HomeMy WebLinkAboutRegular Commission Meeting July 18, 2017
REGULAR MEETING COMMISSION CHAMBER
JULY 18, 2017
Augusta Richmond County Commission convened at 2:00 p.m., July 18, 2017, the Hon.
Hardie Davis, Jr., Mayor, presiding.
PRESENT: Hons. Jefferson, Guilfoyle, Sias, Frantom, M. Williams, Davis, Fennoy, D.
Williams, Hasan and Smith, members of the Augusta Richmond County Commission.
Mr. Mayor: Good afternoon, everybody. Once again, we are here to do the people’s
business on July 18, a hot, sultry day in Augusta, Georgia. Ms. Bonner, you ready?
The Clerk: Yes, sir, I am.
Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes Madam Clerk.
The Clerk: At this time, we’ll ask Mr. Mike Loeser, our Human Resources Director, to
please forward to acknowledge our years of service employees.
Mr. Loeser: Good afternoon, Mayor Davis, Commissioners, special guests, directors and
citizens of Augusta-Richmond County. My name is Mike Loeser, Human Resources Director for
Augusta-Richmond County. Today is it my pleasure to recognize our June years of service
recipients. For the month of June, 2017 we have 28 employees celebrating five to twenty years of
service with Augusta-Richmond County. This afternoon we’d like to recognize our 25 to 50 years
of service recipients. As I call your name, please come forward. Miles Christie, Fire Department,
with 25 years of service. Ronald Crowden, Finance, with 25 years of service. H. Scott Allen,
Civil Court, with 30 years of service. Wendell Johnson, Sheriff’s Department, with 30 years of
service. Robert Jenkins, Augusta Regional Airport, with 35 years of service. David Smith,
Engineering, with 45 years of service.
RECOGNITIONS
Employee of the Month
A. Congratulations! Glenn Hall, Client Support Specialist from Information Technology, as
the July 2017 employee of the month.
The Clerk: At this time, we will acknowledge our Employee of the Month. We ask that
Mr. Glenn Hall of our IT Department, Client Services Division, Ms. Allen, are you in the
Chamber? Would you like to come down? As Ms. Allen makes her way down the Employee
Recognition Committee has selected Hall, IT Department as Augusta Georgia Employee of the
Month for July 2017. Mr. Glenn Hall is a true asset to the IT Department and the City of Augusta
and deserves recognition for his humble approach to customer service, innovation and problem
solving. Glenn was able to lead a team of employees to a technological solution that showcases
the City of Augusta, the Tax Commissioners Office and the IT Department as innovative problem
solvers who look to improve the services to the constituents we serve. Mr. Kendrick, would you
please come forward? Glenn was asked to devise a way for the Tax Commissioners Office to use
technology to become more mobile and allow them to meet customer’s expectations. Glenn
1
consulted with key personnel in the IT Department and offered a technology solution that would
allow the Tax Commissioners Office to open a Mobile Tag Office and offer tag and title services
at Fort Gordon and other sites with lower costs than traditional new locations usually require.
Glenn worked tirelessly to make sure the technology solution that was offered was reliable and
easy to use so that the Tax Commissioner’s employees could perform their daily duties without
interruption and as seamless as they could do at a permanent site. The goal was to maintain the
level of speed and reliability from the technology solution that it would have on the City of
Augusta’s IT System. Glenn gave much credit to Troy Taylor and others in his department for
helping him to research and analyze the problem and offer the correctly configured solution. While
the technology that Glenn used was available and used in other situations at other times it is the
creativity and the understanding of his customer and how the technology would be applied in the
requested situation that sets him apart. This creativity was recently on display at a statewide Tax
Commissioner Technology Conference where Glenn helped present the same concept to a room
full of wide-eyed Georgia Department of Revenue officials, IT professionals and conference
attendees who simply could not figure out how the Richmond County Tax Commissioner’s office
was able to produce this innovative and cost effective mobile solution. Unfortunately, they didn’t
have Glenn Hall and Augusta IT Department on their team. Lastly the last two times the Tax
Commissioners office moved into a new site the costs were over $35,000 dollars per work station
for the west Augusta Tag Office and $50,000 dollars for the south Augusta Tag Office for a total
project cost of over $200,000 and $400,000 dollars respectively. Moving into the site on Fort
Gordon cost the Tax Commissioner’s office and the City of Augusta about $3,500 dollars per
station or a total cost of $7,000 dollars as we stand today. The project costs saving based on similar
facilities and furnishings at the other sites would be about $75,000 dollars. We again congratulate
Glenn Hall on his commitment to his job, his department, his customers and the City of Augusta.
Job well done, Glenn Hall. (APPLAUSE)
Mr. Hall: I just want to say thank you to everybody, thank you to Ms. Allen for always
pushing me to do my best. Thank you to Mr. Kendrick. He’s one of my mentors and he’s always
pushing me to be better today than I was yesterday. Thank you. (APPLAUSE)
The Clerk: Mr. Kendrick nominated Mr. Hall, would you like to say something, sir?
Mr. Kendrick: I think the letter I wrote was long enough but he certainly did a great job.
And the IT Department in case you most of you don’t know they’re fabulous; they do everything
you need them to do. Kudos to him and kudos to the department and Ms. Allen as well.
(APPLAUSE)
Ms. Allen: As many of you have always heard me say, I am one of those department
directors with the City of Augusta that is so, so just I can’t say it enough, so lucky and so fortunate
to have such a great team of people that work with me on a day to day basis that help to make the
City of Augusta’s IT Department look good. Because I have a team of people that are very
passionate about what they do as you can see right back there now representing the IT Department.
Let me hear you guys. And we support definitely Glenn and what he has received because Glenn
is one of those very passionate people that is always looking for a challenge, always meeting that
challenge head on and always meeting that challenge of some of our customers such as the Tax
Commission Office who keeps us on our toes with a smile. Never does he let anything defeat him
2
and he’s always committed to making sure that he gets the job done. So thank you, Glenn, for
being part of our team, thank you for being so committed and so passionate about what you do.
We appreciate it. Thank you. (APPLAUSE).
Mr. Mayor: I’m going to echo the letter; I’m going to echo everything that she said. When
we first arrived in 2015 a new office, a new administration, Glenn and Reggie and Glenn get
coming back multiple times and gave us everything that we needed, just tremendous support,
couldn’t have recognizes a more fabulous employee than Glenn Hall so thank you for all you do
to make Augusta the best city in which to live, learn, work and raise a family.
The Clerk: He surely rocks. (APPLAUSE) Congratulations.
Mr. Mayor: Ms. Bonner ---
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: --- I know we’re letting everybody exit the Chamber but I do want to take an
opportunity today and recognize all of our Judges who are here. I believe we’ve got our Probate
Judge, we’ve got our Juvenile Court Judges, we have our Superior Court judge, Chief Judge and I
think our Magistrate Court as well. Fantastic. We’ve got them all recognized here and would you
join me in giving them a hand today. (APPLAUSE) I think that’s a good sign today, I hope.
Prosecutions are going to be down. In fact, I see our newest judge back there as well one of our
newest so I think we’re going to be fine today, everybody. All right, Madam Clerk.
The Clerk: Yes, sir we’ve got to share up here with our invocation delivered by Father
Michael Hull, Pastor of the St. Ignatios Melkite Catholic Church. Would you please stand after
which we would ask Judge Carl Brown to lead us in our Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you, Chief
Judge.
The invocation was given by Father Michael Hull, Pastor, St. Ignatios Melkite Catholic
Church.
The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America was recited.
Mr. Mayor: Father Hull, would you please approach? We do want to take an opportunity
to recognize you for coming to be our Chaplain on today. And we want to thank you for your
spiritual guidance and your civic leadership that serves as an example to all of us as citizens of this
great community. Thank you. Would you join me in thanking him for coming today.
(APPLAUSE).
The Clerk:
RECOGNITIONS
Jamel Robinson, Augusta Boxing Club
3
B. Congratulations! On clinching the Title/Gold Medal in Junior Olympic National Boxing
Tournament in Charleston, W. VA on July 1, 2017. (Requested by Commissioner Bill
Fennoy)
The Clerk: I call your attention to the Recognition Item B. We ask that Mr. Jamal
Robinson along with Mr. Ray Whitfield of the Augusta Boxing Club to please come forward along
with any family members and friends that would like to join in this recognition.
Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Mayor, every opportunity I have I’d like to talk about the greatness that
exists in Augusta. You have just heard an example from an employee from the IT Department and
I’d like to take this opportunity to say that Augusta has some of the best employees that I would
put up against any other city in this country. So, with that being said we’re here to honor greatness
again. With all this greatness could not have been possible without the support of Ray Whitfield
so before I honor Mr. Robinson this is from the office, Mr. Mayor, office of the Mayor.
The Clerk: I’ll read it.
Mr. Fennoy: All right, thank you, Ms. Bonner.
The Clerk: Okay the Office of the Mayor. Certificate of Recognition to Mr. Ray ‘Stingray’
Whitfield, trainer and professional boxer, Augusta, Georgia Boxing Club 2017 Junior Olympic
National Boxing Tournament. The City of Augusta recognizes your commitment to athletic
excellence exemplified by your loyal dedication, unwavering commitment, and distinguished
service. We congratulate you and the Augusta Boxing Club for participating and clinching the
2017 Junior Olympic National Boxing Tournament and receiving a Gold Medal in a 3/2 decision
th
during the July 1, 2017 event in Charleston, W. VA. Given this 18 Day of July 2017, Hardie
Davis, Jr., Mayor. Congratulations, Mr. Whitfield. (APPLAUSE)
Mr. Fennoy: Now Mr. Jamel Robinson, Jr. They say the tree doesn’t fall too far from the
apple. Okay, Mr. Jamal Robinson, Jr., if you want to read that.
The Clerk: Yes, sir, we’ll do that. Office of the Mayor Certificate of Recognition given
to Jamal Robinson, Jr., 2017 Junior Olympic National Gold Medalist Augusta, Georgia Boxing
Club. Whereas Jamel Robinson is a student at the Sego Middle School and entered the boxing
ring at the Augusta Boxing Club two years ago and has trained with some of the best boxers in the
area. And whereas Jamel on July 1, 2017 in Charleston, W.VA won the 2017 Junior Olympic
National Boxing Tournament in a 3/2 stunning decision by defeating his opponent Deval DeLar
of Cincinnati, OH for the title in his division with no prior trips to the annual event under his belt.
rd
And whereas Jamel will travel to Hamburg, Germany on August 23, 2017 to participate in an
international boxing tournament representing the United States. Therefore, the City of Augusta
recognizes your commitment to athletic excellence and for inspiring others to perform at their best
with your messages of empowerment and self-motivation. We congratulate you for participating
th
and clinching the Junior Olympic National Title and receiving the Gold Medal. Given the 18
Day of July 2017, Hardie Davis, Jr., Mayor. (APPLAUSE)
4
Mr. Fennoy: The Commissioners and some of the department heads did not want Jamel to
go to Hamburg, Germany representing Augusta, Georgia and eating at McDonalds. So we took
up a modest contribution to help him with the expenses and we encourage him to continue to be a
positive role model, to continue to do well not only in boxing but in life. (APPLAUSE) Mr.
Mayor, do you want to say something?
Mr. Robinson: Thank you.
Mr. Whitfield. I just want to let everybody know I’m so proud of this young man. He
came in the gym only two years ago and he’s worked hard, did everything I ever asked him to do.
And I always told him you work hard these days will come. And I want to thank everybody in the
Commission and, Commissioner Fennoy, thanks for this, Mayor and that the team I have at the
Augusta Boxing Club all the volunteers that I have and my employee’s teamwork made the dream
work, thanks. (APPLAUSE)
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Commissioner Fennoy, for taking the time to not only recognize
Jamel Robinson, Jr. on today but also recognizing the efforts of coach, trainer and professional
boxer who has been in the community for a long time. And Ray ‘Stingray’ Whitfield for many of
you who may not know he is in fact a topnotch boxer in this community and has represented the
city very, very well. And so, on behalf of the entire Commission and our city thank you for what
you do in making the lives of young people better in this community. And thank you as parents
for giving your son an opportunity to believe and to dream big, this is what life looks like on the
other side of opportunity. Congratulations. (APPLAUSE)
Mr. Robinson: I would just like to say to my son I’m proud of you and keep up the good
work. And thank you, Ray, thank you everybody, I appreciate it. (APPLAUSE)
The Clerk: Congratulations. (APPLAUSE)
Mr. Mayor: Okay, the Commission will now stand at ease until 12:00 midnight, I’m just
joking, just joking, just joking. All right, Madam Clerk.
The Clerk:
DELEGATIONS
C. Mr. Calvin Rhodes, Executive Director of Georgia Technology Authority regarding an
update on Georgia’s Cyber Innovations and Training Center Project.
Mr. Rhodes: Mr. Mayor and Commissioners, thank you for the opportunity to be here with
you today. It’s truly a milestone I think in what we’re accomplishing here as partners with the
Cyber Innovation Training Center. And we certainly wanted to come here today and show our
appreciation on behalf of Governor Nathan Deal that the commitment that the City of Augusta has
made to this effort. We’re presenting just a token of our appreciation in the ceremonial
groundbreaking shovel to each of you so I wanted to again we have one of these for each of you
that you’ll be finding with the Mayor. We brought one just so everyone can see what we’re
presenting and thank you for your support and for each of your support as well. (APPLAUSE) I
5
know without your involvement in this project that we would certainly would not have been able
to accomplish much of what we have partnered up to do. And I don’t want that to go unsaid today
but it’s a much bigger and the mission of the project is greater because of our partnership and we
appreciate that. I think it’s not only important to the community here that the center’s located but
it’s also important to the state as a whole that this will provide benefits and opportunities across
the state. The importance and the comprehensive approach that we’ve undertaken is something
that we will all look back on and be very proud of the work it will do to make a difference in the
citizens’ lives across the state and even potentially the nation. There’s no single sector or entity
that doesn’t see cyber issues today and as we try to figure out as a nation how to combat these, it’s
going to take missions and visions like this to be able to do that in an effective way. There’s no
silver bullet, the game changes every day in what we try to defend against and that’s why
innovation is so important to be a part of something like this. We have great partners and that will
lead to us doing great things together. And again, you’ve been an essential partner. I just want to
publicly say the work we’ve already been able to do to make the vision a reality it’s one that’s
been very significant. So, a very quick update, I told the Mayor earlier that I would make sure we
don’t get you behind schedule but we’ll just cut a few things we’ve had lots of conversations along
the way so you’ve been a part of the discussion as we’ve moved through this. But I have to say
we’re on schedule. The rain has caused us to have to do some things more effectively to stay on
th
schedule but we’re certainly moving towards our July the 10 opening date you know less than a
year now to go and I’m very excited about it. Construction will be finished probably the end of
th
May and then the building equipped and furnished to be able to open for business on July the 10.
One of the things that we have been working on, there was over a 1,700-seismic earthquake
drainage system that’s being put in today and that will be finished by the end of the week and then
they’ll actually start pouring concrete and you’ll actually start seeing quite a few things, that you
can see as good progress is being made. Steel is being ordered and you’ll start seeing that erected
in September and that will go up extremely fast, I think they’re saying about a floor per week so
you’ll see something really notable here starting in September. The parking deck that we partnered
on, that is scheduled to begin work near the end of October the first week of November and we’re
marching towards that as well and then I think that’s about a 10-month construction project.
There’s certainly lots of effort going on with the many different partners in the facility where we’re
working on the programming as well so we want to make sure that we have a state of the art facility
but it’s also about the programming that will take place in the building and that work’s moving
extremely fast as well. So that’s just a quick update. I’m happy to take any questions that you
have there.
Mr. Mayor: All right, thank you so much before we take questions the Chair recognizes
Madam Administrator. Again, this has been a good partnership opportunity and I’d like to hear
from you with regards to where we are what Calvin said just echoing sentiments for working
together.
Ms. Jackson: Certainly, sir. We have appreciated our partnership with the Georgia
Technology Authority participated on regular conference calls with them. In fact, it started off
doing one a week we’re now down to every other week because we’ve done much of our heavy
lifting in terms of planning for the parking deck insuring that our funding is in place etc. From
here we just would like to be in a position where we know what else be done of us to keep the
project moving along. Our Engineering Department, our Planning and Development Department,
6
our Fire Department are involved in a part of the development process so far and I think we were
able to get certain portions of the permitting completed in record time. As a result of the needs of
this project, our team has responded extraordinarily well and I’m extremely proud of them for that.
