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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRegular Commission Meeting August 2, 2016 REGULAR MEETING COMMISSION CHAMBER AUGUST 2, 2016 Augusta Richmond County Commission convened at 2:00 p.m., August 2, 2016, the Hon. Hardie Davis, Jr., Mayor, presiding. PRESENT: Hons. Lockett, Sias, Frantom, M. Williams, Smith, Fennoy, D. Williams, Hasan and Davis, members of Augusta Richmond County Commission. Absent: Hon. Guilfoyle, member of Augusta Richmond County Commission. Mr. Mayor: Good afternoon, everybody. I hope everybody’s had a great week already and I’m looking forward to an even greater remainder of the week. All right, we’ll hereby call this meeting to order and the Chair recognizes Madam Clerk. The Clerk: Yes, sir, at this time we will ask the Reverend Bert Daniel, Lead Pastor of the Crawford Avenue Baptist Church to come forward and deliver our invocation after which we’ll have our Pledge of Allegiance. Would you please stand. The invocation was given by Reverend Bert Daniel, Lead Pastor, Crawford Avenue Baptist Church. The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America was recited. Mr. Mayor: Pastor Bert, I want to take an opportunity to thank you for your service to this community as the Pastor at Crawford Avenue Baptist Church. I reminded of the words of Micah that our great assignment is to do justly to love mercy to walk humbly before our God. And may we take the prayers that you pray today and do just that and we deliberate and do the business of the people. Thank you for your service your spiritual guidance and your civic leadership. Thank you. Mr. Loeser: Good afternoon my name is Michael Loeser you Human Resources Director. Today we are happy to recognize our Years of Service Recipients. For the month of July there are 25 five to 20 year recipients and seven 25 to 40 year recipients of which five are here this afternoon. With 25 years of experience of service excuse me Wayne Beasley of Planning and Development. Here’s Wayne. (APPLAUSE) With 30 years of service Willy Williams of Engineering and Donald D’Antignac, thank you, sir, of Environmental Services. (APPLAUSE) With 35 years of service Mr. Allen Rob Rowlands, Sheriff’s Department. (APPLAUSE) With 40 years of service Mr. Frank Tiller of the Sheriff’s Department. (APPLAUSE) RECONGITIONS(S) Employee of the Month A. Congratulations! Mr. Carl Smith, Groundkeeper II Augusta Parks & Recreation Department August 2016 Employee of the Month. 1 The Clerk: I call your attention to the Recognition portion of our agenda in recognition of our Employee of the Month. We ask Mr. Carl Smith with the Augusta Recreation and Parks Department to please come forward. Mr. Parker, would you like to join him? While Mr. Smith makes his way forward the Employee Recognition Committee has selected Carl Smith as the August 2016 Employee of the Month for Augusta, Georgia. Mr. Smith works with the Augusta Parks and Recreation Department where he has been employed since 2007. He is nominated by Gary Hager. Mr. Hager, can you come forward would you like to come forward? Carl has consistently displayed great integrity and has great work ethics and provides exception customer service every day. As the primary staff person responsible for the upkeep of all of the rest rooms in various parks in the City of Augusta he insures that all the plumbing and the necessities are readily available for our guests. On a daily basis Carl deals with large groups of people visiting our parks and local daycare’s, schools, facility renters and even the homeless. He routinely checks the safety of the playground equipment and other park amenities while insuring proper work orders are submitted to the appropriate supervisor. While Carl is not a supervisor or a crew leader he has taken the initiative to train a newly assigned employee on providing legendary customer service by teaching him proper etiquettes and techniques. He also took him to all the service locations to insure that he knew the required standards. The diligence displayed by Carl’s actions shows his commitment to outstanding customer service as well as a positive image of the City of Augusta employees towards its citizens. Based on the nomination Carl’s outstanding contributions to the Parks and Recreation Department and his service to Augusta, Georgia the Employee Recognition Committee would appreciate you in joining us in recognizing Carl Smith as the Augusta 2016 Employee of the Month. (APPLAUSE) Congratulations. Would you like to say something? Mr. Mayor: Carl says he doesn’t want to say anything but I’ll say something. It is because of efforts like yours and employees who are team members of all of ours that make Augusta a great city. You’re to be applauded and certainly celebrated on today. Keep doing what you’re doing we’re very appreciative. Thank you. Mr. Smith: Thank you so much. (APPLAUSE) Mr. Parker: Carl’s the gentleman who takes care of the park right outside our Admin Building. And every