HomeMy WebLinkAboutRegular Commission Meeting March 4, 2014
REGULAR MEETING COMMISSION CHAMBER
MARCH 4, 2014
Augusta Richmond County Commission convened at 2:00 p.m., March 4, 2014, the Hon.
Corey Johnson, Mayor Pro Tem presiding.
PRESENT: Hons. Lockett, Guilfoyle, Mason, D. Smith, Williams, Fennoy, Jackson,
Davis and G. Smith, members of Augusta Richmond County Commission.
Absent: Hon. Deke Copenhaver, Mayor.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: All right, I’d like to call the meeting to order.
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: I’d like to call on Rev. Andy Menger, Assistant Rector, Church of
the Good Shepherd for our invocation. Please stand.
The invocation was given by the Reverend Andy Menger, Assistant Rector, Church of
the Good Shepherd.
The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America was recited.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you for that invocation, Reverend. We do have a token from the
Mayor’s office for you. By these present be in known that Rev. Andy Menger, Assistant Rector,
Church of the Good Shepherd, is Chaplain of the Day for his civic and spiritual guidance
demonstrated throughout the community. Serves as an example for all of the faith community.
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Given unto my hand this 4 of March 2014. Deke Copenhaver, Mayor. Madam Clerk, we do
have an item to be added?
The Clerk: Yes, sir, we do. Did you want to do the recognitions first?
Mr. Mayor: Yeah, we can. We can go on and do that first the employee of the month.
The Clerk: That’s correct.
RECOGNITIONS
Employee of the Month
A. Congratulations! Ms. Avis Brown, Code Enforcement Officer, Environmental Services
Department as the March 2014 Employee of the Month.
The Clerk: And while she’s coming forward I’ll read the accolade. The Employee
Recognition Committee has selected Avis Brown as the March 2014 Employee of the Month for
the City of Augusta. Ms. Brown is a Code Enforcement Officer of the Environmental Services
Department where she has been employed since October of 1999. She was nominated by Laurie
Videtto. Avis Brown recently demonstrated what a caring employee can do. In the aftermath of
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the ice storm she was assigned to work long days often ties alone at the sites where the storm
debris was being staged. This involved managing the location, answering questions, assisting
citizens, handling the placement of the debris, completing documentation of the trucks dumping
and directing those drivers where to dump the materials. Ms. Brown handled these tasks
flawlessly and even took the initiative to provide support at other locations. Representative of
Avis’ leading by example style and not waiting to be asked attitude when she was provided with
a break from the drop off location to return and perform some of her regular tasks she took time
to go again back and support her fellow staff members at the drop off locations. She covered
lunch breaks and other needs without having to be asked to do so. Avis knows what to do and
does it well. One of the key tasks that had occurred at the debris drop off locations was to keep
the debris stacked neatly in order to maximize space and allow trucks to get in and out easily.
Instead of waiting for an equipment operator to come each day to push and pile the material up
Ms. Brown took the time to learn how to run the front end loader stationed at her location. She
saw an opportunity to learn saw an opportunity to save time and money and jumped right in.
The equipment operator that was saved from having to drive across town multiple times per day
to move the material was then able to be reassigned to clearing debris from neighborhood streets.
Avis Brown exhibits what resourcefulness, initiative and an unselfish employee can accomplish
to the betterment of their department and their community. The Employee Recognition
Committee felt that based on this nomination and Ms. Brown’s service above and beyond we
would appreciate you joining us in recognizing her as the March 2014 Employee of the Month.
(APPLAUSE)
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: I’ll tell you that was awesome. We knew we had some great
employees working on behalf of the citizens of this county during the ice storm and this is just a
testament to show that we have some folks who really go beyond measures to do what is
necessary to help when it’s necessary. But we have a letter from the Office of the Mayor. Dear
Ms. Brown. On behalf of the City of Augusta it is with great pleasure that I congratulate for
being recognized as Employee of the Month for March 2014. Your contribution to your
organization and Augusta Richmond County Government and the citizens of Augusta has earned
you this recognition. And I appreciated your willingness to go beyond, above and beyond the
call of duty and your outstanding work ethic. You are truly an asset to the Environmental
Services Department and the citizens of Richmond County. Please accept this personal
congratulations on your wonderful award. You are truly deserving of it. Sincerely yours, Deke
Copenhaver, Mayor. (APPLAUSE) All right, Mr. Chairman of Environmental Services, would
you like to say anything?
Mr. Jackson: No, just thank you very much.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: All right and Ms. Brown, how about you?
Ms. Brown: Well, I will thank Jehovah God for this opportunity and I thank my
department heads Mark and Lori for recognizing me and for working at the best department in
Augusta Richmond County, Environmental Services.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Well, we have some more hardware here for you, a little token
here. Congratulations again.
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Ms. Brown: Thank you.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you. Okay, Madam Clerk, if we could move on to our
delegations please.
The Clerk:
DELEGATIONS
B. Mr. Jimmy Smith regarding SPLOST. (Requested by Commissioner Wayne Guilfoyle)
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Guilfoyle.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Thank you, Mr. Mayor Pro Tem. Can we remove Item B off of the
delegation please?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Yeah, I guess. Mr. Attorney, do we need to a motion to remove
this item?
Mr. MacKenzie: You don’t need to have a motion as long as there’s consensus
(inaudible).
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, we’re good. Okay, we’ll move on to item ‘C’.
The Clerk:
DELEGATIONS
C. Ms. Maggie Douglas regarding traffic and safety issues on Highland Ave. (Requested by
Commissioner Mary Davis)
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, Ms. Douglas? Come up and state your name and address for
the record.
Ms. Douglas: My name is Maggie Douglas.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: And your address?
Ms. Douglas: 2710 Hillcrest Avenue.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay and keep it to five minutes.
Ms. Douglas: All right. We passed out a diagram; I hope ya’ll got it down here. And on
the diagram that you’re going to look at you’ll see the highlighted area that’s become a very
dangerous area for pedestrian’s motorists. Since January of 2009 there have been 100 accidents
on Highland Avenue between the area of Walton Way and Central according to the Richmond
County Police Department reports just within the past five years. Our family personally
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experienced our 17 year old daughter being hit trying to cross Highland on Hillcrest Avenue
around the hour of 3:00 p.m. Her car was totaled and two passengers were taken by ambulance
to be treated at University Hospital. A few years later our six year old was struck by a car in the
same manner when walking home with his older brother from school. He spent four days at
MCG two of which were in the Pediatric ICU being treated for a head injury. I can’t begin to tell
you how devastating it is to see your child lie lifeless in the street not to awaken until several
hours after the accident. This stretch between Central and Walton Way is all residential. It’s
bordered by GRU, St. Mary’s School, Richmond Academy, Episcopal Day School, Aquinas
High School, Lake Forest and Monte Santo. There are approximately 450 plus homes within the
area between Arsenal and Lake Forest and Central and Walton Way. Other stretches of
Highland Avenue and Berckman Road are broken up by traffic lights but don’t have near the
congested area of residents. In the past few years ASU now GRU has added dormitories a field
house, a basketball gymnasium on Wrightsboro Road and GRU students travel back and forth to
which has increased the amount of traffic in this area on Highland Avenue. This traffic along
with Aquinas, St. Mary’s, Richmond Academy, Lake Forest, Langford and the hour of
convening and dismissals has increased the chance of pedestrian and car accidents on Highland
Avenue in this residential area. The danger of accidents not only present during these hours but
also people rushing home from work in the late afternoon and evening. Highland Avenue is
treated by many as an expressway with no regard to the speed limit of 35 mph and no respect
that this is a residential area with many families and children present. We don’t live far off
Highland Avenue and we can hear the car engines roar as they turn off Walton Way heading to
Central Avenue with nothing to stop them until they reach Central Avenue. And many speed
down Walton Way to catch the light before it turns on Walton Way. Presently following Kevin’s
accident a pedestrian crosswalk was installed. This only offers false confidence to pedestrians
since the law is you’ve got to step in the street before they stop and they attempt to, you know
it’s a false confidence. Motorists rarely stop much less slow down to allow pedestrians to cross.
They often throw their hands up in the air in confusion when a person is courageous enough to
walk into the street. As you can see over 200 petitions we have signed just this past weekend on
a short notice that I would be able to speak. One to two days collecting and not able to reach
everyone. There is a desire and desperate need to increase safety on Highland Avenue. The 450
plus households in the area would greatly appreciate this matter on safety to be taken seriously
and actions to follow. We can request a four way stop and ground reflectors to highlight the
stop. We understand that much thought goes into traffic control and there are guidelines but
areas change, populations change and change is a part of life. We trust that our engineers and
leaders of our great Augusta community will put the safety of lives first in this matter. And we
also trust that they will place the best option here on Highland Avenue to control the speed in
which cars travel by viewing this to allow our residential area to function as such and offer our
residents confidence and safety when crossing Highland Avenue. As a permanent lawyer here in
Augusta Pat Rice recently told me I would stop any day for an extra few minutes to insure the
safety of a child. It would be a great tragedy to wait until someone dies to take action. The
numbers are clear. Please we beg you, make traffic on Highland Avenue slow down be it a four
way stop, a traffic signal or some kind of speed bumps (unintelligible) anything to make traffic
slow down and Highland Avenue safer for everyone.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you. Commissioner Davis.
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Ms. Davis: Thank you. Maggie, thank you and Pat for being here today. I know that
this has been a concern of theirs for many years and they had talked to our previous
Commissioner in their district Commissioner as well as me and I know that you know Steve
Cassell and I have gone out to Highland and tried to see the visibility in that area so I’m very
familiar with it. Of course I drive it every day. I agree that the blinking light isn’t doing its job
because when you’re out there no one even pays any attention to it. So I don’t know if, Steve
and I have had many conversations so I was going to see if you could come up here and give us
the latest analysis of what the options are.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Mr. Cassell.
Mr. Cassell: Yeah, we looked at Highland Avenue over the years. I met with Ms.
Douglas several times (inaudible). The area that she’s talking about was that she wanted a four
way at Bellevue and Highland. There’s only certain types of accidents that are correctible by a
four way stop (unintelligible). Most of the accidents we found on Highland Avenue were rear
ends. There are some angle accidents out there. We had two there in the last few years. We’ve
looked at Bellevue I think we’ve had seven total accidents at Bellevue over the last two years.
Highland at Helen Street we had two and McDowell one, well actually one in each area so we
had two. Most of these were rear ends. We also looked at Central Avenue. This is where we
had it at all the signalized intersections and Central got a signal. Here’s the accidents at Central.
A signal does not correct everything. Roundabouts actually work really well. We don’t have the
right of way for it. I put the rapid flasher out there. I put a flasher out at the crosswalk. I’d like
to upgrade that to a rapid flasher which is a little more pedestrian actuated. In addition to that
we’ve got some sight distance issues with the mature trees. To identify the other issue is when
school lets out you know when I was out there with Commissioner Davis I know traffic backs up
from Walton Way to Bellevue. So what’s happening is people are trying to turn left out of
Bellevue kind of have a sight distance issue. I have signal upgrade project along Walton Way.
It’s actually under design right now. It should be under construction in the next two years. I can
do a lot more with that signal once I get it to the modern technology. What I want to look at is
time of day, have some plans to really keep that side street cleared so we don’t have a sight
distance but in addition to that we really need to look at removing some trees, bringing up the
sight distance and then also have a pedestrian actuated rapid flasher. You know the flashing
light it becomes, it’s just like everything else it becomes a part of the scenery. So if we get
something pedestrian actuated with a rapid flasher sensor light it gets more attention. And it’ll
show a lot more success than the typical flasher and it’s the scenario I would recommend.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: We have Commissioner Fennoy, Commissioner Williams and then
Commissioner Donnie Smith.
