HomeMy WebLinkAboutRegular Commission Meeting October 15, 2013
REGULAR MEETING COMMISSION CHAMBER
OCTOBER 15, 2013
Augusta Richmond County Commission convened at 2:00 p.m., October 15, 2013, the
Hon. Deke Copenhaver, Mayor, presiding.
PRESENT: Hons. Lockett, Guilfoyle, D. Smith, Williams, Fennoy, Johnson, Jackson,
Davis and G. Smith, members of Augusta Richmond County Commission.
Absent: Hon. Mason, member of Augusta Richmond County Commission.
Mr. Mayor: As we do have a quorum I’d go ahead, I’d like to go ahead and call the
meeting to order and call on Reverend Timothy Green, Pastor, Jenkins Memorial CME Church
for our invocation. Please stand.
The invocation is given by Reverend Timothy Green, Pastor, Jenkins Memorial CME
Church.
Mr. Mayor: Please join me in the pledge.
The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America was recited.
Mr. Mayor: And, Reverend, if you can please come forward I’ve got a little something
for you. Thank you for that wonderful invocation. And thank you particularly for praying for
our Nation’s capital today. Office of the Mayor. By these present be in known that Reverend
Timothy Green, Pastor, Jenkins Memorial CME Church is Chaplain of the Day. For his civic
and spiritual guidance demonstrated throughout the community serves as an example for all of
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the faith community. Given under my hand this 15 Day of October 2013. Deke Copenhaver,
Mayor. Thank you, sir. (APPLAUSE) Madam Clerk, on to the recognitions.
The Clerk:
RECOGNITION(S)
Employee of the Month
A. Congratulations! Deputy Austin Shepherd, Richmond County Sheriff’s Department
September Employee of the Month.
The Clerk: And I’ll read the letter from the Employee Recognition Committee. The
Employee Recognition Committee has selected Deputy Austin Shepherd as the September 2013
Employee of the Month for the City of Augusta. Austin Shepherd is employed as a Deputy for
the Augusta Richmond County Sheriff’s Department and has been employed with the county
since 2009. He was nominated by Lt. Mike D’Amico. Deputy Austin Shepherd is assigned to
the Patrol Division of the Sheriff’s Department where he patrols Harrisburg, Vineland and
County Club Hills as well as portions of Berckmans and Washington Roads. His day to day
duties include all aspects of law enforcement including investigating crimes, arresting offenders,
responding to general assistance calls from the public, checking property of absent homes and
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business owners, investigating traffic accidents and maintaining order. Austin is considered to
be a great team player that works well with the officers around him. In addition Deputy
Shepherd truly cares about others as evidenced by his recent actions. On September 11, 2013
Deputy Shepherd encountered a homeless family while on patrol. In addition to an unemployed
husband there was an Army Veteran wife with mental health issues and two children ages 8 and
2. On that particular day the wife required professional intervention which Deputy Shepherd
provided but he didn’t stop there. He also phoned his wife who purchased clothing for the
children while he took up a collection from his fellow officers and made arrangements for
discounted lodging for the needy family. As many law enforcement officers do Deputy Austin
Shepherd joined the Sheriff’s Department to help people. He sought no attention or reward for
his efforts but his actions deserve recognition for the inspiration they provide to others and the
positive reflection they have on city of Augusta and the Richmond County Sheriff’s Department.
The Employee Recognition Committee felt that based on this nomination and Deputy Shepherd’s
service above and beyond we would appreciate you joining us in recognizing him as the
September 2013 Employee of the Month as the Commission meeting to be held on Tuesday
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October 15. (APPLAUSE)
Mr. Mayor: And I just want to say thank you to Deputy Shepherd. Thank you to
everyone in law enforcement for putting yourselves in harm’s way everyday to protect us. And
with that I have a letter to go along with that. September 2013 Employee of the Month, Deputy
Austin Shepherd Richmond County Sheriff’s Department. Dear Deputy Shepherd. 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 September 2013. Your contribution to your organization Augusta
Richmond County Government and the citizens of Augusta has earned this recognition. I
appreciate your willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty and your outstanding work
ethic. You are truly an asset to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office 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)
Deputy Shepherd: I just want to thank my parents and all my family members for
coming out today. I tried to get us out of the Sheriff’s meeting earlier but everything that I have
good in me I got it from everyone of them. Thank you. Thank you very much. (APPLAUSE)
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, on to the delegations.
The Clerk:
DELEGATIONS
B. Mr. Brad Owens, Member Downtown Advisory Board regarding the proposed “slum”
designation for the Central Business District (CBD).
Mr. Mayor: Is Mr. Owens here?
(Mr. Owens did not appear at the meeting)
Mr. Mayor: Okay, Madam Clerk, on to the next delegation.
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The Clerk:
DELEGATIONS
C. Presentation by Mr. Brian Green regarding a proposal for a merit system concerning
promotions and pay raises.
Mr. Mayor: Mr., okay. And if you could keep it to five minutes please sir.
Mr. Green: Yes, sir, Mr. Mayor, ladies and gentlemen of the Commission.
Mr. Russell: The time counts.
Mr. Green: I’m here today to talk about something’s that’s been on my mind and I just
think it’d be a really good thing for our community and it’s called a merit system. And I’m just
here as an advocate for such a system and not an expert on the matter. I know there’s other
communities that have these types of systems in place. I just think it’s a win, win for the
government and the community in general. You, I did pass out a copy of that you all that’s my
original form that’s just for you all to follow along. Please if you have any questions I will
possibly answer as part of my presentation and I’d be more than happy to. Again the wording is
going to sound a little different but that’s the original form. Almost like the New King James
version and the New World version. So you have the original I’m just, this is not upgraded or
whatever. But it still follows along with it. Just a few things. It is a proven and well established
system dating back to the late 1800’s and was established as a system of fairness and equal
opportunity. We owe such a system to the present and future generations uphill. By virtue of
this design a standard is established in terms of employment, advancement, pay raises,
evaluations even suspensions and or terminations. There’s a general, I feel like there’s a general
consistency that this could save this city money and one example of that is bonuses, pay raises
only rewarded on a performance, performance standard only which are one of the two
components of this presentation. Performance and documentation and by documentation I mean
by that of department heads. Along with performance and tenure along with performance tenure
and education achievement can be awarded. For example somebody’s coming in they already
have a degree or something the system allows that type of that individual to be incentivized.
Lower level employees can excel and not feel as though they’re in a dead end situation. This
system can also curtail even the hint of favoritism, intimidation or perceive discrimination or
whatnot. And I feel also this will place this community on the cutting edge and counteract the
trends that lead to bigger government and excessive spending. Once again I feel pay raises are
tied to on the job performance. We just witnessed some outstanding employees here. That says
it. Performance says everything. And I feel the only people that will be against such a system
are people that don’t believe in performance because performance really is all that matters last
time I checked. So just, Mr. Mayor, just a few suggestions here and I also I put awards can be
grandfathered in based on one year increments. Pretty much that’s it in a nutshell. I just wanted
to make this presentation. Again I think it’ll be really good for the community and it can
establish the precedent here.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay, thank you, sir. Commissioner Lockett and then Commissioner
Guilfoyle.
Mr. Lockett: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Green, first of all I want to apologize for
not allowing you to make your presentation during our Administrative Services committee
meeting. That was not the forum for it. This is definitely the forum for it and I’m very
appreciative that you have the answers you do have. And we’re going to have a meeting
tomorrow afternoon dealing with Human Resources that I’m quite sure that some of the things
you mentioned we’re going to be discussing it tomorrow in this particular location. I believe it
starts about 2:00 p.m. if you want to come and sit in you’re welcome to do so. And thank you
again.
Mr. Green: Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, sir. Commissioner Guilfoyle.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Green, thank you for coming back before us
and speaking on this. And to be truthful the employees need to actually here this. Two years
ago when I first got on board, two and a half years ago I was actually trying to come up with
incentives ways of getting money to the employees. My way of thinking was if a department
could reduce their budget by five, ten percent whatever the savings is disbursed to the employees
either a 5% raise or a 10% based on the amount of savings that department has done. In turn the
county will reap the rewards because there’s only so much employees in a department. But I
kind of woke up real quick when I actually used the term bonus and it’s actually the term to use
in a government is called incentive. But that’s actually a good tool to have. Matter of fact with
the Administrator here you know there might be a way to reach out to the employees hey how
can we get them more money. Any time that a department director comes before us just ask for a
raise tell me what’s been done. Tell me where the savings has been. This is one way of doing it
where the employees could actually make their own pay raise. But, Mr. Green, I thank you for
your time sir.
Mr. Green: Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir. Commissioner Fennoy.
Mr. Fennoy: Yes, Mr. Green, I would also like to thank you for your time and your
concern about the employees of Richmond County. I think that some of our employees on the
very, very bottom on the totem pole if you look at the standards for poverty some of them may
be bordering on the poverty line. And we need to come up with some incentives so they could
get raises on a regular basis or at least move them up where they’re able to provide a decent
income in order to provide for their families. I think a merit raise or merit increase or similar to
the one that the state offers would be something that on down the road the city should take a look
at. But again thanks for your concern about the employees of Richmond County.
