HomeMy WebLinkAboutRegular Commission Meeting May 17, 2016
REGULAR MEETING COMMISSION CHAMBER
MAY 17, 2016
Augusta Richmond County Commission convened at 2:00 p.m., May 17, 2016, the Hon.
Hardie Davis, Jr., Mayor, presiding.
PRESENT: Hons. Lockett, Guilfoyle, Frantom, M. Williams, Smith, Fennoy, Hasan and
Davis, members of Augusta Richmond County Commission.
ABSENT: Hon. D. Williams, member of Augusta Richmond County Commission.
Mr. Mayor: Good afternoon, everyone, welcome to your local government. At this time
we’re going to recognize Madam Clerk to call this meeting to order.
The Clerk: Yes, sir, at this time we’ll ask Pastor Stephan J. Davis, Ebenezer Seventh-Day
Adventist Church to please come forward and deliver our invocation after which our Pledge of
Allegiance to the Flag. Please stand.
The invocation was given by Pastor Stephan J. Davis, Ebenezer Seventh-Day Adventist
Church.
The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America was recited.
Mr. Mayor: Pastor, thank you, we want to thank you for your spiritual guidance and civic
leadership in the community. And thank you for your efforts on today. While we’re preparing for
our next item we’re excited to have with us all of you who are here but we want to take an
opportunity to recognize our Superintendent of Schools Dr. Angela Pringle (APPLAUSE) we’re
excited to have you here along with our School Board President Ms. Helen Minchew.
(APPLAUSE) Welcome. Ms. Bonner.
RECOGNITION(S)
Joshua Toran III
A. Congratulations! Joshua Toran III. Senior Lucy C. Laney Comprehensive High School
on being selected as a Gates Millennium Scholar. (Requested by Commissioners Ben Hasan
and Bill Fennoy)
The Clerk: Good afternoon, at this time we have the great pleasure of recognizing Joshua
Toran III. Senior Lucy C. Laney Comprehensive High School on being selected as the 2016 Gates
Millennium Scholar. Joshua would you please come forward and please join the Mayor,
Commissioner Bill Fennoy and Commissioner Ben Hasan along with our Board President Ms.
Helen Minchew along with our Superintendent Ms. Angela Pringle, Lucy C. Laney’s Interim
Principal Dr. Hawthorne Welcher. Ms. Pulliam, is she here? Come forward please. I’m sorry I
didn’t see you there, this is Joshua’s mother. In recognition of Joshua Toran III whereas Joshua is
a Senior at the Lucy C. Laney High School in Augusta Georgia and participates in the dual
enrollment program at Augusta University and whereas Joshua is an active student an engaged in
the community. He is a member of the Math Team, Football Team, Student Council, President of
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the National Honor Society and the Augusta Richmond County Youth Leadership Class of 2015.
And whereas Joshua attended the Jesse Norman School of Arts, the Congress of Future Physicians
and Medical Leaders in Washington, DC and participated in Payne College Environment Science
Day Camp Training Research experience in environmental science program and worked as an
intern with the Augusta Utilities Department. And whereas Joshua has received many
distinguished honors and awards the 2014 National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical
Science Award of Excellence, 2015 University of Georgia Certificate of Merit Award, the 2015/15
Mr. Wildcat Award, the 2016 Lucy C. Laney Star Student. And whereas Joshua is one of 1,000
high school seniors in the United States chosen for the 2016 Gates Millennium Scholar Award
funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation this scholarship will fund Joshua’s education as he
pursues and undergraduate degree. And whereas Joshua will attend the University of Georgia
Athens this fall and major in biology. Now therefore I Hardie Davis, Mayor of the City of Augusta
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do hereby proclaim May 17 2016 as Joshua Toran, III Day in Augusta, Georgia and urge all
citizens to recognize and applaud his academic achievements and future endeavors. In witness
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thereof I have unto set my hand and cause the Seal of Augusta, Georgia to be affixed this 17 Day
of May 2016. Hardie Davis, Jr., Mayor. (APPLAUSE)
Mr. Toran: First I would like to thank God because without him none of this would be
possible. I have to thank my Mom, I thank my Grandmother, my guidance counselor, Ms. Golatt,
please stand ---
The Clerk: Yes. (APPLAUSE)
Mr. Toran: --- she helped through all my application processes keeping me on track with
them and it wouldn’t have been done without her either so thank you again. (APPLAUSE)
Ms. Speaker: I would just like to thank the City of Augusta definitely this is indeed an
honor. He is definitely a product of the Richmond County School System, public school system
(APPLAUSE) and so I am an educator as well and I firmly believe in education that’s all he’s has
heard since Pre-K, really before that. And so it’s been an honor and as he goes on to Athens of
course I’m just going to continue to ask for your prayers and I just pray that he continues to make
us all proud. And so thank you once again. (APPLAUSE)
Mr. Hasan: Good evening this is kind of a personal story for myself. Several years ago I
happened to be listening to Fatz and Cher in the morning and I heard this great young man with
these great orator skills doing some speeches. So after that I called Cher to try to find out who
was he. She would give me very limited information, just told me what school he attended. At
that time, he attended C.T. Walker School. So I went over the C.T. Walker School and I was able
to track him down and get a chance to meet with his mother. The little bit that I know I also had
met him previously his age of three of four years old when they came into my store he was running
for something a program called TOT and he was looking for an advertisement. And we
participated in that as well and he was successful. If I’m not mistaken he won that right, he did
win that. And with that being said as he began to come out of A.R. Johnson to attend Laney I
remember somewhat being informed by the mother about his choice in terms of wanting to come
out of Davis and attend Laney. So at that point there was a lot of hesitation and reservations about
that because he was on track to do some great things but eventually they come to a meeting of the
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mind he understood what her demands were and he decided to uphold those demands. And as a
result of that we have what we have here today. The interesting thing about him playing football
to show you how determined his mother was what is interesting around the story is that as he began
to that first summer began to practice he realized how hot it was out there. He wanted to give it
up. So at that particular time his mother took him back to the coach and as a result of that he stayed
to Laney and as a result that we have that today for their persistence. But I also just want to make
mention what is truly, truly there’s a lot of symbolism having him here today for me because I
attended as an alumni of Laney I see Laney as an education institution and the namesake Lucy
Craft Laney, a great educator across the State of Georgia. And as the Mayor would attest her
picture hangs in the state capital as a result of that. But also we have a young man here today as
we go into a new school next year Richmond County Board of Education decided that Laney
needed a new school. And with that we’re hoping a new mindset and once again the appreciation
for education as Ms. Lucy Craft Laney embarked upon years ago. And so we’re symbolically as
we are honoring in real life terms we are honoring Joshua today we’re also hoping that the young
people as they go through those halls of Laney in the future will realize that we turned a page
today. And as a result of that education will become first and foremost and it will no longer be
seen in many ways as an athletic institution but as an education institution and we can forward
with that. Thank you very much for your time. (APPLAUSE)
Mr. Fennoy: Good evening. I would just like to take this opportunity to thank Joshua for
academic excellence but I would also like to thank Dr. Pringle for the outstanding job that she’s
doing in order to get the school of Richmond County back to the level that they once were. At one
time all of the doctors or lawyers, the teachers, the preachers that live in Augusta, Georgia came
out of Lucy Craft Laney. I am not a graduate of Lucy Craft Laney, unfortunately, I graduated from
Carver High School in Spartanburg, SC but I know the great job that the students and the teachers
and the staff try to do to educate and motivate our kids to want to be something and want to be
somebody. This Friday we will be honoring two students at Hornsby Elementary School that have
achieved high academic excellence and hopefully they will be attending Laney also. Again
congratulations and you sort of raised the bar to everybody but that’s a good thing and keep up the
good work. Thank you. (APPLAUSE)
Ms. Minchew: Good afternoon as President of Richmond County Board of Education I
just want to express our appreciation first of all to Mayor Davis and Commissioner Fennoy,
Commissioner Hasan for having this honor bestowed on one of our finest students. And I just
want to say congratulations to Joshua and his Mom and we wish him the very best. And I just
wanted to make another point and it was mentioned that this is an example of one of our Richmond
County students who has gone through the whole public school system here in Richmond County.
And I think he has of course has recognized his considerable achievements I just thought wow I
don’t know how anybody could possibly get so much done in their high school career and even
started before. But we have many students and we are proud of all of our students and this is just
Joshua’s example of many who set out and achieve and do well and strive and they bring honor to
our school system. And I just want to again wish him and his family and another point is his
mother and grandmother’s involvement. This is where it all begins it begins with the parent the
family and home. This is who instills that love of education in children and this is what is needed
throughout the whole school district as well as throughout the nation as far as public school
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education. But any way congratulations and thank you again for having us come and recognize
Joshua. (APPLAUSE)
Ms. Pringle: And, Joshua, we’re very proud of you and his mother is one of our teachers
and thank you so much for having belief in the public school system. Joshua you are a role model
for your peers and certainly for other students to come so we thank you for being such a great
student. And I think the partnership the support from you Mayor Davis, Commissioner Hasan,
Commissioner Fennoy for recognizing our students for the great work it’s so appreciated. I think
often times our students they work very hard but we often times hit the negative and so this is a
very positive day exciting day and we thank you all for your support. (APPLAUSE)
Mr. Speaker: Very quickly job well done son. (APPLAUSE)
The Clerk: Indulge us one more. We have, Joshua, there are many in the community who
are wishing you well and wanted you to know that they’re standing with you in your endeavors to
reach your destiny and in celebration of your success these tokens of their esteem for you.
(APPLAUSE) As you may have noted in the proclamation Joshua is also a product of the City of
Augusta most notable and distinguished Civic Professional Career Job Training Intern Youth
Program. At this time, we will hear brief remarks from our Richmond County Tax Commissioner,
Mr. Steven Kendrick, followed by the Director of our Augusta Utilities Department, Mr. Tom
Wiedmeier.
Mr. Kendrick: Well, I wasn’t planning to say anything I was trying to hide in the back.
Joshua is indeed a product of Youth Leadership Augusta which is program that has been going on
for the last 12 years in our community. He also is one of the few students who get a chance to
intern here with the City of Augusta. Last year he served as an intern with the Utilities Department
along with 20 other students in the city and he as most of them do an outstanding job. In the time
he spent with our program Joshua was a model for the students in that program. Not only was he
an intern in Youth Leadership he also was an outstanding Leadership Award winner. And so it
goes without saying that we are very proud of him we congratulate him and we certainly didn’t
want to steal any of his day we wanted to stay in the back but we’re certainly happy for you and
congratulate you. And my daughter is going to Georgia next year with him so I’m going to try to
make sure they stay close to one another because he’s got the best grades in town so we’re going
to make sure they do that together. Congratulations. (APPLAUSE)
Mr. Wiedmeier: Joshua, I want to thank you for the time you spent with us last summer
and want you to know we’re very proud of you at the Utilities Department so we’ve got a little
token. (APPLAUSE)
The Clerk: Joshua, this is your day and I promise you we’ll be done in a few. This is on
behalf of Commissioner Hasan and Fennoy. Dear Joshua we personally would like to congratulate
you on your selection as a distinguished 2016 Gates Millennium Scholar, what an accomplishment.
We are happy that someone from Augusta was among this year’s recipients. There is no doubt
you have earned this prestigious award and we are confident it will not be the last. You have
worked hard for this great achievement and no one is more deserving of the scholarship you have
attained. We are proud of you and we both wish you continued success. Best regards,
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Commissioner Bill Fennoy District 1, Commissioner Ben Hasan District 6. We’d also like to have
honorable mentions for a gift and token from the Crystal Corporation former Commissioner Keith
Brown and also we would like to acknowledge if there are any other Board of Education members
in the chamber today would you please stand. (APPLAUSE) In closing Joshua you exemplify the
adage you must believe it to achieve it. You believed it when your Mother told you about this
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award when you were in the 5 grade and you achieved it. And the cheer chant I’ve heard so many
times at so many Laney games you’ve got to want it to win it and we want it bad. You did it,
Joshua, congratulations. (APPLAUSE)
Mr. Mayor: Joshua, congratulations GO DAWGS! (APPLAUSE)
The Clerk: As an oversight on our part we’d like to acknowledge Joshua’s Grandmother
Ms. Barbara Pulliam, would you please stand? (APPLAUSE)
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right, sometimes it’s like that. All right, fantastic. All right, okay.