Mr. Fennoy: First of all I’d like to say I’m very grateful for bringing your concerns
before the Commission. And I’m sorry that your children were involved in accidents in those
areas. I guess my question to Mr. Cassell is that is the same amount of traffic on Monte Santo is
nothing like (unintelligible).
Mr. Cassell: Yeah, Highland Avenue is really, you know it’s a leg in an arterial street,
really begins at Berckman Drive at Washington and it cuts all the way down to Deans Bridge
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Road and ends at Highland. And then it turns into Wheeless on the other side of Gordon
Highway. And it’s really the only north south side connection between Washington Road and
Deans Bridge Road so there is a lot of commuter traffic. You know there’s no doubt there’s
eight to nine thousand vehicles a day out there. I don’t dispute that there’s just a lot of traffic out
there though I do dispute whether it’s a residential street. It’s an arterial street and they’re
designed to carry traffic. You start throwing four way stops out there stopping 8,000 vehicles a
day when you look at the side streets on Bellevue it’s very light. People are going to start
disregarding that stop sign. You will start to see an increase in accidents and probably severe
accidents. Somebody comes up on Bellevue expecting somebody to stop that’s used to running a
stop sign. It’s not a perfect solution. You know if you want to do anything I would rather you
put a signal there instead of a stop sign. It’s going to be a $250,000 dollars investment is what
you’re looking at right now. It will require a lot of trees to be removed for a four way stop but
you know that’s what we’re here for. I mean I’ve looked at several things. I mean unfortunately
we try to get (unintelligible) the best thing to do is nothing. You know I’ve looked at the
accident numbers and I mean I can show you several intersections that are a lot worse than what
you’re looking at out here. Out there during peak times of school I’m not seeing some of the
issues that I’ve been told. You know they were stopping for me when I was trying to get into the
crosswalk. You know I’m not disputing this. We are dealing with children and I’m just not
seeing a lot of what I’ve been told.
Mr. Fennoy: A presence by the Sheriff’s Department in that area, would that help to
decrease the number of accidents that occur?
Mr. Cassell: Enforcement is always your first key whether it be the speed limit and you
know or stop sign. That would be the key. And I would also suggest that possibly consider
talking about one of the schools in the areas about funding a crossing guard. You it would cost
to put a pedestrian there. It is the heaviest traveled route by the school. You know the stop sign
is going to be there 24/7. It’s only needed during certain periods of time. I heard there’s a noise
issue with people pealing out. You’re going to get a lot of that with a four way stop I can tell
you. It’s going to get worse. They’re going to stop unnecessarily you’re going to hear gunning
the engines all night. Ask me why they’re doing it all that’s another thing but you know I think
if we can make the pedestrians more visible with the rapid flasher. You know we kind of want to
do a step process but you know right now I mean the number of accidents I’m seeing they’re just
not there.
Mr. Fennoy: What about a sign along that stretch that says watch out for children or, I
mean, would that?
Mr. Cassell: Well, the Children at Play signs are from the eighties as kind of, you don’t
do those since 1987. It kind of gives the impression that the kids can play in the road and we
don’t want that. We do have pedestrian warning signs with flashers. We actually have a
pedestrian symbol in the road. We have the crosswalk (inaudible). But like I said with the rapid
flasher will bring more attention to when a pedestrian is actually present because it has two heads
on it. I wish I’d have brought a picture of one. It’s had a tremendous amount of success with
that.
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Mr. Fennoy: And that would be your recommendation?
Mr. Cassell: Yes.
Mr. Fennoy: Okay. Thank you.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Williams then Commissioner Donnie Smith then
Commissioner Guilfoyle.
Mr. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor Pro Tem. Steve, while you were there I heard you
mention the trees. I talked about those trees and (unintelligible) for a long time, that’s the old
trees.
Mr. Cassell: Right.
Mr. Williams: Can anything we do to trim them back to give some vision along there to
help? I heard the Commissioner talk about the Sheriff’s presence. So that would be up to the
Sheriff being out there. I don’t think the street is wide enough to have a car stationed somewhere
along there. But I’m concerned about the low hanging limbs that there, trees going over the curb
a long time. They’re old trees and they’re beautiful but with the ice and other stuff I’m thinking
we need to replant and change up. But my question to you is you’re an engineer, can we trim
back and leave a clear view so people can see so we can maybe get a license number or
something to help out? That’s the only thoroughfare you said coming from Washington Road
over to Gordon Highway on that side because people use it quite frequently so --
Mr. Cassell: Right. We removed two trees just in that immediate area to try to free up the
sight distance for that crosswalk. People were coming from the south headed north
(unintelligible) in the crosswalk. The tree issue, you know, over attrition over the years, I don’t
know, the tree crew has been reduced down to one four man crew, basically requested funding
every year. But we had a tree contract under the previous SPLOST. We exhausted that money.
We’re looking at a future SPLOST to provide more tree money. The tree management is an
issue in this town as you probably saw three weeks ago but we can prune. We’ve pruned there
before. Spring’s coming we’ll going to be able to prune again. Our urban forest is
(unintelligible) and you’re right, there’s replanting effort in Lake Forest over there but to answer
your question we can do some pruning.
Mr. Williams: And I guess we need to try to find a way to do something. It’s too late
after you lose any person and stuff like that. Accidents happen every day but we need to do all
we can. I hear you say about the funding. We talk about monies all the time but we find money
for what we want to find money for. And I think that’s something we need to look at just the
road we have the right of way to widen the road to do anything of that nature because it’s an old
neighborhood that we couldn’t and it would be really costly to do that. So I think the best thing
to do is to make it as clear as open as possible so we can see. I guess my next question is has
anybody talked with the Sheriff’s Department to see if they can get somebody to ride through, to
have a presence?
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Mr. Cassell: We’ve touched base with them over the years. They have limited resources.
They just dedicate one street for a while. They’re kind of (unintelligible). Yeah, we’ve reached
out to them (inaudible).
Mr. Williams: Okay, that’s all.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay. Commissioner Donnie Smith then Commissioner Guilfoyle
and Commissioner Mason.
Mr. D. Smith: Thank you, Mr. Pro Tem. Mr. Cassell, a hundred accidents over five year
period means 20 a year which is one about every two and a half weeks. And we’re not talking
about we don’t know whether those are occurring at Highland and Wrightsboro or whether
they’re occurring at Highland and Walton Way or Long and Mill. So to me that seems a little bit
skewed because we really don’t know. But one of my concerns or should be concerned about is
that maybe we should put a no left turn out of the side streets out of this neighborhood which I
think would help because that would stop some people pulling out in front of other folks
(unintelligible) and then we were to be able to put some signage up and some enforcement
practice about commercial trucks. Truck traffic along there, you know we limit the size and
weight of commercial vehicles in the old county prior us being consolidated because of the
weight load on roads and once we became incorporated and became a consolidated government
those weight limits went out on county roads. To some extent we need to stop trucks that are
over 50,000 pounds for using Brown Road for instance and some others and so on and so on. So
you know since I’ve been in law enforcement for thirty years I ---
Mr. Cassell: I was (unintelligible) over six wheels is actually the limit.
Mr. D. Smith: So if we could, it would take an action by this government to limit truck
traffic. And I’m specifically talking about no trucks, large trucks like that that are using it as a
cut through because it is the only north/south route over to Bobby Jones and Jackson Road that
comes between the west side headed south. What’s your thought on this?
Mr. Cassell: I would take caution in running the trucks because they’ve got to go
somewhere because they’ve got a destination south. They (inaudible) use Monte Santo.
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Really what they want to use is 15 Street. If we’re going to do it on one road we’ve got to do it
on all of them. Like I said it is an arterial designed to carry heavy traffic but we can definitely
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look at (unintelligible). 15 Street would obviously be the best route.
Mr. D. Smith: And Jackson Road because it’s wide and it goes into four lanes down
there at Wrightsboro and it dumps out on the Gordon Highway so we could move some of that
commercial truck traffic off of there because many days I commute back and forth through there
during my regular course of employment and then when I come to Commission I see trucks
coming from Washington Road from Sibley going from one direction to the next and they get
down there to Highland and Walton Way which is that offset intersection and they get stuck half
in and half out and block up traffic in the afternoon and that’s rather irritating. That’s two
thoughts for me is that we stop left turns out of those neighborhoods which I think would be a
good idea and then the second part is maybe we go see the schools, you know, GRU is always
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looking for an opportunity to police somewhere and put them over there as a crosswalk guard in
the morning time and in the afternoon. We don’t need somebody there 24/7 but certainly when
school is out. If we can’t, if the Sheriff can fund a crossing guard program maybe we can go
partner with GRU. These are my thoughts. I appreciate your time, Steve.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Guilfoyle and Commissioner Mason.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Steve, I was listening to what you said but I think I heard Ms. Douglas
speaking about, you know, with 8,000 vehicles that ride up and down Highland Avenue every
day (unintelligible) mostly children that’s going to these public schools having to cross Highland
Avenue (unintelligible). But really in Ms. Douglas’ words in one day she had two hundred
residents sign a petition that there were two hundred residents (unintelligible).
Mr. Cassell: I’ve had several calls against it.
Mr. Guilfoyle: In one day two hundred residents signed it. So her main concern is one,
safety for the children just not only her child but for all of them. Two, for the residents getting
on to both sides of Highland Avenue and three is the speeding. In that five-block section we’ve
got to figure a way to slow the vehicles down. That’s where we need your help.
Mr. Cassell: That gets into enforcement. Even if you wanted to do speed bumps
(inaudible)
Mr. Guilfoyle: But the four way stop sign (inaudible) I heard that real quick. I like Mr.
Smith’s idea about no left turns.
Mr. Cassell: I think the rapid flasher is the new technology. It’s a lot easier to
(inaudible).
Mr. Guilfoyle: The only thing I don’t want to see is a parent coming in here because they
lost their child.
Mr. Cassell: We’ve had that, Commissioner Jackson (inaudible) a week prior to
(inaudible) Plantation Road. It’s never easy to read the reports; it’s even harder to
(unintelligible).
Mr. Guilfoyle: It’s hard to look at a mother in the face. This has been going on for two
years; I had spoken to you about this and that’s where that flasher came up (unintelligible). Like
you said it became part of the scenery.
Mr. Cassell: That’s where the technology (unintelligible). It has shown tremendous
success all over the country.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Maybe you can come up with some ideas from your past experience to
slow this traffic down. It would be great for all the residents (inaudible).
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Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: All right. Commissioner Mason.