Mr. Green: Mr. Mayor, can I ---
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Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir.
Mr. Green: --- also and that’s a good point. It’s almost if I may just give a quick analysis
to that. One person comes to work he’s there every day he’s there he clocks in goes to lunch
clocks out, does his thing. Doesn’t necessarily do any more but just pretty much just kind of pay
check mentality. Not necessarily somebody that they would like to keep around but for all
intents and purposes you already have your ten percent factor. You have another guy just killing
it. They’re doing what’s asked of him or her you know really stepping up to the plate really
showing hey I’m grateful to have this job but also look you know I’m about performance I’m
about moving up and showing it with my actions. But then it comes up because across the board
this person couldn’t see this person that works this person but they got it so I should’ve got it.
And like I said, Mr. Mayor, this pretty much would clamp that down because it kind of, and I
don’t want to sound redundant here.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, well, thank you, sir. We appreciate you coming before us.
Mr. Green: Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you. Madam Clerk, on to the next presentation.
The Clerk:
DELEGATION(S)
D. Mr. Harley Gibbons regarding the DBE Enjoinment and Disparity Study.
Mr. Mayor: And if you could keep it to five minutes as well too, please, sir.
Mr. Gibbons: Mr. Mayor, members of the Commission, citizens of Augusta Georgia on
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October 8 the Citizens Small Business Advisory Board voted to bring a major concern to the
Commission. As you are aware the Disparity Study has been completed for over four years
which costs taxpayers $500,000 dollars. The study clearly identifies minorities and woman as
being in an unfavorable position in receiving awards or subcontracts from the city of Augusta.
Based on the study the city of Augusta needs to develop a program that supports women and
minorities in receiving an equitable share. This was clearly identified in the study. The city of
Augusta develop a small local business program however this program is race and gender neutral
and do not address the unfavorable conditions identified in the study, the Disparity Study. Some
recommendations. The board is requesting the following. This is small business advisory board.
General Counsel to return to the federal judge requesting the enjoinment be removed with the
understanding we will return to the court in two years. The Disparity study shelf life can’t go
beyond five years provided and I say provided we implement a program the expiration date
which is December 2013. Because developing a new program based on the existing study will
be sufficiently less that a new study. Why waste money having a new study when the one we
have is very well written, professionally done and it’s active and it’s correct if we implement the
program before December. Allow General Counsel to work with Attorney Collette Holt to
develop a program which can withstand the strict scrutiny of law. Both attorneys work diligently
on the Disparity Study. Ms. Holt’s firm is a nationally recognized expert in designing and
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implementing legally, accessible affirmative action programs. They have been working together
they both know each other we have paid for their work before. We are just in a stand still a
stalemate. I do not like Augusta being in a stalemate for nine years. This program’s been going
on nine years. We’re wasting taxpayer’s money and we are hurting women and minorities. No
one likes to be treated unfairly and that’s what’s happening in Augusta. It’s a slap in the face to
our famous city and I think we need to do something to correct this. And it’s not going to go
away. As the old saying pay me now or pay me later it’s going to happen so we need to go
ahead and correct this unjust situation in Augusta by just simply allowing our attorney, general
counsel to meet with Ms. Holt again and proceed while we have the luxury of the Disparity
Study which is a very sound piece of study and clearly articulates all of the flaws and we have,
general counsel’s been working on this. They have corrected anything that was announced in the
enjoinment. They’ve already corrected this. All we need is action. Please take action on this.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Thank you, sir. Commissioner Williams.
Mr. Williams: Yes, sir, Mr. Mayor. I just want to commend this young man for speaking
so eloquently about this Disparity Study who you are exactly right in your sightings. The study
was done some four years. If fact it’s been on the shelf all that time until this year. We’ve been
talking about it we’ve been trying to get some things done. The attorney said the Commission
just hadn’t gotten serious. And what I’m hearing you say is we need to get serious and I’ve been
saying that. Fairness everybody ought to have a time or chance to come to the table to be able to
take up especially the government and that has not been done. That’s why we did the study but
we act as if it’s going to go away and it’s not. It’s not going to stay in our face. I wouldn’t want
that brand on me to say that I’ve been discriminated against anyone for any reason. So, Mr.
Hartley, I appreciate you coming and I appreciate your stand. I appreciate your authority in your
voice that you’ve got. You sound like you really believe that we need to something and do
something right away. So I commend you and I support you 100%. I don’t know what else we
can do. I’ve been talking to the attorney in fact he’s got me going to law school. I’m trying to
practice law myself now to make sure we dot every ‘I’ and cross every ‘T’ like we’re supposed
to do. And we need to go ahead and get this thing done so we can be about the business and not
have one group left group, women minorities anybody else. We talk about local participation too
as well. We got a lot of local business here we go out of town to do and the money ought to be
spent right here in Augusta. So I commend you again. I’m in support and I’m ready to move,
I’m ready to do something because it’s just that serious to me.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, thank you, sir. Commissioner Lockett.
Mr. Lockett: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Gibbons, thank you very much for what
you do for this community. But, Mr. Mayor, I would like to ask the general counsel a question.
You heard what Mr. Gibbons said about you meeting with one of the other attorneys that quite
familiar with this. Is there any reason why that this meeting cannot occur and this requirement
be satisfied prior to December 31?
Mr. Mayor: Mr. MacKenzie.
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Mr. MacKenzie: I would have no problems meeting with Ms. Holt. She’s definitely one
of the most renowned experts in this area and I think it’d do a good job helping us move towards
having a Race and Gender Conscience Program. I do have some other concerns some of which
are legal and probably not the proper forum for this context. But like Commissioner Williams
said I’m trying to send him to law school but I want to make sure that we do dot our all our ‘I’s’
and cross all our ‘T’s’ and part of that does include procuring a new Disparity Study. He is
correct there could be, something could be done now but there’s also a need to begin the process
to implement a new Disparity Study otherwise the program could be challenged on the same
basis that the original program was challenged on. But I do agree with a great bit of what Mr.
Gibbons has said. I’ve been through many of the meetings and I know that board feels very
passionate about these issues. And I’m definitely on board to move forward with what needs to
be done.
Mr. Lockett: Mr. Mayor, if I may.
Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir.
Mr. Lockett: Mr. MacKenzie ---
Mr. MacKenzie: Yes, sir.
Mr. Lockett: --- if you should have this particular meeting and if you should prepare to
go back before the judge before the end of this year what could possibly be the downfall? Would
that be in an expensive venture or would it be the cost would be insignificant or we go back
before the judge now with the present Disparity Study? I don’t want you to go into a long
answer but you can just answer me in a few sentences I’d appreciate it.
Mr. MacKenzie: Sure, I’ll try to answer that in a few sentences. The court order actually
does allow for the government to move forward with a Race and Gender Conscience Program
without having the injunction lifted. So I think those two things are a little bit to be separated
however it does have some additional requirements. One of those which is to comply with the
existing status of Georgia U.S. Supreme Court Law in this area which would include having a
new Disparity Study. So I would be happy to meet with Ms. Holt and I think a good step in
moving forward though because we really need to look into getting another Disparity Study
procured. And that would kind of a first step analysis and then there’s some things, other things
could be done as well.
Mr. Lockett: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Mayor: And I was just going to say it sounds like the based on what the attorney said
Mr. MacKenzie to meet with Ms. Hill,
based on the presentation the next step would be for
withMs. Holt
at the direction this body. And I think it would be good if I know I’ve got a
couple more people that would like to speak but to get a motion to that affect to direct the
attorney to do so. Commissioner Fennoy and then Commissioner Mayor Pro Tem.
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Mr. Fennoy: Yes, Mr. Andrew, do you think it would be appropriate for Ms. Gentry to
be a part of that meeting?
Mr. MacKenzie: Sure, that would be fine.
Mr. Fennoy: Okay then I would, you know, would like to suggest that Ms. Gentry be a
part of that meeting also.
And you would like to put that in the form of a motion for the attorney
Mr. Mayor:
to meet with Ms. Holt including Ms. Gentry as part of that meeting?
Mr. Fennoy: Right.
Mr. Mayor: Can we get a second on that?
Mr. Johnson: I’ll second that motion, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Okay and then I’ll recognize you, Mr. Mayor Pro Tem.
Mr. Johnson: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Gibbons, I did appreciate your analysis on
this issue. And I think it’s one that I know since I’ve been on board we’ve been talking about
this since day one trying to figure out how to move forward and there’s been a lot of controversy
around it. One of the key things is to remember I did talk to another person who’s an expert at
this and they informed me you’re right we don’t have to, well we do have to secure another
Disparity Study at some point. However can use this one I think it’s one year after the date so
it’s still active but the thing about moving forward if we go ahead and do that now that it
shouldn’t cost as much because we do have some of the documentation to move forward on it.
