HomeMy WebLinkAboutRegular Commission Meeting December 15, 2015
REGULAR MEETING COMMISSION CHAMBER
DECEMBER 15, 2015
Augusta Richmond County Commission convened at 2:00 p.m., December 15, 2015, the
Hon. Hardie Davis, Jr., Mayor, presiding.
PRESENT: Hons. Lockett, Guilfoyle, Sias, Frantom, M. Williams, Fennoy, D. Williams,
Hasan and Davis, members of Augusta Richmond County Commission.
ABSENT: Hon. Smith, Mayor Pro Tem.
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, we’ll call this meeting to order.
The Clerk: Yes, sir. At this time we’d like Reverend Wesley Weatherford, Lead Pastor
of Oasis Baptist Church, to please come forward and deliver our invocation, after which we’ll
have the Pledge of Allegiance. Will we please stand?
The invocation was given by Reverend Wesley Weatherford, Lead Pastor, Oasis Baptist
Church.
The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America was recited.
Mr. Mayor: Pastor, I have a presentation for you and we want to recognize the efforts.
We’re grateful that Pastor Wesley Weatherford of Oasis Church in Hephzibah is here today as
our Chaplain. We want to thank you for your spiritual guidance and your civic leadership
because they serve as an example for all of the citizens of Augusta. Thank you for that for this
great city.
Pastor Weatherford: Thank you. (APPLAUSE)
Mr. Mayor: At this time we’ll recognize Madam Clerk.
The Clerk: Yes, sir, at this time we’d like to ask the Mayor along with Commissioner
Wayne Guilfoyle to please join Pastor Wesley for a presentation.
Pastor Weatherford: Our church we have a program called Buy a Tree Change a Life and
it’s helping children globally and locally. I reached out to the Commission and asked about a
particular nonprofit charity here in Augusta that’s doing great work and got back that Child
Enrichment is doing that. And so we’d just like to present a donation to Child Enrichment in
partnership with the Augusta Commission on behalf of Oasis Church and Buy a Tree Change a
Life. (APPLAUSE)
ADDENDUM
34. Motion to go into an executive session.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay, so there’s a lot going on today. Today’s the day we want to welcome
citizens of Augusta to their Commission Chamber. Our posture right now is that we’ve got a
matter that we need to address. We’re going to be taking a motion here to go into executive
session to deal with a matter. The Chair recognizes Attorney MacKenzie.
Mr. MacKenzie: Sure, I would entertain a motion to go into executive session to discuss
personnel.
Mr. Fennoy: So moved.
Mr. Lockett: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Voting. For those of us who are here we’re going to go into Executive
Session for a few moments. Please be patient with us after which we finish we’ll come back out
and continue our meeting pursuant to the agenda that many of you may have. I know there’s a
large delegation here in support of Paine College and we want to make certain we give you an
opportunity to be heard on today. Thank you.
Mr. G. Smith out.
Motion Passes 9-0.
[EXECUTIVE SESSION]
Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes Attorney MacKenzie.
Mr. MacKenzie: I would entertain a motion to execute the closed meeting affidavit.
Mr. Fennoy: So moved.
Mr. Lockett: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Voting.
Mr. G. Smith out.
Motion Passes 9-0.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Attorney MacKenzie.
Mr. MacKenzie:
35. I would entertain a motion to approve a Resolution requesting a salary review and
salary recommendation for Richmond County elected officials for consideration by the
Georgia Legislature.
Mr. Fennoy: So moved.
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Mr. Lockett: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We’ve got a motion and a second for the resolution of record. Any further
discussion? Voting.
Mr. G. Smith out.
Motion Passes 9-0.
Mr. Mayor: Thank ya’ll. I think Mr. Brooks is still here on behalf of the Judges. We’ve
got a resolution; we’ll have it transmitted once executed with all of the information. Thank you
so much. Madam Clerk.
The Clerk:
DELEGATIONS
A. Dr. Samuel Sullivan, President of Paine College, regarding the importance of Paine
College to the Augusta community. (Requested by Commissioner Bill Fennoy)
Mr. Mayor: Dr. Sullivan, if you’ll approach and you can speak from that podium. I’m
going to I’m going to recognize you for five plus minutes long enough for you to at least
communicate to this body what’s on your mind as it relates to Paine. And then I’m going to
recognize the members of the Commission.
Dr. Sullivan: Thank you and good afternoon to the Honorable Hardie Davis, Mayor of
this great City of Augusta, members of the Commission, other city officials. As you heard my
name is Samuel Sullivan. It is absolutely my pleasure to serve as the Interim President of Paine
College. I want to call to your attention the fact that I’m not alone today; we have many
supporters of Paine, many of our alums are here. We have friends of our school or students even
though this is the beginning of the holiday season for many of them some are still here. I had an
opportunity to meet with the young democrats on a couple of nights ago and I’m pleased to
announce that some of them are here with us in support of our effort today as well. It’s really a
pleasure to be here and to have this opportunity to greet you on behalf of the faculty and staff of
the mighty, the mighty Paine College and we thank you for this opportunity to appear this
afternoon. I prepared a written statement; I’m not going to try to read all of this. There’s a good
bit of history of Paine here. I hope I think ya’ll have it; I hope you have an opportunity to peruse
it at your leisure. If there are any questions you have as you go through any of what I’ve given
you in this package please feel free to get in touch with my office I’ll be happy to spend what
time we need to help you understand where we are what we’re trying to do. But my purpose
today is just to bring to your attention where we are. I want you to know about Paine College,
what we’re facing what challenges we’re facing how we need your help in order to survive the
challenges that we face. About two years ago I was asked to take this position as Interim
President of Paine College I came first as the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
and when Dr. Bradley resigned I was asked to step up and take the position of Acting President
now Interim President. At that time Paine College was facing ten sanctions from the Southern
Association called to our attention ten areas of the principles that we were not judged to be in
compliance with, ten. We submitted a report to a special committee last February as a result of
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those sanctions. We had a special visit last March the first of April of last year where we talked
about what we had done to fix those sanctions. We’re pleased to say that in June of this past
year the Commission the Southern Association that is voted to remove or take back six of the ten
sanctions leaving us with four. Those four relate to the heart of our institution. They relate to
stability the financial stability of our institution and that’s what we’re facing today. Come
February of next year we will submit another monitoring report to a special committee for the
purpose of explaining to a special committee what we have done to provide evidence that we
have succeeded in getting rid of the last four sanctions that we we’re facing. Following that
presentation in February the special committee again will come the latter part of March the first
of April. We’ll go through with them what we’ve done to show that we have in fact met all of
the outstanding requirements to be fully reaffirmed for another ten years. Let me hasten to say
Paine College is fully accredited right now; it’s just that we do have to make them aware that the
issues related to the financial stability of our institution have been taken care of and that
therefore should warrant in June of next year when SACS meets to vote up or down Paine in or
out we will be successful in fully being reaffirmed for another ten years. And that’s what we’re
about. That’s the storyline behind where we are and what we have to do is show that by the end
of fiscal year ending June 30 of 2016 we have money in the bank. We cannot end the fiscal year
of June 30 without having a surplus in revenue. We’ve taken steps many steps so far to address
how we plan to do that. What I’d like is just to share a little bit with you about where we are and
how we plan to move along this path. The constituents of Paine are many. As you’ve heard me
say we’ve had alums who have returned to our institution working extremely hard with us to
make sure that everybody knows the situation we’re in. And all of those who have been
successful in matriculating the halls of Paine College walking away with a degree in hand taking
their rightful place in society are people that are proud of their institution and proud to give back
to our institution. We’ve made substantial progress in getting many of those individuals to come
back to us and we’re making more. Some of you I’m proud to say are part of that group and
have been supportive of our institution all the way. We made a good number of contacts with
local members of our community, business community. The churches are very, very supportive
of what we’re doing. Certainly the CME Church the United Methodist Church the Baptist
Convention all of the local partners that we have stepping up and coming back to our institution
to make sure that this school is not going by the wayside as March Brown did and St. Paul did
and some other schools as some other schools have went away. So we’re eager, we’re extremely
eager to put our report together. The thing I want to emphasize is that we need the city. We
need the city to be on our side, we need the city to express in the strongest terms possible your
support for Paine College, your recognition that this school means something to this city. Your
support for us going forward is going to be extremely important to those who are going to review
what we submit and will make the judgment that this school will warrant reaffirmation of
accreditation in this city. That I can’t say any stronger less stronger. It is absolutely critical that
we have the expressed support of this city for our school. What does that mean? Well
sometimes when I go around and I talk to people they want to talk to me about Paine being
private or Paine not being public and so forth and perhaps there’s a reason why this city should
not support our school. I don’t think that’s a valid view of where we are I don’t think that’s a
valid view of the value this city places on Paine College. There’s lots of businesses that come to
this town looking to reestablish or to establish themselves here and they’re mostly private so we
find a way to help them we find a way to bring in the workforce that they have we find a way to
make concessions to them to help them decide that Augusta’s where they ought to locate that’s
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what I think about Paine. We’ve been here since 1882; we’ve done an awful lot of work in this
town producing teachers and preachers and people and psychologists, sociology and stem areas
and all those disciplines that we offer Paine. We’ve done an awfully good job of what we do at
Paine and I think it’s worthy that we continue to do that. I think it’s worthy that we continue to
provide an option, an alternative for those students who know that one size does not fit all, that
Paine is a place that they can come and be nurtured and receive the kind of instruction that they
deserve that their tuition dollars pay. We believe that by doing or continuing to do this those
who graduate our school those who stay here will find employment, gainful employment buying
your goods and services, living in your hotels eating in your restaurants doing those things that
make us all proud to be a part of Paine and a part of what we have done for the city. My sense is
that has to continue. There’s absolutely no way that we can allow a roughly $25 million dollar
enterprise to walk away from the city. The economic impact of that is too great with roughly
300/400 people working with us including our faculty and our staff and many of our students
who have will be gainfully employed through their tenure at Paine College. The economic
impact would be devastating in my opinion if we were to not allow this institution do all that we
can to make certain that this institution stays in the city. And that’s what I really want to get you
to see if I don’t get anything else and I know that many of you already see it I’ve talked to you
and I know that that there are perhaps others who may be we need to talk a little more and my
purpose here today is to start that conversation. I know that by February when we submit our
report we must be able to say we must be able to demonstrate and show the evidence that we are
moving in a direction that will allow SACS in June to vote to reaffirm our institution. What I’d
like to see come out of this should you so desire I’d like to have the strongest possible statement
that you can make in support of our institution. I’d like for you to authorize us to work with our
City Administrator and talk about the nuts and bolts of what that translates into as far as what we
can do, what we should do, in order to provide the kind of resources that the institution needs in
order to show the fact that it’s fully worthy of reaffirmation. With that I’ll stop, if there’s some
question I will be happy to answer them.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you so much, Dr. Sullivan. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner
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from the 1.