As we announced last week our Finance team completed the funding. Hopefully we’ll have a
check deposited here soon next week so that we have everything lined up to do this project. So
it’s been very rewarding to work together in a great sense of teamwork with the State of Georgia
their private partners, Augusta University as well as our team internal to the City of Augusta.
Mr. Mayor: Fantastic. All right, any questions? All right, Calvin, thank you for not only
with what you shared today but thank you for the great teamwork that’s been demonstrated
throughout the course of the conversations and now the project at its inception and we look forward
to tracking aggressively towards completion and ultimately moving in. So know that at any
moment you can call on the City of Augusta.
Mr. Rhodes: I appreciate that.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you so much.
Mr. Rhodes: Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: There’s a lot of business before us today I’m excited to see so many of our
citizens who are engaged and want to be here to see what’s going on. Madam Clerk?
DELEGATIONS
D. Mr. Kenneth Pugh regarding solid waste collection during inclement weather.
(It was the consensus of the Commission that this item be deleted from the agenda)
The Clerk:
DELEGATIONS
E. Presentation by NextSite360 – Chuck Branch. (Requested by the Mayor Hardie Davis, Jr.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, as Chuck approaches about a month or so ago maybe almost two months
ago, we can go ahead and pass that out now. It’s just a single sheet; we were contacted by our
friends at Georgia Power. Ms. Jackson and I and Georgia Power communicated to us about an
opportunity and economic development opportunity. As many of us are aware, Georgia Power
has a very strong and sustained community partnership with cities all across Georgia with the goal
of helping the state land over 125,000 jobs. Just in the last 10 years alone and part of the
conversation with them was that Georgia Power’s Community Economic Development was
looking to entering into partnerships with NextSIte360, a retail recruitment firm that specializes in
working with communities to attract new retail development and realism. And so, Deputy
Administrator Chester Brazzell and I sat in on a conversation, Ms. Jackson had another event going
on at the time and so I thought it was prudent to at least put Chuck and Doug on the calendar for
the Commission to hear just a snippet of what they shared with us. And so that’s why they’re here
7
today hopefully we’ll listen attentively with the brief presentation and go from there. All right,
Chuck?
Mr. Branch: Thank you very much. My associated leaned over and told me I should not
expect the same response that Glenn got so I appreciate you having us. So, Mr. Mayor,
Commissioners, Chuck Branch with NextSite360. As the Mayor mentioned we have recently
partnered with Georgia Power Company to provide proactive retail consultant services to the
communities throughout the State of Georgia. I’m very familiar with Augusta, been over here
probably two dozen times over the last three or four years on different projects and now working
with the Downtown Development Authority and Margaret Woodard. So, I’m glad to be here today
the presentation should take no more than two hours but I have been told I’ve got to get through it
in 10 minutes so I’m going to rush through it. We will make it available to you in case you have
some additional interest in reviewing some of the slides. For the last 20 years, I’ve been providing
Workforce and Economic Development Agencies with different software tools and consulting
services. For the last seven years, I’ve focused most of my time and effort in assisting
communities’ proactive retail recruitment efforts, identifying opportunities for development and
redevelopment. Our goal in the City of Augusta is to provide decision critical retail research,
market analysis and mapping support, assist in the identification of the opportunities for retail
development and redevelopment and then how do you connect those opportunities to the
developers and tenant rep firms that can affect positive change in your community. When we first
get started, we’re going to come in and we want to know where you’ve been, where you are and
where you want to be so we engage many of the stakeholders in the community. We’re going to
look at the retail opportunities and the barriers, we’re going to identify competitor markets, we’re
going to determine what makes your community unique. Glenn would be at the top of the list we
need him in Birmingham, what tools are available to drive new development typically from an
incentive standpoint. Based on the market analysis what can the market support and then what
role does the city want to play in the process. So we’re going to come in and do all the research
and market analysis on identified sites and so we’ll work very closely with the Mayor,
Commissioners, different stakeholders on identifying what sites in Augusta need the most attention
for development and redevelopment. We’re going to identify realistic retail targets. My Mom
used to have a saying that was, you can’t have a champagne taste on a beer budget. You’ve got to
make sure that your target retail matches the market opportunity in the analysis. We’re going to
proactively market the community and recruit on the community’s behalf and then we’re going to
hopefully have results that effect positive change. And as we go through the following slides keep
in mind that while we’re talking new to market retail, we’re talking retail development and
redevelopment. Everything that we do from a market analysis standpoint can be used by your
existing businesses to help them better understand the market for their product and services and
there’s an entrepreneurial component. We’d just as soon see a business start from scratch with a
local entrepreneur than to go out and recruit a business coming in from outside. What you have in
front of you right now is the, we call it our wheel but it’s what we do. So if you start at about just
above 3:00 o’clock market analysis the consumer research we’re going to identify consumer
behavior and attitudes, we’re going to understand their theme patterns and in just a moment we’re
going to talk briefly about their travel patterns. We’re going to identify leakage, dollars that are
leaving the different trade corridors and going elsewhere to purchase goods and services. We’re
going to do a peer analysis. We’re going to identify communities that are similar to Augusta but
more importantly those trade corridors that are similar to other trade corridors in similar markets
8
so that we can identify retailers that have shown a propensity to locate in similar areas and that
allows us to then identify the developers who have done those projects. Mobile mapping I’ll get
to in just a moment. We’re going to identify those focus properties it becomes a part of our
marketing effort. We’re going to create marketing materials and probably the biggest thing we do
is represent the community at twelve different ICSC Conferences across the country, ICSC being
the International Council of Shopping Centers, 70,000 members. We have three of those meetings
coming up in the next four months down in Orlando, in Atlanta and out in Dallas. It gives us a
chance to go out there and position Augusta hopefully as an opportunity for
redevelopment/redevelopment projects. I’m going to skip through some slides that are probably
not overly important. This is the biggest change in retail site selection probably in the last 15 to
20 years. Now let me say we do not collect the data but we have access to partnerships and vendors
who provide us with mobile phone tracking data. Whether we like it or not, our devices are being
tracked and so we’re able to take this anonymized data, I cannot tell you it’s the Mayor’s phone
and I can’t tell you it’s Janice’s phone but I can take that anonymized data and show you where
people’s mobile devices are during the daytime, where they are during the evening and most
importantly where were they two hours before they visited a retail location most likely to make a
purchase and this allow us to then create custom trade areas. And so the days of doing radius and
travel time analysis, while it’s still important, identified a custom trade area and showing how far
consumers are coming into the market redefines the opportunities for those shopping center
developments and redevelopments. Again, some examples of some of the research work that we
do and again I’ll go through it rather quickly. We work with a group that gives us historical current
and projected population, household and income data updated on a quarterly basis. We have the
ability to determine which retailers should be in this market but are not and where their next nearest
location is. Behaviors and Attitudes. So pet concepts right now are rapidly expanding so we have
data that will tell a developer where a pet concept, how many people own a dog or cat or buy dog
food in the can versus dry food or take their dog to the vet which is all decision critical data that
the retailer and the developer need. Consumer Segmentation Data. We can break the consumer
profiles into 65 different segmentation groups so we know where the retirees are located and the
millennials and those people that have children that are about to go to college and that is going to
drive shopping behaviors. I mentioned the retail leakage. The ultimate goal is how do you bring
those dollars back into a given area of the community and if they’re leaving Augusta in total we’ve
got to get make sure we’re getting them back into Augusta to drive sales tax revenue. I mentioned
peer analysis. It’s critical for us to be able in this case we worked down in Dublin, Georgia so I
can go to these other communities and I can look at retailers that are in those peer areas and should
be in Dublin, and it helps us tell that story and sell that site to the developer or redevelopment
project. We’re going to create aerial overviews of the existing retail landscapes, specific sites,
updated traffic count information which is also critical. And then as I mentioned a little bit earlier
we’re going to identify those focus properties that provide the highest return on investment for
changing the landscape and effecting positive change within your community. We’ll put together
a target list of retailers by trade corridor or site so we’ll know who we’re trying to recruit. We
know developers that work with these types of prospects, this is not about Augusta specifically
just a sample but many of those retailers probably may be in the market but could also have a
second or third location in a market. And then we put together some retail marketing pieces. We
keep them to about four pages it’s what the developers intended reps have told us makes the most
sense. It gives them a 30,000-foot view because our ultimate goal is to get their team into this
market, driving it, reviewing it and looking for opportunities. And then some of the tenant rep
9
firms and developers that we work with. We work with dozens of developers and several different
tenant rep firms meeting with them, showing them the opportunities, talking about specific sites
and then when they come to the market hopefully connecting them to the different economic
officials or the Mayor or the appropriate entities that can help facilitate the development process.