So I do commend you for what you’re doing. I think now we’ve got a path forward to kind of at
least get them two at the table, well three at the table with Ms. Gentry to try to get us on tract
because I think we all want to make sure we get this get this program activated and actively
working. So I do support the motion and hopefully we go ahead and get the support to move
forward on it here today. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: And I think it’s as Commissioner always says very important to dot the ‘I’s’
and cross the ‘T’s’. Commissioner Williams.
Mr. Williams: Yes, sir, Mr. Mayor. I’m in support of everything that’s been said but
let’s not forget there’s a cost associated with getting Ms. Holt here. Nobody talked about that.
And I don’t want us to make a recommendation and then we say well oh well you know we
didn’t have enough funding for it. We need to know where that cost is associated is going to be
and we need to move forward. I don’t think that should stop us but we need, we don’t need to be
surprised because we get in the next meeting and say oh I didn’t know it was going to be this. So
we need to lay it on the table and let’s make sure that we know there’s a cost associated with
getting her back here to do this. Had we done this earlier she’d been in town we may not have to
do this now but since we didn’t do it I mean we need to make sure we understand that. So I’m
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for voting for the motion but the motion she needs to be incurred of the cost associated with that
too.
Mr. Mayor: Ms. Gentry.
Ms. Gentry: You are absolutely correct, Commissioner, however I think the most
important thing to have a telephone conference with Mrs. Holt so that she can basically give us a
plan forward. In addition to that that would provide at that time a funding you know how much
(inaudible) whether or not you know the cost would be incurred with doing this time period or
the coming budget year. And the board is asking that we meet with and secure a date.
Mr. Williams: I don’t have, Mr. Mayor ---
Mr. Mayor: Go ahead.
Mr. Williams: --- I just need to know if we hadn’t made a phone call as of now I mean
that really bothers me now because we’ve been in this circle over and over and over but we
should have already made a phone call. In fact I made a phone call to her a while back. In fact I
talked to her in her car and she wasn’t even in, she was in Texas or California somewhere. So
I’m surprised we hadn’t already made a phone call to know what she will do or not do or give us
path forward as to what needs to be done.
Ms. Gentry: And this is what the board is asking for Commissioner for you all to vote to
allow the attorney, myself and possibly one of the chairman of the board to meet and to discuss
what Augusta needs to do whether or not we need to, it was my conversation with her that we
need to get the enjoinment lifted before we could develop a Race Conscience Program, not a
Race Neutral. We have a race Neutral Program in place currently but in order to identify a path
forward to insure that we are within the strict scrutiny of the letter of the law it would be my
recommendation to have the attorney’s to meet along with myself and a board member or a
Commissioner.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, I believe the amender, the maker of the motion, has an amendment to
that motion? Commissioner Fennoy.
Mr. Fennoy: Yes, I would like to amend my motion to include the reasonable cost for
the, to meet with Ms. Holt.
Mr. Johnson: At the discretionary of the Attorney.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Fennoy: Yes, at the discretion of the Attorney.
Mr. Mayor: And the seconder is okay with that? Okay, Commissioner Smith, the Grady
then Commissioner Smith the Donnie.
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Mr. G. Smith: I would just like to know Ms. Holt. What would be her expenses and
what do we have to do to get her, when we get her involved what’s it going to be costing the
taxpayers.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. MacKenzie.
Mr. MacKenzie: I’ll try to respond to that. Her involvement before where she was
actually part of the team with the Disparity Study that was done before to provide legal analysis
regarding the current status of this particular area of the law so she was hired as a consultant and
included as part of the RFP that was done there. My guess is we can at least have an initial
conversation with her probably at either no cost or at a limited cost or she can provide some
assistance and advice regarding a path forward. And part of that path forward may include other
actions to include procuring a new Disparity Study and things along those lines.
Mr. G. Smith: Is there anyone locally we could also get the same results, same effect
maybe for a lesser cost?
Mr. MacKenzie: With this particular area of the law the expertise level is probably
needed to have someone not necessarily local because this is a very narrow area of law. We
could look into that and that might be part of step two which is, I mean right now we’re just
developing a path forward. We may go through a competitive process to determine who would
be the provider for the Disparity Study or legal services related to any future action.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Smith.
Mr. D. Smith: Ms. Gentry, I heard something that just made my stomach upset just a
minute ago. And you said we’re wanting to abandon a race neutral stance and take a Race
preference stance. Is that what you said?
Ms. Gentry: No, sir. We currently have a Race Neutral Program in place that is
specifically local participation. The Disparity Study recommended having such a program in
place. However to correct the inefficiencies identified in the study we need to also develop a
Race Conscience Program where we’re placing percentage goal and actually focusing on
minority and women. In addition to that I just want to make sure that Commission knows and
Mr. Mayor I have had numerous conversations with Mrs. Holt as well as the, Mr. Wainwright,
who did our study. In addition to that I provided each one of you a letter from Mr. Wainwright
an email identifying that doing a study right now you can do it but you’re utilizing data that has
already been identified.
Mr. D. Smith: And that’s my point is we don’t know you’re asking us to do something
and we don’t know whether the problems still exist because the information that we have is four
or five years old. So our current practices through Procurement may have rectified some of this
from the past Disparity Study. We don’t know that.
Ms. Gentry: It has not, sir.
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Mr. D. Smith: How do we know that?
Ms. Gentry: (unintelligible) with a percentage in terms of the amount of dollars that stay
local along with the dollars that were let to minority and women.
Mr. D. Smith: But how will we know that without a Disparity Study?
Ms. Gentry: That is what we’ve been doing since 2008 is collecting the data. We don’t
have all the data. They didn’t have all the data when they did the study. That was the whole
purpose and me coming up before the Commission identifying and pleading with our Attorney to
put language in our bid document which requires subcontracting and ---
Mr. D. Smith: I guess my point then is I’m really uncomfortable with we’re being
forced, some people are wanting us to do something in two months in the next two months and
we don’t have the information. We’ve not collected the information that’s going to support us
having a race, biased program which is mandated by the government for us to have strict scrutiny
from the federal court. But you’re asking us to do something in 60 days that we don’t have the
information that would stand up to strict scrutiny.
Ms. Gentry: No, I’m not asking that.
Mr. D. Smith: But I think there’s some members on this body that are.
Ms. Gentry: The board is asking for you to approve for a conversation between our
General Counsel and Collette Holt. She conducted the study she’s the one who assisted us with
putting, she’s the one that put all the recommendations in there along with Mr. Wainwright. So
what we’re asking is merely an opportunity to have a conference call with here for her to assist
us in a path forward. General Counsel explained she is the expert when it comes to Affirmative
Action Programs and making sure that they are within the strict scrutiny of the letter of the law.
We’re not asking to do anything, now what my recommendation was that I presented this board
on numerous occasions is that if we get the enjoinment removed or lifted temporarily you have
an opportunity to create a program where within the strict scrutiny of the letter of the law where
you can come back before the judge within two years and say okay we’ve collected the data on
each and every one of our opportunities that let within Augusta Richmond County. Do we still
have a problem yes do we not have a problem no. Right now we’re asking to develop a program
based on the half a million dollars you paid several years ago and which we never implemented
anything from that program. That’s the piece that’s missing. We never implemented a program
to correct the disparity that was identified in the first study. Yes we’ve been collecting data and
yes I’ll be back before this board with the data that I have. However we’ve not done anything. I
think Commissioner Williams said that he don’t want to be a part of any one continuing with the
discrimination but that’s exactly what we’re doing because we’ve not corrected, we’ve not
developed a program to correct the disparity that was identified in the study.
Mr. D. Smith: Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, Commissioner Lockett, did you?
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Mr. Lockett: All I wanted to do, Mr. Chairman, was to, I don’t know why Ms. Gentry
didn’t say anything when Commissioner Williams questioned her about lack of contact with this
young lady in Atlanta. And I knew for certain that she had had numerous contact with her. But
when she got back up she brought that point out. Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Thank you. We have a motion that’s been made and properly
seconded. Commissioners will, and, Madam Clerk, could you read it back for clarity?
The Clerk: Yes sir. It was to direct Mr. MacKenzie to meet with Ms. Holt and Ms.
Gentry at a reasonable cost at the discretion of the Attorney.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign of voting.
Motion Passes 9-0.
Mr. Mayor: Thank ya’ll so much. Madam Clerk, let’s move on to the consent agenda.
The Clerk: Yes, sir. Our consent agenda consists of items 1-20. And under the Planning
portion of the agenda we have planning item and I read that. And if there’s anyone who has an
objection would you please signify your objection by raising your hand.
Item 2: Is a request to approve a petition for a change of zoning from P-1 (Professional)
with conditions to Zone B-1 (Neighborhood Business) affecting property located 2104 Cadden
Road.
The Clerk: Are there any objectors to this petition?
Mr. Russell: None noted, Madam Clerk.
The Clerk: So our consent agenda then is items 1-20.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, lady and gentlemen, do we have any additions to the consent agenda?
Commissioner Smith.
Mr. D. Smith: Yes, sir, I would offer number 21, number 31, number 33 and number 35
please sir.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Williams.
