Motion to approve. Mr. Johnson: Second. Mr. Mayor: We have a motion that’s been properly seconded. Is there any further discussion? Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign of voting. Motion Passes 9-0. The Clerk: Item 18? Mr. Mayor: What now? 23 The Clerk: Eighteen. Mr. Mayor: Eighteen. Did I miss that one? The Clerk: Oh, I’m sorry the Health Insurance. Mr., which one was that? That’s eighteen? The Clerk: ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES 18. Motion to approve the Administrator’s recommendation for the 2013 health insurance provider for Augusta, Georgia. Mr. Mayor: Mr. Mason? Mr. Mason: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I pulled that and I won’t belabor the issue but I do want to get on the record here at this Commission meeting that I have issues with the integrity of this procurement process in that it has been by own self admission a letter received on our part as far as Ms. Kelly is concerned the consultant who sat on this board to make a recommendation on who should receive this contract. And there is an established relationship between herself and one of the sales representatives at Blue Cross Blue Shield. It gives an appearance of impropriety one that could have easily been rectified and that’s just not something that I can support in this particular case. And moving forward more importantly we need to address this Mr. Administrator and I don’t see our procurement person here. But I just think with the reputation that we have as a government and in Procurement in particular that type of action is something that is unacceptable and we should not have a practice of doing business this way when there’s an established relationship between individuals and individuals who are bidding on contracts. Mr. Mayor: Thank you, sir. And I believe the request the initial request of the Chairman of the Administrative Services Committee was to move this forward to next week’s committee meeting. Mr. Russell: No, we need to --- Mr. Mayor: We need to --- Approve the Administrator’s recommendation to go with Blue Cross The Clerk: Blue Shield as the administrator and with the self-insured program. Mr. Brigham: So moved. Mr. Guilfoyle: Second. Mr. Mason: Can I get a roll call vote Mr. Mayor? 24 Mr. Mayor: If there’s no further discussion Commissioner Mason has requested a roll call vote. Madam Clerk? The Clerk: Mr. Aitken. Mr. Aitken: Yes. The Clerk: Mr. Bowles. Mr. Bowles: Yes. The Clerk: Mr. Brigham. Mr. Brigham: Yes. The Clerk: Mr. Guilfoyle. Mr. Guilfoyle: Yes. The Clerk: Dr. Hatney. Mr. Hatney: Abstain. The Clerk: Mr. Jackson is out of the Chamber. Mr. Johnson. Mr. Johnson: No. The Clerk: Mr. Lockett. Mr. Lockett: Yes. The Clerk: Mr. Mason. Mr. Mason: No. The Clerk: Mr. Smith. Mr. Smith: Yes. Motion Passes 6-2-1. Mr. Mayor: Thank you, ma’am. On to the final agenda item. If my math is correct and I wasn’t a math major but I think I’m keeping score pretty well here. ADMINISTRATOR 39. Presentation of FY 2013 Augusta-Richmond County Budget. 25 Mr. Bowles: Mr. Mayor --- Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir. Mr. Bowles: --- just so I can get on the record. Fred wanted me to let everybody know 3.2% and we’re saving $27 million dollars. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Mr. Russell: We can’t use it to help the budget unfortunately. Mr. Mayor: Mr. Russell. Mr. Russell: Mr. Mayor, members of the Commission you’ve got before you our budget presentation for this year. Unlike previous years you don’t have a balance budget in front of you. You’ve got a document that begins to analyze some of the challenges we face some of which were created by the economy, a lot of which are created by our friends in D.C. and Atlanta at this particular point in time. I think it would be redundant to go ahead and start trying to go over that at this point. There’s a lot of issues there that we need to look at, a lot of policy decisions we need to make and what I’d like to do is go ahead and begin scheduling a series of workshops and we can address those issues as we move forward. The document itself consists of a letter that explains some of those and hopefully you’ll have time to read that. The summary by funds which you’ll notice is we’ve got about a $3 million dollar opportunity to work with there in the general fund. If you look at the next you’ve got recommendations from 2013. The next section is revenues by department. Table Tab 4 as far as expenditures by department which is fairly standard. New request items in Tab 5 what I would like to bring your attention to these are not included in the budget numbers. But the first page under Tab 5 is Page 137 and that would list the costs of increases. I know that’s something we talked about on and off and whether or not we can afford that or not. But those are the numbers here how much it would cost for a COLA increase at 2, 3, 4 or 5% or a flat rate that we did last year of $500 or $1,000 dollars. The next item there is what the people asked for and what people have asked for on page 138 which totals a whole lot more than the last column of that page is what I recommend at this particular point in time. New projects and additional funding requests are here too with some of my recommendations. A couple of the highlights there though are some additional funding for somebody to do retail. I think it’s important to us at this particular point in time to go ahead and really discuss that whether or not we want to add somebody to our team to go out and search for retail. I think we’ve all been somewhat disappointed in that function and our lack of ability to do that. So I think we need to do that. In addition there’s a compliance person involved to look at some of our contracting and issues that we’ve got there. That’s a question that’s come up over and over again and we’ll want to look at that. In addition to that you’re looking at some other items that include people for the Public Defender’s Office and other things that are mandated outside our control that we really need to talk about. I look forward to working with you over the next couple of weeks as we bring this budge to fruition and come back with a document that’s there. There’s no tax increase that’s included in these numbers. I would suggest that that’s something you need to talk about. If we talk in the next committee meetings about the 26 changing of the taxation itself between the districts that’s going to have an impact on what we’re doing as will the other items such as the potential for the rainwater fee or whatever. All that needs to be blended together to come out with a product at the end of the day. Thank you for your interest and look forward to working with you. Mr. Guilfoyle: Is the budget for the conference center in here? Mr. Russell: Yes, there’s extra money in there, $500,000. Mr. Mayor: Thank you, sir. If there are no further questions or no further business to come before the body we stand adjourned. Good meeting, gentlemen. [MEETING ADJOURNED] Lena Bonner Clerk of Commission 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 October 16, 2012. ______________________________ Clerk of Commission 27