Mr. Mason: Thank you, Mr. Mayor Pro Tem. Steve, can you step to the left just for one
second there? Ms. Douglas, I just want to say I empathize with your situation there. I certainly
heard you voice and understand that safety’s paramount. I believe that’s what you’re looking
for. Steve, at the end of the day quite frankly the day that you went out there this could’ve been
a good day and then all days are good days but obviously there’s been some bad news. The
question becomes in my mind whether we’ll be proactive or reactive to a situation. I want to try
and come to some solution here as much as we possibly can. I don’t think it’s going to happen
right here today but I think we need to put a path forward on how we’re going to get to where we
need to go. I’ve heard a number of accidents what it actually is out to and how many weeks and
all that. I’ve heard you talk about residential versus arterial roads and we know that Highland is
more arterial than it is a residential. It’s meant to move traffic. So we do have to keep that in
mind as we’re making a decision. Commissioner Smith brought up what is a possible I won’t
necessarily say a solution because I don’t know that there’s an absolute solution to anything as it
relates to traffic but you want to get as close well make sure you’re dotting your ‘I’s and crossing
your ‘T’s as much as possible as it relates to safety because that’s my number one concern. So,
Donnie, no left turns out of there is certainly a possible solution. And I witnessed that road quite
a bit there’s a lot of truck traffic and it’s meant to do that so I want to make sure that those
residents and citizens understand that that is an arterial road. You may think it’s a residential
road but by our standards it is an arterial road. Steve, on my saddle here isn’t there some sort of
something in the road that kind of restricts how fast you go down that road (unintelligible) or a
little circular?
Mr. Cassell: There’s some crosswalks down there that’s really a school essential. That is
why that is carried throughout that side. And we had Monte Santo ---
Mr. Mason: What kind of road are you considering on Monte Santo?
Mr. Cassell: Monte Santo is (inaudible).
Mr. Mason: Okay, so you wouldn’t consider that arterial or anything like that from that
perspective.
Mr. Cassell: (Inaudible).
Mr. Mason: Okay, so we need to hear, what I see here in a nut shell we’ve got to I don’t
know, Mayor, if maybe we can, Steve, if you can look at three options of what it is that we can
do potentially do in the particular case we heard. Top of left turn, we heard a talk this double
flasher, we heard a request for a four way stop and I’m seeing your face but at the end of the day
I just want you to present something to us that are potential options or preferential options or no
options at all so that we can really address this the way it needs to. This is on the agenda today is
not really being addressed the way that we need to be. We need time to make sure that we are
doing what we need to do. But at the same time we want to give it the time that it deserves
because all it takes is one person to be affected for it to be a serious issue. And clearly at least
one person has been affected and so we can’t you know totally disregard that. So I don’t ---
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Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Do you want to make a motion?
Mr. Mason: --- I will make a motion that we, Steve, if you could come with three
potential options of what we can do. What kind of time ---
Ms. Davis: I was going to add to your motion.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Davis.
Ms. Davis: Also with a funding source?
Mr. Mason: Yes, a funding source.
Yes, absolutely, we got to put you to work. Don’t
tell me now but come and do your homework. So it’s easy to say we can but I want to hear
somebody say you know what is possible.
Mr. Cassell: Okay.
Mr. Mason: You take that ‘T’ off of can’t you got can.
Ms. Davis: Commissioner Mason, I’ll just ask for one more please. Steve, are you
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bringing that back to the 24 to committee?
comfortable with
Mr. Cassell: Actually it’s pretty much 2 ½ weeks. I mean I got a new hire that’s
(inaudible).
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: So, Commissioner Mason, you made that a motion?
Ms. Davis: I’ll second it.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay. We have a motion and a second. Commissioner Lockett.
Mr. Lockett: Thank you, Mr. Mayor Pro Tem. All I want to say is I’m very supportive
of your request. I thought that it would be terrible if everybody else here said something and I
didn’t say anything. I didn’t want ya’ll to feel I wasn’t concerned but I am but almost everything
else has been said. So I’ll just say I support ya’ll, okay?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: And just for the record we all up here are concerned with your
numbers and we’re definitely going to do what we can to make everybody safe, okay? Thank
you all. We do have a motion and a second on the floor. If there’s no further business, can we,
no further questions can we vote by the usual sign of voting please?
Motion Passes 10-0.
Mr. Mason: Mr. Mayor Pro Tem?
11
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Yes, Commissioner Mason.
Mr. Mason: I just want to make sure that Ms. Douglas and their crew understand what’s
happening from this point and if not, the Administrator or a designated rep can ---
Ms. Davis: I’ll tell them.
Mr. Mason: Oh you’re tell them, okay, Mary. Okay. Fantastic I just wanted to make
sure what we all did what that means moving forward.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Absolutely. Okay, Madam Clerk, I think, Mr. Attorney I think we
have a need for a short brief legal meeting?
LEGAL MEETING
A. Pending and Potential Litigation.
B. Real Estate.
C. Personnel.
Mr. MacKenzie: Yes, a very short legal meeting. I have outside counsel here for one
case that shouldn’t take long.
Mr. MacKenzie: I entertain a motion to go into a closed meeting to discuss pending and
potential litigation and personnel.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, can I get a motion to that effect?
Mr. Fennoy: So moved.
Ms. Davis: Second.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, we’ve got a proper motion and a second. No further
discussion. Vote by the usual sign of voting.
Mr. Guilfoyle out.
Motion Passes 9-0.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: We’re now in legal.
[LEGAL MEETING]
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: I’ll call the meeting back to order. Mr. Attorney?
17. Motion to authorize execution by the Mayor of the affidavit of compliance with
Georgia’s Open Meeting Act.
12
Mr. MacKenzie: I would entertain a motion made to execute the Closed Meeting
Affidavit.
Mr. Mason: So moved.
Mr. Fennoy: Second.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: We have a proper motion and a second. Any further discussion?
Okay, now vote by the usual sign of voting.
Mr. Guilfoyle out.
Motion Passes 9-0.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: All right, Madam Clerk ---
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: --- we have one consent item ---
The Clerk: Yes, sir the ---
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: --- to be added to the consent agenda.
The Clerk: Yes, sir, the Addendum item is to abandon, it’s for the abandonment of a
th
portion of Telfair Lane. This was actually approved by Engineering Services on the 24 and it
was inadvertently omitted from the consent agenda by our office.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, do we have unanimous consent to add it on the consent
agenda?
Mr. Williams: You did not have because Nancy just explained how it got off. I know to
do that, I think the Clerk did an outstanding job with what we got. I’m really against adding
anything but since she explained how it got left off so you have ---
Mr. Mason: Permission.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you for that Mr. Williams. Thank you, Madam Clerk.
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Yeah, he gave permission. Yeah, everybody consented. Yeah
everybody consented to add to the consent so we’re good on that. Okay, Madam Clerk, we do
have a consent agenda.
The Clerk: Yes, sir, we do. Items 1-7 and I don’t believe we have any Planning or
Alcohol petitions in this group so that’s 1-7.
13
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: All right. And including the consent ---
The Clerk: Yes, sir, including that consent item, right.
Mr. Mayor: All right, can we have a motion to approve the consent agenda?
Mr. D. Smith: So moved.
Mr. Lockett: No, no, you haven’t given us the opportunity to pull anything.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: I’m sorry. Do we have any items to be pulled from the consent
agenda? We only have seven items so I don’t ---
Mr. Lockett: I don’t need to pull all of them. I just need clarification on number four.
Number four was confusing at the last meeting because I asked the Clerk several times. I had an
agenda item and Commissioner Jackson made a substitute motion on my agenda item and I
thought his substitute motion was acceptable and I said I agree with it. And I was under the
impression that there was unanimous consent on the substitute motion that Commissioner
Jackson made. Now if I’m in error I wish somebody would correct it. Commissioner Jackson?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Jackson, do you want to reply to that?
Mr. Williams: Mr. Mayor Pro Tem, are we going to pull or we going to discuss it now?
Are we going to pull it?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: No, he actually was trying to get some clarity on it. And I think he
was just going to go ahead and move with it.
Mr. Lockett: If he’s not ready, Mr. Mayor Pro Tem ---
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Do you want to pull it?
Mr. Lockett: --- pull it yeah.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay. All right, we’ll pull item four. Do we have, Commissioner
Williams?
Mr. Williams: I’d like to have item pulled five so we can discuss that too.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay so items four and five. Any other items? Do we have any to
be added to the consent agenda?
Mr. Lockett: I’ve got several I’d like to add but I don’t think I’ll get unanimous support.
Mr. Jackson: Throw them out there, Bill.
14
Mr. Lockett: Eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: We don’t have any to be added to consent?
Ms. Davis: Mr. Mayor Pro Tem?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Yes, Commissioner Davis.
Ms. Davis: Item 13.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Do we have consent to add 13 to the consent agenda?
Mr. D. Smith: I can explain that if somebody wants me to.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: For the Fire Department?
Mr. D. Smith: Correct.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: (Inaudible).
Mr. D. Smith: It’s for the fire trucks. When they ordered they needed this amount of
money.
Mr. Lockett: That’s all in our packet. The whole thing.
CONSENT AGENDA
PUBLIC SERVICES
1. Motion to approve the selection and contract between Avfuel Corporation and the
Augusta Regional Airport as approved by the Augusta Aviation Commission at their
January 30, 2014 meeting. (Approved by Public Services Committee February 24, 2014)
2. Motion to approve the Customer Charge (CFC) Ordinance as approved by the Augusta
Aviation Commission at their December 19, 2013 meeting. (Approved by the Commission
February 18, 2014 – second reading.
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
3. Motion to approve the Housing and Community Development Department (on behalf of
Augusta, Georgia) to execute Indemnification Agreement with the Augusta, Georgia Land
Bank Authority related to Retention Pond for the Auber @ Barton Chapel Rental Housing
Project. (Approved by Administrative Services Committee February 24, 2014)
FINANCE
6. Motion to approve award of Construction Contract to Beam’s Contracting, Inc., in the
amount of $1,328,099.80 for GDOT LMIG funded resurfacing projects, subject to receipt
of signed contracts an proper bonds as requested by AED. Bid 13-197 (Approved by
Engineering Services Committee February 24, 2014)
15
PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS
7. Motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of the Commission held February
18, 2014 and Special Called Meeting held February 24, 2014.
PUBLIC SAFETY
13. The Augusta Fire Department is requesting and adjustment of $64,769 for Bid Item
#13-187A, P232653. For informational purposes.
ADDENDUM
16. Motion to determine that Telfair Lane, as shown on the attached plat has ceased to be
used by the public to the extent that no substantial public purpose is served by it or that its
removal from the county road system is otherwise in the best public interest, and to receive
as information the results of the public hearing held regarding the issue of abandonment
pursuant to O.C.G.A §32-7-2, with the abandoned property to be quit-claimed to the
appropriate party(ies), as provided by law and an easement to be retained over the entire
abandoned portion for existing or future utilities as directed by Augusta Engineering
Department and Augusta Utilities Department and adopt the attached Resolution.
(Requested by Augusta Law Department)
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: All right we do have item 13 added to the consent. Any others?
All right, can we have a motion to approve the consent agenda?
Mr. Lockett: So moved.
Mr. Mason: Second.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: All right we have a motion and a second. Any further discussion?
Okay, now vote by the usual sign of voting.
Mr. Guilfoyle out.
Motion Passes 9-0. [Items 1-3, 6, 7, 13, 16]
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, Madam Clerk, we can since we have people waiting for,
we’ll go ahead and take item 15 and then we’ll go back into the usual order.
The Clerk:
ENGINEERING SERVICES
15. An update from Storm Debris Removal Contract regarding cost per cubic yard and
local participation. (Requested by Commissioner Joe Jackson)
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: All right. Commissioner Jackson.
Mr. Jackson: Thank you, Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Steve and Abie and I guess AshBritt and
Leidos, I just wanted to get an update. We’ve never been through this before about where we’re
16
at where we’re moving forward, participation, finishing up just kind of a whole review and so the
public knows what we’re doing and we’re trying to move in a most studious manner out there.
Mr. Cassell: We’ve got to get Ralph Natale with Leidos and he’ll give an update on their
monitoring activities and what they’ve seen out there as far as part of their removal activities.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: All right.