Mr. Williams: Mr. Mayor, I’d like to offer item 22 and 23 to the consent agenda as well.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Guilfoyle.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Get ready, Madam Clerk. Number 37, number 38, number 39, number
40, number 33 ---
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Mr. Mayor: Thirty-three’s already on there.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Okay.
Mr. Mayor: Thirty-four?
Mr. Guilfoyle: Twenty-five, 26 ---
Mr. Lockett: Keep them in order.
Mr. Guilfoyle: I am. Twenty-seven and 30.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Commissioner Jackson.
Mr. Jackson: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I’d like to add item 24 and item 28.
Mr. Lockett: We’ve got 24 already.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, do we have any items to be pulled for discussion?
Mr. D. Smith: Mr. Mayor, for the Clerk on item number 40 was that put on, if you will
show me I have a conflict in that. If you’ll, I don’t want to vote on that. I have a conflict.
The Clerk: So you’re abstaining on that one.
Mr. D. Smith: I’m abstaining. Thank you.
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Commissioner Lockett then Commissioner Guilfoyle.
Mr. Lockett: Mr. Chairman, someone is here to speak on agenda number 21 and so I
would hope that we would take it off the consent agenda.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Lockett: We’ve got so many out there and there’s a revision to the agenda
suggesting that we delete items number 3 and number 36.
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
3. Motion to extend the current Augusta Sustainable Development Implementation
Program contract to provide services to create a unified development ordinance to assist
with the implementation of sustainable development initiatives; with the Planning &
Development Department t provide the Commission with additional details regarding the
amount of grant funds to be allocated. (Approved by Administrative Services Committee
October 7, 2013)
13
FINANCE
36. Extend the current Augusta Sustainable Development Implementation Program
contract to provide services to create a unified development ordinance to assist with the
development of sustainable development initiatives.
Mr. Mayor: Three and 36?
Mr. Mayor: Are those the same items?
The Clerk: Yes, sir, it’s, they’re kind of basically the same item.
Mr. Mayor: Does anybody have a problem with that? Okay.
Mr. Lockett: Mr. Chairman, agenda ---
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Lockett.
Mr. Lockett: --- agenda item 34 is pulled but I would like somebody to explain what did,
I read this thing ten times and each time I read it I’m more confused.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, we will take 34 off. Okay, do we have any further items to be pulled?
Commissioner Guilfoyle.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Yes, can I pull item number 18?
Mr. Mayor: Okay. If we have no other items to be pulled for ---
Mr. Williams: Is 34 being pulled, Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: What’s that? Yeah, 34 we’ll discuss. That’s been taken off the consent.
Mr. Lockett: Mr. Mayor, hold on a second I’m trying to find something. I hope they
didn’t put my item on the consent agenda. I want to hear from Human, I mean Public Services.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Item number 29 is yours. It’s not on there.
Mr. Lockett: I’m okay, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Can I get a motion to approve the consent, oh Mr. Russell.
Mr. Russell: You can go ahead and get that motion a second but prior to voting we need
to ask if there’s any objectors to the two alcohol items.
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, could you read those back?
The Clerk: The alcohol?
14
Mr. Mayor: Uh hm.
The Clerk: Okay. (Item 22) The first one is a request by Alexander Rata for an on
premise consumption Liquor, Beer and Wine license to be used in connection with the Hideout
located at 3014 Washington Road. District 7. Super District 10.
Item 23. Is a request by Julia Pitts for an on premise consumption Liquor, Beer & Wine
license to be used in connection with The O’Lounge located at 2417 Milledgeville Road. There
will be Dane. District 2. Super District 9.
Mr. Russell: If there are any objectors please signify by raising your hand. Okay, none
noted. Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: Can I get a motion to ---
Mr. Jackson: Motion to approve.
Ms. Davis: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion that’s been properly seconded. Commissioners will now
vote by the usual sign.
Mr. Smith abstains.
Motion Passes 8-0-1. [Item 40]
Motion Passes 9-0. [Items 1, 2, 4-17, 19, 20, 21-28, 31-34, 37-39]
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, let’s go to the first pulled item please.
The Clerk:
ENGINEERING SERVICES
18. Motion to award Award Consultant Services Agreement to AMEC. Inc. in the amount
of $484,452.54 for the Stormwater Utility Fee Implementation Project CPB 328-041110-
211828002 to be funded through SPLOST VI as requested by AED. (Approved by
Engineering Services Committee October 7, 2013)
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Ladson.
Mr. Ladson: Mr. Mayor, members of the Commission, this is basically a request as
stated for the consultant AMEC to do a detail study of the rate structure. They will also look at
our current area and make recommendations on the stormwater fee. What we’re doing is just
requesting that this company be approved. This was originally in the initial presentation that was
done about a year ago to get a consultant onboard to do this type work. Once we get this done
then we’ll come back before the committee, well the Commission and to approve hopefully a
15
rate structure. Between now and then we will do a number of workshops, the Commission the
public and also we will do a number of studies
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Guilfoyle, I believe this was your pull.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Yes, sir, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Abie, you know I’m going to sit here
and talk about District 8. You know that’s going to happen so I’m go ahead and let cat out of the
bag. Do we have a storm drain plan for the rural areas of south Richmond County?
Mr. Ladson: When you say storm drain plan ---
Mr. Guilfoyle: No different than like here in the inner city urban area you have pipes in
the ground, stormwater that you deflect to where you want it to go either a retention pound or
into the river.
Mr. Ladson: Yeah, we’re required through EPD which is the government through EPA
to inventory all ditches, storm drainage pipes, retention ponds a number of these type things.
And we have to actually report these to the Commission, I mean not the Commission but to EPD
once a year. So anything that’s a conveyance, have a conveyance of water as to travel through
mains of water has to be reported.
Mr. Guilfoyle: So we got two creeks in District 8 ---
Mr. D. Smith: A river.
Mr. Guilfoyle: --- yeah we abut the river but two creeks in District 8 and this is our storm
plan?
Mr. Ladson: No ---
Mr. Guilfoyle: Okay.
Mr. Ladson: --- you actually we report ditches in District 8, report ditches, retention
ponds and ---
Mr. Guilfoyle: Okay and ---
Mr. Ladson: --- that’s how we’re able to actually tell you. We have we currently have
about 900 retention ponds. We have to report the mileage of ditches and this is information we
can actually give to you.
Mr. Guilfoyle: But the ditch actually within the easement of the county that, that the
county’s responsible for maintenance and repair so and the ditches actually used as a part of the
longevity of the road by keeping the erosion from the side of the roads from deteriorating.
Would that be?
16
Mr. Ladson: A ditch is normally a conveyance for stormwater and that’s the EPD
definition of a ditch. It’s –
Mr. Guilfoyle: Okay.
Mr. Ladson: --- clearly in there and we have to keep that, we need that information. We
have to report those information so we can actually keep our permit.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Okay, efficient of disposal of runoff from the road will help preserve the
road bed and banks which protects the road.
Mr. Ladson: The road is, I mean a ditch if you have grass the grass actually prevents
erosion on a ditch.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Okay. As far as the level of service for the rural area I understand we got
three or four neighborhoods that has storm drains where it actually drops into the pipe. The rest
has dirt in front of their house. Would the level of service be the same in the rural area versus
the urban area where you got to dig out a pipe, replace pipes, put in bigger storm drains versus
the reason why I’m saying that Abie is for the simple fact Columbia County used this AMECO
as their management to get this started from the initial game plan. They looked at it from a
fairness what’s fair and equitable for the taxpayers in that area. The rural area as you can see in
the dark blue ---
Mr. Mayor: I’ll recognize you for another two.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Thank you so much, Mr. Mayor. The dark blue is the service area
Columbia County even though they did not encapture the entire county. Would this company
follow the same suit and find out what the needs and the desires and the level of service for this
entire county?
Mr. Ladson: That’s part of the, that’s a part of their of their scope is to look at the needs
of all the county. But you know I can’t make a determination here whether what we’ve seen thus
far with this the work orders the work requests coming in. It’s all over the county not just the
urban area. This is much or more in the rural area. And we actually have a map here that shows
where those areas are located at and for the county.
Mr. Guilfoyle: I just don’t want it to be the same like if we had a transit well the rural
area accomplish or get any use out of a transit system like the inner part of Augusta does.
Mr. Ladson: I think and I think by, I mean by bringing in the consultant and like I said
this was approved this was the plan and we’re actually following that plan the plan that we
presented to this Commission over a year ago. And we hadn’t went away from that plan at all.
And I think by and once we approve this consultant yes we’re going to look at everything and
make the best decisions. But we need to approve the consultant first before we can get to those
steps that you’re actually talking about.
17
Mr. Guilfoyle: So I’m putting the wagon in front of the horse on this one.
Mr. Ladson: On this one right here. I mean you have to ask the question.
Mr. Guilfoyle: But I, you know, Abie, the only thing I want to make sure is that I just
want a level of service, what’s fair for each taxpayer even if people out there in the rural actually
gets a lesser charge because the service the level of service would not be a desired as what it is in
the inner part.