morning when we arrive 8:00 o’clock or so that park’s spotless and he’s already moved on, so he’s there early and he makes a full day. And he takes a lot of pride in what he does as we really appreciate that from the department and from the old government county government. Thank you, Carl. Mr. Hager: Carl, I’d also like to just thank you for the efforts that you put forth in the two years that I’ve been here and the many years that you’ve put in with the city you do a remarkable job each day and deal with so many different people and make it a better place for our customers and citizens. So again thank you. The Clerk: Not to leave you out, Ms. Jackson, would you like a word? Ms. Jackson: There are roughly 2,500 employees that work in a given day and it takes all of us to make the city a great place so we appreciate you for doing your part. Thank you very much. (APPLAUSE) 2 The Clerk: At this time we would like to do a special recognition for a long-term employee Mr. Jerry Murphy. Would you please come forward and the DeLaigles would you like to come forward, the DeLaigle family? The Office of the Mayor Hardie Davis, Jr. The City of Augusta Certificate of Recognition presented to Jerry Murphy for his outstanding years of service. On behalf of the City of Augusta I commend you for your 33 years of service as a Records Clerk at the Magnolia Cemetery. I express sincere gratitude for your loyal stewardship and dedication to such a historic and unique place. Your contributions to the community have made Augusta and even better place. I wish you all the best in your future endeavors. Given unto my hand this day Hardie Davis, Jr., Mayor. Congratulations, Jerry. (APPLAUSE) Mr. Murphy: Thank you so much, everyone. I’m just so excited to be here and I did not expect to 33 years ago to be doing something like this because I didn’t know what I wanted to do in life and I was struggling with what kind of career I wanted to take part of. And I ended up in the cemeteries and I fell in love with the place and I guess I found my niche in life. And I just want to thank everyone for all the love and support and I hope to have many more years of it. I want to thank the DeLaigle family for their love and support and just being my friend and family now. And I want to thank Harold Frost for hiring me 33 years ago. The Clerk: Is Harold here, is he here? Mr. Hager: With Carl (inaudible) very much. Mr. Murphy: But thank you very much. God Bless each of you. The Clerk: We’ve enjoyed working with you, Jerry. (APPLAUSE) Ms. DeLaigle, would you like to say something? Ms. DeLaigle: On behalf of the DeLaigle family we just really appreciate Jerry. We appreciate the opportunity to speak for him. Any time we need anything he’s there he’s available and if isn’t he calls you on the phone and stays in touch. So we appreciate him on behalf of the DeLaigle family. Thank you. The Clerk: Well, I would be remiss to say that Jerry and I worked those 33 years together and we’ve had an enjoyable relationship. And it’s nothing that the Clerk’s Office ever need at Magnolia or Cedar Grove that we could not call Jerry and he would respond immediately. And if he didn’t know he knew who knew so we appreciate all your hard work and working with us so graciously because you’ve always been such a gentleman and we really do appreciate that. Thank you. Mr. Murphy: Ms. Lena Horne. The Clerk: I love being called that, Jerry. Now I call your attention to our consent agenda which consists of items 1-16, our consent agenda consists of items 1-16. Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk --- 3 The Clerk: Yes, sir. Mr. Mayor: --- can we do something. I was just thinking about this and my mind went th back to the Commissioner from the 4. And if we’ll pause for just a moment I’m going to give th him the Commissioner from the 4 an opportunity for a point of personal privilege. The Chair th recognizes the Commissioner from the 4. Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. We just want to ask this Commission and the body here today if we could stand for a moment of silence for one of our Directors Mr. Glenn Parker who lost his Mom on this weekend. And we all know what that is like and not everybody may not know but when you do that that’s a very painful thing to go through. So we want to stand and give them a moment of silence, Mr. Mayor and Commission. Thank you. Mr. Mayor: All right --- Mr. Sias: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: --- you’re quite welcome, sir. All right, we have one more acknowledgement recognition that we do want to take an opportunity to do that. Today we are pleased to have with us on her second day of being a part of the Augusta team. We have Ms. Kelly Irving all the way from Fontana, California where the distinguished Mayor there, Mayor Aguanetta Warren. So we’re pleased to have her here as our new Compliance Director. Ms. Irving if you’ll come and approach and you can, give you an opportunity to say a few words here --- Ms. Irving: Well, Mayor --- Mr. Mayor: --- tell us that you love Augusta. Ms. Irving: --- of course I’m in love with Augusta and I love Augusta. To the Honorable Mayor and members of the Commission of the proud city of Augusta, Georgia I’d like to thank you very much for this wonderful opportunity. I am so ecstatic and elated to be here. I am on day th two I guess I’m in my two 29 hour of my second day and I am excited to learn of the wonderful opportunities that we have in place in the Compliance Department. With your support and your leadership, I look to bring about many great enhancements to what we have and make certain that our city the proud city of Augusta, Georgia is in compliance with our EEO, ADA and our DBE Programs. With that I want to thank you. (APPLAUSE) Mr. Mayor: All right I’m feeling a little giddy, Ms. Bonner, Madam Clerk, I am. The Clerk: We’ll make allowances with those. Mr. Mayor: My distinguished lady at the end down there recognized that I had on a red tie and wanted me to know that. Our own local boy Brendan Douglas made the cover of the Georgia Football Sports Guide so I think that’s good thing for us in the City of Augusta, absolutely Go 4 Dawgs. All right, Go Dawgs. I would say give my two claps and a red flare but that probably wouldn’t be --- The Clerk: Give a couple of snaps. Mr. Mayor: --- that’s right. All right, would you like to say something about that? Ms. Davis: Mr. Mayor, I’m just proud of you for acknowledging that, thank you and just say you know that’s Brendan Douglas so that’s a good thing on the media guide for the Georgia Bulldogs for the season so that was a pretty big accomplishment. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: You’re very welcome, super star of Aquinas and star at Georgia. All right back to you, Madam Clerk. The Clerk: I call your attention again to our consent agenda which consists of items 1-16, items 1-16. Mr. Mayor: All right the Chair will entertain any motions to add or remove from the th consent agenda. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4. Mr. Sias: I want to pull 7 and 8. It’s not a major issue, just a couple of questions to be clarified. Mr. Mayor: Okay, and others? Mr. Lockett: Move to approve. Mr. G. Smith: Second. CONSENT AGENDA PUBLIC SAFETY 1. Motion to approve the award of RFP# 16-183 Hazard Mitigation Plan Update to Atkins North America, Inc. and authorize the Mayor to execute the appropriate documents. (Approved by Public Safety Committee July 26, 2016) 2. Motion to approve Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Augusta, Georgia and the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) to provide access to resources for offenders who do not have a high school diploma (GED), or who could benefit from a technical college certificate. (Approved by Public Safety Committee July 26, 2016) FINANCE 3. Motion to approve the replacement of 11 Public Safety Vehicles that have been declared totaled using the remaining funds of Phase VI Sales Tax – Public Safety Vehicles. (Approved by Finance Committee July 26, 2016) 4. Motion to approve Resolutions regarding the GMA Lease Pool administrator change. (Approved by Finance Committee July 26, 2016) 5 ENGINEERING SERVICES 5. Motion to approve an agreement with the Phinizy Center for Water Sciences to manage public access and educational activities related to the constructed wetland treatment system at the James B. Messerly Water Pollution Control Plant. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee July 26, 2016) 6. Motion to approve engineering services agreement with Pond and Company in the amount of $32,250.00 to design the relocation of water mains for the Berckman Road Widening and Realignment Phase I project. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee July 26, 2016) 9. Motion to approve funding for Design Consultant Services Supplemental Agreement Nine to Rochester & Associates, Inc., in the amount of $93,100.00 for the Belair Road Improvements Project as requested by the AED. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee July 26, 2016) 10. Motion to approve entering into an agreement with Georgia Power, stating that Augusta, GA will pay 3.55% of the estimated cost, which is $30,678 for relocation of Distribution Facility on the Belair Road Improvements Project in accordance with the estimate totaling $865,222.00. Also, approve the Utility Relocation Agreement to be executed by the Augusta, GA Legal Counsel and the Mayor, and approve payment upon completion of the work or Progress Payment as requested by Augusta Engineering Department. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee July 26, 2016) 11. Motion to authorize an agreement between the Georgia EPD and Augusta for regulatory testing of drinking water at a cost of $32,500 per year. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee July 26, 2016) 12. Motion to approve award of the On-Call Drainage Easements and Ponds Cutting/Cleaning Contract to Brown Management Services, Augusta Lawn & Turf, Jamco Civil, LLC, Horizon Construction, Pond Maintenance of Augusta, L-J Inc., Larry Pittman & Associates, and Larry McCord LLC. Award is contingent upon receipt of signed contracts and proper insurance documents. Also, approve $750,000 to fund the proposed on-call drainage easements and ponds cutting/cleaning services as requested by AED. (RFP 16-157) (Approved by Engineering Services Committee July 26, 2016) 13. Motion to approve award of the On-Call Maintenance Vegetation Control and Right of Way (ROW) Mowing Contract to Augusta Lawn & Turf, Winsay, Inc., Augusta Quality Lawn Care, Rise & Shine Lawn Care/Landscaping, LLC, Jamco Civil, LLC, and Larry McCord LLC. Award is contingent upon receipt of signed contracts and proper insurance documents. Also, approve $2,000,000 to fund the proposed on-call maintenance vegetation control and row mowing services as requested by AED. (RFP 16-152) Approved by Engineering Services Committee July 26, 2016) 14. Motion to approve award of the On-Call Services Contract to Augusta Industrial Services, Inc. and Jamco Civil, LLC., Award is contingent upon receipt of signed contracts and proper insurance documents. Also, approve $300,000 to fund the proposed on-call vac- con services as requested by AED. (RFP 16-159) Approved by Engineering Services Committee July 26, 2016) 15. Motion to authorize the execution of an agreement with the U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) for the operation, modeling and analyzing of monitoring wells to investigate water levels and water quality for Augusta’s groundwater production facilities. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee July 26, 2016) 6 PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS 16. Motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of the Commission held July 19, 2016 and Special Called Meetings held July 25 & 26, 2016. Mr. Mayor: All right we’ve got a motion and a second all those in favor will vote yea and those opposed will vote no. Voting. Man, I should’ve had a bet on how fast we were going to finish. Mr. Guilfoyle out. Motion Passes 9-0. [Items 1-6, 9-16] ENGINEERING SERVICES 7. Motion to approve entering into a Mowing and Maintenance Agreement as well as an Indemnity Agreement with the Georgia Department of Transportation in conjunction with Sandbar Ferry Beauty Spot Project as requested by AED. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee July 26, 2016) 8. Motion to approve entering into a Transportation Enhancement (TE) Agreement, a Mowing and Maintenance Agreement and an Indemnity Agreement with the Georgia Department of Transportation in conjunction with the Augusta Entryway and Corridor Master Design Project as requested by AED. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee July 26, 2016) The Clerk: Mr. Lockett, could these be considered companion items or do we need to do them individually, Mr. Sias, I’m sorry, sir. Mr. Sias: Yes, absolutely I was going to request that they be treated as companion items. Mr. Mayor: Wonderful, all right, the Chair recognizes Engineering Director Ladson. M. Mayor: Well --- Mr. Sias: Let me ask my question. Mr. Mayor: --- well, I want you to ask them but I want to at least recognize to give you that opportunity. Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. Mr. Ladson, I spoke to you about this and this is just a simple clarification. On these two items can you identify the funding source for these please I believe it was a grant or something. Can you clarify that? Mr. Ladson: Yes, sir, there was a what they call a Transportation Enhancement Grant that was awarded to the city back in 2011 and it was for $200,000 dollars. Mr. Sias: And that would take care of these two projects and right now there’s no need for stormwater fees or any stormwater money being involved in that, is that correct? 7 Mr. Ladson: That’s correct. Mr. Sias: Move to approve. Mr. Frantom: Second. Mr. Sias: Thank you. Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ve got a motion and a second to approve, voting. Mr. Guilfoyle out. Motion Passes 9-0. The Clerk: Ms. Wilson, is the alcohol petitioner here? Okay, would you come forward? Mr. Mayor: We’re on our regular agenda now? The Clerk: Yes, sir. Mr. Mayor: All right, continue on. All right, the Chair recognizes Planning Director Wilson, item 17. PUBLIC SERVICES 17. New Application: A.N. 16-27: A request by Amarjit Kaur for a retail package Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with AM-PM Convenience Store located at 3982 Mike Padgett Highway. District 1. Super District 10. Ms. Wilson: Hi, we’ve got a new application for an alcohol license. It’s a request by Ms. Kaur for retail package Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with the AM-PM Convenience Store. It’s located at 3982 Mike Padgett Highway. It’s located in District 1 Super District 10. The background checks have been done by the Sheriff’s Office and we’ve done our analysis and we would recommend support of this application. Mr. Hasan: Motion to approve. Mr. Fennoy: Second. The Clerk: Are there any objectors, Ms. Wilson? Ms. Wilson: We have not --- The Clerk: Are there any objectors? Ms. Wilson: --- but the applicant is here if you’ve got any questions. The Clerk: Yes, we need her name and address for the record. 