As I mentioned twelve different ICSC conferences across the country. We basically become an
extension of your economic development team. Base camp. We set up a known line, web based
document management system so everything that we do from a research and market analysis
standpoint is available to those stakeholders and probably to your economic development and
Chamber organizations so that they can again work with local businesses and local entrepreneurs
and it’s also how we keep the stakeholders, people sitting here today updated on our efforts. If I
talk to a developer or a member of my team talks to a tenant rep firm about a project sometimes
it’s good news, sometimes it may be bad news. I believe that sometimes knowing what the bad
news is helps you to effect positive news in the future but we’re going to keep you updated on our
efforts. Our typical getting started process is 60 days, from day one where I’m picking up the
phone and letting some of our key partners know that we’re engaged with the City of Augusta,
through the research and marketing process, involvement of the stakeholders to day 60 when we
strap on our boots and go proactively recruit on behalf of the City of Augusta. A couple of real
quick success stories or projects that we’re currently involved in. So I included this one. We’re
in the process of working with the City of Oxford, Alabama on the redevelopment of their mall,
which is probably going to end up involving turning that mall inside out opening it up. The large
white building on the left side of the picture is an old Sears building so we’re working with Sears
Holding Company on helping a developer acquire that and then also working with the city that’s
entertaining the possibility of incorporating a community or civic center and a couple of hotels.
And very quickly, my associate Doug Neil one of our strategic partners is with Daniel Corporation.
One of the things we told Georgia Power is we’re coming in and focusing on retail. We’re keeping
our eyes and ears open to opportunities and hospitality, hotels, senior housing, multi-family and
healthcare and that’s Doug’s expertise. A couple of other quick ones. Gardendale. This was a
situation where we had to work with the city, Doug spearheaded this. We had to acquire or help
the city acquire 29-residential units to then turn around and sell that property to a developer for a
150,000-square foot shopping center. We’re working on another project with UAB the Healthcare
University in Birmingham put a urgent care facility in Gardendale and we’re working with a movie
theater and several restaurants in that community just north of Birmingham. And then a couple
from Hinesville, Georgia. The key there and it’s much like Augusta military personnel data is
typically not incorporated into the census data and so our ability to take the information in
Hinesville from a demographic standpoint, add the military presence eventually helped a developer
with a 158,000-square foot shopping center anchored by Dicks Sporting Goods and TJ Maxx.
LaGrange, Georgia I’m not going to read through them you can do that but again it was about the
market analysis. Every time we talk to a developer, every time we talk to a tenant rep firm the
first thing they say is what’s the market look like, what are the sites that I need to be reviewing.
Kingsport, Tennessee. I will point that one out. The point of our newer engagements where we’re
assisting the city and several developers but one of the projects is converting an old Kmart to a
new grocery store and sporting goods center. Eventually our goal is to bring new retail to the
market or help entrepreneurs start their own businesses, new restaurants, job growth and grow the
sales tax base. And with that, I’ll be happy to entertain any questions you might have.
st
Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 1 for a question.
10
Mr. Fennoy: Yes, thanks for your presentation and just want you to know that we have an
old mall, we have an old Wal-Mart and we have some old pool lanes, that we have some old
Kroger’s and some old stuff. So, we have plenty of old stuff in our community to get you started.
Mr. Branch: I’ll show my allegiance. As Coach Sabin would say, that’s an opportunity.
Mr. Fennoy: Okay, thank you, sir.
th
Mr. Mayor: Fantastic. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 8 for a question.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Thank you, Mr. Mayor ---
Mr. Mayor: Welcome back.
Mr. Guilfoyle: --- thank you. Mr. Branch, as far as your company here NextSite360
working hand in hand with Georgia Power, how is this going to work for Augusta Richmond
County?
Mr. Branch: From an investment standpoint?
Mr. Guilfoyle: Yes, sir.
Mr. Branch: So, Georgia Power has subsidized through an investment with us a significant
reduction in our standard pricing to communities. So, in Augusta based on some preliminary
discussions you’re looking at anywhere between a 30 and 40% cost reduction to what we would
normally do with the community outside the State of Georgia.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Okay and as far as your company how does it measure successes what
business you bring in or --
Mr. Branch: Well, we measure success at the end of the day by bringing, well redeveloping
some of these properties that need redevelopment, introducing developers to new opportunities.
But at the end of the day, we’re going to be measured by our ability to effect that change through
growth in retail, growth in jobs, growth in sales tax revenue.
Mr. Guilfoyle: All right. As far as Augusta, I believe you said you’ve been to Augusta six
times?
Mr. Branch: I’ve been to Augusta probably two-dozen times ---
Mr. Guilfoyle: Two-dozen times ---
Mr. Branch: --- in the last four years.
Mr. Guilfoyle: --- I apologize.
11
Mr. Branch: Not a problem.
Mr. Guilfoyle: As far as developers, we have probably two of the largest southeast
developers as far as shopping centers etc., which is Hull Story and Blanchard and Calhoun. As far
as, let’s per se focus on them two companies. If you was to approach them and show them your
market analysis, wouldn’t they already have that done?
Mr. Branch: I would dare say they’re not using the tools that we use. In our conversations
not only with developers but with the tenant reps and development community very few of them
have access to the tools that we use. We’re spending close to a quarter of a million dollars a year
on software and data. Hull Story actually owns the mall in LaGrange, Georgia where they are in
the process of bringing in Dunham Sporting Goods and I believe Hobby Lobby and expanding the
size of that mall. It would be our goal to reach out to all of the not only developers but brokers
within the community and make them aware of the resources that we have. With the city’s
permission, we would share that information with them and we would work with them on on-
demand reports. What we’ve found in communities across the country is sometimes it takes new
blood coming into the market to see the market a little bit differently.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Right.
Mr. Branch: But clearly, our first initiative would be to reach to Hull Story and Blanchard
and Calhoun.
Mr. Guilfoyle: All right you, Mr. Mayor, one last question? You spoke of leakage and I
guess that’s opportunity leaving this area going to surrounding areas to utilize their stores etc., how
do you prevent that?
Mr. Branch: How do you prevent it?
Mr. Guilfoyle: Yes, sir.
Mr. Branch: Well, the first thing we have to do in some cases is show in your case
Washington Road is pulling a lot of your retail expenditures, correct, I’ve got to keep my is it
Washington?
Mr. Guilfoyle: That’s the (inaudible) part of Augusta.
Mr. Branch: Okay, well, I know it’s part of Augusta but what I’m saying is it’s pulling
dollars from other parts of Augusta that could be redeveloped and we’ve got to be able to show
some of those retailers they ought to have multiple stores within the market. How do you bring it
back? It’s by showing developers that you’ve got dollars that are leaving and going to Atlanta or
you’ve got dollars that are leaving and going to North Augusta or to other markets and that’s part
of the process that we go through in every community that we serve.
Mr. Guilfoyle: All right and as far as these online sales that people purchase on ---
12
Mr. Branch: Correct. We measure, we have access to that data also so the leakage dollars
that we’re working with our net of online purchases.
Mr. Guilfoyle: --- thank you, sir.
Mr. Branch: My pleasure.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
th
Mr. Mayor: Thank you. All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9 for
a question.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. My colleague asked several questions and I
was thinking. Thank him for leading into this. But and I’m hearing and I don’t know anything
about developing or anything about the retail strategy or any of that but what I do understand is if
we had all of the entities that we were just talking about to come to any area, I’m trying to figure
out how does the economic impact get to the people that live in this community so that they can
spend in those stores? I mean I’m hearing about you can create, there’s a way to create shopping
centers and new restaurants and that kind of thing but what I’m not hearing is the economic dollars
that need to be in the pocket of the people sitting out here to be able to go into the stores to spend
so that would be a reverse, not a reverse but a continuance rotation come money in money out.