Mr. Ladson: Okay, I think that, I think what we need to do is get the consultant onboard
and then we’ll have the workshop and the discussions on that. I think first what we got to do is
get the consultant approved.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Abie, I thank you for your time and all your hard work because I know I
call you a lot.
Mr. Mayor: Okay Commissioner Williams then Mr. Mayor Pro Tem.
Mr. Williams: Mr. Ladson, I just need to know would the retention ponds and stuff that
we have plus the ones that we don’t have this stormwater fee we’re talking about getting this
support to move forward. What’s that going to do for the stormwater retention pond that we
have now that we have and the one that we don’t have. Is that going to alleviate those or are we
going to change from those by implementing this fee?
Mr. Ladson: Well, we have a long term plan in respect to the retention ponds. Right now
we have we have 900 retention ponds. I think 700 of that we were required to maintain. Our
plan and like I said this was presented, everybody here but our plan is to come up with regional
retentions ponds. That way we can eliminate a lot of those ponds which eliminate maintenance
and eliminate costs. So our long term goal is to have regional retention ponds which probably I
mean on average one regional retention pond may eliminate three or four, five retention ponds,
site what we call site retention ponds. So that’s the, that’s what we’re trying to do.
Mr. Williams: Well, and I guess what I’m asking and I heard you say a year ago you
brought this plan you haven’t deviated from it to the Commission. The Commission voted on it
and they thought it was good then. Now it’s time to put it in, put your money where your mouth
is so to speak. Time to come up to the plate. But I’m asking the question about do the retention
ponds if we do the stormwater fee in District 8 and other districts are we going to put pipes under
the ground there when we do that or take that water away from them or are we still going to have
the same think and charging people whether they’re in District 8 or District 2 or wherever they
are. Are we going to be still charging people and we’re not going to change anything? And I
say changing things. Are we going to be still managing the water? Are we going to build more
ditches, are we going to make the ditches wider to do that? What’s going to happen? I wasn’t
here a year. I’m a part of that now and I accept that but I want to know if we do pass this and get
the study started or get the person to come in and do consulting for us what’s that going to
change?
18
Mr. Ladson: Well, one of the things that we’re doing and it’s a part of, it’s an inventory
we, a complete inventory of everything that (unintelligible) infrastructure which includes ditches,
storm drains, retention ponds. And based on that a model, we would do a what’s called an
existing model to see what’s actually out there based on that and do a future model to what
would be based on maybe twenty years from now. Based on that we would actually see what
areas would need to be piped and what areas would need to be ditched or maybe have a concrete
ditch. But we haven’t gotten to that ---
Mr. Williams: I understand and that helped me but my follow up question is if we find
out that we can make a wider ditch make a concrete type ditch or whatever and we’re going to
still continue to get that fee or charge the residents for the stormwater ---
Mr. Mayor: I’ll give you need another two?
Mr. Williams: Yes sir thank you Mr. Mayor. I just need one more. Is that what’s going
to happen. Once we set the plan out whether it’s going to be in District 8 again or District 5 or
whatever it’s going to be and they got ditches there and we concrete those raise the money we
get this fee coming in are we going to continue to collect that fee? And the ditches are still going
to be there it’s going to be maybe concrete but we’re going to have ---
Mr. Ladson: One reason is because you have to maintain so we’re going to continue to
collect the fee and also you’re going (unintelligible). So you only have new construction as it
relates to storm water. And as you know maintenance is continued I mean construction you only
have one time. So maintenance you constantly have those. That’s pretty much where we’re
lacking at right now.
Mr. Mayor: Okay Mr. Mayor Pro Tem and then Commissioner Smith.
Mr. Johnson: Thank you Mr. Mayor. First and foremost Abie I understand you’re in a
position right now you don’t know all the details of it. That’s why you’re trying to get the
consultants and come and help do the assessment overall. But one thing, I’ve got a couple things
here the fee that we’re looking at paying for the consultant I see its $484,000 dollars. Through
your assessment is this the best that we can do. Is there any other way that we can save on that?
And I’m just asking that question because there’s been some questions about the fees that we’re
paying the consultants to do the job.
Mr. Ladson: We’re actually I mean it’s actually a little less than what we anticipated.
Mr. Johnson: Okay.
Mr. Ladson: In 2009 in SPLOST VI we actually asked for more than three and a half
million dollars but that’s what we received through the SPLOST VI three and a half million
dollars for stormwater implementations per annum. But what and the reason being that it’s
probably a little less than what we expected is because the department did a lot of leg work on a
lot of, coming up with the difference in aerials and actually coming up with the plan this plan
19
right here the detailed plan and schedule and everything. So we did a lot a leg work with a lot of
municipalities on this.
Mr. Johnson: That’s what I wanted to get clear for the record because there was some
concern and questions asked about that, could we save more on that. Secondly just to kind of
related to what my colleague Commissioner Guilfoyle was talking about I think there’s going to
be elevated levels of service but I think the consultant’s will probably come back at some point
or whenever it’s done and look at how to adjust the rates for certain areas so that certain areas
will not be applicable to pay what some areas, urban district will probably pay. But one thing to
remember you have people who do not have kids and they pay school taxes.
Mr. D. Smith: That’s right.
Mr. Johnson: It’s a shared tax, it’s just shared. It’s one of those things that we all have to
do our part you know and I think it’s going to benefit us overall because regardless whether I live
in District 8 or wherever if I drive into the city or I drive anywhere I’m impacted by those
conditions if it floods. And I think we all saw that last year when we had that 100 year rain flood
there that we all were impacted. Some people couldn’t go to work they couldn’t get to work at
the time because it was so many areas that were saturated with water. But I think that’s one of
the things we got to keep in mind as we move forward because we don’t want to discourage
people by thinking that this is just something we’re trying to tax others you know because it’s
not the case. But we have to be well put it this way. I’d like to be proactive but at the same time
I think we need to be frugal in how we move forward financially but we got to prepare for this
because it’s one of those things, I just need a minute Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Give you another two.
Mr. Johnson: Okay. We have to do something and I think this is going to help us
address the beautification is going to help us address those ditches that we of course
Commissioner Williams and I have talked about in certain areas and being able adequately install
the drains that will be sufficient enough to hold the stormwater. So I just wanted to kind of put
that out there. I know we’ve had several conversations about this moving forward and I’m
looking forward to enacting this at some point. Thank you Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: And along the lines of what you said Mr. Mayor Pro Tem water doesn’t stop
flowing and the wind doesn’t stop blowing at the district line. And if it impacts our neighbors it
impacts us. Commissioner Smith.
Mr. D. Smith: Mr. Ladson we, Wayne’s interrupting me here. Don’t count my time.
Last year my predecessor Mr. Brigham sat on that end and he asked you about the inventory. I
remember that clearly. How close are we to getting the inventory done?
Mr. Ladson: Well (inaudible).
Mr. D. Smith: No, okay all right go ahead. I’m sorry.
20
Mr. Ladson: This is what we’ve actually, this is what (inaudible) actually what the
department has done so far. Now there’s another portion of the stormwater which is the
inventory. We will be coming back before the Commission with some more consultants for the
inventory. It’ll be the actual inventory and some of the modeling of the existing infrastructure.
Mr. D. Smith: Is that going to be in this $400,000 dollars or is that going to be another
time?
Mr. Ladson: That’s separate. That’s ongoing. We’re required we should have it done by
May of next year the inventory.
Mr. D. Smith: My follow up question to you is or maybe it’s just a statement. This
county is 307 square miles of being some give or take a mile or two of that. But there’s a
significant portion of the old city that has got 100-year old stormwater systems. Am I right? In
my district I’ve got some neighborhoods in National Hills and Vineland and Lake Olmstead that
people think well those are new neighborhoods. National Hills has been there now 50 years.
And those were built for 500 houses and they got 800 houses in them now. And so our road
system and I’ll equate this for Mr. Guilfoyle because we obviously have differences in opinions
about this matter. We spend money on our road system on a constant basis to maintain. We
don’t just scrape and pave on time we have a maintenance on all the paved roads that we have
throughout the life of that road. And the same would apply in this stormwater system. Am I
right?
Mr. Ladson: Yeah I mean that’s we’re not where we should be.
Mr. D. Smith: But we’ve not spent any money as a government in the last 100 years on
fixing this and now we’ve all of a sudden got a huge bill piled up on us here at one time to try to
fix. And so this will be an ongoing project not a one-time project but a maintenance project over
a period of, long term.
Mr. Ladson: Yeah the stormwater it’ll be ongoing. I might say for instance in your
district in the National Hills area those areas would be funded, I mean that would become a CIP
project, Capital Improvement Project to fix all of that, the drainage issues in that area.
Mr. D. Smith: Thank you I appreciate your hard work on this. Okay Sylvia.
Mr. Mayor: Okay and let me just say and Commissioner Guilfoyle I’ve gotten you twice.