8 Ms. Kaur: Amarjit Kaur, 5826 Shadow Hills Drive, Martinez, Georgia 30907. The Clerk: No objectors? Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk. The Clerk: We have a motion to approve. Mr. Mayor: All right with a proper second. All right, all those in favor will vote yea and those opposed will vote no. Mr. Guilfoyle out. Mr. D. Williams votes No. Motion Passes 8-1. The Clerk: PUBLIC SERVICES 18. Motion to approve a contract with Election Systems and Software for the transfer of software license fees. Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes our leader, Director of Board of Elections, Ms. Lynne Bailey. Ms. Bailey: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. What a good vibe in the room there is today. It pleases me to bring more good news. Through a series of very fortunate events the City of Augusta is the recipient of 100 free voting machines so let me give you a little history about how this came about. My colleague over in Columbus Muskogee County had an employee who recently went to work in Adams County Colorado in the Elections Office. And when she arrived at work she happened to notice that this county in Colorado uses the same voting equipment that we use here in the State of Georgia. This county had recently moved to an All Voting by Mail Voting System and had no need for the equipment and so Columbus, Muskogee County is receiving 425 of those units, we have been allotted 100 and the State of Georgia is taking the balance of what is that 275. So they are free in that they are being given to us. There is a slight fee associated with it because we’ll need to get the software licenses transferred over here to Richmond County which will cost $150.00 per unit. Were we to buy this equipment brand new it would cost around $140,000 dollars so it really is a good thing for Richmond County. And it puts us in a wonderful position moving forward because I’ve been assured by the Secretary of State’s Office that we’ll continue to use this voting system up through the 2023 elections. Right now our current voting machines stock is around 560 machines so this gives us 100 more to add to our inventory. The Board of Elections has that money in their budget already so we’re not asking for additional funding. We had that money allocated to in a repair account that we used to take care of voting equipment. So what we need to do to tie all the loops, dot the ‘I’s and cross the ‘T’s is execute the contract and that’s what we’re seeking today the execution of the contract to have the software licenses transferred from Colorado over here to Augusta. 9 Mr. Lockett: Move to approve. Mr. G. Smith: Second. Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. There are some questions. The Chair recognizes the Engineering Services Chair Commissioner Fennoy. Mr. Fennoy: How are you doing, Ms. Bailey? Ms. Bailey: Doing great, thanks. Mr. Fennoy: What would it cost to get the machines here? Ms. Bailey: The cost they sent a, Columbus sent a truck out there to pick them up, they’re already here in Columbus. Richmond County will pay its pro-rata share which I think is about $1,000 dollars. Mr. Fennoy: Great. Ms. Bailey: It is it’s great, it’s a great deal. Mr. Mayor: All right, any additional questions? The Chair recognizes the Commissioner th from the 6. Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Ms. Bailey will this equipment and software be in place for the November election? Ms. Bailey: Absolutely it will. The equipment as I said is in Columbus right now. The Georgia Center for Elections is located at Kennesaw State University is going to come on site to update the equipment to make sure it has the proper software in it and to test it which will happen week after next. Once that happens I’m going to send a Ryder truck right on over there to pick them up and we’ll grab them and bring them back here and have them for November. Mr. Hasan: Thank you, ma’am. Ms. Bailey: You’re welcome. Mr. Mayor: Outstanding. Voting. Mr. Guilfoyle out. Motion Passes 9-0. Ms. Bailey: Thank you so much. Mr. Sias: Thank you, ma’am. 10 Mr. Fennoy: That’s it, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: Well, it depends. The Clerk: We don’t know what to do with ourselves. Mr. Mayor: All right, I think I’m going to take those two claps --- The Clerk: Call it quits? Mr. Mayor: --- all right there be no further business --- Mr. Sias: (unintelligible) adjourn. Mr. Mayor: --- everybody we are adjourned. Mr. Lockett: Are we going to have a Legal? Mr. Chair, no Legal? Mr. Mayor: No Legal. Mr. Lockett: Thank you for letting me know. I’m sitting here --- Mr. Mayor: Yeah, next week, next week. [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 August 2, 2016. ________________________ Clerk of Commission 11