Mr. Natale: I’m Ralph Natale, Director of Operations from Leidos. We’re the
sponsoring recovery division. I’ll give a brief overview and if you have any questions, please
interrupt me. We’ll go over what has been done so far projection of the future schedule and
where we currently are. Current resources, AshBritt has 57 (inaudible) containers out in the field
right now, 37 cutting crews, nine more are expected to be added today. Below that you’ll see a
chart with the ramp up of crews as we went through the last four/five days. Leidos has taken in
290 local applications. We processed those applications and hired 183 of those local employees.
We have 118 working today. We are averaging about 92 employees a day and expect it to
increase with the addition of new trucks. Currently the collection has been 72,000 and change.
That’s cubic yards and that’s all at the fairgrounds site. They have cut almost 6,000 trees. And
in addition to those numbers today 10,000 more cubic yards have been collected and 1,000 more
trees have been cut. Below is the, and I’ll leave a copy of this PowerPoint for anyone that wants
to look at. Below is the production by day (unintelligible) and the ramp up. I will say that this
level is probably expected for the next seven days or so in which case the amount of collection
will be dependent on stuff coming to the curb. So it will decrease and so will the level of the
stuff in the trucks for this project. The live feed of what has happened, what is currently
happening. This is the where all the trucks are throughout the county and where they’re
working. I will show you what’s been collected so far. These are the areas that have been
collected. The greens are dots where the trucks have stopped and actually taking stuff off the
road. As far as, basically we’re looking at another week to finish out. I’ll go over this in the
next slide, another week to finish out collection of the debris on the first pass and three more
weeks to finish up the project. Here are the trees that have been cut. The bulk of the work is
where there’s more I mean the southern part of the county has wider roads and less roads. There
are all the cuts that have been done so far. If anyone wants to play with this live feed just let me
know and I’ll give you access to it. So the Engineering Department, Leidos and AshBritt have
gotten together and put together this three phase approach. It’s industry best practice, it’s the
most efficient way of completing this project. Right now we’re in Phase One our initial
collection to insure that we touch every resident once to allow them to either bring more debris
to the right of way and for the upcoming weeks while Phase One is being completed, cutting
crews are going out to address the hazardous trees. Phase Two will be a continuation of the cut
crews working and more debris as it comes out to the right of way from residents. Phase Two
will be completed when an announcement, eventually there’s going to be an announcement with
the date of last pass, your last chance to get debris out to the curb. When that happens and we’ll
leave that day we’ll start a final pass so it’ll be after the cut crews are done cutting those
hazardous trees. We’ll make that pass within 14 days and approach, the actual physical work
will be completed. The audit work will take years and years but (inaudible).
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Mr. Jackson, you still have the floor.
17
Mr. Jackson: Thank you very much for the update. It’s just something we’ve not been
through and it’s such a task at hand I know it’s miniscule to you guys and AshBritt but to us it’s
we’ve got the golf tournament coming up in a couple weeks so thank you for the update on that.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Guilfoyle, sorry Commissioner Fennoy then
Commissioner Williams then Commissioner Lockett and Commissioner Davis in that order.
Mr. Fennoy: You know what would be, I looked at the illustration that you gave about
the various zones but those zones doesn’t mean a whole lot to me because I don’t, I don’t know
what the boundaries are. So in the future what would be helpful for me when you identify zones
if there are major streets that you could, that four or three zones so I could get a better picture of
where you’re working.
Mr. Natale: We have detailed zones now. So if you want them just let me know and
we’ll give you a copy.
Mr. Fennoy: Okay. And I think originally we were talking about anywhere from 30-45
days before this debris is cleaned up. How far, are we on schedule or behind schedule or ahead
of schedule, where are we with the?
Mr. Natale: Yeah, the projected collection rates are happening now. It shows up
completing over 200,000 cubic yards in a few weeks. Now again production will go down and
that timeline will extend but to be honest with you and it’s felt with the Engineering Department
after 80,000 cubic yards have been collected you drive around and it almost looks like more
debris is out there. So I’m not sure if that 250,000 yards estimate was 100% accurate. We’ll see.
It may be more debris than we thought but in terms of our collection rate versus our schedule
we’re on target.
Mr. Fennoy: Okay. All right, thank you.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Williams.
Mr. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Pro Tem. The chart looks good and that was fine. I can
them look (unintelligible) though. But I’ve got some questions that you can’t put them on the
map I guess. And that is how do we get to the contract that we, I mean I’ve got calls from a lot
of folks about what the guideline says and I need the Administrator, the Attorney or somebody to
tell me how we first got to this contract because there’s some guidelines that obviously that
FEMA says that we ought to go by. So I’m trying to figure out how do we get to that point,
that’s the first question to be asked. I know you’re comparing us to Chatham County but
somebody needs to tell me how do we get to this contract with this organization? You might be
able to answer that but somebody else I think would be able to tell us those things. I mean I
don’t care who tells us ---
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Mr. Ladson, I think he may be more equipped to answer first and
foremost.
18
Mr. Ladson: Mr. Mayor, I’m sorry, Mr. Mayor Pro Tem and members of the
Commission when we actually started when the, during the storm when we started we actually
started with local on call and our staff. After about half, during the storm and after the storm we
realized and actually talking to FEMA that we actually needed a consultant. We needed a
consultant for monitoring and we also needed a consultant, a contractor for the debris. So at that
point we were given a certain amount, FEMA gave us a certain amount of time before you can
actually before you go over a certain limit. And we looked at consulting and contractors and
AshBritt and Leidos was one of them and this is one where we felt we we’re going to go by and
it was an emergency. And so that’s how we came about Leidos and AshBritt and thus far ---
Mr. Williams: Abie, I guess I didn’t make my question plain enough. I’m trying to find,
I’m trying to figure out the process that says that any time you spend over $5,000 dollars in
government money you bid it out. Let me (inaudible) so we’re on the same page. I’m trying to
figure out how did we get this particular contract or the contractor to this table without going
through the bid process? And I heard you say it was an emergency. Now in an emergency case
and I called Ms. Allen I said to her that we should have bid and she said we didn’t have time to
go for 60-90 days bid. And I certainly understand that. But we did have time to go out for a
five to ten day bid and I’m trying to figure out did we not get that process done before we hired
out because I’m getting calls and I’m sure you heard some of those calls, I’m sure Ms. Allen had
some conversation because I had some conversations with her about some of the calls that I’ve
gotten about why we didn’t do the bid process. I also heard we had, we used the pattern after
Chatham County, is that right?
Mr. Natale: We used their contract.
Mr. Williams: Okay, you used their contract. Well, tell me how we got to this contract
in the first before I get to my next question. I got another question but I don’t want to get
involved right yet because I’m going to get confused myself. I need you to tell me how we get
there without going in an emergency type situation not 60-90 days for an emergency situation
that we get back in 5-10 days.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: I think that Ms. Sams would probably be more suited to get us
where we need to be on this.
Ms. Sams: Good afternoon Commissioners, Mayor Pro Tem.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, Ms. Sams, you can explain the protocol in this particular
situation here. It was unique but you can explain how we got there.
Ms. Sams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor Pro Tem, for giving me that (unintelligible). As it
relates to this particular contract, Commissioner, the, Augusta looked at the seven sources of
procurement. After reviewing all seven sources it was determined that this was in fact an
emergency procurement and ---
19
Mr. Williams: By who, Ms. Sams? It was determined an emergency situation and we all
agreed. But who determined that?
Ms. Sams: The Governor of Georgia and the Mayor of Augusta, Georgia determined that
is was an emergency, state of emergency. From that and the storm we looked at all seven types
of procurement. And the seven types of procurement for Augusta, Georgia would still be a
process (inaudible) proposals as Special Services “informal” sole source emergency procurement
annual bids. Of the seven which will be the most applicable in this particular situation was an
emergency procurement. And the reason that it was determined for an emergency procurement
is because had we chosen a sealed bid process --
Mr. Williams: Let me stop you right there. I mean you’re not talking about seven bids,
you not talking about best bids you’re not talking about, are we talking about now how we get to
that point and your answer was that the Governor and the Mayor declared an emergency and I
agree with that. I’ve been waiting to get to the point about how we determine because this
governing body should have been the ones to determine whether or not we went out for an
emergency bid process whether it be five or ten million or whether it be a one day or whether it
be no. But I’m trying to find out from you who, who decided that we’re going to emergency bid
for this governing body. Now I know about the Governor, I understand about that. I understand
about the Mayor and I need to know from somebody who made that decision who was not
brought to us. And there was a Called Meeting Friday. I missed that one but I ain’t missed
many of them so I wasn’t here.
Ms. Sams: Okay and thank you for that, Mr. Commissioner. But under the Code, the
Augusta Richmond County Code under Article 6 and the definition of emergency procurement it
so states not withstanding ---
Mr. Williams: Can you put it on the screen?
Ms. Sams: I’ll be happy to. You have on the screen Article 6 Section 1-10-57
Emergency Procurement so that’s your method. And we use that method to go along with the
Mayor and the Governor of Georgia as it relates to emergency procurement. And I’m
paraphrasing but if you consider emergency procurement you have to consider the public health,
welfare and safety as it relates to the citizens of Augusta. Of course with the ice storm being that
severe those were the first things that came to mind. I think also in your question to me was why
didn’t you go out immediately with the process? Do you want me to elaborate on that?
Mr. Williams: I hadn’t got ---
Ms. Sams: Okay.
Mr. Williams: --- you gave me Article 6 Section 1.7 and I understand what statement,
kind of read that (unintelligible) and I understand about the safety. I understand about all of
those things but I’m trying to figure out who gave that authority, who has that authority and this
governing body did not have any input on.
20
Ms. Sams: This particular body if I could answer that would be Ms. Allen ---
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Ms. Allen.
Ms. Allen: If I can clarify and hopefully I’m going to address your question, Mr.
Williams. We actually at that Special Called Meeting brought forth two resolutions. So we did
come before this body before taking any action. The emergency process was part of that
resolution as far as how we were going to get to those two consultants. But ---
Mr. Williams: And I remember that, Ms. Allen. I was here at that meeting when you
brought those resolutions to us. But to the fact that we still didn’t get an approval to, to not go
through the process where we had the opportunity as elected officials (unintelligible) to say well
you know you don’t need to do that. If time didn’t permit and there’s some things that FEMA
required and time didn’t permit that but time certainly did permit it. In fact stuff was still on the
streets we hadn’t got up. And I’m sure we got a lot of stuff up. We’ve got stuff that’s still out
there so it’s not like the emergency had a road block and we couldn’t, the government gave a
warning about the ice storm coming in. We had trucks rolling in here to get the power back on.
Now we got to clean it up. This is after the storm, this is not during the storm. This is after the
storm. So I’m trying to see now how we got to that point of time because I’ve got calls and I
called you about it, Ms. Allen, because I didn’t want to, I done told you the young man I talked
to that I couldn’t elaborate much because I didn’t know very much about it. I wanted to make
sure we done the process right. So I got calls from local haulers who said they was to stop
working, Ms. Sams, and you talked about that. The local haulers said that they some was,
everybody was supposed to stop. Some did and some didn’t. So this is a big elephant. You got
to take one bite at a time. You can’t eat the whole elephant at one time. You got to piece him
one bite at a time.
Ms. Sams: And I agree ---
Mr. Williams: So my bite right now is how we got to that point, who gave that
authorization whether it was the Administrator or the committee, who gave that authorization?