I will give you one more minute and then I’ll come to Commissioner Davis. But I think if you
could speak to this Abie that when you consider all the growth going on at Fort Gordon I mean
that impacts the city as well. And at a federal level the regulatory environment’s not going to get
any less stringent it’ll get more. So in order to accommodate future growth within the city you
know we have to look at managing our storm water, correct?
Mr. Ladson: Yes you have to I mean that’s the law. You’re mandated to manage your
storm water. There’s no way around that.
21
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Guilfoyle one minute.
Mr. Guilfoyle: I’m glad Smith left the room. I was going to have Bill Lockett hold me
back for that one. I did not understand what my colleague was talking about kids going to school
because there’s a lot, when you’ve got apartment complexes and you got two kids in every
apartment that apartment complex don’t pay their fair share. You look at the bus transit where I
was talking about the level of service. You don’t see no buses out there in our district but
everybody contributes to it so you’ve got to base things off level of service. Digging the dirt out
of a ditch is not the same thing as digging a pipe out of the ground and then you have to recover
it, resod it and everything else. I would like for if a stormwater construction project benefits
only a portion of a municipality it can be funded by fees assessed only to those properties within
that area. It’s called a Special Assessment District. Now the General Counsel was talking about
we can get money from ---
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Guilfoyle: --- the federal government. Point of privilege, sir?
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Guilfoyle, I have recognized you twice and gave you another
extra ---
Mr. Guilfoyle: Just one question that I’ve already asked I would like an answer.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Guilfoyle: The federal government. Can we get any money from the federal
government pertaining to this storm drain or storm plan?
Mr. Ladson: You can apply and we’ve done it on numerous occasions (unintelligible)
and but the thing is that more and more you’re getting less and less money from the federal
government. So that’s why you have a lot of municipalities that are going to the storm water
utility.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, Commissioner Davis.
Ms. Davis: I’d like to make a motion to approve.
Mr. Mayor: Do we have a second?
Mr. Fennoy: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion that’s been properly seconded. If there’s no further
discussion Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign.
22
Mr. Guilfoyle votes No.
Motion Passes 8-1.
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, on to the regular agenda, please.
The Clerk:
PLANNING
21. Z-13-47 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to
approve with the following conditions: 1) that a wooden 6 foot privacy fence will be
installed on the north and east property lines and 2) that the existing cyclone fence will
have privacy slats installed; petition by David Fields, on behalf of Lanier and Bethune
Enterprise, requesting a change of zoning from Zone B-1 (Neighborhood Business) to Be-2
(General Business) affecting property containing .70 acres and known as 3206 Washington
Road. Tax Map 011-1-015-00-0 DISTRICT 7
Mr. Mayor: I’d like to go to our Planning Director.
Ms. Wilson: Hi, I have just found out that the neighbors who attended the Planning
Board meeting have met with the applicant. It’s my understanding that the issues of concerns
were worked out so staff recommends approval of this request. The Planning Commission
recommended approval of this request.
Mr. Lockett: Move to approve, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. D. Smith: 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.
Motion Passes 8-0.
Mr. D. Smith: Mr. Mayor, I’d like to thank my colleagues for that vote.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you. Madam Clerk, next agenda item please.
The Clerk:
PUBLIC SERVICES
29. Receive as information an update on public transit for ARC as relates to incorporation
of new routes, impact of unionization, ridership concerns, and status of new transportation
facility, to include contamination issues. (Requested by Commissioner Lockett)
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Lockett.
23
Mr. Lockett: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. If it’s agreeable with my colleagues this was
put on so we could discuss it in committee. But since there wasn’t a quorum last week if it’s
okay with the body I would like to send it back to committee if we could please.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, can we get a motion to that effect?
Mr. Lockett: I move that we send it back to the next committee ---
Mr. D. Smith: Second.
under Administrative Services.
Mr. Lockett: ---
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion that’s been properly seconded. If there’s no further
discussion Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign.
Motion Passes 9-0.
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, next agenda item please.
The Clerk:
PUBLIC SERVICES
32. Approve the Augusta Information Technology Department to develop a plan to
implement an Augusta Government Channel.
Mr. Mayor: Ms. Allen.
Ms. Allen: Mr. Mayor, members of the Commission, the Information Technology
Department has been researching the City of Augusta having its own government channel for
quite some time now. And what we’re looking at is another means for us to kind of put some
information out for our citizens as well as our visitors such as job announcements, service
announcements and various other means of communication. We have looked at this and been in
discussion with local cable providers and you to see what it would take for us to actually get our
channel. We have actually researched and communicated with other agencies such as Columbus
Georgia and Savannah Georgia who both have government channels and have had them for quite
some time. And what we’re looking for you to do today is actually approve for us to proceed
with the concept of an Augusta Government Channel. We did not want to go down that road
without actually bringing it forward to you to see whether or not that is something you would be
interested in.
Mr. Mayor: Ms. Allen, I know that those two cities, particularly Columbus, has had a
whole lot of success with citizen engagement through that. Could you speak a little bit about
that?
Ms. Allen: Yes, sir. Both of those agencies utilize it for citizen engagement and it allows
them to actually toot their own horn to a certain degree and provide the citizens as well as our
24
customers to, our customers as well as our visitors to the city of Augusta everything that is going
on in Augusta, and any events and some of the School Board meetings and things of that nature
are actually aired on a government channel.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Williams then Commissioner Lockett then Commissioner
Fennoy.
Mr. Williams: At one point we didn’t want anybody to know what was going on in the
government now we’re going into the TV business it looks like.
Mr. Mayor: Because you’re a star.
Mr. Williams: I understand. We depend on Sylvia Cooper to report whatever she felt
good or bad for this government. I don’t have a problem with it but I heard you mention about
the school board and if there’s going to be a venture like that it ought to be a joint venture both
ways whatever costs or whatever we got to do ought to be you know talk with the school board
about handling that. What would be the negative side of having this, I know you said Savannah
and you’re talking about what, Columbus?
Ms. Allen: Yes, sir.
Mr. Williams: Okay well if you look at Savannah and Columbus they’re doing a lot of
other things we’re not doing in Augusta as well. We just can’t do certain things. We talked
about economic development and Mr. Russell and we’re going to have a meeting on that and I’m
sure we’re going to have some discussion. But those cities are progressing and they’re doing
things that will attract people to their city and they can look at their channel and their website
however we set it up and see why they need to be going there, what they need to be doing. And I
know we did some good things, Mr. Mayor, we talked about the Arts in the Heart and the Greek
Festival and the thing we did the Iron Man on the weekend. But folks go to a thriving city just to
go because there’s you ain’t got to worry about something going to be going on. If there’s not an
event we put on our calendar and we don’t have anything going on. I mean you can go
downtown and you can walk the Riverwalk a few times a throw a few rocks into the water
whatever but I’m thinking if we’re going to do something to step out of that box and I applaud
you for thinking like that but we got to do other things as well. We got to have things so when
people do look at that they can say hey, we can come. Look at the bus situation down here. If
you’re talking about ---
Mr. Mayor: I’ll give you another two.
Mr. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. If you’re talking about moving the transportation
and spreading it out you got to have a reason to spread it out. You have to have a reason for
folks to come. So if we’re going to do this I got no problem but we don’t just need to do this. I
mean talking to Mr. Russell now there’s some other things that we need to be doing to go along
with this so we’ll have stuff to put on our channel our government channel so people can say
hey, we ought to be in Augusta next week and you know whatever. But just to look at job
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applications and stuff like that that’s not enough for me. We don’t have that many jobs to talk
about to put in on TV.
Ms. Allen: And I don’t disagree with you Commissioner Williams. And one of the other
things is there’s mechanism for us to actually promote the events and things that are going on in
our city.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Lockett I think I said and then Commissioner Fennoy then I
saw Commissioner Davis then Commissioner Smith then Commissioner Guilfoyle.
Mr. Lockett: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Ms. Allen, I want to commend you and your
performance as Deputy Administrator and Director of Information Technology. You all have an
outstanding department and program. I can understand why you only want to do what you have
recommended. You said now you would like to get authorization to proceed with the concept.
In order to proceed with the concept will we incur any costs for that?
Ms. Allen: No, sir, what we would actually do when we’re recommending to come back
to you within 30 days with a recommendation. That recommendation will include the cost.
Right now we’re looking at an estimated $180,000 dollars and that was basically just a true
estimate based on the information that we receive from Columbus Georgia when they started the
initial program. And of course there is going to be staffing required depending on which way we
want to go. You know Columbus, Georgia actually has one person and they actually partner
with the schools and have an internship program. The Savannah, Georgia actually has three to
four people in their actual department but they also do public information and public relations as
well. So there’s you know we want to bring back a recommendation and bring back all the
information to the commission however we do not like I said earlier do not want to go down that
road until we get approval for the concept itself.
Mr. Lockett: Now this you mentioned the Richmond County Board of Education. Has
there been any contact with them and interested in partnering with us on this?