Mr. Fennoy: Yes, this is more of a statement rather than a question, Dr. Sullivan. For
most of America’s history African Americans who receive their college education can only get it
from an HBCU, Historical Black Institution of which Paine College is. HBCU’s remain one of
the surest ways for an African American or student of any race to receive a high quality
education. HBCU’s graduate far more than their share of African American professionals.
While the 105 HBCU’s represent just 3% of the nation’s institution of higher learning they
gradate nearly one-quarter of African Americans who undergraduate with under graduate
degrees. Put another way HBCU’s graduate 75% more of the African American students than
other schools do. For that reason I support Paine College. I’m asking my colleagues to support
Paine College. Larry Harris who recently retired is a Paine College graduate. Recently we had
someone from the Carl Vinson Institute to give an assessment of our Procurement Department
and he said it is one of the best he has ever seen. Geri Sams is a Paine College graduate. Most
recently Joseph Warden along with Bill Lockett with the foresight because that facility is one of
the best in the state. He is also a Paine College graduate. Paine College has a history of doing
things that no other institution should do.
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Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Commissioner, I really appreciate that. I’m going to go down to
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the distinguished gentleman from the 5 a Paine College graduate himself.
Mr. Lockett: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I don’t want to repeat what my colleague just said
but I agree with him totally. I have dealt with Paine College on a first hand basis. I came to
Augusta from Hawaii and the military for some reason or another wanted to send me to school
and I chose Paine College and that was the best decision I could’ve made. After transferring to
Paine as a junior and spending three additional years there because there were times when as a
30 plus year old veteran I wanted to quit because I said I can’t handle this it’s just too much this
coupled with having a family and so forth. But I never will forget I had an English teacher at
Paine College that took the time to talk to me, I probably was older than her and she told me you
can do it all you’ve got to do is hang in there. And she instilled that confidence in me. And I
want you to know because of her I graduated from Paine College with honors. I went on to
graduate school and only made one B and the rest ‘A’s because of Paine College. Because of
Paine College my career has excelled. I became a Lead Investigator with the Federal
Government, I became a high school teacher, I became an insurance agent. I served on the
Board of Assessors. Accomplishment after accomplishment, test after test after test that I must
tell you I never failed a single one because of the education that I received from Paine College.
As my colleague Commissioner Fennoy said historical black colleges and university they don’t
have the resources, the financial backing as many of the other schools have so many of them are
struggling financially. They deserve our support because what they are doing is they are sending
good productive citizens, taxpaying citizens out into our community. So I want to applaud Paine
College. I want to say thank you to Dr. Sullivan and the board because ya’ll have made some
truly significant changes over the past couple of years and I for one want to become a supporter
of this great institution. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Commissioner. The Chair recognizes the Chairman of
Administrative Services Commissioner Marion Williams.
Mr. M. Williams: Dr. Sullivan and to all of those who (unintelligible) of Paine I’m
normally known as the Dean of the Commission but the Mayor decided to give me my title as
Administrative Chair which I do hold. I just want to say that I echo the sentiments of everybody
who said some stuff and I don’t know about these other fellas. I’m not a transplant; I’ve been
here all my life. As I child I walked by Paine I didn’t attend Paine but I walked by Paine and I
know the struggles that Paine has had not just Paine but this community have had. Paine has
been a backbone in helping and changing some situations that would not have been changed had
it not been for Paine. I remember the fire in the early 60’s I’ll say mid 60’s when that horrible
fire but Paine bounced back and I think Paine’s going to bounce back from this. I think we just
need to put our shoulders to the wheel. Now I don’t know what this government can do as a
whole but I think this family as a whole the City of Augusta can do some great things to help
Paine to get Paine back where it needs to be. Dr. Sullivan, I think you’re doing all you can do
and when you’ve done all you can do then the rest is just a stand and things can happen. I’m a
believer; I believe that there’s a higher power that’s going to straighten this thing out for us it’s
going to get Paine back to what it is. I don’t think Paine happened by chance, I think we have to
do something ourselves. I say it all the time I tell my colleagues that there ain’t but three kind of
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people in the world: people that see things happen, people that make things happen and people
that stand around and say what happened. So I think we’ve got to start making some things
happen. I think we’ve got to be able to see those things and do those things and I’m in support of
Paine. Dr. Sullivan, I guess I need to know from you what do you expect from this governing
body because it is a governing body because it is the people’s business, the people’s money. I’m
willing to do anything I can now I may not have many dollars but I’ve got a bunch of ideas. I got
a bunch of things I think you have to try and do to get to where we need to be. I think what
you’re doing now is a great step. I do applaud what you were just saying, I do applaud the
struggle that you’ve been through and the struggle makes us stronger believe it or not. Some
people complain and I hope Mary Davis is listening to me because I talked to her earlier when
you go through something it makes you stronger, it makes you able to stand against the next
thing. And I had to learn it the hard way so that’s why I can talk about it so good, I’ve been
through some things myself. But I’m saying that to Paine today that I am totally with you 100%.
I just need to know how we can help move you forward to get you in a position where you can
make those things happen. If you just stand back and wait on it, it ain’t going to happen by
itself. So I think you’re on the right page and I salute you 100%. That’s all I have, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Dr. Sullivan, would you like to speak to the question the Commissioner
asked?
Dr. Sullivan: I think as far as what you can do to help us when I took the Chair here we
had student collectibles of about $2.3 million dollars. What that really translated into was Paine
College is doing a lot for a lot of students who didn’t have the money. Now that’s what Paine
has been about but Paine is a business, however, we can’t afford to continue to allow students to
matriculate who can’t pay. What we did was to take a position to go out and try and raise the
money to help those kids who are good students, good C+ students, good B students, good A
student where they didn’t have resources we thought we’d go out and try to find resources and
we did we made a lot of progress doing that. One of the things I think we can do more of is
identify more scholarship money that can be given to those students who are absolutely great
students who simply come from disadvantaged backgrounds and cannot do all that they need to
do or their parents can’t do to help them straight away. That’s one thing and I think if we can sit
and talk about how to iron that out, how to bring in some additional scholarship money which
translates really into operational money once you apply it to a bill we’ll be in much, much better
shape. But we have to operate our school a little bit more businesslike and we’ve taken the steps
to do that. And we’re trying to identify those resources, those kind of resources up front so that
we can make the offer to students and know exactly where they are their parents will know
where they are as we try to find a way to provide them educational experiences at Paine.
Mr. Mayor: All right, our last commenter. The Chair recognizes Commissioner Fennoy.
Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Mayor, at this time I’d like to make a motion that Dr. Sullivan
and the Administrator get together and bring back to this Commission a recommendation
of how the City can help Paine if at all.
Mr. Lockett: I second that, Mr. Mayor.