Ms. Sams: The authorization, Mr. Commissioner, to the best of my knowledge was given
through resolution and the resolution adopted contracts that you have before you today.
Mr. Williams: Okay, so I need to get the minutes of the resolution to see what was
presented to us so I can reassure that we approved that we did understand what we’re doing.
Because from what I understand was the resolution was because it was, because the need for the
cleanup was so bad that we were in the process of getting some things done. But now what
you’re saying is we gave an okay to not to do emergency bids. Not just regular bids but
emergency.
Ms. Sams: No, sir. What I’m saying, what let me kind of clarify that for you. I ---
Mr. Williams: I can’t hear because Mr. Smith’s got a conversation down there and I want
him to hear. This is very important and I need to hear what you’re saying.
21
Ms. Sams: Yes, sir. Okay, the resolution adopted the procurement process of those
particular counties. So once you adopted the process of those two counties, those are the
processes that Augusta went under at that time. I heard you say the government disallowed
certain processes. Did I understand you to say that?
Mr. Williams: No, I said the government can allow different process. If we can we had
the authority to grant emergency bids ---
Ms. Sams: Yes sir.
Mr. Williams: --- but you have to do a bid. You just can’t assume that because one
county or another county does it and I had no idea when you brought the resolution that that’s
what we were doing. I thought we needed to do something and it was going to be a process
brought. In fact I thought the process went through, I didn’t know a process until I got these
phone calls. And I’m trying to make sure now that we dotted every ‘I’ and crossed every ‘T’.
I’m not sure now we didn’t that we didn’t go out and do something. I see a lot of out of town
workers up and down our roads. Our local garbage haulers that’s another thing. That elephant is
so big ---
Ms. Sams: Okay.
Mr. Williams: --- even the local haulers are not picking up the stuff they couldn’t pick
up. I don’t see any of that. So I don’t know where we are but when I walk to Kmart or when I
walk to WalMart any of those marts I go to I’m asked questions all day long.
Ms. Sams: Yes, sir.
Mr. Williams: I got phone calls all day and night about what we’re doing.
Ms. Sams: Mr. ---
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Ms. Sams, hold on one second we’ve got two more questions down
here I’d to give them the opportunity to address that. Commissioner Fennoy then Commissioner
Jackson then Commissioner Grady Smith.
Mr. Williams: So let’s clear up about what you’re doing now, Mr. Mayor, because he
said I hadn’t got my questions.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Well we, I’ve given you ample amount of time, Commissioner
Williams, that they wanted to answer, they wanted to ask a few questions as well so of course
you know we’re not in committee so we’ve got a time limit on what we’re doing up here today.
We can always put this back on for committee to have further discussion. But I know they
wanted to ask a few questions.
Mr. Fennoy: My question is for the Attorney.
22
Mr. MacKenzie: Yes, sir.
Mr. Fennoy: Are you familiar with the process that Procurement uses for the ---
Mr. MacKenzie: For Procurement?
Mr. Fennoy: --- for Procurement?
Mr. MacKenzie: Yes sir, very familiar with it.
Mr. Fennoy: Okay, I mean was anything wrong with the process?
Mr. MacKenzie: No. Our department had consultations with both Engineering as well as
Procurement before the procurement was let. All the circumstances were explained by the
department as well as procurement and a decision was made of what would be the best scenario
to present to the Commission as far as options to proceed with this procurement. Because of the
nature of this debris and how wide spread it was and all the safety and health concerns with
getting off the streets immediately and avoiding accidents, traffic issues and all that and the
department could probably speak to that more, it was determined that the best procurement
option under our code utilized with these facts was the emergency provisions within our code
and those were the ones that were presented to the Commission. That was in a Special Called
Meeting. Department explained why we needed to use those provisions rather than use a short
duration procurement or something along those lines. Those were options that were available.
With the resolutions that were presented to the Commission and approved by the Commission
utilization of the Emergency Procurement Procedures were used. That was to adopt procedures
from other jurisdictions who have done a competitive selection process and to select just the
vendors that were the winners of those processes instead of doing a more competitive bid
process. Now I know a lot of the calls y’all are getting are vendors who say hey, you shouldn’t
have done that. By the way I can do it a whole lot cheaper but keep in mind this was an RFP
process that was utilized in both these other jurisdictions. It’s not based solely on prices to
insure you have a qualified vendor that can get it done. Now what FEMA will do is they will
look at whether or not how a procurement code was followed and whether or not the pricing that
was utilized was reasonable. As long as those two factors are okay then I’m not aware of a
single jurisdiction where FEMA funding had been denied even where there was a piggyback
contract which was been utilized with this particular process.
Mr. Fennoy: Okay. And my next question is for Ms. Sams.
Ms. Sams: Yes, sir.
Mr. Fennoy: Ms. Sams, have we gone through the normal procurement process to clean
up the debris? When would somebody have actually been on the street had we gone through the
procurement process? What’s the earliest that we could have gotten somebody out there to pick
up the debris?
23
Ms. Sams: Mr. Commissioner, had I gone through a, and we looked at, we looked at time
because it was considered in essence to this decision we looked at the time. We looked at the
seven procurement methodologies. We took all of that into consideration and had we gone
through a normal process it would have been 40-45 days. Or had we gone through an emergency
process under the public work laws of the state of Georgia and of Augusta, Georgia it so states
that there’s a limited amount of time under the public works contract will be 10-15 days. But of
course in this emergency perhaps it could’ve been ten days. But you still would have had to go
through a process of advertising or bringing it back to this Commission or doing all of the steps
that are required under Public Works regulations. Mr. Fennoy, thank you for that question. If
you can just bear with me just a few minutes I would like to share some information with the
Commission that I like would be very important because the calls that you all are receiving are
from competitive vendors who of course are interested in this contract. And some of the things
that I have been hearing because I have not been receiving those calls it could be an
interpretation of guidelines as opposed to a misstep of the guidelines as it relates to the city of
Augusta. The city of Augusta feels like it has taken the appropriate steps as it relates to the
guidelines, procedures and processes governing this city this state and federal ordinances. And
one of the things that I’d like to share with you as Commissioners, what you’re looking at here
comes directly out of FEMA’s rules and regulations.
Mr. Fennoy: Speak into the mike, please?
Ms. Sams: What you’re looking at here is what some of the vendors has been talking to
you about taken directly out of the FEMA regulations and it so states that it gives the city of
Augusta to invoke its own procurement procedure and process. And that’s what we did. As it
relates to local participation procedures and protocol we invoke that first, we engage in contracts
with our local vendors because it was them, it was the local vendors that assisted us through a
process that could have been very devastating to our citizens. After invoking the contracts that
we identified within the Procurement Department and within the landfill and Engineering and
other available contracts those persons were given an opportunity to work and it was those
persons that held Augusta together, addressed the issue of the lines being down or the trees being
in the cemeteries or the trees making it impossible for our citizens to pass on our right of ways.
So we did in fact address local participation on the onset. But as Mr. Ladson has stated to you
and even with FEMA and riding around in the city, it was then and only then we recognized the
full impact of the ice storm. And at that time our database did not support any local person who
could cover everything and be within the guidelines set by FEMA. So therefore we had to go out
looking. That was a long thought out process. That’s how we came up with the two contracts
that you have before you. The other thing that we need to talk about another regulation from
FEMA. Also in 13-36-5, gentlemen, we fostered everything we could to make sure that the city
of Augusta addressed its needs and we accomplished the mission that was set before us as it
relates to our citizens. And we are within the guidelines of FEMA. We had calls from some
vendors that said oh this is an unconstitutional process. And I’m sure that you heard that because
we heard that from you. Now I have not seen, we have gone out and called persons, we spoke
with persons who had these FEMA contracts could not find not one that FEMA has denied
because of the type of contracts that we have. We’re doing everything humanly possible to make
sure that we follow those guidelines. And we have been in contact with and communicated
through the Engineering Department that we will probably receive, FEMA’s not going to commit
24
because you have to go through the process. And there will be some auditing provisions that
we’re going to do. Our goal is to make sure that when the audit comes that Augusta will be able
to receive the reimbursements. But the most important group that I want to share with you as
Commissioners and that’s the Rule of Competition taken out of the FEMA guidelines and it so
states: Procurement by Noncompetitive Proposals is procurement through solicitation of a
proposal by more than one source or after solicitation of number of sources. Competition is
determined that that’s the group that they’re getting. But if you look at ‘B’ that’s the one that
nobody wants to talk about when they’re talking to you. The public existence or emergency or
the requirement will not permit a delay resulting from a competitive solicitation. Now had we
gone out for a competitive situation we could not possibly address the emergency situation that
given birth to the two contracts that you as commissioners approved through resolution.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: All right. Commissioner Jackson then Commissioner Grady Smith.
Mr. Jackson: Thank you for the update. I make a motion to receive as information.
Mr. Fennoy: Second.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Smith.
Mr. G. Smith: First of all what I’d like to see ---
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Can you pull your mike down, Commissioner?
Mr. G. Smith: I’d like to see first of all, thank you for what ya’ll did, Ms. Allen, all of
ya’ll, the whole county staff that was involved in this thing. This was something we knew was
coming. Thank God we got some warning. We had FEMA in place and I think the plan we had
at the meeting I went to with the gentleman from GEMA he was very complimentary. And I
think what we went through and plus what we’re going to go through when the Master’s gets
here trying to clean up to put our best foot forward and now we’re nitpicking on how it’s being
done. Give me the guys that can get out there and perform. You let 25 guys with chain saws and
trucks out there you don’t know what you got. At least now we got people in here that have been
involved with Katrina and the Long Island fiasco up there, (unintelligible). You know I can cut a
tree and everything but I don’t know how long it’ll take and I can take it to a dumpster or over to
the neighbors’ yard (unintelligible). You know we got to have somebody come in coordinate
this. You know, and that’s basically what it is. It is coordination and completion because we’ve
got about 38 days and all of a sudden here comes the Masters. So I applaud ya’ll. I think it’s a
job well done and I’m glad to say I’m from Augusta. We’ve got some people that can step
forward and make a decision and not worry about somebody coming off and nitpicking
everything they do. Thank you.
Mayor Pro Tem: I agree with (unintelligible), Commissioner Smith. I think the
(unintelligible) technicalities because I did get some of those phone calls and I tried to explain to
the contractors exactly the situation based on information that I received. And this is a very
unique situation here and it was one that we had to adhere to at that particular time. There was a
lot of technicalities in the process and what I think they don’t understand is it’s more to it than
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just saying okay I have a few trucks and you know and a few bodies that go out here and deal
with this. This is a massive situation here and I don’t think anybody could adequately go out
there and sufficiently give an estimate on the debris because you don’t know how much debris is
out there of course collect. And you can’t do it on the hours based on production so that’s the
way this whole contract is designed and set up. And I just wanted to kind of put that out there
because I did receive a few phone calls from some of the contractors and their concerns. And
it’s not an hourly contract it’s a production contract. Commissioner Lockett and we’ll vote on
this.
Mr. Lockett: Thank you, Mr. Mayor Pro Tem. First of all I’d like to say that what might
be nitpicking to one might be an extremely valuable question by another. So I wouldn’t want to
characterize anyone’s comments or questions as nitpicking. I also would like to believe that this
storm would’ve come the last week in April that we would’ve been able to put forth the same
effort that we’re putting forth now because this was prior to the Masters. I have no problem with
what has been done by the people that were called in to do the work. There was in fact there still
is a massive job and it’s really nice when you go out and travel around you see those trucks full
of those big trailers with that equipment on it you know somebody is picking stuff up. So I want
to applaud them for that. But I do have a question. Commissioner Williams indicated that you
all use I think an RFP from Chatham County. Was that RFP ever used by Chatham County or do
you just have it in case the needs arise?