Ms. Allen: No, sir, and let me clarify that. I’m not looking for the Board of Education to
actually partner as it relates to cost because this will be Augusta government’s channel. What I
am saying that other agencies we found and their rules and regulations and policies and
procedures which is something we will bring back to this board as well they allow for certain
agencies to show their meetings and things of that nature that they feel are beneficial to the entire
city of Augusta.
Mr. Lockett: And lastly our meetings are online but I understand that everybody doesn’t
have a computer, IPAD or cell phone for that matter. But there again everybody doesn’t have
cable TV either. Have there been any surveys or has there been any data been collected as to the
number of people we might reach if we should take this route?
Ms. Allen: No, there has not but in that recommendation I will bring that back to you.
Mr. Lockett: All right.
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Ms. Allen: We actually do show that now on Comcast as well as Knology but we can get
those numbers as to amount of viewers.
Mr. Lockett: All right. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you. Commissioner Fennoy then Commissioner Davis then
Commissioner Smith then Commissioner Guilfoyle.
Mr. Fennoy: Ms. Allen, when you come back within 30 days would you be able to
provide the annual ongoing costs to operate this program? I know that the financial impact is
said to be discussed in the 2014 budget ---
Ms. Allen: Yes, sir.
Mr. Fennoy: --- but you know when you come back I would like to have an idea what
it’s going to cost to operate that program.
Ms. Allen: Yes, sir.
Mr. Fennoy: All right, thank you.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Davis.
Ms. Davis: Commissioner Lockett answered my, asked the questions I was going to ask
about the costs. Thank you, Tameka.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Commissioner Smith then Commissioner Guilfoyle.
Mr. D. Smith: Ms. Allen, now I like promoting the city of Augusta, I’m a little bit
confused. Like Mr. Lockett said the cable companies put our stuff on TV and I know Ben
Hassan’s out there in the hall. And Ben runs our show and he put people on there. In the past
we’ve had people down here that they paid us to come and video tape and put our stuff on the
web and on Comcast and Knology. And now we’re going to pay them to put our stuff on there?
Is that what you’re recommending?
Ms. Allen: No, we will actually look at a government channel and a Memorandum of
Understanding with the cable service provider. And we have already been discussions and we’re
looking at no costs to us on that. But we are going to have costs internally because we’ll need
staffing and the equipment of course to do it.
Mr. D. Smith: Is there any way we can partnership with the TV stations because there’s
four of them always looking for something to do around this town. And they have studios that
aren’t used all the time except during election years when we’re over there paying them to
promote our campaigns. Is there some way to keep us from having to buy infrastructure that we
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can use their infrastructure and pay them. I mean that would be my thought is why would
reinvent the wheel.
Ms. Allen: The only thing is that we will actually have ownership of the equipment and
we would actually just be paying the maintenance once we pay that one time fixed capital cost.
Mr. D. Smith: Okay.
Ms. Allen: I mean we can look at that as well during this research process. I mean I’m
not opposed to that. I think that’d be a good idea. We can look at all venues ---
Mr. D. Smith: I mean there’s ---
Ms. Allen: --- and bring back our recommendation.
Mr. D. Smith: I would appreciate it if you’d do that because like I say there’s four TV
stations here in town that’s got studios that are available all day long. And rather than us buying
a studio and manning a studio if we can go to deal with them that would seem to make more
sense to me. I like the idea of promoting our government and the good things we do because
sometimes our friends in the media don’t always portray us in such a great light. Because you
know Mr. Williams was talking about throwing rocks in the water. There’s some that’ll tell you
that we throw rocks at each other up here. That’s a good quote Sylvia for Sunday. That’s all I
got. Thank you, ma’am.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Guilfoyle.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Tameka, when you’re talking about our own channel you’re talking about
did you say off number channel that just shows what’s going on, let’s say adopt an animal, things
freebie stuff and the naturally you’ll see this commission. And that’s all done through an
internet system through a computer.
Ms. Allen: On our website yes but on the government channel you’d be (unintelligible)
communications.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Okay. As far as the $180,000 dollar start up fee and I seen where you
have that. But you also had stated in there the annual ongoing cost to operate is to be included in
2014 budget request. So there’s already money set aside for this, what Fred’s going to present us
here in the short.
Ms. Allen: Not actually included in Mr. Russell’s budget. I know there’s going to be
some future conversations in regards to the budget so we’re looking at when we come back in
the 30 days we will include that as part of the 2014 budget.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Thank you, Tameka.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Davis.
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Ms. Davis: Ms. Allen, you’re not asking for any type of funding right now you’re just
asking for us to approve for you to go forward with the plan and bring it back to us, correct?
Ms. Allen: Yes, ma’am.
Ms. Davis: Okay, I’d like to make a motion to approve.
Mr. Lockett: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion that’s been properly seconded to approve this agenda
item. Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign.
Motion Passes 9-0.
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, next agenda item please.
The Clerk: Yes, sir, that’s item number 34. And this basically an item for information.
It’s from Mr. Nutter at the E911 Center. And I believe he’s basically asking to replace the
logging recorder system there and to approve the related maintenance agreements.
The Clerk:
PUBLIC SAFETY
34. For information – It was necessary the system be fully operational and dependable
which was not the case with the current recorder. We have had to replace hard drives
recently; a workstation interface; and various other components. The current maintenance
contract and SMA for the system is expired. The best approach is to replace the logging
recorder system and related maintenance agreements keeping in mind that the first year
maintenance should be covered by purchase of the new equipment.
Mr. Mayor: And, Mr. Nutter, could you speak to one of the most confusing agenda items
we’ve ever seen?
Mr. Nutter: It was an administrative error. Our logging recorder was having some issues
with skipping some recording areas so we needed to replace it immediately. So I wanted to
notify of the purchase that went forward. And of course we have to have it as part for evidence.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. So this is, does anybody have any questions?
Mr. Jackson: Move to approve.
Mr. Johnson: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion that’s been property seconded. If there’s no further
discussion Commissioners ---
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Mr. Williams: I hadn’t heard ---
Mr. Mayor: --- oh, Commissioner Williams.
Mr. Williams: --- I hadn’t heard no prices. I mean ---
Mr. Nutter: I’m sorry. It was $30,000 ---
Mr. Russell: Sixty-five dollars.
Mr. Nutter: --- sixty-five dollars.
Mr. Williams: I understand. I just don’t know what he spent. I still need to know that.
Thank you, sir.
Mr. Nutter: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you for clarifying that, Commissioner Williams. A motion has been
made and properly seconded. If there’s no further discussion Commissioners will now vote by
the usual sign.
Motion Passes 9-0.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, sir. Madam Clerk, on to what I believe is the final agenda item.
The Clerk:
ADMINISTRATOR
41. Presentation of the proposed FY 2014 Budget for Augusta Georgia.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Russell.
Mr. Russell: As part of our process it’s now time for me to actually give you some of my
recommendations in reference to the budget. What this is is a continuation of a conversation we
started several weeks ago in which we talked about the things that we need to do, the things we
want to do, the things we have to do and things we can afford to do which are all not the same on
numerous occasions here basically. As you well know the budget’s a living document. It’s
something we adopt as a plan to move forward. Something we talk about throughout the year
and make whatever changes are necessary to accommodate the needs of our people. In addition
to that we actually set the millage rate in late July early August that backfills the dollars that we
have. This budget as in the past is not balanced. We don’t have to have it balanced today but on
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November 19 we have to have it balanced basically. So what you’ve got in front of you today
are numerous comments and numerous opportunities. You’ll notice that the General Fund is out
of balance by 3.975 million dollars and totally we’re out of balance by about $8 million dollars.