The Clerk: Ms. Allen.
Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes Director Allen for a recognition.
ADDENDUM
27. Recognition of Craig Houghton Girl’s Club.
Ms. Allen: Thank you, Mr. Mayor and members of the Commission. I appreciate you
adding this to your agenda today. And I’m going to be very quick because I have number of girls
to get back to the school and I see our Board of Education President and the Board of Education
staff members as well as our actual Superintendent are here in the house today so I’m going to be
very quick so that they can be back to school on time. I want to talk to you a little bit about the
Craig Houghton Girls Club and we promised them as part of the club that we would actually bring
them to a commission meeting so that they can see how the local government operates and how
things get done. So we’re grateful to actually see Joshua receive his awards in recognition today
that set a great example for the young ladies and that’s one of the purposes of the Craig Houghton
Girls Club. We have the staff from Craig Houghton here with us today and I’m going to ask that
they stand, just the staff not the students (APPLAUSE) so we want to recognize them. And also
Ms. Cogle the principal was not able to make it here with us today but we do have Dr. Kyler who
will be coming up behind me a little later and speaking and also the committee that actually
represents the City of Augusta and that committee consists of myself, Ms. Geri Sams, Ms. Kathy
Murray, Ms. Sheila Paulk and Ms. Deidre MacRae if you guys could stand please. (APPLAUSE)
Just to give you a little background about the Craig Houghton Girls Club back in 2011 December
of 2011 Information Technology called Craig Houghton we were looking for a school that we
could actually do something some community outreach with. And we contacted them and asked
what can we do to help you and help some of the kids at Christmas because we’re always looking
at various programs. After Ms. Cogle got over the shock of someone calling them and asking what
they can do to help them she told us about you know the partnership that they have with the local
church and how they try to provide kids what they have on their Christmas wish list. So we looked
at it as Christmas Angel Tree and several people in Information Technology Department
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contributed their own personal dollars to actually make sure that we can provide everything
possible that each one of the children put on their list so we kind of adopted kids from the school.
We also have the fortunate relationship with Procurement that they’ve actually came onboard with
us so we partnered with the Procurement Department and even Planning and Development has
done it for one of the years with us as well. So after we started doing that on an annual basis we
spoke to Ms. Cogle and said what else can we do. Of course during Christmas time there’s always
an opportunity for everybody to get something at Christmas so what about the rest of the year what
do you do to help the children the rest of the year and she said they had a real need for assisting
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the young girls from 3 to 5 grade and of course you know we promised her that we would be
back. And in February of 2016 we went back and we told her we were looking at starting a Girls
Club and it was a partnership of course again with Information Technology and the Procurement
Department. And we contacted of course the principal had to get the approval of the Board of
Education who was more than willing to work with us and partner with us and see what we can do
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to provide assistance to our young ladies in 3 to 5 grade. So what we do is provide monthly
mentoring to the youth girls and of course again it’s a voluntary service it’s not affiliated with any
city funding or any city it’s strictly us strictly our contribution in things that we receive that we
provide this mentoring to the kids. It is my opinion and just merely personally my opinion that
the more involved you are with the youth in your community the better your community becomes.
So you have to start when they are at that age in order to get what we had today so that’s why we
do this we try to make an impact on youth of the community. Here’s just a couple of pictures of
the Christmas Angel Tree and from 2000 and that one may have been the 2012 picture and that’s
some of the activities that we have with the Craig Houghton Girls Club. We have a total of 29
young ladies that are involved in our club. We talk about any topics dealing with grades, bullying,
hygiene, self-esteem, future career paths we’ve had people come in and speak to the young girls
give them some motivation. Our goal is to do what we can to impact them positively and let them
see there are differences and there are you know a lot of opportunities that are out there they just
have to be presented to these young ladies. We want to definitely show our appreciation because
as I stated nothing none of the funds come from the city they all this is truly from the contributions
that we receive so of course we want to definitely show our appreciation for the people who have
contributed to this worthy cause. Sheriff Richard Roundtree who sponsored their shirts, the
Marshall’s Office, the Augusta Recreation Parks and Facilities, Mr. Abie Ladson, Chief Will Polk
and Attorney Kenneth Craig who have also made contributions to make this a true success. And
again the partnership that we have with the Board of Education and the great staff that we have
here at Craig Houghton who really support what we do. So we want to show that appreciation we
want to thank them we want to thank you guys. We had to get we sent something to Administration
to let them know what we were doing and how we would spend some of our various times of the
clock to do some of these things just to make sure that we can actually give that outreach to our
community. So I’m going to ask that the girls stand up and please recite your motto. I can go
anywhere my dreams take me because I am strong, I am smart, I am beautiful and I love me.
(APPLAUSE) Again I want to thank you, Mr. Mayor and the Commission, for the opportunity.
And also I want to give a special thank you to the Mayor who provided certificates to each one of
them. We’re going to read what it says later because we have to take it back okay because we’ve
got to catch the bus. On behalf of the City of Augusta congratulations on your successful
completion and participation in the 2015/2016 Craig Houghton Girls Mentoring Program.
Continue to be an inspiration to those around you and seek excellence in all you do. We wish you
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all the best in your future endeavors. Given under my hand this 17 of May 2016 Mayor Hardie
Davis, Jr. Thank you so much, Mr. Mayor, thank you, Commission. (APPLAUSE)
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, ladies. Congratulations.
Ms. Allen: And I’ll ask if Ms. Dr. Kyler if you want to say a few words or if you wanted
to speak.
Dr. Kyler: Good afternoon to the Mayor and Commissioners in the body inside. On behalf
of our principal Ms. Sophia Cogle of Craig Houghton Elementary School we would just like to
extend a huge piece of gratitude to Ms. Tameka Allen and her group for taking the time to come
out and think of us and our girls. I’m a firm believer in it takes a village and a child shall lead but
they can’t lead if nobody is leading them. So as an educator I want to say thank you on behalf of
our faculty and staff and thank you Ms. Allen, Ms. Sams, Ms. Kathy, Ms. Paulk, Ms. McRae thank
you guys for taking the time Mayor Hardie and your Commissioners thank you for allowing us
this brief moment of encouragement for our girls. Thank you. (APPLAUSE)
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, you’re so welcome. Fantastic, it’s a great day in Augusta.
The Clerk: It is.
Mr. Mayor: Great day in Augusta. I’m hoping that they go back home and to the schools
and those of you that are here go back and talk about the good things going on in Augusta. And
when you’ve got family, friends and neighbors who are trying to figure out where they’re going to
land next tell them to choose Augusta ---
The Clerk: Amen.
Mr. Mayor: --- chose Augusta. Madam Clerk.
RECOGNITION(S)
Commissioner Bill Lockett
B. Congratulations! Commissioner Bill Lockett on being selected as Perry Broadcasting of
Augusta’s 2016 recipient of the Soul Awakening Public Servant of the Year Award.
The Clerk: Yes, sir. I call your attention to Item B under our Recognitions. At this time,
Commissioner Lockett, we would like to extend to you our hearty congratulations for having been
selected as the 2016 recipient of the Soul Awakening Public Servant of the Year Award presented
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by the Perry Broadcasting of Augusta on Saturday May 14 2016. We know that it is a great
liberating feeling to receive recognition for work covering a period of years. You have given of
yourself and family to dedicate to the service of this great community. Again our best wishes and
we thank you so much. Congratulations. (APPLAUSE)
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner, I am very proud of you. It’s great to see you and to celebrate
you and to see Ms. Jewel out there as well. Thank you for your leadership, thank you for your
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service to your community to your country and to the citizens who make this place home. Thank
you.
The Clerk:
DELEGATIONS
C. Ms. Romell Cooks, AARP Volunteer regarding to AARP Age-Friendly. (Requested by
Commissioner Bill Lockett)
Ms. Cooks: Thank you. What a great day to be here. Gosh, I feel so overwhelmed with
all the wonderful things that are happening to the youth in this community. It’s really wonderful
that you took the time to recognize them because that’s our future. I’m here today to talk about
Age-Friendly and for those of you who may not have who are 50 plus years’ old who may not
have perused your AARP bulletin or your AARP magazine or may not have had a chance to spend
five or ten minutes with Commissioner Lockett I just want to tell you about what Age-Friendly is
about because I know if you’ve spoken to him you’ve heard about Age-Friendly. As our
population in this country and this community ages and stays healthier and lives longer
communities need to adapt and change how they think about growing that city. And the Age-
Friendly initiative the concept of Age-Friendly is one that is being looked at all over the world not
just here in Augusta. And I was just so pleased to know that when I moved here that you were an
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Age-Friendly community as a result of a designation received by this community April the 14
2014 which says that we want to plan activities and programs in communities and we need to do
our planning with the 50 plus population in mind because if you do it right for 50 plus you’re going
to do it right for everybody. A city that looks at taking care of its citizens based on sound concepts
and research that has been done by the World Health Organization and AARP’s Public Policy
Institute we’ll be doing it right. Our role as Age-Friendly in Augusta is to try to pull together a
group of people who have an interest in this city and what’s going on in the community and what’s
going on with its citizens. So we have an Age-Friendly focus here we’ve developed an Age-
Friendly plan that looks at all the domains of Age-Friendly and I want to just talk to you just a few
minutes about what those domains mean for the city. When we say we’re looking at setting goals
for improving what’s going on in this city in order that people want to age in place and want to
stay in this community and want to move from cold climates to this community we look at all eight
different program areas and I’m just going to share a second with you about what those mean. We
look at outdoor spaces and buildings and we say is there an availability of parks and places for
people to go and have recreation. Is it accessible? Is it easy to get there? Is it safe to be there? We
look at outdoor spaces as one of those domains. And in transportation is another one of the
domains that we looked at. Is there safe affordable transportation available to people of all ages
all disabilities and abilities to get to where they need to go and that includes safe walking and being
a safe pedestrian. So when we think about transportation normally we think about buses and cars.
Let’s think about all the elements that people who want to ride a bike to where they go can go there
safely. And the people that want to walk and walk safely on sidewalks that are properly designed
with the right kind of structures on sidewalks. Housing in another area that’s another one of the
eight domains. Is there an availability of housing for people of all ages? Is there a program to
modify housing that people are already in? Is the city working to help people who may not have
the financial means to modify their homes? Is there a program to do that? And are we building
new homes and new developments that meet the requirements of people where the doors are wide
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enough so that bathrooms don’t have to be stepped down to or up to so that you can get in your
house and out of your house, many times we see this as an add-on. In Age-Friendly we talk about
planning houses so it’s done from the very beginning. Let’s not have to incur that cost when you’re
older. Let’s build the houses that meet those requirements now. And we look at social
participation, access to leisure and cultural activities including opportunities for older citizens and
residents to socialize and engage with their peers. You know they say that loneliness is one of the
worse things for old people. When you’re shut in your house or an older citizen you’re shut in
your house all day long if nobody calls, nobody knocks on the door, nobody visits. This is almost
like a health condition; people die of loneliness. So we need to look at planning for our older
population and make sure that if there is an event can they actually get there. If they get to the
facility can they get in the building? Are there chairs that are designed to hold wheelchairs and
walkers and all of those things so social participation is another one of those eight domain areas.
Respect and social inclusion. So many times we hear about those old folks. That’s not being
respectful of those people who have brought us this far so Age-Friendly does look at providing
programs that promote ethnic and cultural inclusion that we are looking at all of our population.
Are we looking at every race that’s in this community? Are we looking at every age group that’s
in this community?
Mr. Mayor: You have less than one minute, Ms. Cooks.