Ms. Sams: It was a contract that was put in place by Chatham County in case the need
should arise. I don’t think the contract was ever invoked because they did not have the storm,
the emergency that we had here in Augusta.
Mr. Lockett: Ms. Sams, you indicated that because of FEMA that we may use our own
procurement process and guidelines and so forth. But our guidelines does not supersede or
override FEMA. FEMA has certain requirements and I think one of ya’ll mentioned this word a
few minutes ago about ‘piggyback’. Is that what it is, piggyback?
Ms. Sams: Yes, sir, that’s known term.
Mr. Lockett: What is FEMA’s opinion about piggyback? And I think I saw that
somewhere before. Is that something they welcome with open arms or is that something that
gives them cause to pause?
Ms. Sams: FEMA guidelines state that they do not encourage.
Mr. Lockett: And what does that mean?
Ms. Sams: That they ---
Mr. Lockett: You don’t encourage something. What does that mean?
Ms. Sams: It means that they will not, they give you a choice of how do you want to
proceed without them stating the type of procurement that you need to invoke.
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Mr. Lockett: Well, would that infer that maybe the decision that we made wasn’t a good
decision based on FEMA’s definition of piggyback?
Ms. Sams: No, sir, it doesn’t. And the reason is doesn’t is because FEMA in their
regulations also said if a jurisdiction decides to use piggyback that they would be scrutinized just
like any other procurement method. Now if we had a contract in place, that contract too will be
scrutinized in the same manner. So I think that we’re within FEMA’s guidelines and I think that
being within those guidelines we will be scrutinized as we would for any other procurement.
The only prohibitive contracts that we, that I was able to find in talking to my other colleagues
and NITB and other municipalities and in FEMA’s regulations, the only prohibitive contract that
FEMA has identified are those ---
Mr. Lockett: That’s a contract?
Ms. Sams: Okay. The only prohibitive contracts that has been identified in accordance
to FEMA’s regulation or again CFR part 13-36f4 and they are saying cost plus percentage cost
contract should not be used and that would be an affirmative. That’s the only contract that
they’re saying. That contract and any contract that is entered into with the (unintelligible)
contract those are the only two they have listed as prohibitive.
Mr. Lockett: And my last comment will be I want to applaud you, the Administrator,
Engineering even Steve Cassell and all the others for a job well done. Thank you.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: All right, we have a motion and a second on the floor. If there’s no
further discussion vote by the usual sign of voting.
Mr. Williams votes No.
Mr. Guilfoyle out.
Motion Passes 8-1.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, Madam Clerk, we can go ahead and take item 14. I know
we have an Attorney here.
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Tim, I’m going to ask you to explain this item.
The Clerk:
FINANCE
14. Approve Tax Anticipation Note terms.
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Mr. Schroer: Good afternoon everyone. On February 18 the Commission approved us
issuing a Tax Anticipation Note. And this morning we sold that note to Georgia Bank and Trust
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and the resolution before you is authorizing the close of that note. The interest rate was 1.05%
which was the low bidder.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: All right, what’s your pleasure?
Mr. D. Smith: I make a motion we approve.
Mr. Fennoy: Second.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: All right, we have a motion and a second on the floor. Any further
discussion? Commissioner Lockett.
Mr. Lockett: Mr. Schorer, this TAN is for what purpose?
Mr. Schroer: We’ll use the TAN to fund the GRU Campus Center if SPLOST VII
passes.
Mr. Lockett: Then what happens if SPLOST VII Referendum does not pass? Where do
the monies come from to pay the interest on this loan?
Mr. Schroer: That would come from the general fund, sir.
Mr. Lockett: The fund, the fund that we don’t have any money in, in the first place.
Mr. Schroer: It would be a fund from the general fund.
Mr. Lockett: And at 1.05% interest with the anticipated amount of time what are we
talking about in dollars and cents for interest?
Mr. Schroer: The gross interest rate would be approximately $47,800.00 however
because it would be invested we would receive some interest rates on that. We’re negotiating
with the banks right now.
Mr. Lockett: I think previously you indicated somewhere about $20-30,000.00 in interest
if it wasn’t passed. It’s gone up now?
Mr. Schroer: Yes, sir but what we’ll do is we looked at this, and there was a cost
analysis. We did not do a rating bond or rating call and we did not prepare an official statement
because it’s more cost effective at a slightly higher interest rate. A rating call is typically
$15,000 dollars and the (unintelligible) official statement would then approximately $30-
40,000.00 dollars. The net cost is cheaper to just, again we do pay a slightly higher interest rate.
Mr. Lockett: Yeah, I can hear the song and dance now if SPLOST VII Referendum
doesn’t pass and we got to take it out of the general fund. The employees can just forget a pay
raise for next year, right? Thank you very much, Mr. Mayor Pro Tem.
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Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: All right any further discussion? Hearing none vote by the usual
sign of voting.
Mr. Mason, Mr. Lockett and Mr. Williams vote No.
Mr. Guilfoyle out.
Motion Passes 6-3.
Mr. Schroer: Thank you.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, Madam Clerk, we’ll go on and proceed.
The Clerk:
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
4. Motion to review the past six SPLOSTs and give us an update concerning the funds that
are left open and the availability of the projects left. (Disapproved by Administrative
Services Committee February 24, 2014)
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, who has this item?
Mr. Lockett: I did.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Lockett.
Mr. Lockett: I had a question for Commissioner Jackson because there was some
confusion on the substitute motion that he made last meeting that was approved.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Jackson.
Mr. Jackson: Thank you, Mr. Mayor Pro Tem. I believe the motion if memory serves
me correctly was just to get an update on the SPLOSTs that are open/closed, funds in the
account, kind of a one liner spreadsheet of where we’re at with SPLOST all the SPLOSTs and
the ones that are closed, the ones that are still outstanding, and the ones that are projects that are
ongoing.
Mr. Lockett: And Commissioner Jackson in any interests. Would you include interests
in your motion?
Mr. Jackson: No, if that’s, I don’t why that one is germane but that, I believe that would
go into. I don’t know if that would be a Tim question.
Mr. Lockett: Well, if not, I can always do an Open Records. I just wanted to do it the
easy way.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: All right. Commissioner Smith and then Commissioner Williams.
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Mr. D. Smith: This question is for Mr. Jackson. With what you just said, Joe, open and
closed projects, would we have a need to do, to get information back if it’s already been built?
Mr. Jackson: I think in defense of the Commission that wasn’t here in SPLOST four or
five and now we’re going into seven just kind of give you some transparency updates. Just a
spreadsheet one liner and should be on somebody’s desktop. I thought that would satisfy where
we’re going with a, with the project.
Mr. D. Smith: And can I follow up?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Go ahead.
Mr. D. Smith: Is Tim still here? Tim, we’re standing up and talking about things that
you have intimate knowledge of. How much time and effort are we talking about is this going to
cause you?
Mr. Schroer: Yes, I’m still not quite sure what you’re looking for. We publish an annual
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report in October, I’m sorry, in December. As of September 30 that has it’s broken down by
phases and project categories. And that was in the paper and it’s online. I don’t know if that’s
where we’re, if you’re looking for a specific projects we can give you an analysis of specific
projects. Finance can give you the dollar amounts but as far as where we are with the projects
itself that’s ---
Mr. D. Smith: That was my question for Mr. Jackson. Is the information simply related
to money because apparently some people here are concerned about whether we have excess
money left over from the SPLOST project. I’m just trying to pull two sides together and get it
into one pie so we can figure out what we’re making here. And I’ve got
(unintelligible) blocked on the left who’s had some interest and Mr. Jackson on the right and I’m
trying to pull this together and trying to figure out exactly what the two sides want. If I can get
some input from you two gentlemen.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Williams ---
Mr. Williams: Yes, sir, thank you.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: --- and Commissioner Lockett.
Mr. Williams: I might be able to help my colleague on the left. Nancy, I asked for this
information go be given to me and with all of the figures that Mr. Smith is talking about, Donnie
Smith is talking about as far as the interest. Finance has got this number. They’ve got the names
of projects as well. They ain’t got this money that’s floating out there I don’t think. And so
you’ve got some numbers that associated with the projects. So you ought to be able to give us
those names that are associated with those monies that were spent, have been spent, or need to be
spent with those projects, they got the numbers. I would like to have, Nancy, I requested before
I’d like to have those numbers, one liner’s with the money’s that left on the project, the projects
finished with those SPLOST dollars, any interest associated with that to that particular project
30
whether there’s money they can use for something else we will, this governing body will decide
that. I just need to know what’s left what’s been spent on the project or they don’t do the project
or refund the monies. Now I’d like to have those, am I plain, Nancy, what I’m asking for?
The Clerk: Yes, sir, I communicated that to Lena.
Mr. Williams: Okay, thank you.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Tim?
Mr. Schroer: I’d like to, the question that keeps being addressed about interest, interest is
not earned on specific projects. It’s earned on at the fund level so it’s not allocated to a specific
project unless there’s a cost increase that is approved by the body. So if Project ‘X’ is a million
dollars we don’t allocate any interest to that project. It goes into the fund. And then if Project
‘X’ goes, needs additional funds, interest can be allocated to cover those excess costs.
Mr. Williams: Okay, if I can respond.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Yes, Commissioner ---
Mr. Williams: Tim, that’s fine with me. I don’t, you don’t have to add that interest to it.
If that million dollars is left I mean I may not be able to figure it to the penny but I can tell you
how much interest ought to be there for that. I just need those dollars figures, what’s been spent,
what’s left or what’s needed to complete the project. And that’s general information any of us
ought to be able to get. So I’d like to have that so, I don’t worry about the interest if the interest
is not broken down into each project. But if there’s a million dollars left or $10 million dollars
or whatever it is, I mean, we got a way of telling what the interest should be because there’s
other money that’s sitting there and money’s still money. If the million’s sitting in the bank
belongs to any department and accumulates ‘x’ amount of dollars and that million
(unintelligible) same amount of money so that’s not a big item to me. I’d just like to have those
dollars related to that project so we’ll see what was spent, what’s left if anything.
Mr. Lockett: Mr. Mayor Pro Tem, I’m still waiting.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Lockett.
Mr. Lockett: I am concerned about the interest. I’m not concerned about all the age
specific projects but if you have a $1.3 million dollars just sitting there that earned the interest I
want to know what are you doing with it. Did you use it for general obligation funds or what? I
need to know and I would think my colleagues would want to know if and there again find out
who has this information, engineers or Dr. Ladson has provided lots of information. You’ve got
Parks and Recreation with SPLOST money. Do you have, the engineering, do you have
SPLOST money that’s sitting there for GDOT projects but you can’t spend it now because
you’re waiting on them but is there anything else that we can use that money for in the interim?
We’re the ones that have to make that decision but if we don’t know we can’t do anything about
it. Plus last week almost $200 million dollars SPLOST VII or referendum. I’ve seen lots of stuff
31
on that and it looks to me it looks like some of the stuff I saw on SPLOST VI. It looked like
some of the stuff on SPLOST V but the only way you know is to look at it. We have that
responsibility whether we have the interest or not is one thing but we have the responsibility.