But if there’s stores and I think our problem is I’ll say our problem I think what the city’s dealing
with, people come and invest and the stores close because they’re not making any money. I mean
we can build some of the nicest buildings you ever want to see but if we don’t have people to spend
expendable income in this area to continue. We often look at Atlanta and I tell people is that
Augusta and Atlanta is a 90-day difference. Probably a thousand people a month if not more are
moving to Atlanta so some of those people end up going into business doing other things, they’ve
got the expendable resources there. When you talk about malls and somebody said why don’t we
have an outlet mall here and I said because I looked around and said we can’t afford one. If we
build an outlet mall here, people will shut the other mall down. So can you explain just to me how
we would get the expendable income that we need to be able to share when those businesses say
okay I’m coming to Augusta because I see the impact but when there’s no cars in the parking lot,
nobody’s ringing the register, then what?
Mr. Branch: I think probably Augusta is facing some of the same issues that my home
town of Birmingham has faced over the years and it’s a matter of identifying the right retailers
based on the market analysis, it’s about revitalizing certain areas. If you look at the Eastwood
Mall area of Birmingham, it took several years but it was revitalized and we actually have
conversations going on about a purchase of Century Plaza in Birmingham right now. A lot of it’s
thinking outside the box beyond retail. Some of the opportunities in this market may not even be
retail. They may be more entertainment related there may be, you’re seeing a lot of shopping
centers redeveloped with educational services and healthcare services as tenants. So while I
always talk retail some of those tenants may end up being non-retail users that draw traffic to those
shopping centers.
13
Mr. M. Williams: Well, that helps me a little bit but you get the picture I’m trying to paint
---
Mr. Branch: (Inaudible).
Mr. M. Williams: --- because I mean developing is one thing but disposable income that’s
another one and that’s what I’m trying to hopefully help promote or help bring to this area so we
can retain whatever we set up. I mean I don’t want it to last two years and we close and in another
two years another strip mall. I mean and you’re right I agree it’s not always about retail it’s maybe
the music industry, it may be healthcare whatever but to create a destination point is the bottom
line.
Mr. Branch: Exactly and you’re first issue is more of a workforce development issue.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay, thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you. All right, Chuck, thank you so much.
Mr. Branch: My pleasure, thank you very much. Commissioners, thank you for letting me
get up here and take your time and everybody have a great week.
Mr. Mayor: All right, thank you.
The Clerk:
DELEGATIONS
F. Ms. Aliegha Brigham, Richmond County Tax Commissioner’s Office regarding their
partnership with Fort Gordon.
The Clerk: I call your attention to our next delegation which will be led by Ms. Lynn Cobb
from the Richmond County Tax Commissioner’s Office regarding their partnership with Fort
Gordon.
Ms. Cobb: Good afternoon, everybody, to the Commissioners, the Mayor, all the citizens
that are visiting thank you so much for your time this afternoon. My name is Lynn Cobb and I’m
the Director for the Motor Vehicle Registration Division of the Richmond County Tax
Commissioner’s Office. For the last 30 days, we have engaged in a pilot program that tested and
analyzed the feasibility of performing title related services for Fort Gordon Army Installation. We
are here today to announce the opening of our Satellite Tag Office at that base. Allow me to give
you a little bit of background. A couple of years ago I served as a Project Manager for the Tax
Commissioner’s Office and I was tasked with managing a request from Commissioner Kendrick
to find a way to put an office on Fort Gordon. The large number of military residents and the
complications of their transactions caused our South Augusta Tag Office to sometimes become
crowded and lessened efficiency. His vision was to possibly keep those transactions on Fort
Gordon with some of our more seasoned employees. Although it was a good idea, we found that
was plagued with complications. While the Army had several locations for us to consider they
14
were unfurnished so we would’ve had to buy furniture, not wired properly so we would’ve had to
do a prewire. The Army was uncomfortable with us plugging into their IT Network and staffing
for the site would stretch our comfort level with customer service in our current offices. We
presented to the Commission thinking that the possible investment was justified to show our
commitment to Fort Gordon. However in 2015 was a bad budget year for us. Thus although the
Commission was very excited about the possibilities they asked Commissioner Kendrick and
Administrator Jackson to work together to see if they could overcome some of the financial related
issues. Administrator Jackson’s consistent theme to Commissioner Kendrick was that she was in
full support of the project but with one caveat; find a way to do it with little cost. Unfortunately,
we fell short of making that a reality at that time. Last year I became the Director of Motor Vehicle
Registration Division and was tasked with finding a way to improve our customer service levels.
A conversation that our office had with Glenn Hall in our IT Department discussed an idea of
mobility and connectivity. I thought back to that old project I was not able to complete and
considered whether the mobility option was a viable solution to rekindle the Fort Gordon project.
Glenn seemed to think that he could find a way to allow us to use mobile devices with the state
owned proprietary computer program that would allow us to plug back into our network downtown
on the Municipal Building Campus and skip the wiring issue of plugging into the Army’s network
and with that two problems were solved. We reached out to Mr. Tom Clark, the Executive Director
of the Fort Gordon Alliance, and ran the idea of coming to Fort Gordon with the tag office by him.
He was very excited and immediately arranged for us to meet with Colonel Turner, the Garrison
th
Commander, to make the pitch. In that meeting on June the 9 I asked Colonel Turner to meet us
half way. That is, if you can find us a place on base of your choosing that has the necessary space,
the furnishings, our team has solved the prior issue of having to plug into the Army’s network.
th
We didn’t need to plug into their network at all. On June 13 we were on site visiting our proposed
th
space and by June 20 we were testing Glenn’s idea with real mobile devices and actually printing
tags or decals for tags. Now 30 days later we are officially announcing our opening for the Fort
Gordon Satellite Tag Office. We are currently open on Tuesdays and Thursdays at that site from
9:30 to 12:30 and we monitor traffic, we will monitor traffic and viability and adjust times and
dates accordingly. I want to thank the Mayor and this Commission for its continued support of
our customer focused ideas. I want to thank Administrator Jackson for her encouragement and
counsel and lastly, I want to thank Mr. Glenn Hall and the IT Department for always working with
us to find the next big thing. At this time I would like to share a brief Power Point presentation of
our efforts on that installation. Okay, this is the space that they offered us at Fort Gordon. You
see Glenn along with some members of our team and there are actually soldiers there that we are
actually servicing them as customers. This is again part of our team as we’re setting up there that
space they have completely allocated to us. We lock that space when we leave and it is exclusively
been provided for us at that location. Again this is part of our setup while we’re getting some of
our equipment that we use I have another picture that I’m going to show in just a minute but this
is a part of their advertising campaign that Fort Gordon did to advertise and publish to their soldiers
that we were there. This slide shows some of the feedback that we received on social media, some
of their comments and Mr. Clark is going to speak to that. Our signage and this is the setup that
we have there. This is a breakout, a financial breakout of I think we discussed it a little bit earlier
I’m actually part two of Glenn Hall day so they discussed the financial aspect in part one, and
that’s it. Mr. Clark, would you like to make your comments?
15
Mr. Clark: Mr. Mayor, Commissioners, hello. Everyone was here when we talked about
Glenn Hall. I’m proud to represent the 94,000 folks that get service by Fort Gordon. But Glenn’s
idea blew up our social network with spouse comments. After a hard day’s work, they could go
down Tuesday morning get their tags right there comments like super, awesome, excellent, love
this idea. So many times the media talks about how folks don’t help each other and I just want to
say thank you to the Commissioners, the Mayor, the Tax Commissioner. Colonel Todd Turner
wrote a personal note to Steve that said nothing but positive feedback from your program. Thank
you so much Mayor, Commissioners and the Tax Commissioner’s office on behalf of those
Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines stationed at Fort Gordon. Thank you. (APPLAUSE)
Ms. Cobb: I’ll be glad to answer any questions if there are any at this time.
st
Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 1.
Ms. Cobb: Yes, sir.
Mr. Fennoy: Will retirees that frequent Fort Gordon be able to go there and get their tags
also?
Ms. Cobb: Yes, sir. That service is available to any active duty, retiree or civilian that
actually works on that installation so this service is being provided to over 27,000 service members
and civilians that visit that site, have access to that installation on a daily basis.
Mr. Fennoy: Thank you.
Ms. Cobb: Absolutely, sir.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Ms. Cobb.
Ms. Cobb: Thank you, gentlemen, ma’am. You all have a great day.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, so all right I want to draw everybody’s attention, Madam Clerk, to the
addendum agenda list that we’ve got in front of us. We’ve got a number of groups that are before
us today. I think we’ve got Mauldin and Jenkins, they’ve got a representative who’s here today
and I’m going to come back to that in a moment but we need to dispose of this very important
matter and that is the addendum items that we have in front of us, I want to draw everybody’s
attention to those. Item number 25 has some additional information with regards to ---
The Clerk: The Foundry Project.