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Mr. Mayor: I’ve got a motion and a second. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner
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from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Chair. Dr. Sullivan, once again it’s a pleasure to see you
here today. And I don’t how many you share with your colleagues or the alumnus there I share
with my colleagues as of right now that I had an opportunity to sit with you for a little over an
hour last Wednesday. Like I shared with you I have been observing you from afar in terms of
your mission in trying to do Paine College. What impressed me the most to know that you were
a retiree have retired all of three years playing golf three times a week and enjoying life. And as
you stand before us today you’re not a Paine alumni anything you know you retired from GRU,
Augusta State, Augusta University I think you know you retired from there for nine years and
you know it’s a beautiful thing to see someone in the forefront don’t have to do that to make
those kinds of sacrifices. My colleague Commissioner Marion Williams who just said about
going through some things and he was telling my colleague Mary Davis about some of those
things he went through to make whatever point they were discussing I don’t know what that was
but at the same time because in life we don’t go through things we grow through things. And I
think as a community right now you stand before us today I concur with my colleague once
again to say I don’t know exactly what we can do as a government but most sure you will find
that out whatever that is when you speak with our Administrator. But for sure for one thing I
think you have an auditorium full of people right here a chamber full of supporters with you
today and before they get out of here today I would like every one of them everyone out there
their names and numbers on my paper. I shared with you the other day I would do something
one way of the other to help Paine and I plan to do that and it starts with the supporters you have
here today to get their name and number. I’ll be bringing a pad out there I guess as they head out
of the chamber. I know, Mr. Mayor, they won’t be disturbing once we cast this vote. But it’s a
pleasure to see you and you’re a good man and my hat’s off to you and we’re going to get this
right. Like I shared with you the other day and I’m going to share with my colleagues and I’m
going to leave this alone, Mr. Chair, I’ve always believed, I’ve been born and raised here in
Augusta as well all my life and I’ve always believed there’s something special about Augusta
and it’s never left my spirit. It’s a lot of things and I believe this is our time as a community to
get behind a cause something as great as this institution here to save it knowing that blacks and
white from a religious perspective got together in 1882 if I’m not mistaken and got together and
formed this institution. With the Mayor’s theme ‘Together we can’ provide an education for the
disadvantaged and I think for us to not to make a grand effort as a body and as a community and
not try and save it I think we fail our own selves. And I think if we do little or nothing at the end
of the day there will be a void in our soul for quite some time if we don’t do our best to make
this institution survive, not survive I’ll say thrive. And so we thank you once again for your
time. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Guilfoyle.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Dr. Sullivan, thank you for coming up here
before this body speaking bringing your alumni your students as well as your staff. There’s a lot
of history that you spoke about Paine College no different than the history we have within
Augusta Richmond County which we need to preserve. I don’t want to see Paine College go
anywhere. I want to see it continue, continue to teach our students and make them into better
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people in the future to place them in careers no different from what Bill Fennoy said Geri Sams,
Bill Lockett, et cetera. I’d be happy to help you any which way I can. I watched it on social
media people had tied me through the Facebook and I was listening and reading all the different
people’s responses, really no solution, there was a lot of negative that was transpired on that
Facebook but I think the alumni that you have with all their education there experience could
give you help, support. I will be happy personally to help any which way I can sir and you know
you coming before us you need to make sure that Augusta Richmond County and Paine College
walks hand in hand from a not only you know visual but from the experience side of it as well to
see how you can get these grants. And we’ve got a lot of good staff actually there’s one right
behind you that knows how to get grants and I’ll be happy to anything I can, sir, all you got to do
is call the Clerk and get my cell number.
Dr. Sullivan: Thank you, I appreciate it.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Thank you, Dr. Sullivan.
Dr. Sullivan: Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: All right ---
Mr. Lockett: Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: --- hold on, hold on, hold on we have brought ourselves to this place of a
delegation and the Chair’s been very gracious today. We have a motion and a second for this. I
too share in the sentiments that have been expressed.
Mr. Lockett: Point of Personal Privilege.
Mr. Mayor: Hold on, hold on. The Chair is committed to Paine College just as you’ve
heard from everyone else committed to support Paine in every way possible not just writing
letters but financially as well. It’s one thing to talk about it but we’ll even write a check to
support your efforts.
Dr. Sullivan: Thank you.
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Mr. Mayor: We’ve got a motion and a second. All right the Commissioner from the 5
wants a Point of Personal Privilege. I will recognize you for an inquiry. State your inquiry.
Mr. Lockett: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. All I wanted to do is find out for myself and for
others that are interested in making contributions or how could they go about making it. Thank
you.
Mr. Mayor: Well, I’ll speak to that. Included in your packets that are before you there is
a slip and in that slip has all of the information where you can transmit it to the school where you
can make that contribution. Their campaign packets that is before each of you on your chair it
has in there a very nice little slip that has a gift form and you can make a gift at a number of
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levels. You can be a member of the 1882 Club all the way to the Presidents Platinum Society
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Club. If I know anything about the Commissioner from the 5 just like the Commissioner from
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the 4 Commandos we’ve started calling them they certainly could approach that number.
Mr. Lockett: Well, Mr. Mayor ---
Mr. Mayor: You may.
Mr. Lockett: --- Mr. Mayor, one question the people have to hear it I don’t think they
have any packets and the people that’s going to watch this meeting on their television I don’t
think they have it this is why I wanted to let them find out.
Mr. Mayor: All right so for those watching, Dr. Sullivan, your office and your V.P.’s
office they’re available to receive these requests?
Dr. Sullivan: Absolutely ---
Mr. Mayor: They can also go onto Paine College’s website Paine.edu and they can find
these, find this information. They can contribute at will and it’s like church you can tithe as
often as you want to. All right, I’ve got a motion and a second. All right state your inquiry the
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Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I’ve been kind of quiet listening to the presentation by
Dr. Sullivan and my colleagues comments. So I’m not originally from Augusta nor am I a Paine
alumni but I will say this, Mr. Mayor, I’m already up the ladder on your level so I appreciate
your thought but I’m way ahead of you. Thank you very much.
Mr. Mayor: All right now be careful the ladder’s got five rungs on it. You don’t want to
be on the first step.
Mr. Sias: I’m still way ahead of you.
Mr. Mayor: Paine, we are here to support you. You are our institution and this is your
community and we are standing together. Voting.
Mr. G. Smith out.
Motion Passes 9-0.
Dr. Sullivan: Mr. Mayor, if you will permit me to express my sincere appreciation and to
the Commission for all that you said today on behalf of Paine College. My faculty, staff,
students who joined me we really are appreciative of what you’ve done and we look forward to
continue to work with you. Thank you so much.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Dr. Sullivan, thank you Paine College. We’ll give you, if you’re
exiting we’ll give you an opportunity to leave but if you’d like to stay here and help us do the
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people’s business we are here we really appreciate that as well. Commissioner Williams, it looks
like they’re leaving the church after the signing ended.
Mr. M. Williams: That’s what it looks like.
Mr. Mayor: The singing is over with so now they’re leaving, they don’t want to hear the
preacher. The Commission will come to order. All right the Chair recognizes Madam Clerk.
The Clerk: Yes, sir, I call your attention to the consent agenda which consists of items 1-
26, items 1-26. For the benefit of any objectors to our Planning petitions once those petitions are
read would you please signify your objections by raising your hand. I call your attention to:
Item 1: Is a request for a change of zoning from a Zone A (Agriculture) to a Zone B-1
(Neighborhood Business) affecting property known as 2485 Tobacco Road.
Item 2: Is a change of zoning request from a Zone R-1 (One-family Residential) to a
Zone B-2 (General Business) affecting property on Davant Road.
Item 3: Is a request for a change of zoning from a Zone R-2 (Two-family Residential to a
Zone P-1 (Professional) affecting property at 1112 Emmett Street, 1629 and 1631 Newberry
Street.
The Clerk: Are there any objectors to any of those Planning petitions? Okay, I call your
attention to the Public Services portion of our agenda. If there are any objectors to any of the
alcohol petitions would you please signify your objections once the petition is read. I call you
attention to:
Item 4: Is a request for an on premise consumption Liquor, Beer and Wine License to be
used in connection with Grain or Shine 2706 Gordon Highway.
Item 5: Is for an on premise consumption Liquor, Beer and Wine License to be used in
connection with the Fifty Six Pub & Grub located at 4020 Mike Padgett Highway.
Item 6: Is for an on premise consumption Liquor, Beer and Wine License to be used in
connection the Clarion Suites located at 3038 Washington Road.
Item 7: Is for an on premise consumption Liquor, Beer and Wine License to be used in
connection with the location at 832 Cabela Drive.
The Clerk: Are there any objectors to any of those alcohol petitions? Mr. Mayor,
members of the Commission, our consent agenda consists of items 1-26 with no objectors to our
Planning or Alcohol petitions.
