HomeMy WebLinkAboutRegular Commission Meeting January 3, 2017
REGULAR MEETING COMMISSION CHAMBER
JANUARY 3, 2017
Augusta Richmond County Commission convened at 2:00 p.m., January 3, 2017, the Hon.
Hardie Davis Jr., Mayor, presiding.
PRESENT: Hons. Jefferson, Guilfoyle, Sias, Frantom, M. Williams, Smith, Fennoy, D.
Williams, Hasan and Davis, members of Augusta Richmond County Commission.
Mr. Mayor: All right. Well, Happy New Year to everybody. We’ve sworn in the newest
elected officials, those returning and the new kid on the block, Commissioner Frantom no longer
holds that title, no longer the new kid on the block. So, we are graciously we welcome the newest
Commissioner Andrew Jefferson into this body and to our citizens thank you. And to our staff the
folks who make it happen every single day 365 days a year in the City of Augusta. We are now
going to call this meeting to order and we are here to do the people’s business in the year 2017.
The Chair recognizes Madam Clerk.
The Clerk: Yes, sir. At this time we’d ask Pastor Matt Rich, Pastor of Reid Memorial
Presbyterian Church to please come forward to deliver our invocation after which we’d have our
Pledge of Allegiance, would you please stand.
The invocation was given by Pastor Matt Rich, Reid Memorial Presbyterian Church.
The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America was recited.
Mr. Mayor: Pastor Matt Rich, if you’ll approach we want to again recognize your efforts
in the community. Thank you for your spiritual guidance and your civic leadership all of us as
Augustans and certainly for what you do there at the church. Thank you.
Pastor Rich: Thank you very much. (APPLAUSE)
Mr. Mayor: As an aside, Ms. Bonner ---
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: --- the very scripture that Pastor Rich used today was the same one that I used
on Watch Night.
The Clerk: Oh wow, prophetic here (unintelligible). That’s what he declared; he promised
it, a man of his word.
Mr. Mayor: All right.
The Clerk:
RECOGNITION(S)
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Employee of the Month
A. Congratulations: Mr. Joe Blount, Augusta Utilities Department, January Employee of
the Month.
The Clerk: Mr. Blount, would you please come forward along with Mr. Wiedmeier other
employees or family members who’d like to join in this occasion. The Employee Recognition
Committee has selected Joe Blount as the Employee of the Month for January 2017. Joe has been
employed by the Goodrich Street Wall Water Pumping Station since May 2007. Since his
employment he has become extremely knowledgeable in all aspects of his job. Joe is highly
committed to the proper operation and maintenance of the Augusta Canal structure and the
pumping station which is the critical part of our ability to provide reliable water, drinking water to
our community. He is also looking for ways to improve himself and his coworkers. He has not
only obtained his Georgia Certification but he also has worked to assist and encourage other staff
to do the same. Joe has taken the lead in updating his group’s Standard Operating Procedures and
invested in insuring that all staff are trained in their implementation. He is also taken on the task
of ordering material for his group and to work to make sure he’s getting the best value possible for
our purchases. Joe fills in for his supervisor in his absence and is also ready to assist other
operational staff, maintenance staff, onsite contractors, and the public. We are very thankful that
Joe Blount is a part of our team. Based on this nomination and Joe’s outstanding contribution to
the Augusta Utilities Department and his service to Augusta, Georgia, the Employee Recognition
Committee who appreciate you in joining us and recognizing Joe Blount as the January 2017
Employee of the Month. Congratulations. (APPLAUSE) Would you like to make a comment?
Mr. Blount: I certainly appreciate everything (inaudible) all I can to help. I certainly
appreciate everything. I’ve tried my best to continue to do what I’m doing now. Thank you.
(APPLAUSE)
Mr. Wiedmeier: I would just like to say that down at the raw water pumping station I think
that they work at the most beautiful spot in Augusta. They do a great job there. They’re a family
down there and Joe is a huge part of keeping that place up. Usually things are very routine except
when you get the rainfall that we’ve had for the last two days then things get really interesting
down there so I thank him for his work and he represents the Utilities Department very well.
(APPLAUSE)
The Clerk: Next Mr. Louis Brazzell our Deputy Administrator. He’s pinch-hitting for Mr.
Mike Loeser our H. R. Director in acknowledging our Years of Service Employees.
Mr. Brazzell: Good afternoon, Mayor and members of the Commission and Happy New
Year. As the Clerk indicated I’m here representing the H.R. Director who is still on leave today
but with great honor I’d like to present to you employees who have long years of service here with
our organization. I will say initially that for the month of December we had over 20-employees
who celebrated their 5 to 20-years anniversaries and they’re certainly to be commended for those
years of service to this great organization and community. Today though especially we want to
recognizes three employees who each has spent a combined total of 90 years of service, 30 each
with this organization. And as I call their names I would like for them to come forward and be
recognized and so forth. Ms. Alicia Butler with the Tax Commissioner, 30 years of service.
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(APPLAUSE) Mr. Frankie Hall of the Fire Department, 30 years of service. (APPLAUSE) And
last but not least Mr. Charles Hutchins also of the Fire Department, 30 years of service.
(APPLAUSE)
The Clerk: Is Chief James in the chamber? Commissioner Hendrick (inaudible).
Mr. Brazzell: Let’s give them all a great hand again, thank you. (APPLAUSE)
The Clerk:
DELEGATIONS
D. Mr. Brian Green. RE: Hosting of collegiate sports venues.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Green, if you’ll present from there ---
Mr. Green: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: --- we haven’t started yet. Ms. Bonner, is there enough copies?
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Green, you’re going to have five minutes.
Mr. Green: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, good afternoon Mr. Mayor and Commission members.
Here to just talk to you briefly about the idea of us bringing another major sports venue to our city.
What is this venue? As you see on your sheets there it’s the SIAC Championships. This includes
track and field, baseball, tennis, football possibly cross county. Today I’ll be speaking about the
spring sports: track and field, golf, tennis, baseball. What is SIAC, Southern Intercollegiate
Athletic Conference consisting of fourteen historical black colleges one of which is here in
Augusta, Paine College. And you can see the different universities. Five of those universities are
in the state of Georgia. This I might throw this plug in. This is a growing conference very
competitive in terms of sports and in terms of academics. Why now and why Augusta? I know
some of you are wondering that. Presently SIAC is looking for a home for the championships just
like you see Olympic host cities they look to have a venue in different areas at different times all
over the United States. But as you can see there are many, Augusta has the best central location
and that is one of the major selling points of this proposal as our central location in the southeast
with respect to other major cities. In any direction as you know you can go maybe 2 ½ hours and
hit any major, most major cities or prominent major cities. Pros, this is, we will see an immediate
return on the investment. There is an upfront investment; hope to get into that somewhat today as
I’m finishing up and I encourage your input and questions. We have a potential here, the return
on investment and I’ll just go ahead and tell you it’s less than $45,000 maybe less than $50,000
dollars as far as bringing this venue here, I will go into detail more about that. The city of Rock
Hill hosted the SIAC track and field. I spoke with the CVB there as I did our CVB here they’re
very much wide open with this idea. Needless to say the return is not even in question, the
economic impact this can have on the city in terms of hotels. One coach said bed and head or
whatever it’s called whatever the term you talk about 600 sleep nights is that proper hotel
terminology, 600 sleep nights? So influx of out of town visitors. What are the cons? Upfront
investment of approximately $50,000 dollars or less, potential property revenue sharing as far as
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football, I won’t get into football today. Let me move right on down, methodology and business
plan overview. You can see I have it highlighted let the experts bring forth the expertise. The
goal here and I’m just a voice in the community, by the way, I’m not being paid by the SAIC to
come before you. I’m not receiving any kickback or whatever to do this my motivation is to see
this event happen. I’ve been a part of the SIAC in fact as a vendor four years straight I was
sponsored by Morehouse College. Let me move on, key government officials including our CVB.
I’ve spoken with the CVB, I’ve spoken with the chamber, I’ve spoken with Classic Commissioner
Ingram, sports council and I look to have a big meeting with them. And let me just say this. I’m
not here for the Commissioner to ask for money today. As you can see there is an investment
required to bring this venue here. I’m here to ask you, I want to get a, I want to get a consensus,
all eleven members that are we open to the idea of bringing this venue here? Ladies and gentlemen,
we have the facilities you can see that we can host all but 99%. So you say what’s the 99%? Out
of all the events we can we’re missing one that’s the Steeple Chase but that’s just a matter of
calling getting in touch with Clemson or either the University of South Carolina and having that.
You’re talking about a handful of athletes for that. So we can host 99% of these events here. This
is a win, win, win for the city. Further as you can see here outside of my key officials marketing
blitz, facilitator and I just feel that we can here in Augusta we can raise the scale of this venue. By
that I mean if we host this event as a group say basketball, I’m sorry track and field, baseball,
tennis and all that we can get this to where we’re establishing a new home for the SIAC
Championships. Again it’s a win, win for the city. I hope to receive any questions that you may
have.
Mr. Mayor: All right, thank you, Mr. Green. All right, the Chair recognizes the
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Commissioner from the 8 for a question.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Green, as far as you said that you had spoken
with the CVB, the Sports Council and the Chamber of Commerce were they receptive or ---
Mr. Green: Absolutely, absolutely and if I may say this, Mr. Guilfoyle, this is not a hair-
brained idea (unintelligible). This is already taking place in other cities, other cities are already
reaping these benefits. I did speak with him yes, Mr. Mark Walton, he said I can mention that I
spoke with him as well. Actually, we want to have the meeting at the CVB and if I can invite a
couple of members from your panel to attend that meeting so we can get the bread and butter and
meat of the event as far as the ins and outs of it are concerned.
Mr. Guilfoyle: --- right.
Mr. Green: And I spoke to the CVB in Rock Hill, South Carolina today as well it just went
so smoothly. They hosted the track and field for three years. Gentlemen, you talk about this track
and field alone the city could see a return of about $200,000 dollars. I want to see the, we need to
get the school board on board with baseball championships they have facilities. The city with
Parks and Rec you know Newman Tennis, the golf course and that sort of thing. Ladies and
gentlemen, we can do this, yes. Everybody I’ve spoken to were definitely open to it. I know when
you say there’s money involved it’s good for you know people you know the radar comes on but
for this approximately bid that needs to be vetted, the $50,000 dollars, and I’m not here to ask the
city to take, you know what I’m doing I’m asking the city to be a part. I’m trying to rally a group
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together the CVB, the Chamber. I don’t want the city to take the lead; I would like the city to be
a part, that’s my angle.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Can I respond, Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: Sure.
Mr. Guilfoyle: When you originally called me about this you know anytime there’s
economic development you’ve got my undivided attention. And I was looking on the internet on
the other cities that has a facility I think it was twenty, no it was actually larger than that 40/60,000
square feet facility is what it would encompass. You might be able to tell me if I’m right or wrong
but the footage should be around there. But you’re going to, I was asking you about the business
plan how this is going to be paid for. It would be nice to use private dollars you know where did
you where have you gotten since that conversation?
Mr. Green: And if I may say well Mr. Guilfoyle is discussing this I had this idea, Mr.
Mayor, I know we’ve been talking a lot about South Augusta development. We have the stage,
we have the landmass to one day possibly entertain the idea of a couple of indoor facilities in South
Augusta. Augusta’s more of a sports town than what people realize if we build the right venue
that’s what we were speaking about. But I was told it’s best for me I want you know they’ll send
you out a crawl before you walk. What I would like to do here is bring this facility this venue for
now, just like you bring the Masters. I’d like to bring this venue to our town our city we have the
facilities already. Laney Stadium, Newman Tennis we’re talking golf, track and field that sort of
things. I did say tennis, football possibly down the road so it’s a three part I will be back before
the Commission if we can get the ball rolling on this along with this panel that I want to assemble
we can entertain possibly football. Mr. Guilfoyle and Commissioners, we can do this. We can
wrap up the SIAC and make it their home for three years and it’s a windfall. Even if the city
doesn’t contribute one dime if you just say somebody out of their given spirit says I’ll put up the
$50,000 dollars Augusta’s still going to reap the benefits because you’re talking fourteen
universities coming here, 600 some odd bed nights. When I told, the gentleman he said you should
hit 600 sleep nights in your town. Then you’re talking restaurants so Augusta’s going to reap the
benefits. I’m just here to just say I want people to be a part, I want the Sports Council and all that.
So, Mr. Guilfoyle based on the facility situation that’s kind of a little bit down the road. I want to
say I want to show the people in this city and I want to show this Commission we can put together
a venue we can make easy money with it and we set the stage to consider a facility in South
Augusta. Indoor soccer there’s a facility Wolfe’s Indoor Soccer facility. I mentioned that to you
in Marietta, Georgia it cost about $250,000 dollars to build they make a quarter of a million dollars
a year they paid $9,300 dollars a month to get that out of the way, that’s the kind of money they’re
making, indoor soccer, It’s major selling point is indoor soccer, indoor soccer the fact that it’s
inside that’s part of this discussion. But I don’t want to put the cart before the horse today I want
to say we can host these sports venues right, and then if the Commission can be open we can
entertain the idea of one day South Augusta is a great location, they have the landmass for the most
part. I think that’s the most practical place and you’re talking about a serious economic boom.