Ms. Cooks: Thank you and I’m going to need about one minute. We are looking at how
do we communicate with our citizens. Do we just put it on the internet maybe they’re not familiar
with internet? We look at how do we communicate with them so that they can be part of it. Civic
participation and jobs. Are we reaching out to people who have maybe retired but still have
wonderful skill sets and are we reaching them? Community support and health services. I’m not
going to talk about that much because one of our other speakers is going to talk about why Augusta
when they looked at the livability index and how well we related and how good is this city to live
in that’s one of the areas where you’re maybe surprisedly so finally we need to do some work. A
well designed ---
Mr. Mayor: Your time has expired, Ms. Cooks.
Ms. Cooks: --- well-designed livable communities promote well-being and sustain
economic growth people want to live in a city that thinks about you even when you’re aged. Thank
you. (APPLAUSE)
Mr. Mayor: Thank you so much.
The Clerk:
DELEGATIONS
B. Mr. Wallace White, CSRA Commission, Area Agency on Aging. (Requested by
Commissioner Bill Lockett)
Mr. Mayor: Mr. White, you have five minutes.
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Mr. White: Thank you, sir. Mayor Davis, to the fellow Commissioners, to the perspective
members of the Augusta Richmond government, to all of you in the room, I bring you greetings
on behalf of the CSRA Regional Commission Executive Director Andy Crosson and our Area
Agency on Aging Jeannette Cummings. I’m honored to follow the (unintelligible) here of what
Ms. Cooks stated earlier in reference to why Age-Friendly is so important to all of us here not only
necessarily the young folks here but all of the older adults. As she said before my job here today
is tell you more about one of the domains the Community and Health Services Domain. And as
Ms. Cooks stated earlier the livability index for the City of Augusta Richmond County is alarming.
I know a couple of days ago you’ve seen reports about the HIV in Richmond County how it’s
staggering how we’ve outpaced Atlanta and now Atlanta has outpaced us. I know those are not
new statistics for a lot of us here in the room because again we see that all the time but my time
here is what I really want to point to you is the fact of the accessibility of those community health
programs that we have here also the community in general. I want to show you that with Age-
Friendly we have a strategic plan in place that can really help bridge the gap. I can tell you from
the thousands of plans that I’ve spoken with throughout the 14 counties that we cover at the CSRA
Commission the main questions that they have all the time is who can I call, how could they help
when can we get those types of services in place and with Age-Friendly we’re bringing in a multi-
faceted, a multi-approach to handle these situations so that way we can make sure that Augusta
Richmond County stands in the forefront and not lagging behind when it comes to the health of
any citizen whether you’re an older adult or either whether you’re the youth in charge. So again
with the time that I have left I want to let you understand that with an Age-Friendly designation
here the City of Augusta being the second city here in Georgia is such a monumental change for
all of us and I don’t think a lot of people here realize the magnitude of that. And when you have
those designations from the World Health Organization who leads the world with a number of
different epidemics that affects a lot of the community so again just really making sure that we
understand that with Age-Friendly we could help to bridge those gaps, bridge all those things when
it comes to finding out who to call how do I find out you know this about the community. If it
happens in one community, we say all the time it could happen in any community. So instead of
us putting our head in the sand and saying you know what I could’ve, would’ve, should’ve, why
not make it a you know comprehensive effort for all of us to stand together to make sure that the
City of Augusta Richmond County is in the forefront when we talk about dealing with the
healthcare in our organization dealing with the needs of obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes
things that we all heard of all before but it happens to so many people in the community. Instead
of us putting our head in the sand as I said before let’s be proactive about it. Another way I can
say that let’s be more proactive instead of being reactive about the situation. So again with Age-
Friendly designation it’s a perfect opportunity for all of us to stand together as one community and
make sure that we can pass this thing forward and with one voice. And with that, Mr. Mayor, I
want to relinquish the rest of my time for our next presenter.
Mr. Mayor: And is that ---
The Clerk:
DELEGATIONS
E. Ms. Debra Tyler-Horton, State Director, AARP, regarding presentation of Age-Friendly
Plaques. (Requested by Commissioner Bill Lockett)
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Ms. Tyler-Horton: Good afternoon Mayor Davis, Commissioners and to the community
at large it is my pleasure and honor to be here today. Like the speakers before me I’m so pleased
to be here today to see the young people because I don’t know if you know but AARP was founded
in 1958. And if you watch the commercials we moved away from AARP as for retired people but
as AARP and that means because AARP is here for all. And so today I have the privilege and
honor to present the AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities. And I think are we going to
move to a different spot here? And what I wanted to say before we actually present the plaque to
the young man Joshua. We want him to continue his education and to be able to live and age here
in Augusta, stay in Augusta where his community is designed and developed for people as they
age and he’ll be happy to age here in Augusta. I heard you say, Mayor, I want you to know that
Augusta is setting an example not only for the city for the state and for the country on the work
that you are doing here together. And it reads: The AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities
an institutional affiliate of the World Health Organization’s Global Network of Age-Friendly
Cities and Communities. This is to certify that the City of Augusta, Georgia has created an action
plan for being more Age-Friendly under the criteria established by AARP and the World Health
Organization and is renewed as a member of the AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities.
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This certification is valid until April 12 2019 signed by Nancy LeMon, Chief Advocacy
Engagement Officer of AARP. (APPLAUSE)
Mr. Lockett: Thank you so very much; lots of work has been put into this. I was asked
early on today are the people really aware of the fact that Augusta’s an Age-Friendly city? I said
slowly but surely. We talk about economic development this is something that we can use. Why
should people move into other cities and other states and bypass this state of Georgia and we have
three Age-Friendly cities. Macon-Bibb was the first, Augusta was the second, and guess what
believe it we beat Atlanta doing something, Atlanta was number three. I mean it’s, when we
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became Age-Friendly January 2014 we became the 20 city in the nation to have a designation
from the World Health Organization and the National AARP. About four months ago we were in
access of 60 communities because they see how important this is. All we do is what Ms. Cooks
said earlier what Mr. White said and our State AARP President said we do those things to enhance
the quality of life of all of our citizens. And when we do that people will want to come here and
the people that are here are going to want to stay here. So we are we worked extremely hard we
don’t any pay for this we do it because we love the community we want everybody that’s got some
time to devote to get involved with us okay? Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Commissioner, let me one, thank the team. Would you please
stand? We’ll recognize the team. (APPLAUSE) Let’s give them a hand for the tremendous work
that they’ve done to again make Augusta and Age-Friendly community. I was born in Macon. I
was educated in Atlanta but I chose Augusta. Thank you for your work, thank you for your
leadership. Thank you, Ms. Horton, for what you do and again congratulations to the team who
have made this possible. It was because of you that we simply get the benefits as a community as
a Commission for the great work that’s been done. Thank you so much. (APPLAUSE)
Mr. Lockett: Mr. Mayor if I may (unintelligible). This is a governing body event because
the governing body had to sign off on this in order to make it happen back in 2014. So I want to
applaud all of my colleagues for your support and the support I expect from you in the future on
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this. Mr. Mayor, if I could offer a point of personal privilege if we could just take a minute to go
out and put this on the wall. It’s right outside the chamber here next to our designation from the
World Health Organization. If we could do that I’d be so appreciative.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Commissioner. I think if we don’t mind recessing for three
minutes outside. (APPLAUSE) We’ll now call this meeting back to order to continue the business
of the people.
The Clerk: Mr. Mayor ---
Mr. Mayor: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: --- as a companion revision to item number 2 on our consent agenda the revision
is placed on our addendum agenda so we need to in order ---
Mr. Speaker: (inaudible) delegations.
Mr. Mayor: We do?
DELEGATIONS
F. Dr. Lori Myles regarding Pain College.
The Clerk: --- I beg your pardon? Two more, oh, okay. Dr. Myles, Lori Myles?
Mr. Mayor: She is not here.
The Clerk: Okay, well, we’ll defer to the next item.
The Clerk:
DELEGATIONS
G. Ms. Jessica Segrest regarding issues pertaining to the bridge closure on Patterson Bridge
Road.
Mr. Mayor: Good afternoon, Ms. Segrest, if you’ll approach, you have five minutes. If
you’ll state for the record your name and your address.
Ms. Segrest: My name is Jessica Segrest. I live 2578B Nunnery Road in Hephzibah. I
want to thank ya’ll for having me today. I’ve come here on behalf of the community that lives on
the other side of Patterson Bridge Road. I actually barely made it here today; it’s raining we had
the roads scraped this morning. I do want to thank ya’ll for at least trying to keep the Chalk Mine
Road as passable as possible but right now it’s actually getting very bad with the rain that we’re
having. We have running water and standing water there right now. I had to move over to go
around the end another truck was coming towards me we can’t get through at the same time right
now. So I do feel like here in the next few days with this heavy rain that we’re having it’s very
possible we’re going to be stuck back there like we were when the bridge went out in 2013. One
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of the main things I wanted to speak about was the safety of the road that we’re having to drive
down. The rocks that were placed on the road, they’re very large and very jagged there are areas
where it’s very unlevel. There’s high stacked rocks where when you hit it your tires, it’s very hard
to keep control of your vehicle. And then there’s the areas where the rock is completely washed
away from the road. When it is night time there are no lights out there and it’s a little over a two-
mile stretch. We have people who are scared to leave their homes at night because it’s pitch black.
You can’t see anything even with the headlights on the dust that comes up you can’t see in front
of you. You have two stop signs people are scared to stop at because people there are very large
dirt mounds on each side. They’re scared people are going to hide behind those rocks and mug
them. I know it may seem a little crazy but I have had that complaint they’re scared to go down
this road in the daytime but very scared at night. There’s no one around for miles. Once you make
it on that road there’s no turning around, there’s no getting off of it and if anything were to happen
there’s no shoulders on the side of the road if your car was to break down, you were to get a flat
tire there’s no pulling over. You have to sit in the middle of the road whether you’re next to a turn
or not. Another thing is health problems. We, I’ve spoken to two people who one who had to call
EMS; they were having a minor heart attack. It took twenty minutes for first responders to reach
them and it took another twenty for the ambulance to reach them. I’m an advanced EMT. I do this
for a living and 40 minutes for an ambulance to reach you in a case of heart failure, heart attack,
respiratory arrest it can be extremely detrimental if not fatal. There are also people in our
community, we have a lot of elderly and we have a lot of children and a lot of these people are
diagnosed with things such as COPD and asthma. They’re having to go to their doctor more
frequently, use their inhalers more frequently because of the dust that comes up. Even though I
know I have seen a water truck out on the road several times but with of course the Georgia weather
it gets very hot and that kind of you know a couple hours later it’s right back to very dusty. I have
one person who has had contact me. They had brain surgery several times. They have a metal
plate in their head and it actually causes them excruciating pain to drive down the road because of
the vibrations from the ruts. And the last thing I know I have to bring up or they’ll kill me the
damage to the vehicles almost every person I’ve spoken with has had to replace at least one tire if
not all four. We are a community of not wealthy people. A lot of us live in trailers; we rent we
do not own and we live paycheck to paycheck. Right now I’m driving on three tires that came out
of a junk yard because I can’t afford to buy tires to drive on. We have shocks that are going out,
we have windshields that are being cracked. Right now we are having to choose between paying
our bills or fixing our vehicles so that we can make it to work. This is a bridge that went out
several years ago and I understand that it takes time to get things fixed but I feel if we would have
been held at a higher priority, if we would’ve been held at a higher priority our bridge would’ve
already been fixed. I’ve seen other bridges get fixed in a more timely manner because it was their
only way in and out of an area. Because we have an alternative even if it is an unsafe one there
was an alternative. We weren’t held as to a higher priority as we should have. I drive down this
road daily with my children and I am honestly scared to do so. I only leave my house when I
absolutely have to. And that is one thing that a lot of us are having to do. We have to weigh the
risk of driving down this road.
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Mr. Mayor: Ms. Segrest, thank you. I will recognize the Commissioner from the 8 first
and then others and then I’ll come back for a comment. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner
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from the 8.