Mr. Mayor: The Chair will entertain any motions at this time to add or pull items from
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the consent agenda. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 8.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Mr. Mayor, to add to the consent agenda. Madam Clerk ---
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Mr. Guilfoyle: --- I’d like to add agenda item number 28.
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The Clerk: Twenty-eight?
Mr. Guilfoyle: Yes, ma’am, agenda item number 30 ---
The Clerk: 30, yes, sir.
Mr. Guilfoyle: --- agenda item number 31 ---
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Mr. Guilfoyle: --- and agenda item number 32, Madam Clerk.
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Thank you so much. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, anyone else?
The Clerk: For the record, Mr. Mayor, item number 30, Commissioner Guilfoyle, we
will be waiving the second reading on that ordinance, am I correct?
Mr. Mayor: That is correct.
The Clerk: Okay, thank you.
Mr. Mayor: All right ---
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, I have a question about 31.
Mr. Mayor: --- okay, all right ---
Mr. M. Williams: (inaudible) question I didn’t hear what it is.
Mr. Mayor: --- he has a question about number 31.
The Clerk: That item was referred back to Finance Commissioner.
Mr. Mayor: Right.
The Clerk: I call your attention to your addendum agenda. Item number 31 if we could
please that was referred back to the Finance Committee second meeting in January along with
the direction to the Law Department to provide loan procedure documents to all members of the
Commission.
Mr. Mayor: Is that good, Commissioner?
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Mr. Hasan: Yes, that’s fine.
Mr. Mayor: All right, very good.
Mr. Sias: We’re taking that off, right?
Mr. Mayor: It’s simply being referred back to committee Commissioner so we added it
to the consent agenda. All right so what’s before us right now is good. It’s on the addendum
you should refer to your addendum item number 31 is what we talked about in the Pension
Committee meeting. I think if you vote based on what’s in front of you we’re going to be in a
good place. All right?
Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor, I need some clarity on one item. I mean I don’t need to
pull it but if I can get clarity on item 18. I think the Downtown Development Authority, so what
happened with item 18, can somebody tell me does that come back to this Commission?
Mr. Mayor: Well, it think it’s item 18 was a matter in your notebooks under that tab what
we’re approving SPLOST VI funds and this is the Memorandum of Understanding. The funds
are already there from SPLOST VI and this MOU that authorizes the DDA to proceed with that
work at this time, that’s what’s going on.
Mr. M. Williams: And my question will that come back to this body after the, before the
work is done I guess not afterwards. Now I mean I’m in support now but I don’t want to wait
until the gate closes then you want to save the horse I got to keep (unintelligible) inside.
Mr. Mayor: Right. Madam Administrator?
Ms. Jackson: Yes, sir, the DDA we’ll make it clear to the DDA staff that they are to
come back before this body with the plans for any projects they implement under this agreement.
This is just setting in place an agreement acknowledging that we’re going to use them to carry
out this aspect of SPLOST VI projects. But you all will have authority to review the plan,
designs and plans for those projects.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay, I mean I’ve got no problem with that I just want to make sure
that we didn’t just approve this and that be it so.
Mr. Mayor: I think the same applies to item number 21, Commissioner, so I think we’ll
take the same approach with that one as well as you may have a question.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay.
Mr. Mayor: You good?
Mr. M. Williams: I’m good.
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Mr. Mayor: Thank you, sir. All right we’re ---
Mr. Sias: Move to approve.
Mr. Fennoy: Second.
CONSENT AGENDA
PLANNING
1. Z-15-49 – A request from the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to approve with
the conditions below a petition by George Duehring, on behalf of Georgia Baptist
Children’s Home, requesting a change of zoning from Zone A (Agriculture) to Zone B-1
(Neighborhood Business) affecting property containing approximately 3.69 acres and is
known as 2485 Tobacco Road. Tax Map 142-3-032-00-0 DISTRICT 4. 1. Approval of the
revised concept plan received 12-07-2015 limits access of the entrance driveway to a single
curb-cut on Tobacco Road and provides adequate internal access for future phase
development of the site (Parcel B on revised concept plan). Access and the detention pond
shall be shared with Parcel B. There shall be no access to Tobacco Road from Parcel B. 2.
Maintain a minimum 40 foot natural buffer along the east boundary of the property where
land development and clear cutting is prohibited. 3. Prohibit convenience and liquor stores
on the subject property. 4. Any development of the property shall comply with the
landscape standards in the Tree Ordinance. 5. The site plan must comply with any other
ordinances and regulations in effect at the time of construction. 6. Any new curb-cuts and
necessary right-of-way and easements for the site are subject to approval from the Augusta
Engineering Department.
2. Z-15-50 – A request from the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission t approve with the
conditions below a petition by HREAL LLC, requesting a change of zoning from Zone R-1
(One-family Residential) to Zone B-2 (General Business) affecting property containing
approximately 1 acre and is known as those portions of 107 and 109 Davant Road located
in Augusta-Richmond County and all of 111 Davant Road. Tax Map 010-0-008-00-0
DISTRICT 7 1. Prohibit multiple-family residential uses on the property. 2. Ensure that
the property complies with all aspects of the Tree Ordinance and applicable landscaping
standards and co-ordinate with Columbia County to ensure a consistent landscape plan. 3.
Site plan must comply with any other ordinances and regulations in effect at the time of
construction. 4. Any new curb-cuts and necessary right-of-way and easements for the site
are subject to approval from the Augusta Engineering Department.
3. Z-15-51 – A request from the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to approve with
the conditions below a petition by Brad Senter, on behalf of Xytex Corp., requesting a
change of zoning from Zone R-2 (Two-family Residential) to Zone P-1 (Professional)
affecting property containing .37 acres and is known as 1112 Emmett Street and 1629 and
1631 Newberry Street. Tax Maps 045-2-251-00-0, 045-2-252-00-0, 045-2-253-00-0
DISTRICT 1 1. Parking lot and security lighting must be directed away from residential
properties located to the east of the subject property. 2. Ensure that the property complies
with all aspects of the Tree Ordinance and applicable landscaping standards. 3. Site plan
must comply with any other ordinances and regulations in effect at the time of
construction.
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PUBLIC SERVICES
4. Motion to approve New Ownership Application: 15-63: A request by Charles Burks for
an on premise consumption Liquor, Beer and Wine License to be used in connection with
Grain or Shine located at 2706 Gordon Highway. There will be Dance. District 4. Super
District 9. (Approved by Public Services Committee December 8, 2015)
5. Motion to approve New Application: A.N. 15-64: request by Dana Faircloth for an on
premise consumption Liquor, Beer and Wine License to be used in connection with Fifty
Six Pub & Grub located at 4020 Mike Padgett Highway. There will be Dance. District.
Super District 9. (Approved by Public Services Committee December 8, 2015)
6. Motion to approve New Ownership Application: A.N. 15-65: request by Shaaid H.
Kasim for an on premise consumption Liquor, Beer and Wine License to be used in
connection with 4 SK Kasim d/b/a Clarion Suites located at 3038 Washington Road.
District 7. Super District 10. (Approved by Public Services Committee December 8, 2015)
7. Motion to approve New Application 15-62: request by Clarence S. Chambliss, Jr. for an
on premise consumption Liquor, Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with GTC
Riverwatch, LLC located at 832 Cabela Drive. This will be a Restaurant/Entertainment
Venue. There will be Sunday Sales. District 7. Super District 10. (Approved by Public
Services Committee December 8, 2015)
8. Motion to approve Amendment #1 to the 2016 Cooperative Agreement with CSRA
Regional Commission for Senior Nutrition Services for Augusta, GA. (Approved by Public
Services Committee December 8, 2015)
9. Motion to approve accepting the Grounds and Landscaping Contract with Davis Lawn
Care LLC as approved by the Augusta Aviation Commission Meeting on October 29, 2015.
(Approved by Public Services Committee December 8, 2015)
10. Motion to approve the purchase of three (3) transit coaches, spare parts, and training
from GILLIG LLC in the amount of $1,291,416.00. (Approved by Public Services
Committee December 8, 2015)
11. Motion to renew the Sec. 5311 Rural Transit grant application between the Georgia
Department of Transportation (GDOT) and Augusta, Georgia for July 1, 2016 to June 30,
2017. (Approved by Public Services Committee December 8, 2015)
12. Motion to approve a request by Jing Zhao for a Therapeutic Massage Operators
License to be used in connection with Jing Salon LLC located at 103 Shartom Drive.
District 7. Super District 10. (Approved by Public Services Committee December 8, 2015)
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
13. Motion to approve the cancellation of the December 28, 2015 Special Called and
committee meetings and refer all agenda items to the January 5, 2016 regular meeting.