And by the way Mobile, Alabama CrossPlex has a $45 million-dollar facility, guess where the SSE
Basketball Championship is being held at that complex, that’s a $45 million-dollar. A little bit
overboard, a little bit elaborate. They have the one in Fayetteville, Arkansas, I’ll mention that to
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you. It’s Tyson, Tyson Food contributes $3 million-dollars so their name is on the building. They
host, please google this they hosted numerous NCAA indoor track and field championships. Can
you imagine having Georgia, Nebraska, Clemson, Alabama all coming to your city at one time
over several days a windfall, that’s what I was talking about. But again I don’t want to put the cart
before the horse today. I wanted to get the idea out or the seed planted about this venue, sports
venue because we can easily pull this off. And gentlemen one last thing the, well if you have any
more questions I can entertain them but you see there I put ---
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Green, can we take a few more questions? We’ve, okay, the
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Commissioner from the 7 he waives. The Commissioner from the 9 recognized for a question.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you. Mr. Green, I think this is something we should look into.
There’s a lot to it and if you put too much out there people get confused as to all the things that’s
going to take place. But I think the CVB and the other agencies that you talked to, have you had
any more conversations with them, any meetings since not just the conversations have they talked
about this as well? I think things happen out of something else that’s started and something else
explodes from that. I think growth can come from one thing to another one and if you plan it all
at one time you’re not going to be able to fit it all in I guess is a good word. But I just think that
if you had conversations with them, have you had any meetings to get them to weigh in on because
you shouldn’t be here by yourself. If it’s a great idea I think the other agencies ought to be at least
sitting behind you saying hey, we’re in support we believe that you know our name should be
attached to it. I think Augusta has a great opportunity to put Augusta on to something but it’s all
about money, all it takes is some dollars. You got to spend some in order to make some, I realize
that. So, I think it’s a great idea I think it’s something we need to look at but I think you might
want to talk to those other agencies to get their buy-in a little more.
Mr. Green: You did ask me did I? Right, yes, sir, absolutely I’ve been on the phone that’s
what ---
Mr. M. Williams: Okay but my question was meeting not I mean when you talk to them I
understand but have you had any sit-down meetings with them and they weighed in on this and
say yeah, we support or not?
Mr. Green: Let me ask you a question, Mr. Williams. When it really, the idea started going
up we were into the holidays, I don’t have holidays my Christmas was spent on the phone with
this, other people do so I have been on the phone with them. Now to answer your question like
Mr. Mark Walter he already said we can have the meeting at the CVB. It’s just a matter of
assembly. I have been on touch with the Chamber, the Sports Council and all the rest even Augusta
City Classic, Mr. Ingram, as recently as today so to answer your question yes we are planning a
meeting. I wanted to have, I have had a few smaller meetings just to bounce it off some people in
and out of government I won’t call any names but you know just to bounce this idea off. So, yes
sir, I’ve had some meetings but I am assembling my forces and don’t nobody tell anybody say it
out loud but I do, I’m going to lean heavily on the CVB, I think they may have the resources. I’m
really looking for them to be a major player in this so the next time I come back before you I hope
you know I will have that assemblage but I had to work through the holidays you know that sort
of thing but I’ve definitely been in touch with these folks.
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Mr. M. Williams: Okay and that was my question, Mr. Mayor, whether or not the other
entities had sit down and bought in. See when you call somebody on the phone and they’ll tell
you yes because you’re on the phone and they can get away from you a little while but if they’re
really committed to what you’re saying I think a lot of this can be brought to the city of Augusta.
I mean this is happening all over the country and we need to do it in a way where we can do it and
the things that we can do. But until you get the buy-in from those other entities I mean people are
sending you out there and I used to do that now they send you out like a German Shepherd you’ll
be jumping on everybody and you still won’t haven’t bit anyone. So you’ve got to put your people
in order in order to sit down and say we have decided that we want to try this and want the city of
Augusta to do it. Those other agencies that’s there who’ve got the money like you said ---
Mr. Green: Right.
Mr. M. Williams: --- that speaks volume so I would suggest you go back meet with them
and any of these board members that can come ought to be there too to talk about some of the
opportunities because that’s what it’s all about attracting people to our city and we get that but
you’ve got to do it in a way where you’ve got the buy-in from several groups because there’s four
or five groups right now probably trying to say it ain’t no sense in doing it, right now that you done
talked to. So we need to sit down on paper and get somebody to commit and then come forward
with them and don’t try to do the whole pie. Just take a slice of it and put it out there and that’s
where we’re at.
Mr. Green: Mr. Williams, I will tell them what you said about hey they need to be with
me but they’re on board, they’re open for this.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Green, thank you. You know it’s always important. This is the beauty
behind representative democracy that our citizen government can allow our citizens to come and
share their broad vision for how to make our city better, how to make our city more progressive.
So, one I want to commend you for doing that and my closing statement given the fact that we
have one of the members of SIAC Paine College who is here might I suggest that you engage them
in this conversation and start there. I think when a citizen brings this type of information to us we
have a due responsibility not only to listen but to one encourage them to as Commissioner Williams
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the Commissioner from the 9th has indicated and the Commissioner from the 8. We’re supportive
of these types of visionary ideas in this city. I think that’s what the people in Augusta need to
know and need to understand. And so with that thank you for sharing this with us we’ll receive
this as information ---
Mr. Green: Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: --- and encourage you to engage Paine College because they are in fact a
member of SIAC in fact a championship winning member for several years particularly with
regards to their golf team and they’ve done a stellar job in their athletes. Thank you.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Motion to receive as information, Mr. Mayor.
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Ms. Davis: Second.
Mr. Mayor: All right, thank you, I appreciate that. I’m hoping that our posture in 2017 is
that we will receive things as information we don’t have to vote on that. I’m hoping that’s how
we start out of the gate is just receive it as information that doesn’t require us to vote on it.
Mr. M. Williams: A question, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: We don’t have to debate it, I’m just saying (inaudible).
Mr. M. Williams: If we get a motion on something we just say I’m trying to figure out
how to respond.
Mr. Mayor: Well, you’re going to push the button now but I’m just saying as we move
forward and we receive something as information let’s just receive it as information. We’re not
required to vote on it. Voting. Madam Clerk, can we suspend for just a moment. IT, we’ve got
a monitor that’s out, we have a monitor that’s out.
The Clerk: The Mayor Pro Tem?
Mr. Mayor: Yeah, the Mayor Pro Tem’s monitor is out.
Motion Passes 10-0.
Mr. Mayor: All right, Madam Clerk, our next order of business is election of officers.
The Clerk:
ELECTION OF OFFICER(S)
B. Election of Mayor Pro-Tempore for 2017-18.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 8.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Mr. Mayor, I would like to put Mary Davis’ name in as Mayor Pro
Tem.
Mr. Hasan: Second.
Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ve got a motion and a second. Any additional nominations? All
right there being none.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Nominations are closed.
Mr. Mayor: All right.
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Mr. Mayor: We’ve got a motion and a second and the nominations are closed. Madam
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Clerk, we have a nomination of one the distinguished Commissioner from the 3 District, a gentle
lady ---
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: --- Commissioner Mary Davis. Voting.
Mr. Fennoy abstains.
Motion Passes 9-0-1.
(APPLAUSE)
Mr. M. Williams: Speech, speech.
Ms. Davis: (inaudible).
Mr. Mayor: I believe our next order of business, we’ll stand in recess for ten minutes.
\[RECESS\]
Mr. Mayor: Okay so here’s our posture. We’re back and we’ve made a series of
appointments to boards, commissions, and authorities for individuals to serve in ex-officio
capacities. We will be taking action on all of those with one exception that we will take action on
at a later time. Ms. Bonner will read the ones that we have taken action on and that we agree on
and those are the ones that we will move forward today. From a committee assignment
perspective, we have taken action on all committees with one exception that will now be voted on
here at this time and that is the Chair of the Finance Committee, okay, all right.
Mr. M. Williams: Point of Order, Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: State your inquiry.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, sir. I just heard the statement about not doing them all but
this is the time for all but can you share what positions or what committees or what authorities or
boards whatever is not going to be voted on today and why?
Mr. Mayor: Yeah, it’s a fair question. Based on what I’ve heard with regards to recent
developments around Planning and Development and I’m going to use that word multiple times
we’re going to vote on them at a later time, haven’t decided on that.
Mr. M. Williams: But I thought if there was and Madam Clerk and maybe the Legal
Counsel can help me ---
Mr. Mayor: Direct your questions to me, sir.
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Mr. M. Williams: --- I’m directing them to you but I’m calling on some experience that
you may direct. I don’t want direct anybody. But the rules says that we should vote today on those
committees and assignments as the Mayor Pro Tem. If there’s a disagreement then it comes back
and goes to the floor. If I’m not, if I am mistaken because I’ve been there last year it was New
Year’s I ain’t go problem this year either. But that’s my posture is to make sure we do it in the
time frame that we are allowed and supposed to do it. Not when I feel like it or you feel like it or
the Mayor Pro Tem feels like it; it’s when it’s supposed to be done. Now if there’s a reason that
we can’t do it today then I probably can understand it but I need something to share with me so I
know why we’re not doing it or should wait on a later date. I ain’t got time to dance around this
no more this is a new year, brand new ---
Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, I appreciate your commentary.
Mr. M. Williams: --- okay well ---
Mr. Mayor: All right, this is our posture. Madam Clerk, if you would read for us the
committee assignments, this is our posture.
The Clerk: Yes, sir. Standing committees for the term 2017-2018:
Administrative Services - Chair Commissioner Marion Williams, Vice-Chair Commissioner
Jefferson, members Mayor Pro Tem Mary Davis and Commissioner Dennis Williams.
Engineering Services – Chairperson Commissioner Fennoy, Vice-Chair Commissioner Hasan,
members Grady Smith, Sean Frantom.
Public Safety Committee – Chair Commissioner Dennis Williams, Commissioner Grady Smith
Vice-Chair, Commissioner Jefferson, Commissioner Sias.
Finance – members, Commissioner Sias, Commissioner Frantom, Commissioner Hasan and
Commissioner Guilfoyle.
Public Services Committee – Chairperson Commissioner Wayne Guilfoyle, Commissioner
Fennoy Vice-Chair, members Mayor Pro Tem Mary Davis.
Ex-Officio members for the various Augusta-Richmond County Boards, Commission and
Authorities, Richmond County Board of Health, Commissioner Sias; Augusta Aviation
Commission Bush Field, Commissioner Sias; Greater Augusta Arts Council, Commissioner
Guilfoyle; Augusta Library Board of Trustees, Commissioner Fennoy; General Aviation
Commission Daniel Field, Commissioner Grady Smith; Richmond County Board of Education,
Commissioner Dennis Williams; Family Connection, Commissioner Andrew Jefferson; the
Richmond County Hospital Authority, Commissioner Hasan; Emergency 911 Chair,
Commissioner Dennis Williams; Tax Assessors Board, Commissioners Andrew Jefferson and
Sean Frantom; the CSRA Regional Development Authority, Mayor Pro Tem Mary Davis;
Downtown Development Authority, Commissioner Fennoy; Land Bank Authority, Commissioner
Hasan.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, it’s our posture as those are the committees we’ve adopted the
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question that will be before us in a moment that the question that the gentleman from the 9 has
asked is where was there a disagreement at, it is in regards to the Finance Chair. As such you’re
going to vote on that, that’s what you just said those are the rules. I didn’t make them, I didn’t
create them and that’s what they are and so here in a moment we’re going to take a vote on who
the Finance Chair is going to be, it’s as simple as that. The other committee from an ex-officio
standpoint was Planning and Development as Ms. Bonner just indicated and the reason I’m
suggesting you wait and deal with that is because I was just told that even you said something with
regards to taking action on something. So if that’s wrong then I heard it wrong. All right, I’m
going to recognize the Attorney to speak to the issue. There is an agenda item as it relates to this
and as such we’re going to hem and haw at the same time. The Chair recognizes Attorney
MacKenzie.
Mr. MacKenzie: Sure, I’d be happy to do that. The Rules of Procedure addressed the
organizations that the Commission provide the Commission will set the appointments which would
be the Chairman and Vice-Chair for each of the committees. The ex-officio membership is actually
under the appointments. It’s not required or part of the organization of every second year. So you
could defer the appointments for any ex-officio membership to a later time as an appointment as
you will with any other appointment. They don’t have to be addressed at the same time. You can
do them at the same time for convenience sake but the Finance Chair would be something that
would be appropriate to address now.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you very much. The Chair recognizes the Mayor Pro Tem,
Commissioner Davis your hand was up.
Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Mr. Mayor, I was just going to say if we, I would like to address the
Planning Commission as well. Commissioner Marion Williams was one that I had suggested but
if we don’t vote on all of these today he’s not an ex-officio according to all of the other
Commissioners that we have listed.
Mr. Mayor: Well, if that’s what you want to do. Again the information I heard is
inconsistent with that. And all right here’s our posture. We’re going to vote on the Finance Chair
first all right? Attorney Mackenzie, should we take nominations for that?
Mr. MacKenzie: In the event that the Mayor Pro Tem and the Mayor disagree on that you
can simply turn that over to the Commission for nominations.
Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair will entertain nominations at this time for Finance Chair.
Mr. M. Williams: I nominate Sean Frantom for Finance Chair.
Ms. Davis: Second.
Mr. Mayor: All right, I’ve got a motion and a second.
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Mr. Hasan: Who was nominated?
Mr. Mayor: Sean Frantom.
Mr. Hasan: I’d like to make a substitute motion, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Hasan: Nomination well I’d like, nominations aren’t closed, is it?
Mr. Mayor: (inaudible).
Mr. Hasan: Nominations are still open?
Mr. Mayor: Yes.
Mr. Hasan: Okay I’m sorry. I’d like to make a nomination, Commissioner Sias.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Now which one are we going first?
Mr. Mayor: Well, I’m just taking nominations right now. I’ve got nominations for
Commissioner Sean Frantom and I’ve got a nomination for Commissioner Sammie Sias.
Mr. M. Williams: (unintelligible) nominations be closed.
Mr. Smith: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Nominations for second and closed. Madam Clerk?
The Clerk: Yes, sir, the nominations we voted on in the order in which they were
nominated so we will start with Commissioner Sean Frantom nominated by Commissioner Marion
Williams.
Mr. Mayor: All right, voting.
Ms. Davis, Mr. Frantom, Mr. Guilfoyle, Mr. M. Williams, and Mr. G. Smith vote Yes.
Mr. Fennoy, Mr. D. Williams, Mr. Sias, Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Hasan vote No.
Motion ties 5-5.
The Clerk: Next nominee Commissioner Sias.
Mr. Mayor: Voting.
Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor ---
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Mr. Mayor: Voting.
Mr. M. Williams: --- Mr. Mayor?
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9 for an inquiry, state your
inquiry.
Mr. M. Williams: May I have a roll call vote?
Mr. Mayor: Already voting.
Mr. Fennoy, Mr. D. Williams, Mr. Sias, Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Hasan vote Yes.
Ms. Davis, Mr. Frantom, Mr. Guilfoyle and Mr. G. Smith vote No.
Mr. M. Williams abstains.
Motion Fails 5-4-1.
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 1 for an inquiry, state your
inquiry.
Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Mayor ---
Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir.
Mr. Fennoy: --- in case of a tie is not the Mayor allowed the opportunity to break the tie?
Mr. Mayor: I believe that that is incorrect.
Mr. Fennoy: That’s incorrect?
Mr. Mayor: That’s incorrect. The Mayor pursuant to the code to the Charter is not allowed
to vote on committee assignments.
Mr. Fennoy: Okay.
Mr. Mayor: That’s the craziest thing I’ve ever heard but it is what it is. If I was in the
Legislature we wouldn’t be having this conversation.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor?
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6, state your inquiry.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, is it possible with the to do, I make a motion that we take and put
the Planning and Zoning together and the Finance Chair together and vote on those two together
as companion items.
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Mr. Mayor: No sir, no sir.
Mr. Hasan: They’re committee assignments.
Mr. Mayor: No, sir ---
Mr. Hasan: Well the Chair (inaudible)---
Mr. Mayor: --- they’re not committee assignments one’s an ex-officio (unintelligible) ---
Mr. Hasan: --- one’s an ex-officio?
Mr. Mayor: --- in theory it doesn’t exist.
Mr. Hasan: Okay.
Mr. Mayor: Okay?
Mr. Guilfoyle: Let’s try it again.
Mr. Mayor: All right Ms. Bonner I spent two weeks resting, two weeks resting and it’s
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about to be drained out of me. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner form the 1 for an inquiry,
state your inquiry.
Mr. Fennoy: Is it too late to make another nomination?
Mr. Mayor: It’s not, absolutely not, but it has to be from those committee members that
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you’ve just heard. You’ve got four committee members the Commissioner from the 6, the
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Commissioner from the 4, the Commissioner from the 8 and the Commissioner from the 7
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those are the individuals that, all right the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 8 for an
inquiry, state your inquiry.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Mr. Mayor, let’s try it again. I’d like to nominate Sean Frantom for Finance
Chair.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Guilfoyle: We’re going to be here for a while we might as well enjoy it along the way.
Mr. G. Smith: Is Domino’s (inaudible).
Mr. Mayor: I don’t think so maybe we can send a request out to Papa John’s they’ve got
two large pizza’s for $12.00 dollars.
Mr. M. Williams: I’ll second that if there can be another nomination Sean Frantom for
Finance Chairman.
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Ms. Davis: I didn’t hear, what’d you say?
Mr. M. Williams: I’m just checking Wayne’s motion. He made a motion to nominate Sean
Frantom again and I seconded it.
Mr. Hasan: I’d like to make a substitute motion, Mr. Mayor. if it’s still open.
Mr. Mayor: Yeah, you’re just taking nominations that’s all you’re doing.
Mr. Hasan: Ya’ll seconded it then ---
Mr. Mayor: (inaudible).
Mr. Hasan: --- what they should be saying close the nomination then. Well that’s not what
they’re saying okay well ---
Mr. Mayor: Go ahead and make your nomination.
Mr. Hasan: --- okay Commissioner Sias.
The Clerk: Okay.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor, can I get a roll call vote for both of those?
Mr. Mayor: Are there any other nominations?
Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Move that we close nominations.
Mr. G. Smith: Second.
Mr. Mayor: All right.
The Clerk: Nomination by Commissioner Guilfoyle of Commissioner Sean Frantom as
Chairman of Finance.
The Clerk: Ms. Davis.
Ms. Davis: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Fennoy.
Mr. Fennoy: No.
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The Clerk: Mr. Frantom.
Mr. Frantom: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Guilfoyle.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Hasan.
Mr. Hasan: No.
The Clerk: Mr. Jefferson.
Mr. Jefferson: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Sias.
Mr. Sias: No.
The Clerk: Mr. Smith.
Mr. Smith: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Dennis Williams.
Mr. D. Williams: No.
The Clerk: Mr. Marion Williams.
Mr. M. Williams: Yes.
Motion Passes 6-4.
The Clerk: Are we going to vote on that one?
Mr. Mayor: All right, so at this time we’re going to ratify all committee assignments all
right?
Mr. Fennoy: Do we have a Vice-Chair for (inaudible)
Mr. Mayor: Sias. All right, so at this time the Chair will entertain a motion to ratify all
committee assignments.
Mr. M. Williams: So moved.
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Ms. Davis: Second.
Mr. Mayor: All right, voting.
Motion Passes 10-0.
Mr. Mayor: All right, very well.
The Clerk: Our consent agenda?
Ms. Davis: Mr. Mayor, can I ask something?
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 3 Mayor Pro Tem for an
inquiry.
Ms. Davis: So I know we did not vote on the Planning Commission. Are we allowed to
do that at this point in time? I would like to ask Mr. MacKenzie please.
Mr. Mayor: You can ask me.
Ms. Davis: Mr. Mayor, I’d like to ask you or Mr. MacKenzie.
Mr. Mayor: We can do that right now.
Ms. Davis: Okay.
Mr. Mayor: Would you like to vote on it?
Ms. Davis: I’d like to make a motion to appoint as an ex-officio to the Planning
Commission Mr. Marion Williams.
Mr. Speaker: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We’ve got a motion and a second. Voting.
Mr. Fennoy vote No.
Mr. Sias abstains.
Motion Passes 8-1-1.
Mr. Mayor: Okay all right consent agenda, Ms. Bonner.
The Clerk: Our consent agenda consists of items 1 and 2, items 1 and 2.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, the Chair will entertain any motions to add or remove from the consent
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agenda. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4.
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Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir, just got a couple of items I want to recommend for (inaudible).
The Clerk: Commissioner Sias, can I get you to pull your mike down, sir? Thank you.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, ma’am. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I want to recommend that we add
the following items to the consent agenda. Item 3, Item 4, Item 5, Item 9, Item 12 ---
Mr. Guilfoyle: No.
Mr. Sias: --- no consent on 12?
Mr. Guilfoyle: No.
Mr. Sias: All right, moving right along.
The Clerk: We didn’t have, there was an objection to 12?
Mr. Guilfoyle: Yes.
Mr. Sias: Item 18 and Item 19.
Mr. Speaker: What about 17?
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 1.
Mr. Fennoy: Yes, I’d like number 13 to be added to the consent agenda.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 8.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I’d like to add item number 17 if you would not
mind and as far as this resolution both you and I have I think we have a better opportunity to try
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to go after both of them as far as the August 1 date or changing the election date to November.
If either one fails the legislative body could actually utilize the other one.
Mr. Sias: You don’t have consent on 17.
Mr. Guilfoyle: No problem.
The Clerk: On 17?
Mr. Guilfoyle: So 14 is consent.
Mr. Hasan: No, sir.
Mr. Guilfoyle: No problem.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, we’re going to delete item number 15.
Mr. Sias: We’re going to come back to that one.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, we’re going to delete item number 15, Madam Clerk.
The Clerk: That will be added to the consent to delete item 15.
Mr. Mayor: Right.
Mr. Hasan: Can we add these board appointments?
The Clerk: Sir?
Mr. Hasan: Oh no?
Mr. Mayor: You didn’t have consent for them.
The Clerk: Add item 17.
Mr. Sias: Say that again?
The Clerk: So there was ---
Mr. Sias: No, there was not consent to add item 17.
The Clerk: --- item 17.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, hold on everybody’s just blurting hold on, hold on, hold on. I know, I
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know just hold on all right the Commissioner from the 8 was the last one with the floor.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Mr. Mayor, I believe ---
Mr. Mayor: Okay all right with regards to number 17 I believe that there’s a handout that’s
been provided I want to draw everybody’s attention to that okay to make sure everybody’s on the
same page. The handout’s that’s on your ---
The Clerk: That Ms. Wiley ---
Mr. Mayor: --- before your seats.
The Clerk: The addendum ---
Mr. Mayor: Right ---
The Clerk: --- she was inadvertently left off of the nominees for the District 9 appointment.
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Mr. Mayor: --- okay.
Mr. Sias: Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: Now the slate of candidates again that we have here including Ms. Wiley I
just want everybody to be aware of this okay? All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner
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from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: I was going to get the Clerk if she would to give me those numbers
again. I didn’t keep up quite as fast as they was calling them off.
The Clerk: Okay they’re on the screen. It will be items 1 and 2, sir. Item number 3, item
number 4, number 5, number 9, number 13, we’re deleting number 15. We’re adding number 18
and 19, that would be our consent agenda.
Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes, Commissioner?
Mr. M. Williams: Yeah, I don’t have a problem with 18 but I do have some questions I
would like to ask about 18. I have no problem. I don’t think but I need to look at 18 if you don’t
mind just to.
Mr. Mayor: All right, so we’re going to remove 18 from the consent agenda. Anything
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else Commissioner from the 9?
Mr. M. Williams: No, I think that’s it, Mr. Mayor.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: In conjunction with the agenda item for number 17 I would like to add 17 to the
consent agenda.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. All right.
Mr. Sias: Move to approve.
Mr. Frantom: Second.
CONSENT AGENDA
PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS
1. Motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of the Commission held December
20, 2016.
APPOINTMENTS
2. Motion to approve the appointment of Ms. Beatrice Green, to the Augusta-Richmond
Library Board of Trustees representing District 4.
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ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
3. Approve the purchase of a pipeline camera system for the Engineering Department-Storm
Water Division (Bid 16-255).
4. Approve the replacement of 2 Gradall excavator trucks for Engineering Department-
Storm Water Division (Bid 16-244).
5. Approve the 48-month lease of 2 sewer vacuum trucks for Engineering Department-Storm
Water Division (Bid 16-214A).
9. Approve purchase of furniture for the new Public Defender’s Office from Modern
Business Systems of Augusta in the amount of $295,899.26.
PETTITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS
13. Motion to approve resolution in support of Casino Gaming in Georgia that provides
additional funding for needs based education and for other purposes.