And, Tim, as many times that I’ve talked with you and ya’ll pretty much know what I’m asking
for. And what I’m asking for I don’t feel that I’m unreasonable and I wish all my colleagues
would have that concern. Thank you, Mr. Mayor Pro Tem.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: I guess it would be fair to say, Tim, that we can probably and I
know Commissioner Jackson mentioned the last VI SPLOST gave us an update as to the list of
the projects whether they’ve been completed or not. But I think we probably need to make it
comprehensive overview of the last three SPLOSTs on monies that have been spent or have not
been spent and so we can, what Commissioner Lockett is alluding to is that we can kind of
interpret whether or not we can use those dollars on like projects somewhere else or whether or
not we’re just still waiting based on something else that has occurred. So I don’t know how
much time you need to put that together but I think it’d be a good idea to probably put something
like that together and get it to us so we’ll know exactly where we are on those projects. Again, I
do agree with him we saw some item that was on this SPLOST package that were on SPLOST
VI and SPLOST V and we need to know that those dollars are not being allocated to the same
project within that particular entity because we had some of our outside entities who request
dollars and could not receive them based on the project that they have already received dollars
for. So they come to seek more money for that same project. So we need to know that as well.
That is just something that’s come to us and I know it’s come to me and of course I do want to
make sure we address that issue. So but if you pretty much put something together showing us
exactly and maybe from other departments as well but ---
Mr. Schroer: We have a spreadsheet that I believe was distributed to the Commission as
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of September 30, a list of all the projects.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Dating back how far of receiving it ---
Mr. Schroer: It would’ve been from SPLOST II through the current.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: And that has the dollar amount and the department ---
Mr. Schroer: Yes they ---
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: --- if they completed it or not?
Mr. Schroer: Yes, sir, I mean it has the dollar amount that you’ve spent so far in the
budget. I guess I’m not quite sure what additional information you’re looking for.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, I’ll take a look this (inaudible). Commissioner Fennoy.
Mr. Fennoy: If seeing SPLOST V and they see a nonprofit was given $5 million dollars
and they had to come up with 25% max.
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Mr. Schroer: Yes, sir.
Mr. Fennoy: And as of this date they have not come up with their 25% max. Where is
the money that was allocated for that project and what happens next to that money?
Mr. Schroer: What we’ve done with specifically with outside agencies if they do not
meet their match requirements, those fundings would be reassigned within that category. Those
agencies have the collection period of SPLOST which is typically five years plus two additional
years to raise funds and complete the project.
Mr. Fennoy: Okay so ---
Mr. Schroer: It’s sitting in our bank account right now.
Mr. Fennoy: But who makes the determination on how those funds would be
reallocated?
Mr. Schroer: The Commission, sir.
Mr. Fennoy: And once the, say seven year period has expired and that particular
organization has not reached their match, would you bring that dollar back to us and say we have
$3 million dollars in SPLOST funds that were allocated for A, B, C, D and they seemed to not
meet their match, what do ya’ll want us to do with the, or where do ya’ll want the funds to go?
Mr. Schroer: Yes, sir with the match not (unintelligible).
Mr. Fennoy: Okay, thank you.
Mr. Mayor: Anything further? Commissioner Davis.
Ms. Davis: Thank you, Mr. Mayor Pro Tem. The report you handed out I’ll email it
back to you. Maybe we can get a hard copy of it. But it talks about every project, estimated
costs, prior years, what’s been spent, what’s been completed and what hasn’t been completed.
And that the report ya’ll sent us back in January so maybe if we just give everybody a hard
copy?
Mr. Schroer: Yes, ma’am.
Ms. Davis: Thank you.
Mr. Lockett: Mr. Mayor Pro Tem, if I may (inaudible). I have the report. I have all of
the SPLOST reports. I have looked and studied each and every one of the SPLOST reports since
SPLOST I and it does not answer all my questions. And Commissioner Fennoy just asked a very
important question that it does not answer. Thank you, Mr. Mayor Pro Tem.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Do we have a motion to receive this as information?
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Mr. Fennoy: Second.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: I need to hear a motion first.
Mr. Fennoy: Motion to receive as information.
Mr. Jackson: Second.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: All right, we have a motion and a second. Commissioner
Williams?
Mr. Williams: Yes, sir, I didn’t hear what my request is. I mean I hear the motion to
receive it. I’ve done received information a thousand times. I need something in my hands. I
need the one liner. That’s right, I need the one liner. I don’t need to come back. This should
have been on the table by now. Now there’s something wrong when we can’t get the
information out of the computer on to the table. Now I need to know if we receive it as
information exactly what that’s going to do.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: All right I guess, Tim, how soon could you get that information? I
understand what we do have in an email but obviously that’s not in detail. What’s the deal?
Mr. Williams: I mean if I can, Mr. Mayor Pro Tem, I need the names of the projects, I
need to go back and look at the project list we put together and write it down and give it to
Finance so they can say well this is project we want. All of the projects ought to be on the
computer where we’ll be able to look at it and see what’s been spent, what’s left, who matched,
who hadn’t matched. What we need to do to move forward and do something else where people
hadn’t raised their match funds to go with. I don’t understand, how hard is it?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: I know basically on SPLOST VI it was information and showing
those who had matched and those who didn’t match or met their matches if you will. I’m not
sure about the others but and that’s what I’m saying if we can get that information in a nutshell
that shows those entities or agencies if you will then I think that will be suffice (unintelligible).
Commissioner Fennoy.
Mr. Fennoy: If Commissioner Williams will make a substitute motion I will second it.
Mr. Williams: Substitute motion as to what?
Mr. Fennoy: We already have a motion to receive as information. If you want to make a
substitute motion to address what we’re asking for ---
Mr. Williams: Well, I’ll put in a motion ---
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Well, you’ve got to put in a substitute because we do have a motion
and a second to for the main motion.
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Mr. Williams: I need information. I didn’t get that information from Finance to show us
what projects had been completed and what had not. What’s the balance of that and I can
determine the interest if I know that ‘x’ amount of dollars is there, that’s really what I need to
know. Commissioner Lockett wanted to know the interest and I ain’t got no problem with that
either but if Tim and Finance don’t have that mechanism of doing it then we have a thousand
dollar wait. But if you’ve got that particular way to get the interest I mean I would love to see
that as well.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, Tim.
Mr. Schroer: I got, I’m sorry, I thought that was the information we provided in the past.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: In January.
Mr. Schroer: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: I’ll take a look at it again. Commissioner Lockett said he didn’t
see any of that information in there as well as the interest so. Well, we’ve got a substitute ---
Mr. Lockett: Mr. Mayor Pro Tem if I may if I’m not completely out of order. You know
we can do whatever we want to do with this. I’ll just do an Open Records Request and I’ll just
be specific as to what I want. I did it in the first agenda item I did but I can do it again. I’ll just
do it in an Open Records form. You don’t have to worry about it.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay. Commissioner Williams, did you want to request the same
thing?
Mr. Williams: No, I’m not doing an Open Records. I mean Joe Q. Citizen can do Open
Records. I’m an elected official. I’m here and I’ll be getting that information by Open Records
or anything else. If it’s down there then it needs to be brought to this body through the
Administrator or through the Finance or through the Attorney or somebody. But that don’t make
good sense. So I’m not going through Open Records. I asking for a request for information I’d
like to have that. I gave it to The Clerk and now I’m directing the Administrator. I’d like to
have that information from Finance. It only takes a push of a few buttons.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: All right, Madam Clerk, we have a substitute motion.
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Could you repeat that motion?
The Clerk: That was to provide the information in that Mr. Williams had requested. But
we don’t have a second.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Oh, yeah, Commissioner Fennoy.
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The Clerk: Mr. Fennoy, okay. Thank you.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: With no further questions vote by the normal sign of voting.
Mr. Fennoy, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Lockett and Mr. Williams vote Yes.
Ms. Davis, Mr. Jackson and Mr. G. Smith vote No.
Mr. Mason, Mr. D. Smith and Mr. Guilfoyle out.
Motion Fails 4-3.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: All right we have a primary motion on the floor. With no further
questions vote by the usual sign of voting, substitute motion to receive as information.
Mr. Fennoy, Mr. Johnson, Ms. Davis and Mr. Jackson vote Yes.
Mr. Lockett, Mr. Williams and Mr. G. Smith vote No.
Mr. Mason, Mr. D. Smith and Mr. Guilfoyle out.
Motion Fails 4-3.
Mr. Williams: Madam Clerk?
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Mr. Williams: If I don’t have that information put that back on the agenda.
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, Madam Clerk, we’ll go to item five.
The Clerk:
FINANCE
5. Motion to approve the replacement of one (1) 1994 forklift for Fleet Management and
Broad Street maintenance shops. (Approved by Finance Committee February 24, 2014)
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Williams.
Mr. Williams: Yes, sir, I guess I don’t have a problem with a ’94 forklift. I guess
somebody needs to tell me why we’re buying a 1994 forklift. And the other question I have,
Ron, while you’re up there is, where are we with our fleet management, aren’t we on a month-to-
month contract, where we’re supposed to have something brought back to us with that before
now?
Mr. Crowden: Yes, we were coming to you in late February however the ice storm got in
the way of getting the agenda into the system on time with the strict regulation, time regulation
can get it through the electronic system to all people who have approvals. It’ll be presented to
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you March 10. It’s on the agenda.
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Mr. Williams: Okay and we had discussion on what we’re going to do as, talking about
the contract now. Let’s talk about that.
Mr. Crowden: That’s what I understood the question.
Mr. Williams: Right, I have two questions. That’s what I want to clarify the Fleet
Management has been on a month to month for several months now and you say that will come
in when?
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Mr. Crowden: March 10 on the committee.
Mr. Williams: Okay, have we talked in a meeting about what we want to do or do we
have to go out for an RFP and try to get another --
Mr. Crowden: Well, Mr. Chairman as a matter of fact Commissioner Smith was the one
in committee that made the motion to go out for bids to see what else might be out there. That
was done in September/October of last year. So the RFP went out and we’re at the time we’re in
the process now of choosing do we want to go with a contract pro or other options. So ---
Mr. Williams: Okay, so I guess you’re bringing something to committee for us to
consider to look at? Is that what you’re saying?
Mr. Crowden: Yes, sir, there were two vendors that were (unintelligible).
Mr. Williams: But we hadn’t had any discussion ---
Mr. Crowden: There wasn’t any discussions.
Mr. Williams: --- made a motion to go out and just to see what was out there and how do
we deal with it how we can look at it. But I’m hearing now the decision had already been made
to select one of those two. Is that right?
Mr. Crowden: No, sir, you’re not locked into any course of action.
Mr. Williams: Okay, well I hadn’t heard any course of action, that’s what I’m getting at,
Ron. I hadn’t heard. We’ve got two vendors and if I had not mentioned it today I guess the
contract would be coming back to us of the two vendors would be coming back to us and then
we’d be discussing it. Now I asked that question today. I’m trying to figure out why nothing has
been brought to us to even consider so we can look at either going out with one of those, going
back in house or doing this.
Mr. Crowden: That would be a point of discussion at the time if the agenda comes
forward to the Commission. There would’ve been no other suggestions or recommendations or
whatever in any of the meetings without looking at any other course of action because we’re in
month to month and not pressured into accepting any contracts.
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Mr. Williams: Okay, well ---
Mr. Crowden: And if you want to look at other options that would be the time to discuss
it.