14. Motion to approve the renegotiation of the ADP contact for Health and Welfare
services to exclude Participant Call Center services. (Approved by Administrative Services
Committee December 8, 2015)
FINANCE
15. Motion to approve requests from the Augusta Recreation Department for the
replacement of three E350 work detail vans using 2015 Capital Outlay. (Bid Item 15-215)
(Approved by Finance Committee December 8, 2015)
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16. Motion to approve a request from the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office for the
replacement of 2-E350 prisoner transport vans using Phase VI Sales Tax funds. (Approved
by Finance Committee December 8, 2015)
17. Motion to approve a request for funding in the amount of $25,000 from the Greater
Augusta Arts Council for the support of the 2015 Arts in the Heart Festival. (Approved by
Finance Committee December 8, 2015)
18. Motion to approve Memorandum of Understanding with Downtown Development
Authority for SPLOST projects. (Approved by Finance Committee December 8, 2015)
19. Motion to approve the continuation of the GPS annual tracking service subscription
with SkyBitz. (Approved by Finance Committee December 8, 2015)
ENGINEERING SERVICES
20. Motion to approve award of Construction Contract to JHC Corporation in the amount
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of $1,468,821.00 for Transportation Investment Act (TIA) Project, 7 Street Bridge over
Augusta Canal (Bridge Replacement) as requested by AED. Award in contingent upon
receipt of signed contracts and proper bonds. (Bid Item 15-224) (Approved by Engineering
Services Committee December 8, 2015)
21. Motion to approve Memorandum of Understanding with Downtown Development
Authority for Jones Street Alley project. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee
December 8, 2015)
22. Motion to approve award of Construction Contract to E.R. Snell Contractor in the
amount of $3,978,534.40 for Transportation Investment Act (TIA) Project, Old
Waynesboro over Spirit Creek (Bridge Replacement) as requested by AED. Award is
contingent upon receipt of signed contracts and proper bonds. (Approved by Engineering
Services Committee December 8, 2015)
23. Motion to approve award of Construction Contract to E.R. Snell Contractor in the
amount of $898,707.65 for Transportation Investment Act (TIA) Project, Scotts Way over
Raes Creek (Bridge Replacement) as requested by AED. Award is contingent upon receipt
of signed contracts and proper bonds. (Bid Item 15-233) (Approved by Engineering
Services Committee December 8, 2015)
PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS
24. Motion to approve the minutes of the regular meetings of the Commission held
November 17, 2015, December 1, 2015 and Special Called Meetings held December 1 and 8,
2015)
APPOINTMENTS
25. Motion to approve the appointment of Ann Helms to the Citizens Small Business
Advisory Committee representing District 7.
26. Motion to ratify the Augusta-Richmond County Legislative Delegation’s appointment
of Dr. Russell R. Moores to the ARC Historic Preservation Commission.
FINANCE
28. Motion to approve the revised use of Drug Alcohol Treatment and Education (DATE)
proceeds per the MOU between Sheriff Roundtree and Judge Watkins.
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SUBCOMMITTEE
Pension Committee
30. Motion to approve adoption of the revised Adoption Agreements, General Addendum,
and Service Credit Purchase Agreement for the GMEBS 1 Plan.
Pension Committee
31. Motion to approve a request to add loans to the Richmond County Commission’s 457
Plan.
Pension Committee
32. Motion to approve the Restatement and Termination of Augusta-Richmond County
Planning Commission’s Georgia Municipal Association 401(a) Defined Contribution Plan.
Mr. Mayor: Voting.
Mr. G. Smith out.
Motion Passes 9-0. [Items 1-26, 28, 30, 31, 32]
Mr. Mayor: Ms. Bonner, what I’d like to do at this point is on the Addendum or rather
the items to the agenda what I’d like to take up number three at this time.
The Clerk: Okay.
Mr. Mayor: Number three on the Addendum.
The Clerk:
ADDENDUM
38. Update from Cypress Golf Management regarding operations at the Augusta Municipal
Golf Course. (Requested by Commissioner Fennoy)
Mr. Mayor: Cypress Management and our friends from The Patch. Okay, the Chair
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recognizes the Commissioner from the 1.
Mr. Fennoy: Yes, the reason I had this placed on the agenda is that I was up at the
Municipal Golf Course also known as The Patch this past Friday. Prior to that I heard some of
my, the guys that I play golf with talk about the improvements that have taken place at The
Patch. The Sunday prior to that our neighborhood association meeting had a meeting on Sunday
at The Patch and when I got, the greens were in good shape, the tee boxes in good shape, the
fairways were in good shape and I can remember riding down Highland Avenue and seeing
green I mean grass and the fairways about two feet tall. And I think that we made a good
decision when we decided to turn the course over to Cypress. I think Ira has done an excellent
job and I just wanted my colleagues to know what has taken place at The Patch since they have
taken over.
Mr. Mayor: All right.
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Mr. Ira: Good afternoon, Mayor Davis, Commissioners and citizens of Augusta. On
behalf of Cypress Golf Management we’ve taken this golf course very serious and we wanted to
change into something that the city and the citizens could be proud of here in Augusta and make
it be the home that it used to be. And if you look through your booklet there you can see various
pictures of changes that have been made on the golf course. We did some changes on some of
the walls out there we took some of the railroad ties down that were all rotting out and you can
see there were the walls have been changed. And if you look at your front cover you see the
entrance way. You used to pass by and see that ugly green sign out there and that has changed.
Here my name is Ira, this is my the President John Vogel with Cypress Golf Management and
I’m here and he has a few things he wants to go over.
Mr. Vogel: Good afternoon and thank you for having us. I see some new faces and some
old faces. It’s nice to meet the new ones and it’s good to see the ones that have been around.
Thank you we are working hard out there we try to be humble and we’ve got a great crew out
there. You know we take our business very seriously and we’ve been hard at it you know getting
the golf course back in condition you know was the key in getting a lot of the players back to the
golf course and you know reestablishing its image in the market place if you will and we’ve been
very fortunate to be successful getting a lot of that back right now. So we’ve put in a tremendous
amount of programming, there’s a lot more programming to come. You know it’s a step process
you know I think a year ago when I was here not quite a year ago I kind of said it’s a step
process and you know we’re not perfect, I mean it’s been 18 months and we’ve been very
fortunate. I you know say we’re not perfect I’m sure we’re going to make a mistake we haven’t
made one yet but I’m sure we will but it will be a small one I promise. But you know we’re very
excited about the way the community is kind of re-embracing the golf course. I mean it’s a
community’s golf course, it’s a city’s golf course, we’ve always looked at it that way. I’ve
always been excited about being involved in this project because of the history of the golf
course. And you know it’s great when we’re having a you know there’s a picture in here I don’t
know if anybody picked up on it or not but you know we’ve got a women’s golf clinic on
Thursday night we have twenty ladies come out which is really kind of unprecedented. I mean
it’s a great turnout for women’s golf and I don’t know if you noticed but Jim Dent is in the
picture because he’s also he’s back hanging out at the club and he actually helped our staff
execute for three weeks do our clinics. So you know that sense of community you know tied in
with you know the improvements the conditions improving at the golf course it’s just an exciting
place to be. I mean and I think for a lot of the folks who play golf there you know for years and
years and years that you know it’s giving them a sense of pride and you know they’re proud of
the golf course. And that’s what we’re excited about I mean it’s the biggest thing for us. You
know we’ve taken a database of zero and we’ve got over a thousand people in our email
database. You know there’s you know different postings in here to Facebook. I mean obviously
we’re you know we’re in tune with all of the SCO and the social media so you know we let
people blog away and you know there’s pages of blogs in here. You know I can’t tell you you
know just Saturday we had a member sign back up who said he’d never come back to the golf
course. I mean we get one here we get one there but it’s exciting, it’s a lot of fun and it’s
exciting and obviously we couldn’t do it without you know your support and you know we’ve
got a lot of fun things to come. You know over like for Augusta you know during the Masters
this year we have Cyber Golf coming out we’re going to do a night it’s kind of like a night light
golf program, you’ll get emails on all this stuff. Hopefully you’re signed up if you’re not join
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our E Club and but we’ve got PUMA and Miller have sponsored it so you come out hit some
balls in the dark glow balls and we’ll be giving away some prizes. We’re in the process of we’re
narrowing down some golf cars, new golf cars. You know we’ve got EZ-Go who’s local who’s
in Richmond County and they’ve been very aggressive and have been working with us. We have
Yamaha also that isn’t in Richmond County however they don’t have a home in Augusta and
they’re aggressively looking for a golf course to call home in Augusta, very aggressively you
know as far as hosting events for sales folks and for people during the Masters so a lot of
exciting things going on. I mean it’s great that the you know we’re able to you know have that
type of competition for the golf course and people that want to be attached to it and you know
I’ve got a list of a bunch of things if you want to hear them all I’d be more than sharing but I
know you’ve got a lot of business to do so maybe you want to ask questions and ---
Mr. Mayor: We want to take a few questions, John. I will tell you I am not a scratch
golfer but I can assure you that nothing rides like an EZ-Go.