That’ll be good publications in the press by generally speaking for the past several years that’s
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been where we started out on this particular day. Last year we were out of balance by about
three million the year before that four. The general fund in 2011 nine in the general fund in 2010
5.8 in the general fund. Totally in 2010 we were out of balance on this date 8.5. In eleven 11.9,
seven million in 2012, five million in 2013 and a total of eight today. So this is where the
conversation begins and this is where we start running into decision points and direction that you
have to give. As you’ve seen me on more than one occasion it’s a simple equation that we use
and that’s revenue has to equal expenses. There’s no if, ands or buts about that. It’s just the way
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it’s got to be when you pass a budget on the 19 of November. There are ways to do that. You
increase that revenue and that’s the dreaded tax that people, the word that people keep talking
about. You can decrease expenditures and that’s a lot like the easy thing to do but those
expenditures are basically services that we provide. So you can either do less than what we’re
doing right now and save those dollars or a combination of both and that’s usually the direction
we’ve taken over the past several years to try to find a medium there or we watch our pennies
very tightly. And over the past several years we really haven’t raised taxes. And you’ve heard
me say this again and again our taxes today are less than what they were in 2008. That’s
something great to talk about but when you start comparing that at the service levels as
Commissioner Williams says on a regular basis you’ve got to pay for what you get. And at this
point if you want more we’ve got figure out a way to figure how to pay for it basically. There’s
several things that I think are very important in here and one of which is a COLA for our
employees. We’ve talked about that at some length and that’s a potential we need to do. I’m
recommending $1,500.00 per employee. The Energy Excess Tax we’ve talked about over and
over and over again. As you well know the state gave the industries credit for excess taxes on
their energy but allowed us to do what to recover that money by entering into an excise tax
situation. We estimate that’s about $1.5 million dollars that we would regain by going back to
that. We’ve talked about that on several occasions and I’m finding myself obligated to
recommend that we look at that again. I don’t that in all honestly that that’s giving us any great
advantage in recruiting industry to be able to say they don’t pay that tax. I haven’t seen anybody
increase the size of their place because they said they were saving that kind of money and
basically with our tax rate they got such a good deal anyway compared to other places they are. I
think that’s an argument that I have no trouble at all making and that our industry ought to look
at that. And we ought to look at that and recover those costs that the state gave away and had
local people have to make up the difference. In addition to that I’ve used about 3.5 in fund
balance that’s the rainy day fund. Last year’s the first time we actually had to tap into that and
we used that amount or similar amounts for the past four or five years. I’m not uncomfortable
with that. Our fund balance is still sufficient to be able to cover that without a major impact on
our or any impact I would guess. Well let me say that differently. I would anticipate an impact
on our bond ratings but given the nature of the world today and the way things are going I’m not
too sure if I could say that safely because there’s no telling what would impact on the bond
ratings based on the federal government’s inactivity at the moment. So I, generally speaking I
would say we were comfortable but the rules might change totally and I’d be afraid to have you
come back and say well you told us so on that one. You’re going to look at some new program
funding requests some personnel funding requests. Once again we talk about unfunded state
mandates, things that the state through state law or feds through federal law have done and
decided that we ought to do and told us we had to pay for. And we’ve talked about those the
juvenile court, the District Attorney’s been in here talking about those things and other issues
like that. What we need to do is over the next couple weeks ya’ll take a look at this, get together.
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I’ve asked the Finance Chairman to work with me to put together some working groups to
determine where we go. Let me just tell you what we’ve got in front of you either online or
available through our website if you’d like to download it and or somebody that gets a copy like
the press or whatever you can go to the website and download that. The first is a letter from me
that you always have. We wrote a new one this year so if you haven’t read any in the last couple
of years please take a look at that. The second, the Budget Summary by Fund. This is a major
working document that we’ve looked and you’ll see the revenues, expenditures for 2013 to date.
Revenues in 2014 projected and revenues/expenditures for 2014 and the difference. That’s
where we get those numbers that are the hole that’s there basically. The second tab would
include recommended adjustments and they just can’t make us whole as far as that goes some of
which are from the fund balance some of which are others. Revenues by department or the next
tab then expenditures that’s the one that people find the most interesting is what the departments
are spending. That’s that. The last tab is just some information for you to work with as we look
at this. The first page in that last tab is page 148. And what that basically is, is a cost of living
adjustment recommendation. You’ll note that I recommended the $1,500.00 dollars across the
board cost of living adjustment. There are other numbers here that we give you options to play
with. If you don’t like that there are other things you can do. And you can look down at this and
see what the impact would be. The 2% across the board raise would cost us about $2.3 million
dollars. The $1,500.00 raise across the board includes about 2.3 and there are options in between
there. Let me tell you why we did that. Across the board doesn’t impact the lower paid people I
wanted it to at this particular point in time. If you’ll look on the next page I believe page 147 it
gives you some examples of that. I firmly believe that some our lower paid people need to be
treated better than some of our higher paid people which is a little bit awkward to say but I think
the impact on that would be greater for them. The man making or lady making $25,000 dollars,
if you give them a 3% increase, that’s $750.00 dollars. Somebody at my salary that’s a lot of
money. Somewhere in between is something we ought to be better for the lower paid people.
That’s why if you look at the $1,500.00 increase that’s about a 6% increase for that person
making $25,000 dollars. For somebody at my level that’s 1%. So what the purpose of that
would be is to move that scale up, have a higher more beneficial impact on those lower paid
employees. We’ve done that once two years ago. We recommended it again last year and we do
not do anything. But I feel very strongly that that $1,500 or some amount in that area would be
appropriate for our employees at this particular point in time. The next page started on page 148
or Personnel Requests and Upgrades. As you listen to our people come in over the last couple
weeks they’ve asked for a lot. Most of them have very good reasons for doing that.
Unfortunately part of the deal is that you don’t get what you ask for on occasion. You look at
what they’ve asked for by department. The last column is what I would recommend that we do
and that recommendation you’ll notice is a whole, the list of recommendations is a whole lot
smaller than the list of asks. Same thing for New Program Requests. You will notice there’s
some money in there for that I requested and we all talked about the Disparity Study. That’s
something that’s on the table as far as I’m concerned we need to talk about. Some other stuff
animal services, the circuit court. The Compensation Study. We talked about that to some
degree and I think we ought to include that as we move forward. But that’s all there and fairly
self explanatory. What you’ll see a lot of that though is where people have come in and asked
for new for like a department will come and say I want a 5% increase for our salary. That’s all
been combined into my requests there basically. So all those have been taken away and all put
into that general salary requests for everybody so we could do it uniformly. New Capital
32
Requests on page 154. That’s when everybody comes in and wants new stuff to play with, new
toys new trucks or whatever. My recommendations are there too. And that’s pretty much the
process that we have at the moment. Once again you know I think our employees are the most
important (inaudible). What we need to do is try to take care of them the best we can. In
addition to that we need to look at that and move forward. We need to sit together and talk about
these requests talk about these numbers and determine what we can do either increase revenue to
decrease the level of services so we can have some dollars there and try to determine where we
go from there. I’ve asked once again the Finance Chairman to work with me to set up some of
those meetings and we’ll be doing that in the future. If you have any questions specifically the
Finance staff and I are always available to talk about that. And I’d be happy to try and answer
anything today as we go forward.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Davis.
Ms. Davis: Thank you, Mr. Russell. I’d like to make a motion to receive as
information.
Mr. G. Smith: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion that’s been properly seconded. If there is, Commissioner
Smith did you have?
Mr. D. Smith: I guess the appropriate time to talk about individual items would be later
on? Is that the way you want to handle that?
Mr. Russell: That’s what I prefer to do, give you a chance to take a look at some of this
and then come back. We’ll set up a work session and try to carve it into particular pieces so we
can focus on each department, not department but each particular section there, come back and
ask those specific questions there so we can figure out where we’re going. Generally speaking at
the end of the day we’ve got to decide some basic things here. Do you want to cut services or do
you want to increase revenue or is there some combination there. At some point we need to talk
very seriously about the excess tax and get some direction there because that’s a $1.5 million
dollars chunk that we can do. So there’s some bigger items and what I’d like to do is carve it
around. The big items get some big direction and then go down into some of the more weedy or
in depth kind of, weeds basically yeah. I tried to say weedy but that wasn’t going to come out.
We’ll go down to the weeds and talk about that.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Guilfoyle.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Fred, before our next meeting I would like for
you to show this council the money that was saved from the restructure. The money that was
saved from the self insured. I would like a, I’m just asking I’m not directing you by any means
because it takes a body to direct, but I would like to see if you would reach out to every one of
the directors elected officials because we are the ones that answers to the people. They’re the
ones that come before a body of ten to request 5% raise all across the board which is easily said.
It’s not easy for us. But there’s ways of saving money if they try. And so the only way to do it
33
is to reach out to the department directors. They know their department better than anybody else.
And if they were wise they would reach out to their employees for suggestions. The employees
that’s out there in the field, they’ll tell you ways of saving money. Directors will tell you ways
of saving money if they ain’t hurting, worried about hurting people’s feelings. So we need you
to do your part as well because this body this whole year has been making approvals by the
recommendation of the staff. We reduced the millage rate by a smidgeon and there was no
knowledge if we’re going to be ‘x’ amount of millions of dollars short until a few minutes ago.
Mr. Russell: No, no ---
Mr. Guilfoyle: Well, we’re not ---
Mr. Russell: --- don’t say it quite that way because it’s not true. I mean what you’re
saying is what we’ve got is a quesstimate now that’s ---
Mr. Guilfoyle: Okay.
Mr. Russell: --- that’s $8 million dollars to where we need to be at the end of the day.
Nothing short about it I mean we haven’t made those decisions but that’s what we’re here to do
is try to do that.
Mr. Guilfoyle: We got to end up with a balanced budget ---
Mr. Russell: Yes, sir.
Mr. Guilfoyle: --- okay that’s where this body needs your help as well because we’ve
been, I don’t think this body voted or put something on the agenda that we voted on to expel a lot
of money as far as one of our pet projects.
Mr. Russell: Well, I’m not ---
Mr. Guilfoyle: Anyway what I’m asking you to do is reach out to your staff, show us
ways from your ideas of saving money, please.
Mr. Russell: I understand.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, we have a motion that’s been made and properly seconded.
Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign.
Motion passes 9-0.
Mr. Mayor: With no further business to come before the body we stand adjourned.
[MEETING ADJOURNED]
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Nancy W. Morawski
Deputy 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 15, 2013.
____________________________________
Clerk of Commission
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