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Mr. Guilfoyle: Jessica, I just want to say thank you for coming to speak before this body
for the residents that lives out there on Patterson Bridge Road. Mr. Mayor, if we could show if
they could raise their hands so we could see who’s actually here to represent them. There’s a lot
of residents having to work daily but I’m going to step back for one reason. You know there has
been so much communication over these past couple of weeks with the Administrator with the
Engineering Department, Marshal’s Department as well as the Sheriff’s Department. We had our
EMA reach out, be reached out to let the school board ambulances anybody that’s a first responder
to let them realize and recognize that there is a detour. It’s a hardship, it’s a burden for all the
residents we realize that. Abie has been focused as a matter of fact after talking with him yesterday
that’s his priority is to try to get this bridge in as fast as he can. But you know the problem is it’s
not this administration, it was the previous administration previous counsel that ignored it. Not
this Administrator at this point. And if anything she was out there this Saturday helping us come
up with solutions with the Engineering Department. I’m going to give credit where credit’s due
and I’ve got to give her credit. I’ve got to give the Engineering Department credit, but it doesn’t
help the residents out there and I know that. I had brought up last week in Legal about all the
damages for the tires, for the windshields but the problem that you have is everybody that’s been
calling 311 is the people who manufactures the problem that ruins it for the people who truly needs
it. And what I’m talking about no different and I had talked to Jessica, Mr. Ulrich and a couple of
the residents that does reach out to me on a daily basis let me know when there’s a problem is a
gravel road won’t break axles. When you get two different calls in it is not going to break axles,
it’s not going to knock it out of line not unless you just haul and tell and then hit a ditch. I deal
with cars I play with cars. Marion Williams’ deals with cars, knocking spark plug wires off causing
the brakes to fail that’s few and far but the true people who needs it is the honest ones that lives
out there on limited income. They either got to pay their rent or buy a tire. I think they’re going
to buy a tire and ask the landlord forgiveness for a couple of days until they could work because
they cannot afford to lose their job or pay the water bill. You know they’re being hit hard it’s
we’re trying to make every provision to make it convenient I realize that but there’s a couple of
things that this body could do if they’re willing to do it. I know it was what the manufactured
problems that some people try to put in claims ruined it for the many but there is a couple of ways
is for us to readdress with Risk Management with the Administrator to see if we would take another
look at the issues for the people that’s in dire need, for the people that has the tires that breaks out
or the windshields that gets cracked. If they don’t have comprehensive insurance for their
windshield let’s look at it for a case by case problem, we need to address that. I’m not in for
replacing axles, I’m not in for replacing front end alignments, I’m not in for supporting people that
has holes in the oil pan. It’s impossible to do even at 20 miles an hour 3/16-inch steel with a rod,
I’m a realist. But if we could if this body would relook at this Risk Management issue and let’s
focus on the needs of the people. It’s not that much money; it’s the people that’s being imposition,
inconvenienced. Another thing we need to look at I just found out from one of the gentlemen that
lives on that road as far as the scraping we’re scraping the gravel towards the ditch it needs to be
scraped towards the middle then we roll it we do have a roller out there. I don’t know if it’s been
rolled yet but the main thing we need is communication update either weekly or biweekly.
Patterson Bridge Community has a Facebook account. We’ve got one of the best IT Departments
here in the State of Georgia that gets accolades every year, awards but we need to communicate
with the residents to let them know the updates on the bridge. I know that Abie and myself talk
every other day if not every day but there also needs to be a line of communication so where the
residents has an issue or a potential problem or let’s say a part of the road washes out they should
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be able to call somebody that would actually respond quickly instead of calling 311 and then it’s
got to go through the chain of command which is usually a day, two days. I don’t know the process
so I’m not going to ridicule 311 at all but there needs to be a direct line of communication. If
that’s possible that would be great. The final thing is reach out to our ambulatory. I know that we
have Fire Department right there in Hephzibah right there in Blythe but as far as for a substation
for the ambulances have them use that Blythe or Hephzibah as a substation because Blythe would
probably be closer to the residents because we’ve got the gentlemen sitting there in the front row
in the blue shirt is the one who had the heart attack. It’s fortunate to be talking to him, his Dad’s
fortunate to be sitting beside him. Gentlemen, I’m not asking for any favors I’m just asking for
ya’ll to realize that it’s the residents that’s out there that’s suffering, the ones that’s being
inconvenienced is but being inconvenienced we’re trying to make the best for the residents out
there. But communication, the safety factor and getting that road smooth and rolled if possible. I
know that Abie has a presentation, Mr. Mayor, it’ll probably help me as well as the residents out
there as well.
Mr. Mayor: Well, I do appreciate that. All right I’m going to recognize the Commissioner
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from the 9 and we may take a few questions to Director Ladson. I think it’s important we want
to hear specifically with regards to the timeline for the completion of the road that’s important
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that’s germane to this conversation. I’m going to recognize the Commissioner from the 9 and
then I’ll come back to you okay?
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I need to get some understanding. I talked with
Engineering I think the pipe is on order special made is that true, Mr. Ladson? I just need a yes or
no I don’t need ---
Mr. Ladson: (inaudible).
Mr. M. Williams: --- okay.
Mr. Mayor: Why don’t we, Commissioner, if you will for just a moment do you want to
go ahead and just let him speak and roll all of that out?
Mr. M. Williams: I had a couple of comments because Commissioner ---
Mr. Mayor: Go ahead.
Mr. M. Williams: --- Guilfoyle brought out a couple of points. Now I don’t know much
about the roads. I do know a little bit about cars like Wayne said but when you use crush and run
is that the same thing as the rocks? I keep hearing rocks on the road and how they’re cutting the
tires. But it’s crush and run is that the same thing or can anybody tell me?
Mr. Speaker: Crush and run is totally different.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay, the young man said it’s different. I guess my question, Mr.
Mayor, are we using something like that on the road instead of rocks?
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Mr. Mayor: Okay all right so let’s all right I’m going to use my favorite word let’s suspend
for just a moment. All right let’s talk about how we’ll engage. All right so the Commissioner
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from the 9 has the floor; he has a series of questions and then those questions need to be
appropriately answered. I’m going to ask Engineering Director Ladson if he’ll approach so that
he can answer the questions and if we’ll refrain from outbursts. I think it’s probably appropriate
we’ve heard from Ms. Segrest who’s been the representative for the folks from the Patterson
Bridge area. Would you please raise your hands once more so we’ll know who’s from the
Patterson Bridge area, all of the residents who are in the area? Okay all right fantastic. I want to
assure you that your city government will do everything necessary to remedy this issue and do it
in a just and an appropriate manner consistent with the rules and regulations of the local
government. I want to assure you that the most immediate concern that’s before us today is
restoring access to Patterson Bridge Road. That is what is most important so that some of these
other ancillary issues can in fact be resolved. All right so with that I’m going to turn it back over
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the Commissioner from the 9 has the floor for questions.
Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Ladson, crush and run are we using that or we using the rocks
because if the rocks are there that’s going to create a different problem.
Mr. Ladson: Mr. Mayor, members of the Commission, we’re using a combination of the
crush and run it’s what called an aggregated base and so we’re using a combination of that and
actual rocks. The rocks were actually initially put in on the Chalk Line Road and areas where it
was real bad and it was real boggy where cars were actually getting stuck so we put the rocks in
those areas but for the majority it’s actually crush and run but as stated we are using rocks in a lot
of the areas.
Mr. M. Williams: And my question again the majority you’re saying is crush and run
which is probably smoother than rocks a crushed up rock is that ---
Mr. Ladson: You have some rocks in the crush and run.
Mr. M. Williams: Yes but it’s basically something you can drive on though, right?
Mr. Ladson: You can drive on crush and run.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay, is there any speed signs out there?
Mr. Ladson: We do have speed signs out there I think it’s 35 miles an hour that we have
out there.
Mr. M. Williams: It’s 35 miles an hour down my street now and I got paved. How’re you
going to have 35 miles an hour on a street that’s giving you problems? I mean it’s got to be ---
Mr. Sias: It’s ten, I think.
Mr. Ladson: Ten okay.
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Mr. M. Williams: --- I’m sorry that didn’t sound right 35 but ---
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner, if you’ll let me do this one more time.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay.
Mr. Mayor: All right so I want to ask everyone if you’ll silence your phones, if you’ll
place them on vibrate. There are rules of decorum that have been established if you’ll place your
phones on vibrate that would be very helpful. I appreciate that and we’re giving you an opportunity
to be heard. All right continue.
Mr. M. Williams: Well, Mr. Mayor, I’m going to finish my question. I mean I’m through.
I think I just wanted to make sure that we were using those type, we did have a speed limit. Now
this is something we would have addressed this body would have addressed already had we had
the material I think the pipe was being special ordered. Is there anything other than what we’re
trying to get that would’ve worked and got this road back open?
Mr. Ladson: At this point no we’re actually was in the process of actually bidding this
project probably in a couple of weeks and we’re going through the process of actually bidding it
and going through the normal bidding process to replace that bridge. Now if we weren’t under
construction we would still have to do the same thing. We’d have to close the bridge. However,
since the bridge was washed out it became an emergency and so we’re doing it a whole lot sooner
and in less time.
Mr. M. Williams: I understand but my question is is that we are ordering and there’s
nothing we can use, this is as fast as we can get it I guess.
Mr. Ladson: Yes, it’s pre-stretched, they’re prefab box culverts. There a two 10x5 box
culvert that has to be that is currently being fabricated and should be ready within about another
week or week and a half.
Mr. M. Williams: Has anybody talked to anybody about that deadline or that two weeks
or week and a half? Have you had any communication to say we’re working on it we’ll have it for
you at this date so we can tell the people who don’t have roads something?
Mr. Ladson: Yes, I’ve communicated that we’re working on the box culvert and in
actuality within another month probably less than a month and a half we should have the road
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open. We’re trying to get that done before July 1.
Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, Commissioner Sias, if I will and then I’m going to recognize
Administrator Jackson. She’s got some things she wants to respond specifically to.
Mr. Sias: Thank you very much. And I completely understand the issue that the folks are
having. I’ve been out there on Chalk Line Road well back in the past and I’ve been out there
recently just to look at the issue that I know is there also looking at the bridge. And I think we
need to clearly understand one thing here that the process now is a little more involved than it has
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ever been or and this bridge has been having problems for years of being patched and
(unintelligible) and patched and (unintelligible). And this is the time this as painful as it is this
one when we get it fixed this time it will be fixed. It will be fixed. The design of what they’re
doing is totally different than what it’s been in the past. And this will be a much stronger bridge
and that is one of the things that I just have to add in is we actually had the process and the funding
to do it right this time and it’s been done under an emergency basis. So but I think you people are
the folks that live out there will have a bad disservice if we rush and other than emergency status
and half fix it again. And so in looking at Chalk Line Road I just want to ask everyone out there
number one, to hold your speed down. I’ve been out there, the rocks will fly and you can’t help it
if some other person who can’t seem to recognize that do it and I understand that. Secondly, Mr.
Mayor and Commissioners, I think we can get some assistance from our Fire Department as far as
emergency issues out there. I think our Fire Chief had some very doable vehicles and things that
we can have them on an additional standby to make that run because those are the same guys that
work for the emergency folks and they have the same training as well. They can save lives just as
well or better than anybody else. So I think with the note to our Fire Chief that we make sure that
we have some of our folks out there in that area really ready and prepared to make that trip over
to the Paterson Bridge Road area if need be for that. And thirdly I think our Engineering Director
can put a priority on maintenance for that road. I know it’s already there but let’s elevate that to
another level. If we have to roll it once a day or if we have to look at how we are grading it, let’s
do that and let’s do it now. And for saying that in an engineer’s perspective that doesn’t change
anything I would disagree. It may be absolutely unnecessary to do it that often but those folks
won’t feel that way. They will feel better and for whatever little better than this or best we can get
out of it let’s roll it grade it and do it as much as possible that we can do that for that as we get this
road fixed because we really, we really can’t get into the total reimbursement process. I see that as
a dangerous thing. So I just listen to what my colleague was saying but we all know that that is a
very slippery slope. I’m not saying we can’t go sliding down it but it’s a very slippery slope. So
I would ask our Engineering Director that if we can put all the total emphasis on this road and with
that funding we have stormwater money available let’s use that because that is a stormwater issue.