15. Motion to approve resolution for allocation of contingency funding.
APPOINTMENTS
17. Motion to approve the reappointment of Darren Smith and Brad Usry, effective
immediately and terms ending December 31, 2018; Booker T. Roberson and Bonita Jenkins
effective immediately and terms ending December 31, 2020 to the Augusta-Richmond
County Coliseum Authority. (Requested by Commissioners Sean Frantom and Ben Hasan)
ADMINISTRATOR
19. Approve calendar of strategic workshops for early 2017.
ADDENDUM
20. Motion to approve revised appointments to the Augusta Richmond County Coliseum
Authority to include Linda Edney-Wiley which was inadvertently omitted from the slate:
District 9 – Booker T. Roberson 2/15/15 Immediately 12/31/16; Linda Edney-Wiley 8/4/15
Immediately 12/31/16; Bonita Jenkins 5/19/09 Immediately 12/31/12.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. Voting.
Motion Passes 10-0. \[Items 1-5, 9, 13, 15, 17\]
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Okay, let’s take 14 and 16.
The Clerk:
PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS
14. Motion to adopt a Resolution in support of Augusta, Georgia Nonpartisan elected officials
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taking office on August 1 each year. (Requested by Commissioner Wayne Guilfoyle)
16. Motion to approve resolution in support of moving non-partisan elections to November
to coincide with Richmond County School Board elections.
Mr. Guilfoyle: So moved.
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Ms. Davis: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Go ahead, Madam Clerk.
The Clerk: Well, they were, are you approving both?
Mr. Guilfoyle: Yes, ma’am.
Mr. Mayor: I don’t know if that’s the posture, we’re dealing with two different things
essentially but I wanted to have a conversation, that’s how we started I wanted to have a
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conversation. All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Yes, sir, Mr. Mayor, thank you, you probably just answered the first part of
my question about unbundling this ---
Mr. Mayor: Right.
Mr. Hasan: --- and take these items we’re going to vote on them one at a time. I think
they’re significantly different in nature and I, you know, we take a vote on them independent of
each other.
Mr. Mayor: We certainly can do that. I don’t have a problem with that, no problem. The
genesis in both is that we arrive at a place of where we don’t want to have folks just sitting out
here. I think that was the general premise behind elections in May. Ad we spend eight months
sitting around in abeyance as opposed to just doing them when we have the elections for everybody
else in November, so that’s the idea. All right, I’m going to let ya’ll talk about it, continue.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, I think on the face of it to your point about my colleague
Commissioner Guilfoyle I think it’s a great idea in terms of looking at that for the sense of
longevity. My concerns around it is that we don’t have a clear cut of what that would look like
number one. Number two also I think if we look at August the 1st and true to form just let’s move
to 18 for a moment if I understand it correctly. Now this may not be what it looks like,
Commissioner, I’m just stepping into it for a minute here. Looking at 18 we’ve got five
Commissioners as up as well as the Mayor is up. We good very well, we know we’re going to
have two Commissioners brand new for sure who have District 8 and District 10 automatically.
District 6 could be gone, District 4 could be different, District 2 could be different as well as could
be different in terms of the Mayorship. So we can very well have a 50% turnover very easy and
it’ll bring probably about a third of our new Commissioners in the budget cycle at that point in
time I think would not be fair to the government, not be fair to the people of Augusta-Richmond
County. That’s what concerns me the most about this I think it’s just more convenient that we
shoot for September I mean I’m sorry November and if we’re not successful in that then next year
we take a bit of the apple differently. I don’t want to give us that option. I want the legislature to
go full throttle at trying to get November and not say they have an option in going in. I think we’d
do ourselves a disservice with that.
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Mr. Mayor: I couldn’t have articulated that better; that was outstanding. The Chair
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recognizes the Commissioner from the 8.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Mr. Mayor, the only reason why I put this agenda item on is the same ones
of our elected officials get sworn in today. Anyway I watched them sit in the chambers for seven
months. I’ve seen some of my colleagues including you, Mr. Mayor, that had to wait seven months
before you took office to be sworn in. There’s a fallacy with every action that any body takes
there’s a reaction. The fallacy is the lame duck or the amount of time before somebody’s selected
on May and just have to sit there and watch in a position without taking office for seven months is
a tragedy for number one and it actually, when you do have an elected officials that have not been
sworn in yet but the automatically coming down here to the Municipal Building the Director’s
actually puts a funny feeling to them because they know in time when they get sworn in that they
would be the boss so they’ve got eleven bosses already. I actually reached out to the delegation
and I asked about the November they said that other municipalities has tried it, it was dead on
arrival. The reason why I put this on to discuss is it’s a lot easier you could do it within reach,
delegation even said that. I was looking at the negative and my colleague talked about the budget,
the budget’s very important for me. As long as you bring something to the table to become
efficient looking out for the taxpayer’s dollars OPM that would and elected person being sworn in
January they have to accept whatever that previous Commissioner passed in that budget with no
say so, that’s where part of the problem comes into play. So as far as a newly elected official
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taking office August 1 I see a positive in that. I don’t see the negative because anytime you get a
fresh set of eyes, a fresh set of ears and a person with experience to bring to the table to work on a
budget it’s a good thing. Now where you talk about taking the November election I say reach for
both of them. I’m not knocking your agenda item whatsoever. I did not know about it until I
received my book on Thursday but it don’t matter if it passes to me because in two years I’m gone,
ya’ll got to deal with it. But if you’re going to look out for the community and Augusta as a whole
take a chance on doing both of them, sir. My motion is to approve agenda item number 14.
Ms. Davis: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right, resolutions in nature why don’t we just vote on them and we
just keep on moving let’s just do that. All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the
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1, state your inquiry.
Mr. Fennoy: Okay and I guess my inquiry is that if we approve item number 14 then there’s
no need to go to item number 16. And I talked with Commissioner Guilfoyle and his concern was
the lag time between the time a person is elected to office and the time a person is sworn in and
takes office and that’s a concern of mine also. I think that both of these requests addressed that
issue; it’s just a matter of which one we decide to go with.
Mr. Mayor: Yeah, well and I appreciate that. I think that’s another very good way to
express it. Historically in this city elections have always taken place in November and we didn’t
have this problem. I mean you had an election in November and save a runoff the person took
office in January. And so that still happens for our school board members, okay. They’re local
non-partisan offices and I think that’s the intent behind Commissioner Guilfoyle’s resolution and
quite frankly the spirit of this resolution in number 16 in that if you’re going do it let’s do it all at
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the same time. That’s the way historically it’s been done in the City of Augusta County of
Richmond so that’s what I would offer, simple. All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner
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from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I agree with both of these resolutions but I do
favor more 16 because the cost of putting on an election and opening up these centers is the same
cost when we do it in November versus doing it twice a year or twice that election year and have
to pay the same costs because you still got to open up those same polls. But to do everything in
November school board and whatever other elected official non-partisan election would be
handled at the same time so I’m in favor of 16 just because of the savings of money it would take.
Lynn Bailey is always coming in saying how much she needs to run these polls. You’ve got to
have poll workers, you’ve got to have signs have to be put out I mean we need to do this as easy
as we can on the finance part so I’m in support of item 16 for just that reason and nothing else
which it takes in the fact you don’t have to wait the long period of time being elected out there and
not being able to come into office. So, I’m going to make a motion we approve item 16.
Mr. Hasan: Second, substitute?
Mr. M. Williams: Substitute motion, that’s right because we had a motion, a substitute
motion.
Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from, all right I’m going to come
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back to the Commissioner from the 9. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. As I was kind of asking my colleague here to my left in this item
14 this motion doesn’t just affect Commissioners. From my view when we say Augusta, Georgia
we’re talking about all the non-partisan elected officials and that includes judges, that includes the
Marshal and a few other people. So, I just as we had with the Clerk of Courts so this more than
just us. So, all those elections were traditional as the Commission was held in November so we’re
trying to think we can chair and pick off the Commission part of it and put it in and I don’t think
this motion number 14 does that. I can support 16 but just because of all the other issues and also
one of my causes I can support 14. Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: All right, so we’re going to decide that right now. I believe the Commissioner
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from the 6 has asked to unbundle them, they were just bundled for conversation purposes. All
right, we’re going to vote on 14, Madam Clerk, and dispose of that one then we’ll come back and
vote on 16. All right, we’ve got motions to adopt either or so, voting.
Ms. Davis, Mr. Frantom and Mr. Guilfoyle vote Yes.
Mr. Fennoy, Mr. D. Williams, Mr. Sias, Mr. Jefferson, Mr. Hasan, Mr. M. Williams and Mr. G.
Smith vote No.
Motion Fails 3-7.
The Clerk: Item 16 ---
Mr. Sias: Move to approve.
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Mr. Frantom: Second.
The Clerk: --- we have well (unintelligible).
Mr. Sias: (unintelligible).
The Clerk: --- yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: Voting.
Motion Passes 10-0.
Mr. Mayor: Item 12, Madam Clerk.
The Clerk:
FINANCE
12. Consider a request from Ms. Marci Miller of the Savannah River Keeper regarding a
waiver of the fees charged by the Augusta Port Authority. (No recommendation from
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Finance Committee December 3, 2016 and deferred from the December 17 Commission
Meeting)
Mr. Hasan: Motion to approve.
Mr. Fennoy: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner
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from the 8.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Mr. Mayor, this came before us I think about three weeks ago where Tanya
from the River Keeper’s came and asked for money and it’s no different than the river race. The
guys that came before us said the Port Authority member Frank Carl, you know, this is going to
be a habitual problem for us up here on this floor because if they would do their job on their board
it wouldn’t have to come before ours. My motion is to deny this request.
Mr. Mayor: You mean a substitute motion?
Mr. Guilfoyle: Substitute motion, sir.
Mr. Frantom: Second.
Mr. Mayor: All right, we have a substitute motion and a second to deny. All right, the
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Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
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Mr. M. Williams: Thank you again, Mr. Mayor, but is someone from the Port Authority
to be here to address and to talk to us about this? We had this problem before when the drag boat
race came down, how much money who was getting it who was on first and what was on second.
I hadn’t figured that out yet but there’s some money being trans, transactions ---
Mr. Hasan: Transactions.
Mr. M. Williams: --- there’s some money transactions being handled somewhere and I’m
just trying to figure out should we be, I mean I want to work with these entities but I don’t want to
hamstring another one trying to help another one if there’s money involved. I don’t know enough
about this to say it’s good, bad or indifferent. Now the Savannah River Keepers is doing some
things but if there’s going to be monies, profit from them I would like to know that. I mean I’d like
to know what I’m voting for. Now the Augusta Port Authority came down and said that there was
tickets being sold and this one got ‘x’ amount of dollars and we ended up waiving that fee so can
we have somebody to come in if they’re not here can the Administrator address that? Somebody
inform us as to what we need to be doing?
Mr. Mayor: Okay, I’ve got hands waiving, teeth gnashing. All right I’m going to go in
this order Ms. Bonner. All right, Madam Administrator, do you want to speak to this matter?
Ms. Jackson: Just briefly to let the board know to be clear we were not approached about
this, we on a staff level were not approached about this at all so I don’t have any specific details
about the request. What I know about it is what Ms. Tanya came and spoke, to speak with us about
it earlier. I do know historically I think the last time we dealt with an issue similar to this was
related to the Southern Nationals and at that point the Commission actually voted to pay the fees
from city coffers for that organization so there was not a pure discount granted to them so much
as the organization received the fees paid from the city, benefited from fees paid from the city.
But the Port Authority themselves did not discount the fee. They received the money for it.
Mr. M. Williams: Can I respond, Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: Sure.
Mr. M. Williams: That helps me a lot to bringing my point to a bit more clarity that we
don’t know at least I don’t know exactly what’s what with the River Keeper’s or anybody else.
But I think it should’ve been brought to either Administrative Services or Public Services then
everybody would talk about it at least put it on the table to explain what they’re doing and what
their needs are versus just saying okay, you know, this is what we want to do. So until I can hear
from somebody to get a handle on this thing I can’t support anything until I know. Maybe my
colleague’s got an answer as to how what we can do or what we will be doing.
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Mr. Mayor: Well, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor, like Ms. Jackson just mentioned the
Southern Drag Race I guess that’s the name Mr. Dayton Sherrouse came down and they asked for
a waiver of the fees so they wouldn’t have to pay the Port Authority. And we found out which we
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knew that the authority is an authority so we didn’t have no right to waive their fees so we end up
eating that cost as a government or paying that cost. With that you know we were encouraged not
to do that because previously before that issue even came up we had approved which we didn’t
have, we didn’t necessarily have to do that Mr. Frank Carl had been before the body creating a
new fee schedule to get himself out of harm’s way from any individuals like the Southern Drag
Race meaning that they had given him a check about $2,500 dollars. At that particular time their
relationship was that every ticket that they sold they would give them $.50 cents off of a ticket.
Even with Dayton Sherrouse being here he said that they have about 25,000 people that attend the
event. It’s just assumed that 5,000 did not pay 20,000 that did pay that we’re talking about $10,000
dollars but yet still all I think the Port Authority received was $2,500 dollars so with that they
revised the schedule and eventually we came back and got into the business that Dayton Sherrouse
was even to come in to influence the government to pay the costs. Not only that based on Ms.