Mr. Vogel: Fair enough, fair enough.
Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 8th.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Hopefully ya’ll will stay with EZ-Go because that’s one of our hometown
people. But you know I wouldn’t go to that golf course, I would not, if it had sorry service sorry
food and a sorry golf course but ya’ll got three opposite, you’ve got good food, good service and
a good golf course and I don’t mind. And I will reach out to my colleagues if you only have
about thirty minutes to eat and you’ve got a couple dollars in your pocket stop by there get you a
sandwich, chips and a coke as it’s real quick. I want to thank ya’ll for the improvements that you
have done out there at the golf course. Thank you.
Mr. Vogel: Thank you.
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Mr. Mayor: And I’m going to the Commissioner from the 9 and then I’m going to come
back down here.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I’ll go eat with you, Wayne, but I don’t want
to see a golf ball go in the hole. I mean I don’t mind going to eat that’s not my thing and I’m
glad the sport is what it is being the golf capital of the world. I’ve been saying since day one we
need to work on our course and keep it where it is when my colleagues and previous colleagues
wanted to sell it and get out from under the business I couldn’t understand that. We’re the golf
capital of the world and we’ve got a city golf course why aren’t we investing and improving it.
So I guess saying all that my question is will we or have you thought about doing something
similar to the Augusta National and that is planting vegetation along Highland Avenue so the
curious will have to want to come in and not just ride by and look over there. Now you’ve done
a great job here I see that but I always thought and I’m not a golfer but I see people that are
playing golf walking and they ain’t got nothing to do but that’s their sport. If it was privatized
not privatized wrong word but if it was secure where you couldn’t see around the curious who do
play golf would want to come over there. And once they got over there they’re going to say
wow this is our city course. So I just thought I’d put that out there that I thought that if we did
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that it would make people who was interested in golf even more interested by not being able to
ride by there and see it. You can’t see nothing at Augusta National when you ride. You can fly
over but you can’t hardly see nothing but you sure won’t see nothing riding by there. So I just
thought that was something you might have thought about.
Mr. Vogel: We’ll consider that, for sure.
Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes Commissioner Davis.
Ms. Davis: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. You know we have to make so many decisions up
here and so you forget about some of the real good decisions that we do make. But this was one
of them for sure, ya’ll have definitely turned the course around. I see your revenue’s have more
than doubled in two years, that’s impressive. And I know you mentioned I know a lot of golfers
did leave the course years ago I know a lot of those men and went to another course. You
mentioned that they are starting to come back. What about schools that have left with the school
golf teams? Have you been able to reach back out to them and get them over to the course to see
it and possibly come back to practice there?
Mr. Ira: We have a lot of the schools as a matter of fact we have all of the EDS, St.
Mary’s and all them now they play golf there with their tournaments. We also have the middle
schools, we have the middle school championship and the seasons done there. Westside High
School has come back with us and we have to get Aquinas across the street to start thinking
about that.
Ms. Davis: Yes, I actually work there so give me a call.
Mr. Ira: You can work on that for me but ---
Mr. Vogel: Well and I met Dr. Sullivan today too so ---
Ms. Davis: Yeah, Paine, yeah ---
Mr. Vogel: --- we’ll talk to him about Paine.
Ms. Davis: --- but that’s great to hear and it looks, these pictures are great and I
appreciate all ya’ll’s hard work and your commitment.
Mr. Vogel: Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: All right the Chair recognizes Commissioner Lockett.
Mr. Lockett: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Six years ago my first assignment as a
Commissioner was to chair a committee to save The Patch and I fought for a couple of years
because there were so many that just wanted to get rid of it. But I’m not a golfer. I had driven by
the golf course I’ll bet for thirty years and never set foot on it but I’m very serious about when
given an assignment to make sure whatever I’m trying to do is accomplished. And some of my
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colleagues were surprised when you all came up because I was adamant about us not privatizing
that golf course. But when you all came and I saw your package and I listened to you and I told
them that I supported you all they couldn’t believe it. But I see right now that my feeling was
correct because I don’t want to tell you like my colleague Commissioner Fennoy did that ya’ll
did a great job because you’d be looking for more money but I’m quite pleased with what you all
are doing. And I would like to ask you this. When we talked before about when you all first
took over about attracting some of the Masters crowd from abroad and other places and so forth
you all explained to us it would take a considerable amount of time to get the greens in place and
so forth. Do you think that the greens are in place now where we can attract some of the people
that’s coming in for the Masters?
Mr. Vogel: Absolutely, absolutely we I think in August we really we hit about 100% as
far as coverage on all of our greens. We’re one of only I don’t think anybody else does actually
in the City of Augusta we’re the only ones who actually overseed our greens and our tees. We’re
very fortunate because we have very small greens so I mean it’s an expensive proposition for you
know the bigger golf courses but since we have small greens and small tees it’s very economical
for us to do it. And that’s why when you come out to The Patch if you get a chance to come out
and play our greens are green right now they’re not kind of brown and painted because that
Bermuda grass goes dormant when it gets cool so we put a, we overseed with a cool season grass
and that’s why it’s green and vibrant and you know real succulent and it looks so nice. And I
think we’re the only ones in town that actually do that. So you know and we like that strategic
advantage for us. You know we market that, we talk about rates you know with obviously our
administrators at the Parks Department that you know we report to on a regular basis and you
know we talked about rates and I do believe we’ll get a good turnout for the Masters. And
actually we’re actually going to be able to go up on our rates this year during Masters week so
we ought to get (inaudible).
Mr. Lockett: Mr. Mayor, my last, last question if I may. When ya’ll advertise when you
market The Patch, do ya’ll make people aware of the fact that this course has been there since I
think 1928 and it’s set up somewhat different than the modern day courses are?
Mr. Vogel: We do but a lot of people know, a lot of people know it already but we do.
We tell them we’re a you know we’ve been around a long time and we are you know a true
traditional what we call a traditional layout is what we refer to it as. And you know it’s not an
easy you know it looks easy to play for you know the regular golfer who plays maybe a 7500
yard golf course who you know you come out to a 6600 yard golf course and it’s a thousand
yards but when your greens are half the size and you’ve got the mature tree lined fairways and
everything else going on the golf course takes a totally different complexion on it and it’s very
challenging for what it is. So you know people appreciate it and understand it and actually one
of the things that we learned during Halloween like next year we you know we always try to
learn and we learn. We had a lot of calls over Halloween for pumpkin patches. When you do
pumpkin patch in Augusta we come up first the golf course comes up first so we’re going to have
a pumpkin patch. So we’re going to take it and run with it and I mean again it kind of ties back
in to our community outreach and so there’s a lot there’s so much cool because of the history
there’s so many ways to integrate to it and we’re just scratching the surface right now we’re
excited how far it can go.
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Mr. Lockett: All right, thank you very much. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, thank you, gentlemen. All right ---
Mr. Fennoy: I’ll make it short, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: --- okay.
Mr. Fennoy: I was out there like I said Friday and the course is playing real easy. I shot
a 66 and a 67.
Mr. Mayor: Wow.
Ms. Davis: How many holes?
Mr. Fennoy: I shot a 66 on the first nine and 67 on the second nine but I’ve got three
concerns. One of the concerns I see you’ve already been trying to negotiate some golf carts but
some of the people complained about the golf carts. Another concern that they have is whether
or not you all would go up on the rate because the golf course is improving and because it’s a
municipal golf course they want to make sure that the rates are affordable. I know you’re in the
business to make a profit but you ought to make sure that the golf course is still affordable. And
in response to what Commissioner Williams said I kind of I got the complete opposite of what
he’s saying because I think if people see can ride down Highland Avenue and they can see the
greens are green and the fairways are good and you could add some more azaleas and some more
shrubbery but I think that would cause people to want to come in and play as opposed to being
curious to see what’s behind the hedges. With the Augusta National I don’t care how much
curiosity you have if you don’t have a ticket you ain’t getting in there. So but you all are doing
an excellent job and again keep up the good work and I appreciate you know the great job that
you all are doing.
Mr. Vogel: Thanks, we have a great staff.
Mr. Mayor: Fantastic well, gentlemen, thank you so much for coming. I was about to
challenge Commissioner Fennoy and others for a nine hole scramble and then I heard 67 and 66
and I was immediately concerned until he said nine holes.
Mr. Fennoy: So game on now, Mr. Chairman?
Mr. Mayor: Game on. All right.
Mr. Vogel: Love to have you out there.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, gentlemen.
Mr. Vogel: Thank you.
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Ms. Davis: Thank ya’ll.
Mr. M. Williams: Motion to receive as information, Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Lockett: I second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second to receive as information. Voting.
Mr. G. Smith out.