So let’s make sure that we utilize this stormwater because we promised the public we put it in the
Enterprise Fund that is what stormwater money is for so let’s spend stormwater money and make
these folks as comfortable as we can to get them up and down Chalk Line Road. Let’s not, let’s
not spare any dimes on that one. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: All right thank you, sir. All right the Chair recognizes Administrator Jackson.
Ms. Jackson: Thank you, sir. I just want to elaborate a little just to let the residents of that
area know some of the steps that we have taken; certainly we understand this is extremely
inconvenient. And just as the Mayor and all Commissioners have apologized we from the staff
prospective also apologize for the inconvenience associated with it. But first I want to let you
know that the Corps of Engineers actually had to approve this work being done in this area. Our
Engineering Department requested approval from the Corp I believe a couple of years ago if I’m
not mistaken.
Mr. Ladson: Probably about three years.
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Ms. Jackson: Three years ago we actually had to put in a request to the Corp of Engineers
to get this done so it’s a very long process when you have to get their approval. Second, when the
latest washout happened a few weeks ago we did not go through the standard bid process as a way
to speed this up we bid this as an emergency bid so that we could get contractors on board as soon
as possible to start the work. Next in terms of the safety as soon as the complaints started coming
in our Risk Management Department has been out there on multiple occasions to take a look at
what extra could be done in the area. We do have numerous speed limit signs up and the biggest
thing that they told me is that you’ve got to keep your speed at the 10 miles an hour. I know that’s
very, very slow rolling but that’s the safest thing to do when you’re traveling a terrain of that
nature. Next we did, have been rolling the roads I believe it’s been rolled at least once already it
probably needs to be rolled multiple times as Commissioner Sias indicated. But we are trying to
stay on top of the situation and put measures in place to make sure that the road is easy to travel
as possible and we will do everything we can to speed up the contractor as he moves forward. So
that may require us spending a little bit of extra dollars to get it done more quickly but whatever it
requires we’ll try to do that to make sure we can get the situation cleared up for you.
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Mr. Mayor: All right the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 7.
Mr. Frantom: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. This question’s for Abie. Abie, has there ever been
an emergency, you call this an emergency situation where a reimbursement happened to either
Risk Management or because I mean these people you know they’ve been put out like this with
tires and things and the more I sit here the more I say you know there needs to be something done.
And if there was a way there was selective based on Engineering saying this is an emergency area
where we’re not, there isn’t that slippery slope. I mean have we ever done anything like this?
Mr. Ladson: I mean we’ve had issues where we’ve had a bridge wash out. However, in
this case it’s totally different. The only way in and out right now is a dirt road and so that’s what
we try to do everything we can to actually stabilize that road and to make it passable for the
residents. Like I said the only difference is this is a dirt, it’s a dirt road.
Mr. Frantom: In your mind was there any negligence on our part to the city as far as this
situation?
Mr. Ladson: You probably can go back probably 20/30 years ago I’m saying that’s you
know there’s a just to kind of go back a little bit here and I spoke a lot about corrugated metal
pipes. This is one of those issues where you have large corrugated metal pipes up under the up
under the roadway. One of the issues that we have these all over the county especially in the
southern parts of the county. One of the things that we’re trying to do is to try to prevent some of
these or trying to eliminate some of these issues is we’ve done an inventory on these stormwater
infrastructures and a lot of them are corrugated pipe and a lot of them are in bad shape and real,
real bad shape. So what we’ve done is prioritize them and now what we’re looking at doing is
putting a layer on top of it where it’s a major roadway where these pipes lie up under there and
make those more of a priority to actually to, yes, to replace it. And so we’re in the process of
doing that and like I said the whole purpose is to make this preventive program maintenance
program. And the thing is that you know it doesn’t it takes some to do that but we’re in the process
of working on those things.
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Mr. Mayor: All right ---
Mr. Frantom: I ---
Mr. Mayor: --- Commissioner, suspend for just one moment if you don’t mind. With,
there are two issues that are being cascaded together here one is the issue of reconstruction of the
bridge and thereby the road. The other issue as it relates to damages to personally owned vehicles
et cetera is a separate issue. In that vein if the question of negligence is germane I would ask that
we direct that question to the Attorney with regards to that as opposed to the Engineering Director.
The Engineering Director should speak to the matter of the road and what we do with construction
of that. But any matters with regards to negligence we’ll direct those to the Attorney or Risk
Management if you don’t mind. All right continue, sir.
Mr. Frantom: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, and I’ll just close in saying it seems like to me that
if there was a way for us to deem this situation an emergency situation that we should be able
through Risk Management to help support these people. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Very good, all right the Chair’s going to recognize the Mayor Pro Tem then
the Engineering Services Chairman in that order.
Mr. G. Smith: Abie, you know I don’t want to Monday morning quarterback the situation.
I know when I was in the reserves that was a while back but we got with the Engineering
Department and assist them on putting a temporary bridge over in Mississippi over a lake and I
just didn’t know if we could check with our friends in the National Guard or Fort Gordon who has
the Engineering Department just to see Colonel Anderson out there. You never know, you don’t
know until you ask but what would it be for them to come out and put a temporary bridge away
from the one you’re working on just to get them around on Patterson Bridge Road. And again I’m
not Monday morning quarterbacking or anything else. And the second thing is when I lived out
in the country anyway I knew an individual Martin Marietta Company and they brought some I
mean it looked like salt but in time it got wet it packed where you almost could skate out there on
it and they put it in my driveway and I never had a problem. In fact, when I sold the house about
ten years later it was solid as a rock. I don’t know what it was it they put some crush and run in
there and you know that was more monkeying around so the next thing I knew they put this stuff
up on top in time it got wet it was it was over. But there again ya’ll this is your job I’m not trying
to say anything about how to do it. I didn’t know if we had reached out to the National Guard or
the Fort Gordon area about a temporary bridge from their Engineering Department.
Mr. Ladson: What we did, we looked at temporary bridges not from the Corp but from
there’s you have several corporations and firms out there they do (unintelligible) is one of them
that do temporary bridges. And basically that’s where they kind of got these bridges from, from
the Corp. But when you look at it on one side of the I want to say probably the more or less the
east side of the bridge you have a large body of water there which is more or less it looks more
like a lake or a pond in which it has a dam over there. And so it would be very difficult to put a
bridge over there where you actually stop on that side. On the other side you have a lot of there’s
a facility some electrical facilities and those type things on the other side of the bridge and of
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course you would still actually have to acquire some of these properties and you would still have
to do a whole lot of grading. So when we looked at it we thought it was the best to roll Chalk
Mine Road, it’s already there. And when the bridge washed out that was the first thing we looked
at was okay let’s try to stabilize this road and so people can pass back and forth. By the time you
probably get a lot of that stuff done and get it in place and get permission and that type stuff to put
a bridge on somebody’s else’s property you almost you know it’d probably almost be somewhat
the same timeframe. So we felt that it was best to just see if we can just maintain the road and
make it passable for the residents to get back and forth.
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Mr. Mayor: All right the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9 from the 1
Engineering Services Chair.
Mr. Fennoy: Yes, I think my question’s been answered. I want to know whether we’re
looking at other bridges that may fall under the what happened to Patterson Bridge Road may
happen to them and I think you sort of halfway answered that. And are we making plans to do
something about those bridges so that what happened to Patterson Bridge won’t happen to other
bridges also.
Mr. Ladson: Yes, we’re actually like I said we’ve done an inventory, a stormwater
inventory and those bridges are actually a part of that. And so we’ve identified, we’ve assessed
those culverts or stormwater structures and graded them. And so like I said we’re going to put a
layer on top of it and see what the major roads are and try to address those issues prior to these
type things happening. You mentioned where the other bridges well there was another one that I
guess everybody probably might be familiar with and that’s Birdwell Road was another one that
washed out like that where we didn’t actually have access on one side because it was privately
owned. And there are a lot of those type issues out there especially in the southern parts of
Richmond County and those are the types of things we’re trying to get addressed and trying to get
fixed.
Mr. Fennoy: All right, thank you.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 5.
Mr. Lockett: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Ladson, there’s been a lot of negative
publicity as it relates to stormwater fee. Without the stormwater fee and with this bridge being out
and inaccessible, how will we repair it?
Mr. Ladson: We would have to wait until some SPLOST dollars are available or maybe
through the General Fund.
Mr. Lockett: We’ve known for some time that the bridge was in terrible condition but
nothing was done. Was it nothing was done was it because of a lack of finances?
Mr. Ladson: Well, the thing was when we first had issues or when this staff actually saw
issues at the bridge it was probably three or four years ago when it was caving. And so we started
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immediately and we got a consultant on board to do a design on the bridge. And we also started
working with the Corp to get permitting done.
Mr. Lockett: Well, I would think at this point people would recognize the significance of
the stormwater fee and we would be without all of the negative publicity as it relates to it. Thank
you very much.
Mr. Mayor: All right. Ms. Segrest came before us today to talk about the issues pertaining
to the bridge closure on Patterson Bridge Road and I think we have done that in detail. And we
have a plan of action to address the bridge. I think you’ve heard that today. I also think that there
are other again peripheral issues as a result of having to take a detour. Often times when there’s
construction going on they put signs up that say detour. It’s inconvenient, not only inconvenient
but often necessary until the work is completed on the road for primary use, this is an example of
that. We will move as expeditiously as possible to get you back to normal. Our Engineering staff
with outside support will do that and we’ll do that aggressively. You have the full assurance of
the government that we’re going to get it done. Again bear with us. Today’s rain which has been
pretty substantial does not help that in terms of being able to execute and get it done quickly. It is
our understanding that it’ll rain through this weekend so the longer it rains the longer it takes but
what it does do for us it allows us to get any materials in via transit and at that point of time that
they show up we’ll continue to work aggressively to get it done and get you back to normal because
you do matter, you do count and we’re going to work as one Augusta to make sure that the needs
of the citizens of this community are in fact met. Okay? All right, I’m going to recognize the
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Commissioner from the 8 for a closing comment we’re going to move on to the next item.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Mr. Mayor, I believe a lot of residents are going to go back home down
that mud road without any more information than they came here besides what they already knew.
I realize that Jessica that came before us fortunately Abie’s going to do his job. He’s going to keep
that road maintained like has been since day one. We still have not addressed the issue about from
Risk Management they do have the right and the power from our attorney’s response to me is take
it by case by case matter. Now if this body wants to leave it up to Risk Management let them look
at it case by case. But the open lines of communication for the residents out there to be kept up
with updates because they’re in the dark. If the Madam Administrator will take Ms. Jessica’s
number I know that Ms. Jackson she probably don’t use Facebook but we do have, oh she does
that’d be a great thing. But anyway to residents would like to leave with something if we could
you know get them items done. Abie’s already doing his job, Risk Management look at the issues
case by case and the open line of communication so the residents’ newspaper does not come down
that road by the way, Mr. Mayor, so the only communication I have is 6122654 if they’re watching
TV.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right I’m going to do it this way three issues that you and I’m going
to direct these questions to you our Finance Chair and hopefully you’ll be able to respond
appropriately. All right the three issues that you raised are one the bridge the timeline of
completion for the bridge project, is that not true?
Mr. Guilfoyle: I don’t think I wanted Abie to give them an update but my three items was
basically Risk Management, scrape and gravel the road and open line of communications and have
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the ambulance see if the Administrator reach out to Hephzibah Blythe to see Gold Cross or
whatever ambulatory company would to be used them as a substation.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Guilfoyle: But underneath open lines of communication that’s where the residents are
going to be kept up when the bridge is going to be open, sir.
Mr. Mayor: All right very well. All right so Commissioner all right I’m going to go in this
order again. Number one bridge, grade gravel roll the road is that not true that’s number one.
Number two updates about project status in terms of the completion item number two, is that not
true?
Mr. Guilfoyle: Do you want me to swear under oath?
Mr. Mayor: Well I if so we have these residents and you want to make sure we arrive at
giving them something so when they leave this building they have something that they can hold
onto, is that not true?