Mr. Mayor: --- the Foundry Project so again that’s there and I wanted to share that with
you. And then there’s an Item 30 which is to discuss and approve a revenue source. Madam
Administrator, I’m assuming that’s additional information the agenda item is still in the book so
it’s already in here. We’re not adding a new agenda item.
The Clerk: That’s just the supporting documents.
16
Ms. Jackson: This is a supporting documentation to go along with that item, sir.
Mr. Mayor: All right very good and of course we’ve already deleted the delegation item,
Mr. Pugh, from the agenda in theory anyway. And then there’s a motion or a desire to add to the
consent agenda which was omitted earlier a discussion around Item number 28 which is Probation
Services. Okay, is there objection?
Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right there is objection. All right, the Chair recognizes the
th
Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Yes, sir, I have no problem with the other ones the Item 28 to approve,
a motion to approve and revise. We’ve been discussing that issue and this issue has been on table.
I don’t know whether there’s been prior meetings what’s been changed. We know that the state
has an effect to this but is that what we’re approving I’m a little bit leery about approving that ---
Mr. Mayor: Yeah.
Mr. M. Williams: --- without having ---
Mr. Mayor: All right so again the, so what you have in front of you is a request to add it
to the consent agenda. It was inadvertently omitted from the consent agenda.
The Clerk: It was approved in the last Public Safety Committee meeting. There were a
few editorial changes that the committee agreed to and the item should have been on the consent
agenda.
Mr. Mayor: Right, that’s right so ---
The Clerk: It’s attached, it’s included in your backup information.
Mr. Mayor: --- okay.
Mr. M. Williams: So this is what came out of Public Safety, Mr. Mayor, so what I’m
hearing is ---
Mr. Mayor: --- that is correct.
Mr. M. Williams: --- there’s no addition but when there was an add-on ---
Mr. Mayor: Well, actually it was to add it to the consent agenda. If you look at your
regular agenda, it’s there and it should’ve been on the consent agenda. Again just from a practical
standpoint we could’ve at the point of time I asked are there any motions to add or remove, we
could’ve done it that way as well but Ms. Bonner took time to go ahead to put it to you up front
17
because it was supposed to have already been there. It was supposed to already been there. So
again the key element here is that there’s nothing new from what you did last week, there’s nothing,
it’s the same thing there’s nothing new.
Mr. M. Williams: It’s something new but (inaudible).
Mr. Mayor: No, all right I’m going to say it like you’ve got to trust your Clerk now, you’ve
got to trust your Clerk.
Mr. M. Williams: She’s the best Clerk in America but still I’m the Commissioner, she’s
the Clerk.
th.
The Clerk: Trust me, sir, that was the item that Public Safety approved on July 11 It was
inadvertently left off the consent agenda. There were some editorial changes, they were minor,
our Attorney could enumerate those for you if you like but ---
Mr. M. Williams: I got to believe okay, Mr. Mayor, the District 7 Commissioner told me
I got to believe so I’m believing.
Mr. Mayor: I believe the gentleman knows of what he speaks. All right I think ---
The Clerk: It got her back to Kansas.
Mr. Hasan: No, I just want to be clear about something myself.
th
Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, but along with all of these addendum agenda who
want the rest of them to fall in their respective places right and only one is being attached as
information along with item number 28 that should be officially added to the consent agenda and
the rest of them go in their respective places.
Mr. Mayor: That is correct ---
Mr. Hasan: Thank you, sir.
Mr. Mayor: --- that is correct. All right without objection.
Mr. M. Williams: This time.
Mr. Mayor: All right, very good, without objection. Okay here’s our posture. We’re going
to hear from Mauldin and Jenkins; we’re going to hear from them now, Mauldin and Jenkins. I’m
going to come back to that, Ms. Bonner, I want to go ahead and dispose of that.
The Clerk: Okay.
18
FINANCE
29. Receive as information the results of the 2016 financial audit.
Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes Madam Administrator.
Ms. Jackson: Making his way to the podium right now is Miller Edwards who is the
principle with Mauldin and Jenkins. They are one of the premiere accounting CPA firms in the
State of Georgia in terms of handling government audits. Also, our Finance leadership is handing
out official copies of the audit document. Mr. Edwards will give a brief overview of the audit and
be available to respond to any questions that you have.
Mr. Edwards: Well, good afternoon and I appreciate you all having me here today. It’s
always an honor to stand before you and go over the annual audit. As introduced my name is
Miller Edwards, I’m a partner at Mauldin and Jenkins. I’ve been at the firm now just over 31 years
and all I do is serve local governments, again thank you for having me here today. What they have
passed out to you is a summary of the audit. I feel like it’s always a good way to go through the
audit process otherwise that comprehensive financial report they issue that they prepare this year
it’s 213 pages, I didn’t think you wanted to go through all 213 pages. But we can always get
together individually if you’d like to ever to look at anything and everything relative to the audit
and financial statements. With that being said again, I’m here just to talk about the overview of
the audit process, talk a little bit about the whole situation, talk about our engagement team, talk
about required communications and here to answer questions should you have any questions. As
far as our firm we were founded in approximately in the 1920’s so we’re about a ---
Mr. Mayor: Miller ---
Mr. Edwards: --- yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: --- if you would just get to the meat of the presentation that would be good,
we’ve seen you a time or two.
Mr. Edwards: All right well, here’s the first thing I want to mention. And if you remember
a year ago, I told you all that you were preparing a comprehensive annual financial report for the
first time. That’s one that gives you a great load of information, it goes back 10 years. And I was
quite pleased to learn during the year that on your first entry to the GFOA, which is the National
Trade Association, they gave to you all the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial
Reporting and that’s really good. Not a lot of communities do this. For you all to get this award
on your first attempt was very good so again hats off to management for the work they did to make
that all happen, I wanted to make sure you all knew about that. (APPLAUSE) The next thing I
was going to cover was the audit opinion for this year. In our world we call it a unmodified opinion
when you get a clean opinion and that’s what we’re offering to you today as we do believe your
financial statements that are prepared do present fairly in all material respects the financial position
and results of operation, the cash flows and all other relevant items relative to the City of Augusta
st
for the fiscal year ending December 31 2016. As part of our audit process we also looked at your
federal audit, looked at your federal expenditures. You all had this year about $11 million dollars-
worth of federal funds that ran through Augusta Richmond County and we audited two major
19
programs representing almost $5 million of that which was appropriate coverage for that type of
testing. We had no findings relative to your administration of those federal programs and that’s a
really good thing as well. As far as looking at the financial statements, what I tried to put in front
of you is some highlights. Entity wide when you look at Augusta as one entity you know you’ve
got a lot of funds and you’ve been through looked at General Funds, SPLOST funds, all kinds of
funds but when you look at everything as one on a full accrual basis this is quite a large entity.
You’ve got about $1.9 billion in assets and you end up with about $1.1 billion of equity what we
call net position. This past year when again you look at the entire operation you had over $430
million in revenues and $360 million in expenses. When I do say entity-wide, I do mean
everything from your General Fund to your SPLOST funds, to your Fire Protection funds, to your
business type funds like water, sewer, your airports. I mean it’s everything’s included in here so
it’s a very large operation that you all are governing and they do a fine job to say the least of
managing these affairs. Going to the next slide, which I call slide number six, I look at the General
Fund which is the heart and soul of any government. Your assets at end of year were about $43
million-dollars. You had a fund balance of about $30 million that represents about two and a half
months’ worth of fund balance that you have available to you as you enter into the new year. The
General Fund took in just short of $149 million-dollars and spent about $145 million for an
increase in fund balance of $3.4 million which I think is a nice increase so again I think you’d
always rather see an addition to it if at all possible rather than a deduction from it and you all had
that this year. Looking at the General Fund you can see a breakdown in the chart. You can see
how things are looking from a property tax point, other taxes etc. You can see the componentry
of your basic revenues of the General Fund. Additionally, on the next slide you can see your
expenditures for the General Fund and notice how large Public Safety is. That’s not unusual; any
city and county in any part of this country public safety’s going to be the large part of the
operational pie and you can see that it was about $60 million of our total of $139 million that you
ran through here this year in the General Fund so almost half of all operations were public safety
in nature. Another thing that I’ve got here is to show you six years’ worth of data in a chart and
bar chart that shows you in green your revenues in the General Fund and red was the expenditures
in your General Fund for the last six years. You can see 2014 you had some growth in all parts.