Motion Passes 9-0.
Mr. Mayor: All right we’re running the clock now, we’re running the clock. I’ll tell you
needs your help to get them back on track. All right I’m going to need ya’ll’s help to get there.
All right so this is what we’ll do. We’ve got item 27 I guess we’ll go in that order. We’ll follow
your lead now, Ms., Madam Clerk.
The Clerk:
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
27. Discuss filling the position of Compliance Director. (Requested by Commissioner Bill
Fennoy)
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 1.
Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Mayor, I think we have had two previous attempts to come up with
someone for the position of Compliance Director and have been unsuccessful. I think that if we
cannot out of the candidates that we have and we cannot come with a consensus for a
Compliance Director then we need to maybe look at other candidates that have applied or rebid
that position out because we have an ADA Coordinator position that’s not being filled because of
that. We also have an EEO position that’s not being filled because we don’t have a Compliance
Director. So if we can’t come up with one of the two finalists then I think that we need to you
know put out another request for applicants for that position.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 8, 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, I agree with my colleagues that we had
someone come in last week Mr. Morton, Les Morton and I was just talking about the Disparity
Study and discrimination and the things that we’ve been dealing with in this community. And
that one particular position is kind of holding up the whole show so to speak and if we don’t
have additional applications you know versus those top three that we had we don’t go to the next
three then I think we need to go back out. I don’t think we need to hold this city hostage because
we have not moved up here and we’re not going to move. I mean this is too important. We’ve
been talking about and I’m surprised we don’t have people from all over after paying the money
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we paid for the Disparity Study they say we are as a city discriminating against women and
minorities. I’m surprised we don’t have a line from here to at least Greene Street out there
people that want to file suit against us. So to prevent that we need to go ahead and move forward
I think in hiring and getting that person in that position so we can hire the other entities that we
need to be hired. So if that’s not a motion I make a motion to go out for additional applications
to find other candidates since we are deadlocked on the two, Mr. Mayor. But something’s got to
happen, we’ve got to move somewhere, it ain’t going to change by itself.
Mr. Mayor: Are you making a motion?
Mr. M. Williams: That’s a motion.
Mr. Lockett: I’ll second the motion.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, we’ve got a motion and a second. I understand there’s probably
further discussion but we certainly can take this up. I see a couple of hands raised. The Chair
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recognizes the Commissioner from the 4 state your inquiry.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir, that hand was getting tired.
Mr. Mayor: Once I see you, you can put it down.
Mr. Sias: Well, you know how it is sometimes we get impaired up here. But I too agree
that this position needs to be filled. I also know that we’ve had some well qualified people that
have applied for this position. So with that being said I make a substitute motion that we hire
Ms. Alexander as an Interim Director.
Mr. Hasan: Second.
Mr. Mayor: I’ve got a substitute motion with a second to hire someone in an interim role
when the position calls for a permanent role. You might want to rethink that. All right, I’m
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going to go back down here to the Commissioner from the 8.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Mr. Mayor, this position right here affects each and every one of these
department directors. I understand now why the directors did not interview these two or three
candidates. They will not work, this position works directly for the Commission. But this is the
one position that affects each and every one department. When an employee complains either on
an issue or an EEO complaint they have to deal with the director. It’s a very important position
to make sure we get the right person in place. I was going to make a substitute motion but my
colleague had beaten me to it that you know just plain and simple have the directors interview
whoever they come up with, that’s who we hire, it take all the politics out of the picture. But
we’re at an impasse right now and I guess the RFP for a new candidate or committee ---
Mr. Mayor: Okay ---
Mr. Guilfoyle: --- sorry about that, Mr. Mayor, but anyway.
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Mr. Mayor: --- all right I’ve got a motion and a second but I’ve also got a substitute
motion and that substitute motion has a second but I think the language of the substitute motion
is improper. And as such I’m going to recognize the Attorney.
Mr. MacKenzie: Sure, I’d request for the substitute motion to be a motion to offer the
position to Ms. Alexander subject to salary negotiations and to bring it back to the Commission
for further processing.
Mr. Hasan: I’ll second that then.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, so what you now have before you is a motion to hire one of the
candidates that you have an impasse. I want to make sure everyone fully understands you have
an impasse about two candidates and now what have is for the motion to go out and start that
process again because of the impasse. But the substitute is a desire to hire one of those
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individuals. All right, I’m going to recognize the Commissioner from the 9, state your inquiry.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, I’ll say I am I guess I’m disappointed. The
Attorney first of all got no business making no motion that’s the first thing he’s not elected to
this body. We have a contract with someone now who’s serving to work in that position. The
Commissioner may have wanted to do an interim position which you stated was wrong and I
agree with that. We had a motion on the floor to go back, to go back out and try to find another
candidate that we can agree on. But I’m disappointed in the way this one item has been tossed
around thrown back and forth forever and a day that we won’t make a decision on. Now Mr.
Guilfoyle came up with an idea about the department heads do interviews. Politics are going to
be in it any way, Wayne, whether it be the department heads or whether it be up here politics is
in I mean that’s a part of this process. You’ll never take that out when we do it do the right
thing. Now we’re at an impasse now where we’ve been tied five, five and people want to
abstain, they don’t they want to make a decision. We have got to move forward, we’re holding
the community up with this position. Now I don’t want to get into all of the other stuff we done
put in this thing but we done put so much money out there we done paid so much money and to
this day we hadn’t got anything for it that I see. So I’m wondering how the Attorney can walk
up while someone else is talking and I think Commissioner Guilfoyle is talking and try to plant a
seed in somebody’s else head. Now if he wants to be elected he needs to run for a position and
then give up that seat down there he’s doing.
Mr. Mayor: All right that’s (inaudible).
Mr. M. Williams: Well, Mr. Mayor ---
Mr. Mayor: I’m going to give you, I’m not going to cut you off but I want to make sure
that we remain respectful.
Mr. M. Williams: I’m trying to remain respectful but I mean I’ve said it a million times
and it happens all the time and everybody acts like it’s not there. Now this, the decisions we
make up here affects a lot of people in a lot of different ways and he makes, the Attorney makes
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too much money to come in and work both jobs now. So if he’s going to work one he needs to
work that one and leave the other one alone.
Mr. Mayor: All right, I understand.
Mr. M. Williams: Well ---
Mr. Mayor: Let’s do this, why don’t we do this. All right I know I understand your
passion about this, this is a very important issue and we need to bring resolution to it, we do.
Why don’t we do this we’ve got a substitute motion and they’ve tried to clarify that motion at its
base is what everybody needs to understand. The substitute motion is to hire Carmen Alexander
that’s what I just heard and I got a second. Let’s just vote on that and I understand there’s I don’t
know where that’s going to end up at but at any rate we vote up vote it up or down and then we’ll
take the previous motion and we’ll take that one up as well. Okay all right, are we prepared to
do that? All right, voting. We’re waiting on you to vote, Commissioner.
Mr. Sias: (inaudible).
Mr. Mayor: Well ---
Mr. Sias: (unintelligible) I just raised my hand respectfully ---
Mr. Mayor: --- you did.
Mr. Sias: --- like we do.
Mr. Mayor: You absolutely did and I’ve got a substitute motion that you made and a
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second by the Commissioner from the 6. We’re going to vote on that and I’m going to
recognize you to speak but I want you to vote.
Mr. Sias: (unintelligible) Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir, I’m going to recognize you. All right.
Motion Fails 5-4.
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4 state your inquiry.
Mr. Sias: Thank you. I hear the folks saying how this position has been holding us up
and all of these things or this any time during the process anybody had an opportunity to change
their vote or make it unanimous seven, eight or nine or ten. So because everybody’s voting their
conviction doesn’t mean a person is wrong. So be frankly I would just expect if you disagree
with somebody else you disagree that doesn’t mean that you are superior or right or we are
holding the city, I totally disagree with that. If you feel like we’re holding up the city, change
your vote. Thank you.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, what we will do is be respectful to one another and we’re here to
do the people’s business and let’s do that in the most expedient but professional way possible.
All right, I’ve got a motion, I’ve got a motion to proceed with a new search and a proper second.
Again the base motion is to conduct a new search for the position of Compliance Director of
Augusta Richmond County. All those in favor will vote yea and those opposed will vote no.
Voting.
Mr. Fennoy, Mr. Lockett, Mr. Frantom, Mr. Guilfoyle and Mr. M. Williams vote Yes.
Mr. D. Williams, Ms. Davis, Mr. Hasan, and Mr. Sias vote No.
Mr. Grady Smith out.
Motion Fails 5-4.
Mr. Mayor: All right, let’s move on, Madam Clerk.
The Clerk:
FINANCE
29. Consider employees’ buy back of annual leave for the 2015 fiscal year. (No
recommendation from Finance Committee December 8, 2015)
Mr. M. Williams: So moved.