Mr. Guilfoyle: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Item number three Risk Management issues case by case.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Well, it would’ve been nice because I had brought it up in Legal last week
about getting the residents some tires but I couldn’t could not garner no support and ---
Mr. Mayor: Okay ---
Mr. Guilfoyle: --- so ---
Mr. Mayor: --- that’s your third issue, is that not true?
Mr. Guilfoyle: Yes.
Mr. Mayor: Okay all right so here’s what we’re going to do. All right now what I’ve heard
is that the residents are on Facebook but I’m also aware of is that we have an Augusta website
where we are communicating and we’re communicating what’s happening from a stormwater
update perspective. What I’m also aware of is that we have the communication system via text
message and also phone calls. Is that not true, Madam Administrator?
Ms. Jackson: That’s correct.
Mr. Mayor: Okay all right so what I would one, because if we’re going to walk away with
the responsibility on behalf of this government that’s a two-way street. We are responsible for
promoting and providing for the health, welfare and safety of all of our residents. We’re going to
do that, we’re going to it well and so to that end what I would ask all of the residents who have
23
smart phones and/or who have access to the internet would be to go to the AugustaGA.gov website
and sign up to receive those communications and that we utilize that as a tool in lieu of access to
newspapers or whatever methods that are available. And if you sign up for those we’ll
communicate via your cell phones through text messages so that you’ll have regular updates. I
believe we can execute and implement that Madam Administrator, is that not true?
Ms. Jackson: That’s correct.
Mr. Mayor: Okay all right the next piece is with regards to Risk Management on a case by
case basis. I do not believe that this body is prepared to try and adjudicate any issues in this form.
It is imprudent and it is impractical for us to make an attempt to try to do that in this setting. If
those issues are germane they can go through the normal channels. We have appropriate staff at
Risk Management to work with our Attorney and the Administrator in order to address those
issues. That is your outlet, that is your channel in which we have provided from a government
standpoint those issues to be addressed. What we don’t want to do is to try to adjudicate them here
on the floor and anyone walk away feeling any additional injury in which you’ve already
experienced, that is not what we want to do. We want to one, again provide for the health, welfare
and safety of all of our citizens we’re going to do that we’re going to do it to the best of our ability
collectively together as a body. And so to that end if there are issues and you want to start at the
Administrator’s office that number is 821-2400. You can start there and you can start there with
one, initiating the discussion and if necessary Administrator Jackson knows that those items as
appropriate after having gone through the proper channels can in fact be brought to this body and
this body will be appropriately prepared to at least address them. But what we don’t want to do is
create a climate or a situation for things that are outside of our purview okay? All right all right
so we’ll move in that order that’s the immediate way of communicating and then our Engineering
staff will assist in making sure that all of those communications with regards to that work out there
gets sent to IT and they are in fact transmitted on a regular basis. In that way you’ll know what’s
going on in that area and we can do that and we can that now. All right the Chair recognizes the
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Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, I just one final point. For public safety particularly
medical safety we know our Fire Department with their EMSP training they can provide additional
support. The Chief is already willing and consented to do that. We know under Gold Cross they
have their final authority upon arrival on site but for emergencies to get their ahead of time the
Fire Department has two stations that’s very close to that area particularly the one on Willis
Foreman. They can come around either way to get there to assist you all so we’re going to ask the
Chief to have one of his folks and he also has an off road vehicle that can also it’d be an asset in
that. So we definitely want to say ya’ll will receive medical support from the Fire Department and
I have the Chief’s verification of that so thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Commissioner Sias. I’m going to go back to the Commissioner
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from the 8 and again he’s already been providing leadership he’s been a point of contact for our
residents in that area. And so to that end I would ask the Commissioner along with myself the
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Commissioner from the 8 let’s be in contact with the Mayors of Hephzibah and Blythe. You and
I both know them well and let’s see if we can’t get them engaged in this conversation.
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Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor, Point of Order?
Mr. Mayor: All right, state your inquiry.
Mr. M. Williams: Commissioner Sias made a suggestion, I just my question is that can the
Fire Department transport. I mean being there and I think the issue with these people that they
can’t get from there to the hospital or wherever their emergency equipment needs to be. So having
a fire truck the Fire Department there my question is can they transport? If they can’t transport
then they still got to wait on an ambulance. I guess that’s, somebody in Public Safety might be
able to answer that, because I don’t know.
Mr. Mayor: Well, you know this is a very serious matter and we’re adding issues to it,
we’re adding issues that are largely outside of our purview and I’m very cautious about that. There
are dirt roads all across Augusta and the south side of town, I live on the south side of town but
we’re adding issues to it and I think we need to tread very cautiously with regards to that. As a
matter, Commissioner, that has been brought before us with regards to the bridge. I think given
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the three items that have been brought before us from the Commissioner from the 8 we’ve
responded to them now and I think we should allow all systems, public safety systems and/or law
enforcement to engage when necessary without us trying to necessarily solve that up here, that’s
what I would tell you in regards to that. All right the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the
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6.
Mr. Hasan: I apologize, Mr. Mayor, for getting in late. I know I think last week I think if
my memory serves me correctly I’m might have been out that’s when I might have attended a
service or something.
Mr. Mayor: It was and I was not privy to all of the conversations as it relates to the Risk
Management issues but I’m certainly sensitive to them. The Administrator has shared some of the
concerns with me and I am going to trust the process. Continue.
Mr. Hasan: Well, yes, that’s what I wanted to say if you was not privy to this as long as
you’ve had a sidebar conversation but also you can see that Commissioner Guilfoyle made a
reference to being in Legal last week. There was a position the body had looked at so if you want
to do something different as opposed to running it back through the Administrator. And what it
was looking like to me and I could be totally looking at this upside down in that Risk Management
was concerned, was at an issue in order to if we wanted to do something around policy different.
And that’s why they came down and came before the body to do something different than what
the normal procedures. Now this isn’t an abnormal case I do agree but I was wanting the
Administrator and the Attorney to keep that in mind. It doesn’t necessarily, Mr. Mayor, bear
response I just wanted to make sure that information be taken in account based on it being brought
to us last week around that very same issue about Risk Management looking for us to try to do
something different at the time the body chose not to. But maybe there’ll something be something
I don’t have privy to because I haven’t any conversations with anybody beyond that. So I just
wanted to make that be known and I appreciate you letting me know you’ve had a conversation.
Thank you very much for your time.
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Mr. Mayor: Well, thank you and perhaps as a point of clarification in my statements with
regards to one, that they can call and begin initiating a request for information and/or action again
with the Administrator’s office. I am not suggesting anything that circumvents or usurps any
action that was taken in my absence on last week. The prevailing minds at right now is that I want
us to follow our current policies and procedures and if we do that we’ll be successful every time,
we’ll be successful every time. Thank you. All right, Madam Clerk.
The Clerk: Yes, sir, I call your attention to our consent agenda which consists of items 1-
24 along with our companion item on number 2 on our addendum agenda. If there are any
objectors to any of the following Planning petitions would you please signify your objections once
the petition is read. I call your attention to:
Item 1: Is a request for a Special Exception to establish an Amenity Area for Sims Landing
Subdivision on property located on Sims Drive.
Item 2: Is a request for a change of zoning from an LI (Light Industry) to a Zone, I’m sorry
on behalf of Commercial Investment LLC, requesting to modify the conditions placed on the Zone
of Light Industry on property located at 1709 Barton Chapel Road.
The Clerk: Are there any objectors to any of those zoning issues? Our consent agenda
consists of items 1-24 with no objectors to our Planning and Zoning matters.
Mr. Hasan: Motion to approve.
Mr. Mayor: Okay ---
Mr. Smith: Second.
Mr. Mayor: --- hold on. All right, are there any motions to add or remove from the consent
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agenda? All right the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor, I’d like to pull item number 8 please for just a little
discussion if I can.
Mr. Mayor: And you may. All right, all right, I believe that that’s the only one.
Mr. Lockett: I don’t think so.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay. All right the Chair recognizes from the 5.
Mr. Lockett: I just have a question I’d like to ask about agenda item number 15.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, well why don’t we just go ahead and pull it ---
Mr. Locket: Okay.
Mr. Mayor: --- item 15 we’ll pull it.
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The Clerk: Mr. Mayor, before we move forward ---
Mr. Mayor: Yes, ma’am, all right you want to get back to item number two, right?
The Clerk: --- yes, sir just for the sake of clarity if we have unanimous consent on the
revision of the wording on the condition #3 pertaining to zoning item #2 whereas a rear privacy
fence must be installed along the rear property line along the rear line of disturbance located east
of the 50-foot buffer and into the interior of the site at the time of development.
Mr. M. Williams: And that’s what, Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, where we are?
Mr. Mayor: All right so what Madam Clerk is referring to is to revise the information
that’s before you, that’s correct.
Mr. Hasan: So it’s a language revision?
Mr. Mayor: It is not late arriving; it is just revision to the language.
Mr. Hasan: Okay.
Mr. Mayor: It’s already been before you it’s just revision to the language.
Mr. Hasan: Thank you, sir.
Mr. Mayor: Yes sir, thank you, it’s currently on the agenda, Commissioner.
Mr. M. Williams: This is item 2 in our book?
The Clerk: Yes, sir, under Planning.
Mr. Mayor: Yes, it is.
Mr. Mayor: Yes sir, not late arriving.
Mr. M. Williams: I’m watching late arrivals.
Mr. Mayor: I know, I know. All right, okay the Chair will entertain a motion.
The Clerk: We have one.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, I didn’t remember.
The Clerk: Yes, sir, we do with the understanding that the revision is to be included ---
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Mr. Mayor: Yes.
The Clerk: --- in the consent agenda. Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Lockett: So moved.
Mr. Hasan: Second.
Mr. Mayor: All right, voting.
CONSENT AGENDA
PLANNING
1. Z-16-13-SP – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Planning Commission to
approve with the conditions stated below a petition by DR Horton-Crown, LLC requesting
a Special Exception to establish an Amenity Area for Sims Landing Subdivision per Section
26-1(1) of the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance for Augusta-Richmond County affecting
property containing approximately 2.42 acres and located on the southeast right-of-way line
of Sims Drive, 297 feet, more or less, northeast of Stablebridge Drive. This property has been
assigned an address of 1040 Sims Drive. Part of Tax Map 080-0-001-00-0 (Continued from
April 2016 meeting) – DISTRICT 3 1. The proposed construction shall be limited to the
structures shown on the concept plan dated April 22, 2016. 2. The structures as shown on the
concept plan must be set back at least fifty (50) feet from property lines separating the
property from contiguous properties zoned or developed for residential use. 3. General
maintenance and repairs will be applicable to related provisions in the zoning ordinance. 4.
Provide proper enclosure of the pool area as required by the state which shall be no more
than 4 feet in height and comprised of a material that complements the style of the proposed
facility. 5. Outdoor activities will cease at 11:00 P.M.
2. Z-16-16 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Planning Commission to approve
with the conditions stated below a petition by Rich Laschober, on behalf of D&S Commercial
Investment LLC, requested to modify the conditions placed on the Zone LI (Light Industry)
in 2006 (Z-06-12) affecting property containing 8.98 acres and known as 1709 Barton Chapel
Road. Tax Map 053-2-113-00-0 – DISTRICT 3 1. The only use shall be a wholesale
warehouse or similar facilities. 2. The property complies with all aspects the Tree Ordinance
and applicable landscaping standards at time of development. 3. The developer must retain
a minimum of 25 feet of the existing trees along the side property lines and a minimum of 50
feet of the existing trees along the rear property line. The developer must erect and maintain
a six (6) foot privacy fence along the side and rear property lines at the time the property is
developed. 4. The project site plan must comply with any other ordinances and regulations
in effect at the time of construction. 5. The owner must extend, at their expense, the sanitary
sewer line to the subject property and connect to the sanitary sewer service, following the
guidelines and specifications of Augusta Utilities. 6. The curb cut and other traffic-related
improvements must be approved by the Traffic Engineering Department.