Tanya Bonitatibus being here last time she also let us know that they even paid us security that’s
being down there to the tune of $18,000 dollars (unintelligible) that cost. Now here’s what is
happening where we are with this I’ve been looking into this. I’ve talked to the Finance
Department, Ms. Donna Williams she’s in the back there and I was trying to ask her what is the
relationship here. What has happened for whatever reason the political muscle that we have made
this Port Authority snaggle toothed; we pull his tooth out and get into his business. Our Finance
Department handles its finances. For whatever reason our Recreation Department has something
to do with it as well so we really need to look at this. Based on previous what we did for the
Southern Drag Race we ought to do the same thing here for the (unintelligible) as of right now
bear that cost put this bid to rest, allow us to look into why the Port Authority and see and speak
with his membership and see is it strong enough to stand on his own and if it’s not then we take
back our Port Authority down there and run it ourselves. But this government has gotten so far
over this business because if it’s an authority we should not be handling their budget. And I think
also our Recreation Department has something to do with the Port Authority so we ought to either
allow them to stand on their own at the end of the day or either take it back in house if they say
they can’t do that. But we’ve gotten political muscle has put us into their business that they’ve
been has lost control of their organization. And so I would encourage us to go ahead for this
organization here who’s asking for us to pay the fees because we can’t waive them. We don’t have
the authority to do that but we’ve been all in their business doing things that we really have the
right to do but we ought to do the same thing here and we need to put this to rest and look at this
entity and see what best how we want to deal with it in the future. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 1.
Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Mayor, I think we may need to send this back to committee so that
someone from, Tanya would be able to address any questions and concerns we may have and
nobody’s here to do that at this particular time.
Mr. Mayor: Well, I’ve already got a substitute motion on the floor to deny and I would
need to dispose of that first. I mean that’s what’s happening now.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Well, my average is not that good today so yeah, I’ll be happy to retract
my substitute motion. Thank you, Mr. Fennoy.
27
Mr. Fennoy: Then I’d like to make a substitute, thank you Mr. Guilfoyle make a
substitute motion that we send it back to committee if I can get a second.
Mr. Jefferson Second.
Mr. Mayor: Voting.
The Clerk: Mr. Hasan?
Mr. Hasan: And I’m sorry, Mr. Mayor, what is that motion ---
The Clerk: To send it back to committee.
Mr. Hasan: --- the Mayor Pro Tem got me held up over here.
The Clerk: Send it back to committee.
Mr. Hasan votes No.
Motion Passes 9-1.
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, I want to go to item 18. I’ve got Ms. D’Antignac sitting here,
she’s been here with the people long enough.
The Clerk:
APPOINTMENTS(S)
18. Motion to approve the reappointments of Bill Lee to the Board of Tax Assessors effective
April 25, 2017 term ending April 24, 2021 and Renee D’Antignac effective immediately term
ending April 24, 2020. (Requested by Commissioners Sean Frantom and Ben Hasan)
Mr. Hasan: Motion to approve.
Mr. Frantom: Second.
Mr. Mayor: All right, so that’s good, that’s good, hands waiving, teeth gnashing and I
forgot a little step, Ms. Bonner, I forgot a little step they did.
The Clerk: Okay.
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Mr. Mayor: They Commissioner from the 4 did want to consent that but the
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Commissioner from the 9 had questions I know I forgot that so pump your brakes a little bit. The
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Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9 for a series of questions.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you again, Mr. Mayor, I’ve got no problems with these
appointments but I do need to ask how long has these appointees been on the board. And if
reappoint those will that carry them through the previous years that we’re taking about I think 2020
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and 2021 I believe was said. Mr. Bill Lee has been on the board for quite some time I think and if
we reappoint that position now is that going to give him four additional years or is that a timeframe
within that time we can reappoint someone else if necessary because that’s how we got to where
we are now. When there’s a time to reappoint we didn’t and we kept extending, extending,
extending. But from my tenure in 1999 when I first got elected it’s been some sixteen/seventeen
years now that position and that appointment has still been there so I’m trying to figure out how
do we change, how do we get to where we need get with this?
Mr. Mayor: Well, the gentleman knows of which he speaks and it’s in front of us. You
are correct in terms of his tenure I believe the gentleman knows that he’s been in that role since
1997 so that’s why we’re discussing that today. The terms of service they were moved forward
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with this motion with a term ending April 24, 2021 from Mr. Lee and a term ending April 24
2020 for Ms. D’Antignac. Okay?
Mr. M. Williams: Well and I hear you, Mr. Mayor, it’s necessarily okay but I hear what
you’re saying. I’m just trying to figure out by reappointing would that lock us in to not be able to
do anything else as before 2021? It’s an issue with me so I don’t know how else to address that.
Now I understand that the board needs certified positions, certified board members and I wouldn’t
want to take the board down where it wouldn’t have a certified group but I think somewhere we’ve
got to wake up and just look at the direction we’re going in and how we’re doing this.
Mr. Mayor: So what are you proposing, what do you suggest we do?
Mr. M. Williams: I’m suggesting that we have, since it’s a consensus appointment have
we nominated have we thought about anyone else that can serve and will that take the board to a
position where we won’t have the certification that we need to have on that board if we don’t bring
Mr. Bill Lee back.
Mr. Mayor: Well, I didn’t put it on the agenda. I would think those are considerations that
are given before folks put stuff on the agenda.
Mr. M. Williams: Folks don’t do what they’re supposed to do no one, Mr. Mayor, that’s
why we call them folks because they don’t always do what they’re supposed to do but.
Mr. Mayor: All right, you’ve got a matter that’s before us. All right, I’m going to recognize
some other folks down there who want to talk about it. We’ve got a motion and a second, all right
voting.
Mr. M. Williams vote No.
Motion carries 9-1.
Mr. Mayor: All right, Madam Clerk, we’ll go top down.
The Clerk:
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
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6. Update on the status of approved compensation paid to the Planning & Development
Board. (Requested by Commissioner Marion Williams)
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, I thought we ---
Mr. Mayor: You know I thought a lot of things today. I’ve been told several different
things and I was told that this was going to be coupled with this you know ex-officio appointment
and that was not true. You wanted to vote on it; now you’re going to talk about it.
Mr. M. Williams: Well, who told you that though? I mean you’ve been told a lot but who
told you; it ain’t what they said it’s who said it. I need to know if this body told you that or you
had a meeting in the back room with somebody and told you that. I need, that would help me a
lot.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, may I say something?
Mr. Mayor: Here’s what I know. You requested this item and you wanted to talk about it
and I’m going to give you a chance to talk about it.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay well I need to know from staff or from the Legal Attorney or from
the Mayor as to where we are with this, whether compensation is supposed to be paid for the board
members that’s paid regardless it’s ex-officio or not ex-officio.
Mr. Mayor: Okay well, I don’t have an answer for you.
Mr. M. Williams: Well then you need to call on somebody else.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, I ---
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Mr. Mayor: All right the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6.
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Mr. Hasan: --- thanks, Mr. Chair. Commissioner from the 9 let me can I say something
please. Mr. Mayor, I think we as a body owe yourself and the Mayor Pro Tem an apology. When
you all stepped out and was deliberating about the appointments ourselves and some of our
colleagues we got with the Attorney around this issue and we’re going to discuss this issue in Legal
and so we apologize to yourself and to the Mayor Pro Tem. You all was out when we had this
discussion. So, I make a motion we take it off the agenda, a substitute motion if you don’t
have a motion.
Mr. Frantom: Second.
The Clerk: Is that Mr. Frantom, defer to Legal?
Mr. Hasan: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Okay.
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Mr. Mayor: Voting.
Mr. M. Williams abstains.
Motion Passes 9-0-1.
The Clerk:
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
7. Update on the new contract with Gold Cross and finding solutions to resolving this issue:
2) Request Gold Cross representatives to be present for discussion: 3) Update from the
Administrator on progress and process of negotiations of new contract. (Requested by
Commissioner Wayne Guilfoyle)
Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ve got two I’ve got Item 7 and Item 8.
The Clerk: Do you want to talk about eight too?
Mr. Mayor: I want to talk about both of them.
The Clerk:
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
8. Motion to approve $380,000 per the FY 2017 ARC Budget for the contract with Gold
Cross. (Requested by Commissioner Dennis Williams)
Mr. Mayor: All right, Mr. Guilfoyle.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Mr. Mayor, since you want to couple these two items together and my
colleague that put the motion to approve the $380,000 dollars per the FY 2017 in the Augusta-
Richmond County Budget for the contract for Gold Cross it’s already been approved so I’d like to
know why we’re bringing this back up from my colleague.
Mr. Mayor: Well, you should defer your questions to the Chair.
Mr. Guilfoyle: I am, sir.
Mr. Mayor: To your point we have in fact approved as part of the budget line item an
amount for a proposed subsidy. I think that’s an excellent question with regards to have, it’s
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already been approved and ratified. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 2.
Mr. D. Williams: (inaudible).
Mr. Mayor: Would you speak into the microphone, Commissioner? Thank you.
31
Mr. D. Williams: Mr. Mayor, this should have been discussed and discussed and
discussed and we need to come to some conclusion on this. So therefore I make a motion to
approve it.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Mr. Mayor?
Mr. D. Williams: Item number 8.
Mr. Hasan: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right, okay, this is one of those breathe, stretch let it go moment. All
right again I’ll uncouple it just for the purposes of conversation. We’ll vote on them individually
do whatever we need to do I don’t have a problem with either one. All right Commissioner from
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the 8 ---
Mr. Guilfoyle: Mr. Mayor ---
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Mr. Mayor: --- would you like, Commissioner from the 8 would you like to have your
items that you’re requesting information or would you like for those to be discussed at this time?
Mr. Guilfoyle: --- Mr. Mayor, I’d like for it to be a standalone item. If we’ve got to divide
the question let’s divide the question, but I noticed that we’ve been dancing around this Gold Cross
issue on the last meeting that we lost a quorum. Now we’re on this meeting and we’re still dancing
around it to where we’re going to tie it together with agenda item number 8. I’m not, I know I’m
not on the pecking order but item number 7 should’ve been a standalone item but you wanted to
tie it together for some reason but I understand the reasoning behind it. Sorry, I’m not pertaining
to other meetings I did ask for this information last week since you had brought it up three weeks
ago, why we pushed off this Gold Cross until today. I tried to reach out to you twice last week so
I could look at it and low and behold it’s sitting on the dais and I’m not going to open it up at this
time because it doesn’t do me any justice to try to wrack my brains around this. If we could get
item number 8 and then go back to item number 7 that would appease me and probably appease
the other colleagues as well since they’re two standalone items because I’ll have a different motion
for item number 7.
Mr. Mayor: Well, let me clarify something for you. I think I’m real clear when I said for
the purposes of discussion let’s tie them together. They are the same subject matter in dealing
with Gold Cross. You’re going to vote on them individually but they’re the same subject matter;
it just makes sense to talk about it, that’s what we do we talk about it and you take action on them
individually just like we’ve done on previous items to date. It’s the same subject matter again you
just talk about it at the same time. That’s all we’re doing. But for your benefit I’d be happy to
vote on one after the other; I have no problem with that. All right here’s what we’ll do Item number
7.
Mr. Hasan: Motion ---
Mr. Mayor: You do, just suspend.
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Mr. Guilfoyle: Let me make a motion for item number 7, sir. Do we need to ask the
Parliamentarian if we’re doing this in the correct process so we don’t get lost because there was
already a motion on item number eight.
Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes Attorney MacKenzie.
Mr. MacKenzie: Since you have a motion and a second on Item 8, you can either vote on
that unless there’s unanimous consent to withdraw those motions then you could vote on seven.
Mr. Mayor: All right the maker of the motion, what’s your posture?
Mr. D. Williams: Vote.
Mr. Mayor: You want to vote on it?
Mr. D. Williams: Vote on it, yes.
Mr. Mayor: All right, voting.
Mr. Speaker: What are we voting on?
Mr. Mayor: You’re voting on Item number 8.
Mr. Guilfoyle: It’s already been approved.
Mr. Mayor: Again all we were doing is talking but ya’ll want to vote you can go ahead
and vote. I was real clear this was a discussion. Voting. Waiting on the Commissioner from the
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9 Commissioner state your inquiry.
Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor, I hadn’t heard any discussion and you wanted to couple
these together for discussion but 8 has already been voted in our budget and I disagree with it but
that’s already voted on. I’m not voting on that. So, Ms. Bonner, you can’t wait on me any longer
because I’m just present and accounted for. I think that issues not what we want to approve that
because that was in the budget that I disagree with. When the budget hearing was being brought
to the table we had not had the discussion, we had not had the information that some of us are
privileged to until today that we’ve been told several things but then the negotiation we’ve been
asking for even at budget time I said it was wrong because this is a part of our budget. Now we
disagreed on the amount of the subsidy for this ambulance service regardless of who it is. I said
today in your office that the funeral home used to pick up people before we had an ambulance
service we used to have to call on them to ride and pick up. We’ve got people on the streets of
Augusta, people traveling through this city accident, incidents intentional or whatever, ambulance
service is very important. And whether we agree on the price it’s something we had to negotiate.
I disagree with the fact that the Administrator who cut $700,000 dollars off for the contract without
even discussing that with us. Now when you’ve got a manager and I said this before and I want
to say it again the manager can do that but the Administrator has to bring that back to this body
33
and we can either approve or disapprove. If we had been cutting everybody the same way then
that’s one thing. So, we in negotiation have not took place, we had not had those hard
conversations as to say what we expect, how many calls how many what time I ain’t heard any of
that. When you negotiate you talk about what this is what I’m going to provide for you for
whatever time. Nobody walks into a dealership and says I’ve got ten dollars, what kind of car can
I buy for ten dollars they go and negotiate the car and end up talking about the price. So, it hadn’t
been done right in the beginning that really bothers me for us to not even recognize that fact. All
negotiating I’ve ever been in or been around in is where we talk and converse back and forth to
see if we can come to some resolution but none of that stuff had been talked about. Even if we
agree to the, what’s that number he said 380, I don’t know what we’re going to get for that. I don’t
know how many calls I don’t know what timeframe we hadn’t talked about any of that, all that’s
a part of the negotiation. If Grady Smith is going to do some plumbing work and he’s going to
run some plumbing he’ll tell you how much he’s going to charge you but he’ll tell what he’s going
to do for what he’s going to charge you to I think, Grady, I don’t know now I don’t run no
plumbing.
Mr. G. Smith: (inaudible).
Mr. M. Williams: But I don’t understand why we expect to just give a figure out there. If
we’re not going to get nothing for that figure then we may not want to support it. Are we going to
get enough for that we might want to support it. So this whole process has been done very, very
wrong; it’s been very quiet, very hush hush. I don’t care who runs it; we’ve got to have a service
to pick the people up in this community. We talk about we don’t have that many we talk about
what other counties are doing. I ain’t representing no other county, I’m talking about this county.
What they do across the bridge or over the hill I ain’t got nothing to do with it. I’m talking about
this county and I mean to stand here and to let this body that we should be in negotiations talking
about what we expect and what we’re going to pay for what we expect. I’m going to bring this up
because it done come up before, Mr. Mayor, I ain’t finished. Talk about the zone, you said there’s
some information in this book I believe here that someone in this government gave authority to
give up the zone. If that’s the case then you don’t give up the zone to somebody and then tell them
what to charge. If you give a zone to them you don’t care what they charge is that what it looks
like so let’s don’t mix these things up. The zone is on the left side, the contract’s on the right.
Right now we ought to be addressing the contract and don’t worry about the zone. And the Fire
Chief to the lawyers everybody else done had their two cents in about the zone. We done went to
Atlanta, we done went to court, we done went to the Health Department, went everywhere and we
talked about the zone that created this whole mess we got right now and the only way we’re going
to straighten it out is to put it on the table and be honest about it. So when the budget here was
done, it wasn’t created then. We tried to overlook it, we’re going to have to face that music
sometime.
Mr. Mayor: All right let’s close this vote out, Madam Clerk. Let’s close this vote out.
Mr. Fennoy, Mr. D. Williams, Ms. Davis, Mr. Sias and Mr. Jefferson vote Yes.
Mr. Frantom, Mr. Guilfoyle vote No.
Mr. G. Smith abstains.
Mr. Williams not voting.
34
Motion Passes 6-2-1.
Mr. Mayor: All right, we’re going to go back to Item number seven I see representatives
from Gold Cross in the audience. This is our posture.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, why are we going back to seven?
Mr. Mayor: Because we took those as individual items. That was the will of this body.
You wanted to take them as individual items and so now you’re going to go back to seven, you
voted on eight first. That’s correct all right so that’s how we’re going to do it. All right to my
Parliamentarian we’ll allocate ten minutes for this conversation, is that appropriate?
Mr. MacKenzie: You can do that, yes.
Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, I want to hear from Gold Cross if they’ll approach. I’ve got a
series of items here request Gold Cross representative be present for discussion albeit from the
Administrator. I’m going to have the Administrator go first. Madam Administrator.
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Ms. Jackson: Thank you, sir. On Tuesday December 20 I sent you all an email message
with a summary of where we are in regard to our discussion with Gold Cross. I also sent some
information related to services provided through the Augusta Fire Department which are in essence
in-kind services, EMS services provided to supplement those provided by Gold Cross. I also sent
a redline copy of our contract that was presented in our negotiations with Gold Cross. We have
had several meetings with them as well as follow up conversations with their attorney. At this
point unfortunately they did not agree to accept the terms in the proposed contract. However the
Law Department and myself have reviewed this contract and feel like it’s in the best interest of
our organization and the best interest of transparency accountability in managing taxpayer dollars
to adopt the language that is in that contract. In terms of their initial request Gold Cross requested
$1.2 million dollars. They subsequently reduced that to $900,000 but they proposed to remove
language that would provide for the accountability and transparency that I’ve listed that I’ve
discussed earlier. I also made it clear obviously to them that I didn’t have authority to negotiate
beyond the $380,000 dollars that was approved in the 2017 budget. In the event that the
Commission would chose to increase that amount from the 380 you all would need to look for
some additional funding sources and I suggest that the General Fund Reserve might be an
additional funding source to do that. In summary that’s where we are with those contracts. As I
indicated they were not in agreement with the proposed contract that we submitted but we did
submit that to them for their consideration so unfortunately, we’ve reached an impasse at that
point, Mr. Mayor.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 8.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I know that listening to the Administrator she didn’t
have authority to go over $380,000. I don’t remember us making that for her to cut the contract
by $750,000 which is a 65% cut in their budget. Now my problem is, you know, we’ve got to
delegate her to find this money in this budget or find a funding stream. The problem that I have is
even though we had four public meetings about this budget and gave recommendation on changes
35
nothing was ever changed so it’s a waste of my time as well the colleagues. There was deaf air
when it came to Gold Cross. We had spoken about it numerous times and now we’re still looking
for money. Now we’ve got a $520,000 dollar shortfall. The easiest way to handle this under Items
number 10 and number 11 that’s $100,000 dollars that we’re just going to give away free versus
taking care of our citizens. First it’s taking care of our service departments such as Animal Control,
Code Enforcement, Engineering that’s in dire need of employees but we’re going to fall deaf on
that. So if we take that $100,000 dollars from 10 and 11 that leaves $420,000 dollars. If you look
at the Probation Service we have always spoke about every meeting the $1.2 million-dollars was
to Gold and I had questioned this during budget session you had $1.6 million-dollars. There’s
$400,000 dollars right there. I imagine we could come up with $20,000 dollars easy. But if we
can’t if we look underneath the Rec Department, no disrespect, under the Population Account
which you Madam Administrator or the Finance Director was not aware of what it actually took
care of. So we’re going to put $100,000 dollars additional into the 2017 budget that we did not
know where we was putting money but we found ways to cut Gold Cross by $750,000 dollars.
That’s amazing to me. There’s no way that a business person in Augusta-Richmond County could
operate in that as well as keep the standards, keep the contract and expect more at a 65% cut. I
don’t understand the term negotiation. Most times term negotiation both starts off on one low one
high and somehow people meet in the middle. Augusta-Richmond County has not made one
concession of this $380,000 dollars but Gold Cross has made a concession from $1.2 down to
$900,000 dollars. They’re trying to move forward to the line. Somehow Augusta-Richmond
County is not meeting in the middle and I’m sorry if you want to know where the money comes
from take it out of Probation Services this $400,000 dollars extra than what we spoke about and
the Population which nobody is aware what that account is. But I’m going to go ahead and make
a motion, Mr. Mayor, I do have to get to the emergency room, my daughter is in there. My motion
is to approve the ambulance response and Emergency Medical Service Contract with Gold Cross
EMC with a subsidy amount of $900,000 dollars with a $520,000 being allocated from the
Contingency Fund for 2017 and task the Administrator with bringing back a recommendation to
replace the $520,000 dollars and by making other reductions in the 2017 FY budget.
Mr. G. Smith: Second.
Mr. Hasan: I’d like to make a substitute motion, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Thurman, I need a good rap song now and I’m not talking about Snoop
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Dog, I need a good rap song. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, you know I think you know this is really heartbreaking when you
see my colleagues I understand talking about a contract and I get that but the contract that we
started out with at this government and many of us was not here that we started it was no longer
the same contract once Gold Cross became the zone providers. The contract is not the same. When
we were in a inter(unintelligible) with Gold Cross three years ago in essence it was procured out,
Gold Cross was the bidder. We’re not in that position anymore. We cannot procure this service
out so when we deal with anybody in this capacity it becomes a subsidy. And we can give them
what we can afford and we come to some agreements as a result of saying you know we ought to
make to have to give a contract we truly don’t, we truly don’t for the most part. We just step right
in and offer a subsidy what we can afford and that’s the way it is. We don’t have the same leverage
36
that we had three years when we awarded the contract to them when they won it by a procurement
process. There’s no longer a procurement process in place. There’s no longer and it’s just unfair
that we attempt to say we represent the taxpayers and I don’t think we are. This is no indictment
against Gold Cross in any form or fashion. I just think that we ought to honestly say okay this is
the subsidy by all accounts we don’t necessarily outweigh Gold Cross today but if we want to give
them something,let’s be honest and have an honest conversation as opposed to making half of the
Commission bad guys as though we’re doing the government the people a disservice. That’s not
so, it’s really not so. And so I’ll just say we’ll do what we can as a government to be fair to them.
And we talk about it, I don’t know how when you get to 10 and 11 anytime somebody comes in
the community we always give away money then. We talk about we talk about indigent in this,
we talk about the poor, poverty rate but anytime you do anything that were to in some form or
fashion deal with that all of a sudden we’re giving away taxpayers money. All of us pay taxes up
here. I don’t, you know, all of us pay our own taxes but anytime that comes up there’s certain
people we’ve got take care of some people, we don’t take care, we’re giving away money and
that’s very harsh and very ugly and mean spirited to even imply or suggest that. Thank you, Mr.
Mayor.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. In this situation it’s no different from a nonprofit or anybody
else who requests from this government a subsidy. Number one we required them to provide
financial data and a lot of other things. When we discussed that here in reference to this particular
entity providing some kind of information several folks were quick to say we don’t have any reason
to look at their books. That’s their books but we say that when other people ask for a subsidy,
that’s exactly what this is. Now as I’ve been accused of and rightfully so I’ve been looking at this
issue for a very long time, a very long time and the reason for that is I couldn’t see where it was
right as to what we were doing. And as an elected official I felt that my duty and as a civilian as
a citizen of Augusta to address that issue. I have no problem with the company, not at all, because
if somebody was just going lay some to me I take it too. If I could talk my way out of a strong
arm or give whatever it is I’d do it too so I consider them a very frugal and very successful business
and I applaud them for that. And I went by and looked at their facility and got nothing but good
things to say about the way they do business, I got no problem with that at all. The problem I have
is our actions as a government and in reviewing our actions as a government from 2005 I found a
lot of things disappointing. So, I have no problem at all supporting what we said as a subsidy for
$380,000 dollars for this organization. They have, now one thing I can give them credit for they’re
the ones that pursued the zone therefore we lost it right to be able to be at the service side and
that’s normally one of the things that we do when we spend taxpayers money. We’re supposed to
bid it out, we’ve got standards, laws and everything to cover that but you cannot separate the zone
factor. The zone factor when it was owned by them designated to them by the State of Georgia
we lost that right do any procurement process. We can’t do that anymore. So basically we had to
merchant whatever they demand if we give in to pay it. Now when they made the application to
the state their request brought us in court now they knew what they were getting into. Richmond
County’s ain’t no different last year than it was a couple of years ago yet we had this so called
poverty rate we had that when they asked for the zone and I’ve said that to Gold Cross’
representative before. So I’m not saying anything new or anything ugly or anything different; that
was part of the process when they took it. So all this thing about we’re hurting this company and
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all that kind of stuff I totally disagree with it and it’s not. I don’t care about the word fair but don’t
say we’re supposed to be hurting this company. This company took the zone, they took the
responsibility and it was designated from the state level; we have no say so what so all. So if they
want to negotiate with us or talk to us about a subsidy and we said this is what we want to offer as
a subsidy so be it. Thank you, sir.
Mr. Mayor: All right, I was motioning to you, Mr. Lindley, that you could’ve had a seat,
I would’ve called you back I didn’t anticipate you standing there the whole time. All right, I’m
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going to recognize the Commissioner from the 9 well you gave your opening argument let me
recognize Mr. Lindley first and then I’ll come back to you okay?
Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor, I think this body has, I’ve got no problem with that but I
think this body who all need to be in the conversation. I mean if Mr. Lindley wants to speak up
now that’s fine but I think we are, it’s some conscience we need to be had and there’s some things
I really need to say.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Well, I’m giving you an opportunity to do it now ---
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, sir, I appreciate it.
Mr. Mayor: --- but that’s what you asked for. All right, I’m going to recognize Mr. Lindley
at this time okay?
Mr. Lindley: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. It’s amazing to me that we’ve come to this impasse
in regards to this contract. We were blindsided with the notification of the cut. When we went
into the initial meeting with the county Administrator and the county Attorney, there was never a
mention that there was going to be something that was going to be such a drastic cut to the payment
for indigents in this county. And if I may, Commissioner Hasan, if I may go back some years and
Ms. McCord can probably give some clarity to the date there didn’t used to be zones. Zones came
about because of the disparity you had with ambulances racing to ambulance calls. And this was
shortly after the 911 process went into effect in Richmond County back in 1978. Prior to that
Richmond County paid subsidy for indigent transports. It started with Jim Beck when he started
Richmond County ambulance in 1967 shortly after the funeral homes all quit providing ambulance
service in this community. I actually ran my first ambulance call in Richmond County across the
street, only made one until they quit and shortly thereafter a few years later I was with AAA. And
we had the contract after they had the problem with Richmond County and the young man that
was the billing man did some slight-of-hand with the county as it related to the billing process to
the county for the patients. Back then it was $12.00 dollars and a half a head. In 1972 University
Hospital took over the ambulance service and they were the ones that were responsible for all the
911 response, the emergency response in the county. If you wanted an ambulance you called the
number at University Hospital and we responded with the University ambulances. The
Commission accepted the responsibility to subsidize the ambulance providers. This continued
until such time that University Hospital got out of the ambulance business. Rural Metro came in.
There was a series of contracts with Rural Metro going on some ten years then we took over in
2006 at which time there have been the contracts that we worked under. To say it was a shock that
we were lambasted with the $700,000 plus dollar cut without any prior warning, that’s hard to
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swallow. Now we will pursue taking care of the folks in this county one way or the other. We
have not seen a contract that is mutually agreeable to both parties, I want to give credit to the
county counsel. He’s been very kind in dealing with our attorneys and you know I would like to
see us be able to work something that is equitable. Unfortunately given the diatribe that has gone
on I’m not real confident that’s going to happen. It bothers me because we have bent over
backwards to make sure that we deliver top drawer service every day. Are we perfect? Nobody is
but we try to be. We make a point to make sure that our folks have the equipment, that they have
the training and that they’re going to go out and do their very best to take care of each and every
patient regardless of how frivolous the call may be. Mr. Mayor, if I can answer any questions I
would be more than happy to.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 10 for a
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question. Yes, sir, you’re the 10 now.
Mr. G. Smith: Okay, Mr. Lindley, I want to say this. You know I can speak from the
service you all give which that should be a big part of being alive. I mean I woke up in the hospital
twice when I, whatever I did and then the way you all, all you folks so far I’ve dealt with almost
(unintelligible). And I’ll say there was one guy that I need to tell, I hollered up there slow down.
I mean he made that curve at Walton Way but Dale Earnhardt wouldn’t have made that turn. But
anyway, I do want to say that I as a Commissioner representative of Richmond County, one of the
representatives, the job ya’ll do is exceptional. And you don’t know how it feels when you’re
strapped down on a gurney and you’ve got your life or whatever in some people’s hands. You
know they’ve been well trained, disciplined and treat everybody with great respect. So, I’ll say
that for you and I hope we can get this resolved where it’s fair for both sides. But I do appreciate
the service ya’ll provide.
Mr. Lindley: Thank you, Commissioner.
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9 for a question.
Mr. M. Williams: I don’t have a question for Mr. Lindley but I do have a statement I need
to make, Mr. Mayor. I was looking at Donna Williams back there; she’s got her head down. It’s
a new year, Donna, you can hold your head up; it’s going to be bright. It seems like it’s not but
it’s going to be bright. My colleague was talking about looking at information that everybody was
supposed to turn in when they get subsidies, when they get monies. Everybody don’t turn the
paperwork in I mean I don’t know about Gold Cross but I want to say this up front I’ve got no
interest, I’ve got no investments, I’ve got no ambulance, I’ve got nothing to do with Gold Cross
except I think they provide a good service for this community and I support them. And until we
find somebody with a comfortable situation that can be make it cheaper or better I’m going to stick
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with what I know. But I’m amazed at what Ms. Jackson said on December the 20 that she sent
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some emails out on December the 20 now. We had no conversation. We should have been
meeting to talk about stuff not no emails. And if I agree or disagree and I send an email back that
I do or don’t I mean the body needs to have that. This is too important to wait until the last minute.
And as we did with the budget I questioned the same thing why are we waiting until the last
minute? Why aren’t we negotiating with somebody? If we had another service, another company
that could do better or as good that should’ve been brought to the table. We should’ve been able
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to discuss that. We did that before. Mr. Lindley mentioned about AAA ambulance and I remember
those, I remember when Rural Metro was here. I think we’ve got an opportunity to have some
other people come to the table but at the same time we’ve got to know that if we ain’t doing what
we need to do we’re not going to be able to get the ambulance service for anybody if we don’t
negotiate. Now when you’re talking about cutting $700,000 dollars from a contract and nobody
says that upfront. I mean I can understand why the ambulance service or anybody else would be
really upset about that. And if you’re going to do that maybe that just to get their attention then
we ought to be negotiating then because that really would get my attention that we ought to be
negotiating hey what’s wrong, what am I doing? I heard all this stuff and I’ve got a book here that
the Mayor brought it said that all the information’s in here that we wasn’t receiving any response
and we didn’t know, couldn’t track no ambulance and you know they weren’t doing none of that
stuff. All that’s in that book I think. I ain’t looked at it and I’m not going to look at it I mean
today ain’t the day for me to get that. I should’ve had that last year before we did the budget. I
should’ve had that, Donna. I’m just talking to you because I’m looking at you, okay. Well, I
should’ve had that last year. I should’ve had that last year so I could’ve really wrapped my hands
around what I was supposed to be doing or the decisions I was supposed to be making. This is too
important. Now let’s don’t forget that their were folks that came in here and said that the
ambulance service wasn’t no good. The folks came in here and said that you know we’re going to
get rid of them but that made me back up sure enough because I’m looking at them now. I’m trying
to figure out what they see that I don’t see because if they ain’t no good I don’t want them. But
so far and nothing’s been proved, all this talk has been done. All I’m saying is that we ought to be
negotiating from, the attorney’s ought to be saying that is legal, that is right, that is wrong, all this
stuff about the zone we ain’t got to pay them nothing. That may be true. This man makes a lot of
money. He ought to be telling us that’s right or that’s wrong I mean he sits there like a knot on a
log but we ought to have somebody tell us that hey that’s right or that’s wrong. If it’s right, it’s
right and if it’s wrong, it’s wrong. So we’re here going through all this stuff where we should’ve
been going through this last year before we finalized that budget. And we said the budget is a
working document we know that but this too much to make a cut out of and not feel like we’re
mistreating. Now that’s my two-cents, Mr. Mayor, and if I can make a motion I make a motion
that ---
Mr. Mayor: We’ve already got one of the floor ---
Mr. M. Williams: --- okay ---
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Mr. Mayor: --- the Commissioner from the 8 has made a motion ---
Mr. M. Williams: --- has it been seconded?
Mr. Mayor: --- it has a second. All right, any other discussion? Okay, all right.
Mr. M. Williams: Call for the vote.
Mr. Mayor: Well, I think you’ve already got a motion and a second. We’re just going to
vote.
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Mr. M. Williams: Okay call for the vote I didn’t call for the question I called for the vote.
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Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, would you just reiterate the Commissioner from the 8 motion?
The Clerk: The motion was to approve an amount of $900,000 dollars for the contract for
the Gold Cross for 2017 with $520,000 dollars coming from the Contingency Fund and tasking
the Administrator to replace the funding from Contingency with other reductions within the 2017
budget and bring back to the Commission recommendations as such.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Hasan: Are we voting, Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: Um, well that is before us I’m trying to decide if I should say something. This
is an extremely important matter. You know I think I’m going to say something. Mr. Lindley, if
you’ll approach I’m going to ask you a series of questions and I want to try and get to the bottom
of where we are as well. Concerning in exchange for the subsidy, what is Gold Cross providing
pursuant to the most recent expired contract?
Mr. Lindley: The county attorney has our proposal.
Mr. Mayor: That’s not what I asked you. I don’t have it in front of me. What I’m asking
you is as of December 31, 2016 there was a subsidy that Gold Cross was being provided and that
subsidy was provided in exchange for something. What was that?
Mr. Lindley: The ambulance coverage in the community.
Mr. Mayor: Okay were there, and here’s my follow up Were there any performance
measures in that?
Mr. Lindley: Yes, there were.
Mr. Mayor: Okay all right here’s my next question. Is it not true that with regards to the
subsidy but more importantly what can be charged for those individuals who are Medicare,
Medicaid and Tricare that amount is set?
Mr. Lindley: What they will pay is set.
Mr. Mayor: That is correct.
Mr. Lindley: We can charge whatever we want. I could charge you a million dollars to
ride in the ambulance but if you’re Medicare like I am and like Commissioner Smith is all we’re
going to collect is what Medicare would allow assuming it meets their medical necessity and then
we would collect our 20% copay from the patient from whatever secondary they have.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, here’s my next question. With regards to the insured versus
uninsured in Richmond County is it not true that Richmond County has one of the highest rates in
the state of insured individuals as opposed to underinsured?
Mr. Lindley: Not to my knowledge.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Lindley: The numbers that I have seen according to 2015 you had 202,000 people in
Richmond County. The individuals that are covered under the Medicare over 65 those that are
covered under Medicare Disability under 65 and the uninsured, that number is something just north
of 80,000 people. Now you take the individuals that are on Medicaid which is another subgroup,
that group is some 70 odd thousand. And you take those and a large portion of the patients that
are on Medicare Disability and Medicare also have Medicaid so they’re piggybacked. There is no
additional copay for Medicaid once you’ve received Medicare. So out of the 70 odd, 75,000
whatever it is that exact number was shown in 2015 approximately half of those would be Medicaid
alone.
Mr. Mayor: Okay you didn’t include Tricare in your iteration.
Mr. Lindley: Correct.
Mr. Mayor: Okay ---
Mr. Lindley: Again Tricare ---
Mr. Mayor: --- the majority of our citizens are ---
Mr. Lindley: --- Tricare has the same situation, Tricare pays less than Medicare.
Mr. Mayor: These are in fact ----
Mr. Lindley: Right ---
Mr. Mayor: --- goes with a healthcare benefit.
Mr. Lindley: --- right what that leaves you with though is roughly 80,000 people that have
some form of insurance and that’s where I was speaking of Tricare.
Mr. Mayor: And that doesn’t include others who may be United Health, Blue Cross Blue
Shield, et cetera.
Mr. Lindley: That’s in the 80,000. That’s how you get to the 202,000 people in Richmond
County based on the 2015 numbers that I’ve seen.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
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Mr. Lindley: Unfortunately, given the state of health insurance right now the average
deductible is something north of $5,000 dollars in the southeast based on what I’ve read. I know
that for our small company we had to adopt a $5,000 dollar deductible in order to give our
employee’s health insurance at the tune of $400.00 plus dollars a month. Again, the situation is
not the same as it was 10 years ago when the normal health insurance plan had a $250.00 deductible
it was 80/20 and you had copay’s of $15.00, $20.00 and $25.00 dollars for your pharmaceuticals.
Now I know from my wife’s insurance her base copay for pharmaceuticals starts at $35.00.
Mr. Mayor: I appreciate that information.
Mr. Lindley: Everything’s gone up as the County Administrator had noted in one of our
meetings.
Mr. Mayor: All right we’ve got a motion and a second. Voting. The Chair recognizes the
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Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. I want, after we complete this vote I have a Parliamentarian
question.
Mr. Mayor: State your inquiry.
Mr. M. Williams: He said after we completed the vote.
Ms. Davis, Mr. Frantom, Mr. Guilfoyle, Mr. M. Williams and Mr. G. Smith vote Yes.
Mr. Fennoy, Mr. D. Williams, Mr. Sias, Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Hasan vote No.
Vote ties 5-5.
The Clerk: Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: I wish there had been a roll call vote. I’ve never done this, Ms. Bonner, which
button should I push.
The Clerk: Whatever you decide.
Mr. Mayor: Again this is item number 7, 8 is on the screen. I’m not sure why.
The Clerk: Technical error.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
The Clerk: The Mayor votes No. The motion failed.