Mr. Williams: I think we need to discuss it before we get to committee if we’re going to
do, I mean, before we get to Commission. And what we should have brought it back to
committee so we can look at it. But I don’t have that I just need that added on to our next
committee so we can look at those options and come back (unintelligible). Now the other
question going back to the 1994 forklift can you tell me why we’re buying a 1994?
Mr. Crowden: No, we’re buying, we’re replacing the 1994 ---
Mr. Williams: Replacing the 1994.
Mr. Crowden: Yes, sir, it’s 20 years old and it’s really having to struggle to stay
(unintelligible). It supports the fire shop, the (unintelligible) and Fleet Management all three
organizations. It’s supporting all the departments.
Mr. Williams: And we’re getting another forklift in place of this one, right?
Mr. Crowden: We want it a little heavier than the 6,000 pounds. We’re going for 9,000
pounds. That’ll make sure we cover all requirements of those three shops.
Mr. Williams: Okay so moved (unintelligible).
Ms. Davis: Second.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: All right, we have a motion and a second. Any further discussion?
Okay now vote by the usual sign of voting.
Mr. Lockett, Mr. D. Smith and Mr. Guilfoyle out.
Motion Passes 7-0.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, Madam Clerk, we’ll move along with the regular agenda.
The Clerk:
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
8. Approve requesting the Sheriff’s Department to do a preliminary investigation of the
hard drive issue relative to the tampering with a city computer. (Requested by
Commissioner Williams)
Mr. Williams: So moved.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Williams made a motion.
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Mr. Mason: Second.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: We have a proper motion and a second. Any further discussion?
Okay now vote by the usual sign of voting.
Mr. Fennoy, Mr. Mason and Mr. Williams vote Yes.
Mr. Johnson, Ms. Davis, Mr. Jackson and Mr. G. Smith vote No.
Mr. Lockett, Mr. D. Smith and Mr. Guilfoyle out.
Motion Fails 3-4.
Mr. Williams: Point of personal privilege, Mr. Mayor Pro Tem.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Yes, go ahead.
Mr. Williams: I had this put on the agenda but I already had sent a letter to the Sheriff’s
Department to get an initial investigation started anyway. I thought this body would want to
know exactly what was missing and what we can replace. There is no need to necessarily have
the majority vote, the majority six votes. I just wanted to inform you myself.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you for that (inaudible). Commissioner Fennoy.
Mr. Fennoy: I guess this question is for the Attorney.
Mr. MacKenzie: Yes, sir.
Mr. Fennoy: Since the Commission voted not to do an investigation, can Commissioners
ask the Sheriff to do an investigation against the will of the body?
Mr. MacKenzie: Just to clarify. The Commission did not approve the motion to request
that the Sheriff do an investigation. However the Commission did not take an action requesting
the Sheriff not do an investigation either. It was just no action taken on that item. But I will say
the Sheriff has his own discretion to determine whether or not to investigate a crime. Any person
whether it be a Commissioner or any member of the public can make a request for an
investigation to be done if there’s a belief that a crime has been committed. The Sheriff can do
that or anybody can make that request. The Sheriff has discretion to determine whether or not to
conduct the investigation.
Mr. Fennoy: All right, thank you.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: All right we move on to item 9, Madam Clerk.
The Clerk:
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
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9. An update from the Interim Administrator regarding identifying a funding source to
fund Disparity Study, related IT programs and approve same being done. (Requested by
Commissioner Marion Williams)
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay. Commissioner Williams.
Mr. Williams: Thank you. The Administrator should be the one to talk on the agenda
item. It’s self-explanatory. I need to know where are we with that, (inaudible) the funds to go
ahead and get the Disparity Study off the ground.
Ms. Allen: Mr. Mayor Pro Tem, members of the Commission I have not had an
opportunity to speak to Ms. Gentry as it relates to any expected costs for the Disparity Study nor
the IT programs. I know in the committee meeting they were discussing as it relates to some
costs but I can assure you if there’s anything that’s related to us spending anything over three or
$400,000 dollars at this time it would definitely have to come from our fund balance. There is
no other locations in our current budget especially with the 2.4% reduction that we’re
experiencing across the board that I can actually locate any other funding to for a Disparity Study
at this time other than the fund balance.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Do you want to follow up, Commissioner Williams?
Mr. Williams: Yes, thank you. Did I understand you said you didn’t have time to even
look? It sounds like you already looked.
Mr. Allen: Well, I can assure you based on the numbers that were presented at the
committee meeting that Ms. Gentry, I have not had an opportunity to sit down with Ms. Gentry.
Mr. Williams: All right ---
Ms. Allen: But based on the numbers that were given at the committee meeting I can
assure you that based on those numbers that would have to come from fund balance. We have
no other funding source I guess is the best way for me to put it, Commissioner Williams, other
than fund balance.
Mr. Williams: All right, I heard that and I’m not too worried about the fund balance as
much as I am looking at every aspect. You first stated you hadn’t had the opportunity because I
guess with everything going on with the ice and the cleanup. But when lapsed salaries or any
other unfilled position that we have not filled, Assistant Administrator, I mean you hadn’t looked
at anything, you have looked at anything else except the fact the fund balance. Now we know
the fund balance is there but you know there’s got to be ---
Ms. Allen: If I can clarify something ---
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: (inaudible).
Ms. Allen: --- I’m sorry.
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Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: No, go ahead.
Ms. Allen: If I can clarify as it relates to lapsed salaries, lapsed salaries is actually used
as manpower savings that’s calculated also in our budget to balance the budget. So I’m not
saying that I didn’t look at that, Commissioner Williams, however that is actually utilized to
balance the budget. And that’s always been a form of balancing the budget because you know
that at certain times there’s not going to be every position fully filled. You going to have to fund
those positions. What you use is manpower savings estimated manpower savings ---
Mr. Williams: Ms. Allen, I think you know as well as I do though that this particular
agenda item has been back and forth, back and forth and has not been able to move out of this
room except in conversation and conversation only. So I’m really disappointed, I’m really upset
that we even talk this game about what we’re going to do but when it gets down to, and one of
the Commissioners said he could find the money. And I said it was denied and delayed. And
that’s the same thing I’m hearing now is denied and delayed if we can’t find it. Now we done
found a million dollars around here ---
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Williams ---
Mr. Williams: --- for a study before and I hope we can find another million dollars
because and I’m not worried about the person who found it I’m worried about the person who
lost it. There’s some money in contingency so I think we need to go back look at every aspect to
see what’s there because this is a serious agenda item that’s been on this agenda for months and
months and months and even years and we have got no further that where we are now.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Hold one second. We are about to lose our quorum here. Mr.
Attorney, we’ve got to have seven or six?
Mr. MacKenzie: You need seven for purpose of a quorum.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: That’s what I thought. We just lost our quorum so we’re going to
have to adjourn. What we can’t even do that without the quorum so the meetings will not be
adjourned it will be, Mr. Attorney, we’ll have to just ---
Mr. MacKenzie: The procedure for the meeting to end at this point in time, you can’t
continue a meeting without, you can have discussion all you want you just can’t take any further
action. But the meeting’s automatically suspended until the next regularly scheduled meeting.
The remaining persons here could set a time and date to resume the meeting but I would assume
it will be the next regularly scheduled commission meeting.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Committee or Commission.
Mr. MacKenzie: I’m assuming the next commission meeting will be a regularly
scheduled meeting unless there’s another Special Called Meeting set before that.
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Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: So we cannot adjourn this meeting because we don’t have a
quorum, correct?
Mr. MacKenzie: You cannot adjourn. You can’t take any action.
Mr. Williams: And we can set a Called Meeting prior to the committee meeting on
Monday. We don’t have to wait until the next scheduled meeting. You can set another meeting.
Mr. MacKenzie: You can set another meeting.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: You can call a meeting, right.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: All right, Ladies and Gentlemen this meeting is suspended.
(March 4 meeting was suspended due to the lack of a quorum; the meeting was reconvened
on March 18, 2014)
Item 9: An update from the Interim Administrator regarding identifying a funding
source to fund Disparity Study, related IT programs and approve same being done.
(Requested by Commissioner Marion Williams)
Item 10: Discuss job title for the EEO Director. (Requested by Commissioner
Marion Williams)
Item 11: Discuss emergency pay for city employees who were required to work
during the recent ice storm. (Requested by Commissioner Marion Williams)
Item 12: Discuss the appointment process for the Urban Redevelopment Agency
(URA) as approved by the Commission January 21, 2014 and discuss the residency of URA
members. (Requested by Commissioner Marion Williams)
The Clerk: All of those were requested by Commissioner Williams.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Lockett.
Mr. Lockett: Mr. Chairman, if I could get the consent of my colleagues I would like
to send all back to Administrative Services Committee for the sake of time.
Mr. Mayor: Does that come in the form of a motion?
Mr. Lockett: That was the motion.
Mr. D. Smith: I’ll second that one.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion that’s been made and properly seconded. Commissioner
Williams.
Mr. Williams: Mr. Mayor, I don’t think, my attorney’s sitting here. I wanted him to
speak to this but I don’t think that we can send those back when there were items that were left
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on the agenda that we didn’t take care of in the first place that were requested by myself. Now
that had that been just a (unintelligible) and I didn’t want to do that is one thing but I need to
hear from the Attorney to see what his ruling is on those agenda items that belong to me as the
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Commissioner who put those on there, back in, I think, the 4 of this month for consideration.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. MacKenzie.
Mr. MacKenzie: Sure, I agree there is a need to resolve all the items that were on the
previous meeting which would be done. If it’s, if there’s six votes to do it once these items are
on any Commission agenda the commission retains the authority with six votes to dispose of the
item in any way they feel is appropriate which would be to hear them on their merits or to put
them back into committee or to hear the items at a later date. As long as you have six votes to do
that, once they’re on the commission agenda the commission has authority with six votes to
control the agenda.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Commissioner Williams.
Mr. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. My Attorney didn’t rule in my favor but that’s all
right. The process for, what had happened in this meeting that was never closed out, Mr. Mayor,
but we needed these items to maintain their positions on the agenda. And what I’m hearing from
him six votes and say we go back to committee. Now I didn’t have put on committee, I had them
put on the agenda. You can take a Commissioner, you can’t take a commissioner’s item and put
them on an agenda he wants them on when he had them placed or she had them placed, Mary, I
was looking at (unintelligible) if she had them placed on the agenda and that’s why she needs to
address that. I understand, you know, the way some things are done that wasn’t done right
before so I’m not going take that issue but I’m totally positive of what ya’ll are talking about
(unintelligible). I want here out on the floor on the commission because that’s where I placed
them at.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, we have a motion that’s been made and properly seconded. If there’s
no further discussion Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign.
Mr. Mason and Mr. Williams vote No.
Mr. Guilfoyle out.
Motion carries 7-2.
Mr. Williams: Point of privilege, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir, Commissioner Williams.
Mr. Williams: Madam Clerk, will you put those same items they want to go back to
committee on the next Commission agenda for a ruling?
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Mr. Williams: Thank you.
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Mr. Mayor: With no further business to come before the body the March 4 2014
meeting of the Commission now stands adjourned.
Mr. Lockett: Mr. Mayor, may I speak?
Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir. Commissioner Lockett.
Mr. Lockett: I just want to say for the sake of my colleagues I was not trying to get rid of
these items of the agenda. I just said for the sake of time and I said with my colleagues consent
so I wasn’t trying to force anything or take away from it.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Commissioner Lockett.
[MEETING ADJOURNED]
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
March 4, 2014.
______________________________
Clerk of Commission
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