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PUBLIC SERVICES
3. Motion to approve a request from the 2016 Fatherhood Initiative for Psi Omega Chapter
of Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. to waive the usage and clean-up fees associated with the “Proud
Fathers Rally and Stance Against Domestic Violence” to be held on June 11, 2016 from 10:30
a.m. until 2:00 p.m. at the Common. (Approved by Public Services Committee May 10, 2016)
4. Motion to approve the selection of a contract with Cash Ready ATM to provide
Automated Teller Machine services to the Augusta Regional Airport as approved by the
Augusta Aviation Commission at their February 25, 2016 Meeting. RFP-16-122. (Approved
by Public Services Committee May 10, 2016)
5. Motion to approve contract modification #5 to Beams’ Contracting Airport Southwest
Development Area Access Road as approved by the Augusta Aviation Commission at their
April 28, 2016 meeting. (Approved by Public Services Committee May 10, 2016)
6. Motion to approve bid award purchase of HVAC Replacement to Gold Mech, Inc. the
lowest most responsive bidder on Bid #16-136. (Approved by Public Services Committee May
10, 2016)
7. Motion to approve bid award for the purchase of computers and accessories in the amount
of $43,728.52 for Library from Interconnect Products & Services, Inc., OM Office Supply
Inc., PCMG, Inc., and SDF Professional Computer Services, Inc. selecting the lower price in
each item category. Bid 16-130. (Approved by Public Services Committee May 10, 2016)
PUBLIC SAFETY
9. Motion to approve acceptance of the award from The Georgia Emergency Management
Agency (GEMA) to the RCSO through the State Homeland Security Initiative of $43,000.00
to purchase a K-9 transport vehicle. (Approved by Public Safety Committee May 10, 2016)
10. Motion to approve entering into a Mutual Aid Agreement with the Burke County to
provide for the protection of life and property of the citizens of Augusta-Richmond County,
Georgia and Burke County and to authorize the Mayor to execute the appropriate
documents. (Approved by Public Safety Committee May 10, 2016)
11. Motion to approve entering into a Mutual Aid Agreement with the Jefferson County to
provide for the protection of life and property of the citizens of Augusta-Richmond County,
Georgia and Jefferson County and to authorize the Mayor to execute the appropriate
documents. (Approved by Public Safety Committee May 10, 2016)
12. Motion to approve contract addendum with CivicPlus for early site redesign project.
(Approved by Public Safety Committee May 10, 2016)
13. Motion to approve entering into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between FEMA
Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) Program and Augusta-Richmond
County Emergency Management. (Approved by Public Safety Committee May 10, 2016)
FINANCE
14. Motion to approve the replacing of one 1997 aerial bucket truck for Augusta Engineering
Department-Street Light Division using General Fund Capital Outlay. Bid 16-150.
(Approved by Finance Committee May 10, 2016)
16. Motion to approve the replacement of 1 ground boring drill with accessories for Augusta
Utilities Department-Facilities Maintenance Division using the GMA Lease program. Bid
Item 16-163. (Approved by Finance Committee May 10, 2016)
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17. Motion to approve the refund of the property taxes to the Augusta Boxing Club and
direct the Club to contact the Recreation Department to initiate the request about the
assistance with the 15 passenger van. (Approved by Finance Committee May 10, 2016)
ENGINEERING SERVICES
18. Motion to approve the execution of the three Consent Agreements with Inland Service
Corporation due to a change in corporate control which requires Augusta’s prior written
consent. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee May 10, 2016)
19. Motion to authorize condemnation to acquire title of a portion of property for right-of-
way (Parcel 061-2-126-00-0) 519 Fairhope Street. (Approved by Engineering Services
Committee May 10, 2016)
20. Motion to authorize condemnation to acquire title of a portion of property for right-of-
way (Parcel 061-1-155-00-0) 612 Macon Avenue. (Approved by Engineering Services
Committee May 10, 2016)
21. Motion to authorize condemnation to acquire title of a portion of property for right-of-
way (Parcel 061-1-159-00-0) 604 Macon Avenue. (Approved by Engineering Services
Committee May 10, 2016)
22. Motion to authorize condemnation to acquire title of a portion of property for right-of-
way (Parcel 061-1-169-00-0) 713 Albany Avenue. (Approved by Engineering Services
Committee May 10, 2016)
23. Motion to authorize condemnation to acquire title of a portion of property for right-of-
way (Parcel 061-1-308-00-0) 04 Wallace Street. (Approved by Engineering Services
Committee May 10, 2016)
PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS
24. Motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of the Commission held May 4,
2016 and Special Called Meeting held May 10, 2016.
Mr. D. Williams out.
Motion Passes 9-0. [Items 1-7, 9-14, 16-24]
The Clerk: Do you want to do the pulled items?
Mr. Mayor: Let’s go here first.
The Clerk: Let’s go to the addendum, okay.
The Clerk:
ADDENDUM
26. Request the Augusta Commission accept the grant from the Georgia Department of
Transportation for the Airport ARFF Pavement Rehabilitation Project. This item was
presented to the Augusta Aviation Commission on Tuesday, May 10, 2016.
The Clerk: I do believe Chairman Cedric Johnson is here to provide information regarding
that availability.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, Mr. Johnson. All right the Chair’s going to recognize Commissioner
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from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor, I asked a while ago about the addition in item 2 which is in
our books that was stated was the item. Now this one another addition item here ---
The Clerk: It’s on the addendum as well sir, from the back.
Mr. M. Williams: On the add-ons.
The Clerk: Add-on, yes, sir.
Mr. M. Williams: Right I guess my question is, is this an emergency? Now we’ve been
talking about these types of situations over and over and over every meeting we come up with
another one. I guess my question is, is this an emergency?
Mr. Mayor: All right so all right very good, very good. All right let me one, apologize to
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the Commissioner from the 9That was my oversight. Madam Clerk, in terms of the addition to
the agenda I only looked at what was in front of me so I’m going to take the responsibility for that
Commissioner. All right I’ll start there first and now that it’s here, yes, it’s important.
Mr. M. Williams: I’m not questioning it again I mean, Madam Clerk, can you explain
something to help me understand. I support the airport but ---
Mr. Johnson: Mr. Mayor ---
Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes Mr. Johnson.
Mr. Johnson: --- I can explain it. What it is at the end of the fiscal year governmental
agencies and the Georgia DOT they have a pot of money that if you have plans for shovel ready
projects, they will give you dollars but they give you a limited time to come back and say that you
will accept those funds. We have a $662,000-dollar rehab project that we are working on. 90%
of that comes from the FAA which is $598,000. 5% of that will be from the Airport General
Operating Fund of $32,131 and the other is the DOT Grant that we’re asking you to approve that
we have to get the information back in a hurry. Now we tried to expedite this as fast as we could
get it back. We voted on it at our last meeting to get it down here. My understanding is and it’s
probably the airport’s fault we didn’t designate where the funds were going to come from to make
up the total $662,000 dollars. So if we don’t get this approved and get it back to the Georgia DOT
then we will forfeit those $32,000 dollars.
Mr. M. Williams: So my question, Mr. Johnson, is this an emergency and I guess it would
be for that kind of money, right?
Mr. Johnson: Yes, sir. One of the things too I want to mention we have these things come
up from time to time and the Mayor has the authority to go ahead because the FAA will do that
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but I don’t think we’ve given him the authority to what Georgia DOT grants and that might be
something we look at at a later date. But, yes, sir, it is an emergency so we won’t lose that money.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay, Mr. Mayor, I’ve got no problem.
Mr. Mayor: All right very good thank you so much I appreciate that. All right the Chair
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recognizes the Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: I just want to say as far as the expedition to move expeditiously on this issue the
Airport Commission did hold a Special Called Meeting so there is your emergency status basically
there because they did not have time to go through their own normal processes though. So as a
member of that board I got there a little after the meeting but they did have a Special Called
Meeting just to get this issue to us at this time.
Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Mayor Pro Tem.
Mr. G. Smith: I’d like to make a motion that we approve.
Mr. Fennoy: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We’ve got a motion and a second. Voting.
Mr. D. Williams out.
Motion Passes 9-0.
Mr. Johnson: Thank ya’ll very much.
The Clerk:
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
8. Motion to approve a resolution supporting the Augusta Housing Authority and the
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Walton Communities, LLC’s application for low income housing tax credit to be named 15
Street Development – Phase 2. (Approved by Administrative Services Committee May 10,
2016)
Mr. Mayor: All right, we’re going to recognize Director Welcher, Mr. Hawthorne. All
right but the Chair recognizes the distinguished Chairman of Administrative Services
Commissioner Williams for a question.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. This came before us in committee and I
understand I had a couple of questions I need to get answered. This LLC is for an application for
low income housing tax credit and I guess the question I asked last week how much percentage of
that was going to be low to moderate income in order for 15% is that right is that what I was told?
Mr. Welcher: Yes, sir.
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Mr. M. Williams: Okay why if this money if this grant and this application is for low to
moderate why is there no more than the 15%?
Mr. Welcher: I believe that the name is not low income housing tax credit is not a HUD
Program but what it is is Section 42 of the IRS Code so it’s an IRS Program. So I think the name
in itself sort of lends to when you lower income tax credit you automatically think, a lot of persons
think HUD. However, the way that this deal is structured based on a qualified allocation plan it
simply states that 15% of the units have to be set aside for persons considered very low income or
50% of the area median income. This development here is what is called is for moderate income
persons so for a one-person household for a person who makes $23,000 dollars a year or less all
the way to a six-person family who makes $39,540 dollars a year or less.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay, Mr. Welcher, you may be able to help me then because I still got
a question and that is that what we did what the Housing Authority did to your group and the
Housing Authority on the east side of this city it looks very, very nice. And I’m imagining that
the what’s going to be built on 15 is going to be equally as nice but my question goes back to if
low income, is the application for lower income housing tax credit what are we doing about the
other situations we’ve got here? And I’m reaching back, Richard, you and me had several
conversations about Ervin Towers who is a community that, it’s an old community who has been
in there for a long time. We had multiple issues with rain coming in, elevators getting stuck and
I’m in support of this project now but I’m trying to find out how do we get from down east Augusta
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with a very nice facility jumping over to 15 Street where one is very much needed but we’re
overlooking one that’s been here for 50-60 years maybe. I don’t know the age of it but it’s an old
building. So how did we bypass that how did we not address that with whoever it needs to be
addressed with?
Mr. Arfman: It’s all a matter of funding, sir.
Mr. M. Williams: I understand that, Richard, that’s the one thing I do understand now it’s
all a matter of funding. But did we have to apply for this low tax, low income tax credit for Ervin
Towers who really needs in my mind needs to be revamped and build something totally different
because we’ve got seniors. When you got to talk about aging on aging and I’ve got seniors living
there, they get stuck on the elevator and be stuck all day long. I had to call the Fire Department
myself to go up and try to relieve the elevator that we didn’t know if anybody was on it or not.
And it ain’t just stopped, it’s still in that situation now. The building is really in bad condition, the
trees have grown up so much and you and I walked around that building Richie where the trees
had grown into the windows. If the Fire Department had to get into one they would’ve had to cut
the limb off before you put a ladder in there. So this is an old situation and I thought it was a
perfectly good time to ask that question who does this body need to go to, what agency is the one
that handles that or when are we going to get to that?
Mr. Arfman: Ervin Towers is next on our list to modernize, sir. We probably won’t be
able to get to it to for another three or four years from now until funds built up.
Mr. M. Williams: Three or four years.
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Mr. Arfman: Yes, sir, we’ve already done the elevators. We’ve renovated the elevators
about two years ago, a year and a half ago.
Mr. M. Williams: Richard, me and you we’ve been dancing to this song before and I was
just over there, it ain’t been two weeks ago and the elevator there wasn’t but one working the other
one was stuck.
Mr. Arfman: Yes, sir, it was another case two weeks ago when the elevator went down.