Mr. Fennoy: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right so I want you to hit the pause button. We’ve got a motion
and a second but you need to hear this matter before you vote on this because there are multiple
options. And I don’t remember having decided on an option whether that be two, three, or five.
I know we’re ready to go home. All right I’ve got a motion and a second, Madam Clerk, but the
Chair’s going to recognize the Administrator to speak to this matter.
Ms. Jackson: Yes, sir, the options that were presented to the Finance Committee last
week as you indicated two-day buy back, three day buy-back or five day buy-back. At that time
I think we focused most of our attention on either the two or the three day option. Last time we
had 80% participation rate. If we assume that same participation rate this time around the total
cost of the two-day buy back would be $344,600 dollars. The total cost of the three day buy-
back would be $516,913 so there’s a pretty considerable difference there between two and three.
I think I saw Commissioner Guilfoyle indicate his preference would be for the two day, two day
where the cost would be $344,000 dollars total General Fund cost $239,000.
Mr. Mayor: All right, so Commissioner Guilfoyle would you like to make a ---
Mr. Guilfoyle: Mr. Mayor ---
Mr. Mayor: --- would you like to amend this motion to include.
Mr. Guilfoyle: --- Mr. Mayor, I cannot do that ---
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Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Guilfoyle: --- because Commissioner Bill Fennoy made the motion.
Mr. M. Williams: I made the motion.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Williams made the motion ---
Mr. Guilfoyle: Oh.
Mr. Mayor: --- and the motion was to motion was to approve just what’s written here.
Mr. M. Williams: I amend the motion ---
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Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right I’ll recognize the Commissioner from the 9 would you
amend that, sir?
Mr. M. Williams: --- I’ll amend the motion to two days.
Mr. Fennoy: I’ll second it.
Ms. Jackson: One other point I’d like to clarify that that’s equivalent to 16 hours for
some of our employees that are on different work schedules so it is equivalent to a 16-hour buy-
back.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right so we’ve got a motion we’ve amended the motion to include
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the language that this is a two day buy-back with a second from the Commissioner from the 1.
The Clerk: Mr. Mayor, can we get the Administrator to give that dollar figure for the two
days again so we can make sure --
Ms. Jackson: Okay it is, to respond to your question sir the exact amount $344,609
dollars for including General Fund and all enterprise funds.
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, you have that? Okay that’s what’s before us at this time. Are
there any other further questions?
Mr. Fennoy: I’ve got one question.
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 1.
Mr. Fennoy: Ms. Jackson, will that three-hundred plus thousand come out of the five-
hundred thousand?
Ms. Jackson: This is 2015 money ---
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Mr. Fennoy: Okay.
Ms. Jackson: --- so this is not related to the 2016 budget. This is the 2015.
Mr. Fennoy: (unintelligible). Okay.
Ms. Jackson: And we’d be paying out of lapsed salaries and other savings that we’ve
accomplished throughout the year.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, we’ve got a little bit more business ahead of us so I want to make sure
we get there. All right, voting.
Mr. D. Williams, Ms. Davis and Mr. Frantom vote No.
Motion Passes 6-3.
The Clerk:
APPOINTMENTS
33. Motion to approve the appointment of Mr. Frank Middleton to Board of Tax Assessors
to fill the seat held by Bernard Johnson. (Requested by Commission Marion Williams)
Mr. M. Williams: So moved.
Mr. Hasan: Second.
Mr. Mayor: I’ve got a motion and a second. Voting.
Mr. Hasan and Mr. M. Williams vote Yes.
Mr. Fennoy, Mr. D. Williams, Ms. Davis, Mr. Sias, Mr. Lockett, Mr. Frantom vote No.
Mr. Guilfoyle and Mr. G. Smith out.
Motion Fails 2-6.
Mr. M. Williams: Point of Personal Privilege, Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: Okay just hold for a moment, Commissioner. The Chair recognizes the
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Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. Just a quick question of procedural etiquette I guess. On our
addendum agenda today I just didn’t remember us running through the vote. I’m not trying to go
back that way I just want to know is on our addendum to the agenda how did get them on there
today?
Mr. Mayor: All right so, so items 30 through 32 they were not new items.
Mr. Sias: Okay.
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Mr. Mayor: There’s additional information that was provided but they were already on
your regular agenda. The additions to the agenda are again items 1 and 2 for practical purposes
at which point now being that point, I would ask for unanimous consent to adopt these. Item 3 to
your point, Commissioner, was something that was a delegation that they should have spoke to
and as well asked we should’ve simply just received it as information and moved on but there
was a request to make a motion for that purpose, it was not necessary but this is the proper time
for you to adopt items 1 and 2 through unanimous consent if that’s what you’re asking.
Mr. Sias: But not for the future though, right?
Mr. M. Williams: So moved.
Mr. Mayor: Okay now ---
Mr. Hasan: Second.
The Clerk: We have unanimous consent?
Mr. Mayor: Yes.
The Clerk: Okay.
Mr. Mayor: Without objection? All right now I’m going to recognize the Commissioner
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from the 9 state your inquiry.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. This item we just voted on item 33 we was
informed that I thought we was informed that we had to have cause. I’m just trying to figure out
how to rules different or change from one day to the next. Now if a Commissioner decides to
move somebody off a board ---
Mr. Mayor: Suspend, suspend, Commissioner. Commissioner Lockett, Commissioner
Lockett, I need your, I need your, I need you here on the dais if you don’t mind. We’ve got two
more matters that we need to take up, two more matters. Thank you, sir. Thank you,
Commissioner. Continue.
Mr. M. Williams: --- I was just stating, Mr. Mayor, that if a Commissioner tries to move
someone from a board without cause he has a right to do that. The state just moved someone off
the same board we’re trying to put somebody on without cause so when does the cause come in
effect or when does the cause come into play? Not just this board but with any board how do we
move someone? I talked with my colleague who wants to move somebody off a board and we
got to have cause and they are serving especially on a held over position why do we need cause
to move somebody. And I don’t know why this body won’t vote to move this particular person
but if it’s because of cause and we say we don’t have any but if they’re on a hold over status
they’re held over so they’re really out of turn. So I’m just I want some clarity because I’m tired
of guessing.
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Mr. Mayor: Right.
Mr. M. Williams: All these rocket scientists know what’s going on, they don’t know
where the bathroom’s at.
ADDENDUM
36. Approve award to Construction Contract to E.R. Snell Contractor subject to Value
Engineering and not to exceed in the amount of $2,998,753.67 for TIA Project, Broad
Street over Hawks Gully (Bridge Repair and Replacement) as requested by AED.
37. Approve award of Construction Contract to Reeves Construction subject to Value
Engineering and not to exceed in the amount of $8,308.639 for TIA Project, John C.
Calhoun Expressway Repair and Restoration as requested by AED.
Mr. Mayor: Well, Commissioner, I do not in all fairness to you and to your colleagues I
do not believe that we’ll be able to with certainty provide clarity today. And so we’ve taken a
vote on this matter and we’ll continue the conversation as we move forward and hopefully we
can get to that place. All right so through unanimous consent we have added items to the
agenda, items 1 and 2 and here’s what I’d like to do. DOT as requested us to act on these
pursuant to a conversation with the Administrator and our Engineering Director. We need to
take action on these. I don’t think that there are any concerns from the standpoint of where we
are grants are grants are in play here and I’d like to do, Madam Clerk, is simply roll these two up
and we simply just vote on them. Is that good, Madam Administrator?
Ms. Jackson: Yes.
Mr. Mayor: Okay all right so that’s what we’re going to do. All right items 1 and 2 that
we just added.
Mr. Sias: Move to approve.
Mr. Lockett: Second.
Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes Engineering Services Chair Commissioner
Fennoy.
Mr. Fennoy: Ms. Jackson on the John C. Calhoun Expressway is, it’s Cooper Carey
doing the, I know they’re doing downtown but they’re not doing the Expressway.
Ms. Jackson: I don’t believe they are.
Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes Engineering Director Abie Ladson.
Mr. Ladson: Mr. Mayor and members of the Commission, no, Cooper Carey is not doing
the John C. Calhoun. John C. Calhoun was designed by Toole Engineers and we actually took
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bids on those. And so that’s what that item is is to approve the bid so we can go ahead and start
construction.
Mr. Fennoy: I’m okay with that.
Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ve got a motion and a second. Voting.
Mr. Guilfoyle and Mr. G. Smith out.
Motion carries 8-0.
Mr. Mayor: There be no further business for us today, Madam Clerk ---
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: --- adjourned.
[MEETING ADJOURNED}
Lena Bonner
Clerk of Commission
CERTIFICATION:
I, Lena J. Bonner, Clerk of Commission, hereby certify that the above is a true and correct copy
of the minutes of the Regular Meeting of The Augusta Richmond County Commission held on
December 15, 2015.
______________________________
Clerk of Commission
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