We had higher revenues through grants and other things but you also had higher expenses as well.
This year the last bar that you see the last two you can see that we had a little bit more in green
that we had in red and that’s a good thing. You’ve got to build fund balance reserves if you’re
going to continue to be who you are and that is a very initiative oriented environment where you
all need to have strong funds to be able to go forward with all the initiatives that you have from an
operating and from a capital standpoint. Another chart that I’ve got here on slide 10 shows the
gap between fund balance and your expenditures. What this is trying to do is show you a
relationship between the need for fund balance to be at a reasonable level because you’ve got to
again be able to fund your expenditures and your revenues come in seasonally and property taxes,
for example, a big chunk of that comes in the fall. So, what you need to make sure you always do
is keep in touch with what funds balance is versus your expenditures. And I don’t think you’ve
got a bad gap there. If it was a perfect world, I’d try to narrow it just a little bit but I think otherwise
you’re sitting in a pretty good situation as you’re looking at 12-31. Looking at your Special Sales
Tax Phase 6 just to hit highlights there you’ve got about $62 million dollars’ worth of assets most
of that is cash. You’ve got a fund balance of $61 million. You only took in about $9 million this
past year in revenues as it completed its cycle and you spent about $9.8 million but again you’re
sitting there going forward with all of your initiatives from a capital standpoint you’ve got some
20
pretty good funds sitting there waiting to be used in accordance with the referendum that was
passed years ago. Phase 7 started up this past year. You’ve got $14 million in assets, $14 million
in fund balance. You took in $27 million worth of revenues and spent about $13 million therefore,
you get to the $14 million in fund balance that you’ve got so that’s going well. So when you look
at those two, 6 and 7, you’ve got probably about $74 million dollars’ worth of funds available for
all the capital products that you all have made referendums to do so again that’s looking pretty
good. Your Fire Protection Financial Statements, you’ve got about $18 million in assets and about
$16 million in Fund Balance. You took in about $27 million dollars’ worth of revenues and spent
about $26 million and so a small increase in Fund Balance there. Your water/sewer now we get
into your business types. Your water/sewer is a very large operation as you can see. It’s got total
assets of about $710 million. It’s also including that $710 about $572 of capital assets. That’s
your infrastructure, all those facilities, all the piping and everything you’ve got. Additionally
you’ve got an equity position there of about $172 million. As far as the operations the water/sewer
actually took in just below $100 million in revenues this year, took in $97 million. It did spend
$99 million in expenses but it’s important for me to note right here that included in that $99 million
in expenses is $29 million dollars of non-cash flow depreciation so where I’m going with that is
this particular operation generates really good cash flows. And you’ve got to generate good cash
flows for two reasons in that environment because you are going to continue to invest in yourselves
and put in all the infrastructure that you have and you’re going to be paying back revenue bonds
and things like that so you have to have good strong operating cash flows and this particular
operation does indeed have that. Your Regional Airport Financial Statement is another large one.
You can see you had about $17 million in revenues this past year, you spent about $14 and a half
million, you’ve got a bottom line of $2.2 million so that looks pretty good. Let me just say on
your airport that’s a really nice operation out there. Facility wise, operationally, a lot of
communities your size don’t have such a nice facility as you all put together out there, that’s very
nice. The garbage collection is another big operation. It took in about $21 million in revenues
this past year; it had a bottom line of $1.2 so again another good-looking operation there.
Stormwater took in about $14 million and spent $9.6 and ended up with a $4 million-dollar bottom
line. So notice the theme here. Your funds are actually operating very well. You’re creating
equity, you’re creating the ability to do a lot of things in each of these different areas and that’s a
good thing. Required Communications which is what I talk about on Page 18. I am required by
the standards and by law to always to communicate to you all if I see anything that is a concern to
me, if we have any issues with management, if we have any kind of audit adjustments that are a
little bit outlandish and concerning. I’m happy to say that we don’t have anything that comes to
the attention of me that I need to share or bring to the attention of you relative to the audit this
year. I think things went really well and don’t have any issues I need to bring to your attention.
The only things I do have I do have some recommendations and those are in the following slides.
I think some of these we’ve seen in the past and like the Sheriff’s Office, we’re still kind of manual
on mode of handling cash bonds. We would recommend that we get more into the technology of
life have something that’s more electronic in its maintenance, easier to reconcile otherwise it’s a
manual operation. We’ve also got some old outstanding checks there. Again, it’s only $96,000
dollars but that needs to be addressed with the Escheat Laws of Georgia. We’ve got some excess
funds over in some of your Courts, the excess funds amount to about $38,000. When I say excess
funds if you’re in the Courts you have no equity interest in the monies. You take in monies from
people and you then pass it on to those that it belongs to, you have no equity position. So what
you’re supposed to have is all your assets is supposed to equal your liabilities that’s not the case.
21
They’re still having trouble getting that to be reconciled at zero. But it’s not a large number but
it’s one of those things I need to bring to your attention that you just got to keep your eye on to
make sure it doesn’t get worse. In Proprietary Funds, we did have a large adjustment this year
about an improperly capitalized $1.8 million in professional services in prior years. This was an
isolated situation but one I wanted to bring to your attention. We did have that adjustment that we
had to work through with management and make the adjustment according to the statements. The
last thing I’ll mention is on these slides right here. There is a new, if you remember last year I
talked about the Tax Abatement Disclosures, we talked about what tax abatement was about and
what it was going to mean to the city. In your financial statements in the footnotes we do note the
fact that after all kind of agreements have been issued over the years through your Development
Authority and through the county that there was about $3.7 million dollars’ worth of tax
abatements that were part of this year’s operations. Additionally there’s a new standard coming
in the future and I just want to make sure you always know about it because it’s going to be a large
number. When you have people that retire from here, you’ve got a situation whereby you are
going to honor their healthcare. You’re going to provide healthcare to a certain level. And as part
of that this amount is actuarially been determined to be about $104 million. If you were to close
the curtain today and say what are going to have for an exposure going forward for all those people
that are respectively eligible it would be about $104 million. That’s going to have to be put on
your financial statements in the fiscal year 2018 so I just want to make sure you know that. That’s
a large number I don’t want you to be surprised by.
Mr. Mayor: Miller ---
Mr. Edwards: I hear something.
Mr. Mayor: --- it’s up here.
Mr. Edwards: I’m looking, it came from right there and I’m like whoa somebody’s
speaking from (unintelligible).
Mr. Mayor: --- I didn’t realize I had that level of reach yet, working on it but I didn’t
realize it.
Mr. Hasan: (inaudible) Mr. Mayor, you were looking down.
Mr. Mayor: Can you speak to that issue with a little bit more clarity ---
Mr. Edwards: Sure.
Mr. Mayor: --- what does that mean in terms of the city’s impact and what potential
recommendations about how we might address that.
Mr. Edwards: Well, you’ve got a lot of people that are under this plan and again when
people retire, leave here they have it with you all; you guarantee that you’re going to cover them
with certain amounts of healthcare to a certain level of life. And so what you have you have
actuaries that work for you all to determine what that amount might be. If we were to say what
22
does it have to be today based on how long different people have been here, you’ve got a large
employment base, you’ve got a large retirement base of people who are still eligible. And so what
they do they look at it and say if we were to go ahead and say let’s come to terms right now. How
much do we owe if we were going to stop this plan? It would be around this $104 million dollars
that you would still have to honor going forward. Again, this is something actuarially determined
and again it has to go with healthcare to your employees and retirees upon their exits.
Mr. Mayor: All right, I understand that part ---
Mr. Edwards: Okay.
Mr. Mayor: --- what I’m asking specifically is if all things being equal and we’re facing
this how or what recommendations would you have for this municipality in terms of how we would
budget and fund that over the long haul as opposed to perhaps traditionally?
Mr. Edwards: Your actuaries give you their estimate every year about whether annual
requirement contributions ought to be and that’s probably something to pay attention to.