Mr. M. Williams: And I called the Fire Department. The Fire Chief went over there to
make sure it wasn’t nobody on the elevator and that’s been like I say very recently. So if we
replace those and I just thought when I saw this item it would be a good time to address this to find
out. Now maybe this body who has no authority over the Housing Authority but at least put a
request in to get somebody to start looking at when are we going to do something. That’s the only
one like that now you’ve got Hal Powell, you’ve got Peabody, you’ve got everyone is in really
good shape except that one and I think it’s a problem when everybody else is marching to one song
and one is off by itself. So I think we need to look seriously at that. I’m not opposed to this.
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We’re going to approve this for sure because we want that 15 project to get going but I just think
that we’ve got to be cognizant of what’s going on and make sure we go ahead and address that too
hopefully sooner that three or four years from now.
Mr. Arfman: Yes, sir, we’ll try put our priority on Ervin Towers.
Mr. Sias: Motion to approve.
Ms. Davis: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We’ve got a motion and a second to approve. Voting.
Mr. D. Williams out.
Motion Passes 9-0.
The Clerk:
FINANCE
15. Motion to approve Fleet Management requests the replacement of 6-F150 pickup trucks
for Augusta Utilities Department-Customer Service Division. (Approved by Finance
Committee May 10, 2016)
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 5.
Mr. Lockett: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This is for the Fleet Manager. As you recall a
month or so ago I had on the agenda a request for information about the number of vehicles we
had that was under recall from Ford Motor Company. And at that time you said that you were
waiting for assurances that they were indeed. And you were later notified that those vehicles in
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question were under recall because of faulty airbags. So my question for you today is at this point
do we have any vehicles in our fleet that have faulty airbags?
Mr. Crowden: We have four where the inflators were not replaced. All four of those were
down at Gerald Jones Ford last Tuesday. They called us on Thursday told us to come pick the
trucks up because the inflators were on back order so we’re right back where we started from.
Every other truck has been taken care of.
Mr. Lockett: Okay, so it’s my understanding we have four in our inventory that’s got ----
Mr. Crowden: That’s correct.
Mr. Lockett: There’s no way that as many vehicles that we have that those four vehicles
can’t be pulled and substituted with something else until we get those airbags replaced or repaired.
Mr. Crowden: That would be up to the department to do that.
Mr. Lockett: Well, who’s responsibility is it going to be if someone is injured because of
that? We would have been negligent because I brought it before this body on a couple of times
now and we know we’re not guessing anymore we understand for certain that those airbags are
faulty. Now whose son or daughter or whoever that’s in that vehicle when that airbag goes off and
they are seriously injured. I mean I think that we should be able to do something today as far as
those four vehicles are concerned and maybe you don’t have an answer now but I wish you would
definitely. And lastly this is not something that should be left up to the department heads because
it’s obvious if the department heads had any concern that they would’ve done something in the
interim to make sure that the problem no longer existed. But I just don’t want to be sitting up here
if something happens to somebody. So I just wish that you all can get together and put forth a
collective effort and get something done and you know ---
Mr. Crowden: I do understand your concern.
Mr. Lockett: --- well thank you very much and thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Sias: Move to approve.
Mr. Fennoy: Second.
Mr. Mayor: All right, fantastic, motion to approve with a second all right but the Chair
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will continue to attain questions. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Lockett’s right. He brought this up and we
talked about how many it was. My question is why are we still buying Fords from anybody who
are not servicing is and not getting the types that we ought to be getting. These six may be in
perfect shape and may not have no problem but we already got four that they had not responded
to. Now I don’t think we do have it with any other businesses and I think Ford and any other
business with the understanding if you don’t do business with them and there are other trucks we
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can get now we don’t have to have a Ford. I think we can, there are plenty of Dodges and
Chevrolets and everything else out there Volkswagen I don’t care what it is why are we still buying
from a company who don’t have the equipment or are not responsible enough equipment to do
that? Is that left up to the contractor as well?
Mr. Crowden: I would like to clarify the issue with Ford. When Fleet Management puts
out a bid for a pickup truck we put in a bid that specifies a truck 6,000 gross vehicle weight, period.
We cite examples such as the Ford F150, the Dodge 1500, the Chevy 1500, the Dodge Ram 1500,
we don’t specify. In every case the Ford product has been cheaper than the rest and I am bound
by the Procurement process.
Mr. M. Williams: I understand, Mr. Mayor, if I can respond yeah but if you don’t use them
for a bid they can’t be cheaper. If we eliminate them now we have to go to the next cheaper
because if their product is not being dependable reliable then we should I think, Procurement has
rules that we need to go by and I’ve been a stickler for doing that but when you’ve got a piece of
equipment that’s not safe and then we’re going to go buy it because it’s cheap. Commissioner
Lockett asked the question who’s going to be responsible when somebody’s son or daughter or
hurt my wife in one of those trucks and goes off. I think we’ll send a clear message that the Ford
not just the local dealership but the Ford Motor Company would understand something that we’re
not going to buy them because they’re not quality built material. So I can’t support you might
have enough to get it but I can’t support that. I don’t think we ought to be spending our money
with people who are not giving us products that’s going to be able to serve this community and
put our employees at risk.
Mr. Crowden: The only way I can respond to that is that recall includes 24 million
automobiles in the United States of various models and makes and it’s not just restricted to Ford
products so you know I can’t answer your question. I certainly can’t take Ford off the bidding
process.
Mr. M. Williams: We can though.
Mr. Crowden: Yes, sir.
Mr. M. Williams: And so we can and that’s all you need to bring to us I think you all need
to take them off. It’s all Fords as far as I’m concerned, Mr. Mayor, I’m ready to vote.
Mr. Mayor: Okay well I appreciate that. All right, I’m going to go down the line we’ve
got more discussion. The Chair recognizes the Mayor Pro Tem.
Mr. G. Smith: Let me say one thing. We just had a big management change up there a
businessman in town invested his money to buy out a Ford dealership locally and you know it was
like you’ve heard me say many times those two businesses locally who employs people who pay
taxes and everything else. I agree with Commissioner Williams to a point that you know we need
to demand more respect on the amount of vehicles we purchase. All of them are good. I’ve sold
Dodges back when I was in college and all that but every now and then you’re going to get that
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one that we need to hand a lemon on. But the think about it is you know Commissioner Williams
I thought you had a Ford.
Mr. M. Williams: I’ve got a diesel too.
Mr. G. Smith: Okay, so anyway the thing about it is you know let’s give these people a
shot. Mr. Jones just bought out that dealership up there. Let’s let him know our concerns. I
guarantee I know Andy very well and he will jump all over it. So if you need my help let me know
I’ll be seeing him tomorrow.
Mr. Crowden: Thank you.
Mr. G. Smith: Okay.
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Mr. Mayor: All right the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor, I want to get some clarity around and I’m
sorry the gentleman was saying about the Ford trucks, the airbags. What was the rationale at this
point we have not gotten that resolved what was the rationale for that?
Mr. Crowden: It’s the availability of the inflators which is the major problem but it doesn’t
solve the whole recall.
Mr. Hasan: Okay.
Mr. Crowden: The whole recall is to replace to the whole airbag unit.
Mr. Hasan: Okay.
Mr. Crowden: But the inflators are what’s causing the injuries to personnel ---
Mr. Hasan: Okay.
Mr. Crowden: --- and that’s what they’re replacing. And we thought we were right on
track to getting them all replaced until this last batch that we took down and they told us they were
on backorder. So I have no delivery date, no estimated time of completion on any of those.
Mr. Hasan: So the point is that they’re not refusing to do it they’re on backorder.
Mr. Crowden: It’s just the availability of the inflator it’s ---
Mr. Hasan: Okay, okay because I was going to say for sure if there was a resistance to do
it then I would concur with Commissioner Williams for sure in terms from a business perspective.
But also when you did say that it was a department’s call I find that interesting and you may be
correct about it just for sake of clarity. If you’re Fleet Management I would think that that
department would manage the fleet and tell the department that this vehicle does not need to be on
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the road. Even though me I could be a department director and I’d be utilizing it for my staff but
as you are managing the fleet and ordering the fleet I would think that would come up under your
jurisdiction I would think to say okay well this is a liability for us to have it on the road. I could
be wrong about that but it just makes sense to me as you being the manager of the fleet that the
department the manager not you per se but the person who is in charge of Fleet Management that
just makes more sense to me. Thank you, sir, thank you Mr. Mayor.
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Mr. Mayor: All right the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 1.
Mr. Fennoy: Yes, Mr. Mayor, this is information of the 24 million vehicles that have
seatbelt issues. They are BMWs, Buicks, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chryslers, Corvettes, Fords,
Hondas, Hyundais, Infinities, Jaguars, Jeeps, Kia, Land Rovers, Lexus, Mazda, Mercedes Benz,
Mini Coopers, Mitsubishis, Nissans, Pontiac, Porches, SAABS, Saturns, Subaru, Toyotas,
Volkswagen and Volvos.
Mr. Hasan: 24,000, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Fennoy: 24 Million.
Mr. Lockett: Call for the question, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: I think that’s an excellent idea. We’ve got a motion and a proper second,
voting. All right I would ask ---
Mr. M. Williams votes No.
Mr. Guilfoyle and Mr. D. Williams out.
Motion Passes 7-1.
Mr. Mayor: --- all right I would ask the Commissioners to stay with us we’ve got one more
issue that’s pressing that would require us to go into Executive Session to address. Ya’ll have
been troopers today.
Mr. Sias: So moved.
Mr. Frantom: Second.
Mr. MacKenzie: Just for the record this would be ---
The Clerk: Was that you, Mr. Frantom?
LEGAL MEETING
A. Pending and Potential Litigation.
B. Real Estate.
C. Personnel.
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Mr. MacKenzie: --- a motion to go into Executive Session to discuss real estate.
Mr. Sias: I said it, Ms. Bonner.
The Clerk: Okay.
Mr. Mayor: All right, voting.
Mr. M. Williams abstains.
Mr. D. Williams and Mr. Guilfoyle out.
Motion Passes 7-0.
[EXECUTIVE SESSION]
Mr. Mayor: All right the Chair recognizes Attorney MacKenzie.
29. Motion to approve execution by the Mayor of the affidavit of compliance with Georgia’s
Open Meeting Act.
Mr. MacKenzie: I would entertain a motion to execute the Closed Meeting Affidavit.
Mr. M. Williams: So moved.
Mr. Frantom: Second.
Mr. Lockett: Waiting on the magic word.
Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes Attorney MacKenzie.
The Clerk: Well, we didn’t get a vote yet.
Mr. Mayor: Voting.
Mr. D. Williams and Mr. Guilfoyle out.
Motion Passes 8-0.
Mr. Mayor: All right, Attorney MacKenzie.
ADDENDUM
28. Motion to authorize the execution of Georgia Power Company’s Advanced Solar
Initiative Prime Distributed Generation Solar Agreement (GPC-23173); to authorize the
payment of $25,000 per awarded site from Account 542044110-5212999, to authorize the
execution of the Interconnection Agreement per awarded site, to approve award of RFP Item
16-171, Photovoltaic Solar Power Systems to Inman Solar, Inc. for all three proposed solar
sites pending execution of all required documents and contracts as required; to authorize the
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Mayor and Clerk of Commission to execute lease and assignment and all required documents
in accordance with the Georgia Power Advanced Solar Initiative Prime Distributed
Generation Program for the awarded site; and to authorize the granting and execution of
easement to Georgia Power for the location of the interconnection facility and transmission
lines as proved in the Interconnection Agreement.
Mr. Lockett: So moved.
Mr. Frantom: Second.
Mr. Fennoy: Could you repeat that please?
Mr. Lockett: Mr. Chair, we’re waiting on you.
Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ve got a motion and a second. Commissioner Lockett has people
waiting in his car.
Mr. Lockett: That’s right ---
Mr. Mayor: Voting.
Mr. Lockett: --- I have the First Lady waiting on me; I’ve got to get out of here.
Mr. Sias and Mr. Hasan vote No.
Mr. D. Williams and Mr. Guilfoyle out.
Motion Passes 6-2.
The Clerk: Is that it?
Mr. Lockett: I think the Mayor’s trying to drag this thing out?
Mr. Mayor: There be no further business this meeting is adjourned.
Mr. Lockett: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
[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 May
17, 2016.
________________________
Clerk of Commission
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