Mr. M. Williams: Madam Clerk, put this back on the agenda.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4.
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Mr. Sias: A Parliamentarian question, Mr. Mayor. First off under the basic rules of the
rules particularly in the handbook that the Parliamentarian passed out I believe this item will have
to go back to committee first. The second question I would ask is that we had Item 8 for the same
issue. We had Item 7 for that same issue. Item 8 had passed which was a certain amount. Now
my question being here a Parliamentarian type question if the other motion had passed was there
a conflict of what those motions represented, and that’s just my question, just for my clarity.
Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes Attorney MacKenzie.
Mr. MacKenzie: Sure. Item 8 was actually a representation of the budgetary approval
amount. It did not have a specific aspect with respect with approving a contract. And I think it
was already stated that amount of $380,000 that had already been approved for the 2017 year. So
even if Item 7 had been approved it would not be in conflict with Item 8 because Item 8 just
approved the $380. Item 7 had a supplementary amount which made the grand total be $900,000
so they’re actually not being in conflict.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor ---
Mr. Mayor: Hold on, I’ll recognize you. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from
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the 4, you still have the floor.
Mr. Sias: Are you saying for the Parliamentarian simply because there was a different
amount because number 8 referred to a contract as well. So, you’re saying because the amounts
were different that made a difference? I’m just trying to get my understanding I’m not, this is not
an issue just for my understanding I’m trying to understand that because I’m thinking that those
two motions would definitely be in conflict, both referred to a contract.
Mr. M. Williams: Point of Order, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: I’m waiting on the Attorney to respond.
Mr. MacKenzie: Sure. I’d be happy to respond. The clarification is that Item 8 does not
approve a contract; it only approves a financial amount for the 2017 budget. It’s for a contract but
it does not approve a contract so it just establishes what was approved in 2017 budget the $380,000.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor?
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, along the same lines what our Parliamentarian just addressed even
though it doesn’t address stipulations in the contract it says that’s what we’re negotiating from at
this point in time that the Commissioner has saw fit $380,000 dollars and we negotiate with that.
Now if the party in my mind refuses not to then we’ve done our due diligence. Now when we
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come back to number 7 I’ve seen that that should be negated at this point in my mind because we
made a decision around 8 in terms of trying to establish a contract with Gold Cross and they refused
to do that, that is upon them. Unless if the body decides to open this issue back up I’m sorry an
individual Commissioner can do that, I think that as a body because the body has made a decision
in my interpretation. Now I do stand for clarification if I’m wrong but I think if the body has made
a decision around this issue. That’s my that’s me but that’s up I think the body has made a decision
on what direction they want to go. And so putting it back up there that’s body’s decision if you
want to continue to do that you know to look at this but we made a decision just like we did with
August and November. We made a decision.
Mr. Mayor: Yeah, yeah all right, we’re going to unravel it in a second. The Chair
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recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor, I don’t know how we can think that we can approve a
negotiation. A negotiation comes from two parties coming together and negotiating. We can’t sit
here and tell them this is what you’re going to get and that’s what we’re trying to do, it seems like.
Now a negotiation has not taken place in my mind. There’s been some conversation but there has
been no real negotiation. You can’t say that this body decided to spend $380,000 dollars and that’s
what the contract was because a contract is something that needs to be renegotiated and come to
terms with I think now. I see a lawyer I trained and she’s a little girl but I’m going to have to get
somebody to help me out with that. I’m saying that there’s no way that we can come one sided
with this thing. It’s going to have to be with that company or a company but we still got to
negotiate. You just can’t give them what you’d like to give them or that’s all we’re going to offer
you because that’s what we’re telling the taxpayers. We don’t care if you’re picked up or not
because we ain’t going to pay but so much but we’re going to pay $3 million dollars I’m sorry $3
million dollars to change the oil and tires on cars but we ain’t going to pick you up off the street if
something happened. That don’t make good sense to me now. I don’t know about nobody else but
if we’re negotiating all these contract we cut everybody then you know you do the ambulances as
well but we ain’t talked about them, we ain’t brought them in, we I mean we ain’t even scratched
the surface yet. You ain’t got to like it but it’s got to be voted on right now. We lost the battle
today but the victory ain’t over yet. We live to fight again.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, Madam Clerk, we’re going to move on it’s time, it’s time.
The Clerk: I think we have 10 and 11 left.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
The Clerk: Are these companion, are they ---
Mr. Mayor: Sure, absolutely.
The Clerk: --- okay.
The Clerk:
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FINANCE
10. Motion to approve a funding request of $75K for the Richmond County Board of Health.
(Requested by Commissioner Sammie Sias)
11. Motion to approve a request for $25K for MACH Academy to support the services they
provide to our community youth. (Requested by Commissioner Sammie Sias)
Mr. Mayor: All right, why don’t we just vote on it. You’ve already made your mind up
you already know what you’re going to do so let’s vote on it. The Chair recognizes the
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Commissioner from the 1.
Mr. Fennoy: Motion to approve.
Mr. Hasan: Second.
Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ve got a motion and a second. State your inquiry.
Mr. Frantom: What was the reasoning for companion items, Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: Well, they are requests to take the $180,000 dollars that was talked about one
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on November the 15 during the budget process of which you of which you indicated you included
a series of items on the list on of which was voted on last what last year in the form of the CSRA
Alliance now Fort Gordon Cyber District. And as such ---
Mr. Frantom: Yes ---
Mr. Mayor: --- I hadn’t finished yet and this was, these two items were included in that
list and so we find ourselves here today when he shelved them all at the same time. We again I
didn’t do this but I just help make sure we got the train going down the road. But there was a list
of items this was one last two weeks ago the 25,000 was one and there was general consensus and
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agreement on November the 15 and now we’re cherry picking. Not only are we cherry picking
but there’s a message that I guess some want to send today. There’s a posture that’s being taken
and it’s quite disingenuous. At the end of the day there was an agreement that you all had on
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November the 15 and folks are departing from that. It’s very disappointing so we start cherry
picking. We cherry picked two weeks ago and now we’re cherry picking again today. If we’re
going to support efforts in this city let’s be consistent in that not only be consistent in that but if I
care more about a dollar than I do about a person then I fundamentally have a problem with it.
And as such if we’re going to vote on them let’s vote on them and if we’re not just vote no, it’s
really that simple.
Mr. Frantom: Can I speak to that though? These are different items, way different.
Mr. Mayor: They’re all non-governmental organizations.
Mr. Frantom: But there’s two different situations here. The first one the budget was cut
and this brings it back up to not even its entire budget from last year. MACH Academy this is an
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additional over the $25,000 that they’ve already received and they’re the only NGO that have
received above what the budget is so that makes it way different. I’m not cherry picking it ----
Mr. Hasan: May I address that, Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Frantom: --- that’s just, and I sent my colleagues an email stating the same thing with
the CSRA Board of Alliance. It made it hold the previous year this is not an additional funding. I
sent everybody on this board an email earlier this week so it is two different things.
Mr. Mayor: I don’t think you sent me an email, sir.
Mr. Frantom: No, I sent the other ten.
Mr. Mayor: Okay well ---
Mr. Frantom: Yeah, I mean but you don’t send everything to me I mean so that’s just not
right ---
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, may I address that please?
Mr. Frantom: --- to act like that and then you’re you want to shoot at me about the animals,
I mean come on we’re better than that.
Mr. Mayor: I’m not shooting at anybody. I’m just saying if you’re going to vote on them
vote on them all let’s not cherry pick. There’s no reason why we’re here today. We should not be
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here today looking at these in an individual manner. Ya’ll gave a list on November the 15 and
you departed from that, across the board you departed from that and you shouldn’t have done that.
If you going to vote for it vote for it and if not don’t bring it up. All right, I’ve got a motion and a
second. Voting.
Mr. Fennoy, Mr. D. Williams, Mr. Sias, Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Hasan vote Yes.
Ms. Davis, Mr. Frantom and Mr. G. Smith vote No.
Mr. M. Williams abstains.
Mr. Guilfoyle out.
Motion Fails 5-3-1.
Mr. Mayor: All right ---
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, let me say something about this issue.
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Mr. Mayor: --- the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, I’d like to address item around MACH Academy. My colleague
did send an email to everybody but I thought pretty much we had talked around the board
appointments and things like that and if he really wanted to know my opinion about that he
could’ve made a phone call to me and not the way it was done. But my point around this is this.
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When you talk about the budgetary issues that he just mentioned I think our Finance Director told
us in the minutes of the budget hearing that you can’t use a previous budget as an example of what
you’re currently doing now. She said that’s not apples to apples or oranges to oranges I think she
said that in a very real way during a budgetary process. So in terms of the budget that we just
passed last year you’re talking about MACH Academy asked for $75,000 dollars and only got
$25,000 dollars. The CSRA Alliance asked for $25,000 and got $14,000. You made them whole.
Whatever the Board of Health asked for then they didn’t get that either so we attempted to make
them somewhat whole. So when you’re talking about the same budget you can’t go back to a
previous budget and try to make those kinds of analogies. It’s just not fair, that’s one part of that.
The other part of that, Mr. Mayor, in the month of November if I’m not mistaken Commissioner
Sias had the Colonel out there from Fort Gordon. And the Colonel to me, now I’m not a military
man but as my observation as he was making his visual presentation about Cyber Command and
what Fort Gordon is going to look like in the future he gave, he done an excellent job, an excellent
job. He told us about some of the entities that are going to be built out there one has already broken
ground since he was out there. But one of the things that he said at the end of his presentation, it
was an excellent presentation and to make a point about how the Colonel looked to me he looked
almost like an administrator out there in terms of what he was speaking about or what he does on
a daily basis. But his take away, what he said at the end of his presentation that was not officially
a part of his presentation he looked at the 150 some odd people in the faces out there and said in a
very real way the reason why, and he didn’t make this long statement I’m making but this is my
takeaway from his final comment to us. In a very real way the reason why in many ways Richmond
County is not necessarily benefiting from this opportunity the way other counties around the
counties are is because of our education. He said education. And when we have an opportunity
to invest a small fee of $25,000 dollars to something like MACH Academy that does a herculean
job out there to impact the quality of like for people who need it the most, and we’re always talking
about the poverty rate which is something that is, that went all the way back to 2006 to currently
that has nothing been done about. And we’re asking to make a small contribution to that and all
of sudden we get blown out of the water. So when you talk about the budget that we just passed
CSRA Alliance was not there so what is it? Now we make the CSRA Alliance whole but guess
what? We still can’t get the benefit of it we can’t get our education in a very real way so you can
separate those two. They are tied together. I didn’t say that the Colonel said that and we know
other people have said that about the quality of education. So anything that this government can
do to enhance the quality of education in this community if we can find the way to do it and we all
agreed, nobody disagrees about the body of work that MACH Academy does and this is a small
contribution that we should make to this here, they asked for $75,000 and only got a third of what
they asked for. At least the CSRA Alliance got, if you do the math they got about 66% of what
they asked for and we made them whole. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
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Mr. Mayor: Very nice. Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Move to reconsider the previous item.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Fennoy: Individually or together?
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Mr. Sias: If we move to reconsider then also we can talk about separating if necessary but
we have to reconsider what was presented.
Mr. Fennoy: Is that a motion to reconsider?
Mr. Sias: Yes.
Mr. Fennoy: I second it.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second to reconsider this action. Voting.
Mr. G. Smith votes No.
Mr. M. Williams abstains.
Mr. Guilfoyle out.
Motion Passes 7-1-1.
Mr. Mayor: The Chair will entertain a motion. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner
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from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. I’m trying to get back to my book here. What I’m going to do
at this point, Mr. Mayor, is I’m going to make a motion at this time as we reconsider these items
I’m going to, I’m going to separate the motion and we’ll start out with a motion to approve the
request $25,000 dollars for MACH Academy.
Mr. Hasan: Second.
Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ve got a motion and a second. Voting.
Ms. Davis, Mr. Frantom and Mr. G. Smith vote No.
Mr. M. Williams abstains.
Motion Fails 5-3-1.
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Move to approve $75,000 for the Board of Health.
Mr. Fennoy: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Voting.
Ms. Davis and Mr. G. Smith vote No.
Mr. M. Williams abstains.
Mr. Guilfoyle out.
Motion Passes 6-2-1.
Mr. Sias: Is that it?
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Mr. Mayor: Did we deal with Item 17, Ms. Bonner?
The Clerk: Yes, sir, we added it to the consent agenda once the addendum was added to
add in Ms. Wiley.
Mr. Mayor: All right, this meeting is adjourned.
\[MEETING ADJOURNED\]
Lena Bonner
Clerk of Commission
CERTIFICATION:
I, Lena J. Bonner, Clerk of Commission, hereby certify that the above is a true and correct copy
of the minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Augusta Richmond County Commission held on
January 3, 2017.
______________________________
Clerk of Commission
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