Actuarially they talk about terms of going over a 20-year period trying to fund this so you know if
you were trying to make this thing be zero at some point in time it’s going to require a certain
amount of funding each year above and beyond what you currently have been funding. I would
tell you most governments are not doing any more than they have to right now. It’s just one of
those black eyes that go on the books. The State of Georgia for example is going to have a really
large number like 15 billion would be on the state’s books in a few years. It’s one of those things
that it unfortunately has not been funded the way pensions have. Pensions have always been
something people have known about and have been funding for 50 plus years. Your pension plans
are funded very well but just like other communities, you all have not been prefunding OPEB this
Other Post-Employment Benefits. There’s nothing you’re going to have to do. I want to make
that clear, there’s nothing you have to do. Just know this liability will be there. But if you ever
want to work that liability down you will have to start paying more than what the annual required
contribution is going forward and that will be something you all will have to decide. You don’t
have to make a policy that’s going to effective going forward forever. It can be a year-to-year
situation but if anybody if this was a company and you want to bring that liability down it means
you have to fund a little bit more than what you otherwise would be doing. Right now you’re more
on a pay as you go basis, right now you’re not recognizing anything above and beyond the actual
cost is today.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, I’m going to go in this order. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner
thth
from the 8 and then the 4.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Mr. Mayor, Miller had answered my question along the way, thank you.
thth
Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4 and then the 9.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. Mr. Edwards, my question would be as you discussing and cities
and municipalities now have to show this or this is that, has there been worked out something that
should be a relationship amount this to maybe your annual revenue or your five-year revenue?
23
Has there been kind of an idea to put a relationship to your OPEB number to say it should be no
more than say 200% of your gross or whatever for a year or five years or whatever? Has there
been any kind of relationship considered for this number?
Mr. Edwards: I have not seen such a relationship. There are a lot of governments out there
that, it’s all over the charts right now what this is going to cost some governments. There are some
governments out there that don’t offer this type of healthcare and so in their case they will have
zero but at the same time they’ve got issues when it comes to employment and keeping people
there because everybody gets to a certain point in time they’ve got to be thinking about the future.
So, you’re going to have governments that have zero, you’re going to have governments that are
going to have $15 billion in like the State of Georgia’s case and then you’re going to have
yourselves that have a certain level. The diabolical element here for management is to always be
looking for what’s the best thing for the citizens of the community. And then at the same time
management and you all have to look at it and say yeah but we’re part of who we’re talking about,
we’re looking at our own coverage. It’s a tough situation always look at it and say what’s the best
for everybody and I think that’s just one thing you have to continue to do. You’ve always done it.
You just need to continue to do it and I don’t think there is a benchmark of what the perfect number
is, it’s totally dependent on what that community wants for their employees.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, thank you, sir.
th
Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I was looking around for Tom Wiedmeier. I
don’t see Tom but I’m more interested in the Utilities and when our water bill goes up 3% every
year. Can you go back to Utilities a minute to show me what we’ve got there? Is there a need for
that continuation to continue to be 3% or whatever else it’s going to be? I always tell Tom they
got a lot of money. He keeps saying he doesn’t but Utilities spends a lot and we’ve got a lot to
deal with as well but I’m trying to get a handle on what’s really there.
Mr. Edwards: And this is a very reasonable question of yours. I want to make that very
clear because this is something that kind of gets lost amongst the people ---
Mr. M. Williams: Right.
Mr. Edwards: --- as to what and why we have to do this. The trick is is that cash flow I
was talking about earlier. While we look like we’re doing really well right here with the bottom
line and you are doing well. Remember I mentioned even with that bottom line you had a decrease
of $2.1 million you actually had a loss but a lot of that was created by your depreciation of $29
million. So if I back out $29 million from that you’re at $27 million in cash flows just keeping it
simple right there. However, this past year from those operating cash flows you all spent just short
of $23 million on capital assets, okay? Additionally you spent $21 million on debt service so right
there alone you spent about $43 million dollars, $44 million dollars on things that don’t go through
the income statement. The best way I can compare it is our own personal lives. When we get our
W2’s and we earn our living we have to pay principal on the interest the principal on our house,
we have to reroof our house every once in a while, we have to do things to keep our house in order
24
and we don’t get to deduct those on our tax returns. It’s not part of our income statement. So,
what we have to do is have a living that we build up enough reserves within our life each year that
we’re able to withstand and to enhance our home and that’s what you have here. You’ve got a
water/sewer operation that has continued to invest in itself and pay off the principal on debt and
it’s got to have cash flow to do that. So again, it does get a little bit crazy when you sit here and
say gosh it looks like we’re making a great bottom line. Why do we need all this? Because the
cash flows now it’s being used. Now let me go further with that theoretical answer. If you had a
situation whereby you had no debt and your system was in great shape and didn’t need to have
improvements, it was super. Say it’s like a new community like we see in some of the greater
Atlanta area like if you’re up in John’s Creek everything up there is new. Then maybe you
wouldn’t have these costs. But when you look at cities the size and age of Savannah, Augusta,
going forward you’re going to have a lot of improvements you’re going to have to do that will not
go through the income statement there’s going to be something that hits the balance sheet only
that’s going to require cash. And so that’s why you have to have strength in that operation so that
you can fund this as proactively as possible without having to go to market to get debt to do so
each time.
Mr. M. Williams: Did Tom Wiedmeier tell you to say all that?
Mr. Edwards: No, sir, I can promise you. This is a question that I get a lot and again it
does depend on what’s going on in that community. If this community was brand new and had
none of these costs, I’d sit there and say keep your rates as low as possible.
Mr. M. Williams: Well, you know I’m looking at the rooftop that we continue to add to
Augusta and I hope that does continue but every rooftop’s going to have to have water and it may
not have lights I mean but they’re going to have water and they’re going to need that water. And
we’re still adding to that and that’s a good thing. That’s called growth and I say all the time you
have to manage it. But I appreciate the answer it helps me a little bit it helps me understand. I’ll
tell Tom I’m going to get off his back a little bit next time. Thank you very much.
Mr. Mayor: All right, fantastic. Miller, thank you so much for your presentation I think
it’s appropriate for us to give our Finance team a round of applause for the good work that they
do. (APPLAUSE)
Mr. Edwards: And thank you all very much. It’s an honor to be of service to you. And if
you’ve ever got any questions and even at an individual level if you need to just give me a call,
I’ll be happy to join you.
Mr. Sias: Are we going to get our certificate?
Mr. Guilfoyle: Motion to receive this as information, sir.
Mr. Mayor: All right hold on, hold on all right, Donna?
Ms. Williams: Thank you I’d just like to take this opportunity to thank the Finance
Department if ya’ll stand up. We are small but we’re a tough bunch. (APPLAUSE) And we will
25
have copies of the 200-plus page document for each of you, we’ll make sure that the Clerk’s Office
has those. This presentation as well as that will be put on our website for all those have a lot of
data to use to download things. So we appreciate it and once again, we’re very proud of this report.
Mr. Mayor: Fantastic, data is good. All right fantastic. It’s another day in the
neighborhood all right and again we’ll receive this as information. All right, here’s our posture.
We need to go ahead and take up the consent agenda. The Judges are going to be on deck next.
We’ve got our Chief Judge and Juvenile Court and Magistrate Court Judges and Superior Court
we’ve got everybody, we’ve got everybody. All right so just again letting everybody know this is
where we’re going next. All right, Madam Clerk, we’re going to take up the consent agenda first
and then we’ll come back to the Judges.
The Clerk: I call your attention to our consent agenda which consists if Items 1-23, Items
1-23 with the addition of Item number 28. For the benefit of any objectors to our Planning petitions
once those petitions are read would you please signify your objection by raising your hand. I call
your attention to:
Item 1: Is a request for a change of zoning from a Zone B-2 (General Business) with
conditions to a Zone B-2 affecting property known as 3161 Gordon Highway.
Item 2: Is a request with conditions for a Special Exception affecting property known as
3042 Eagle Drive.
Item 3: Is a request for a Special Exception affecting property known as 2801 Ingleside
Drive.
Item 4: Is a request to deny a petition requesting a change of zoning from a Zone A
(Agriculture) to a Zone B-2 (General Business) affecting property known as 2657 Tobacco Road.
The Clerk: Are there any objectors to any of those Planning petitions? Mr. Mayor,
members of the Commission, our consent agenda consists of Items 1-23 with no objectors to our
Planning petitions with the addition of Item number 28.
th
Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I’ve got, I guess a couple of questions about a
couple of items Item 3 and Items 15 and 16.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. M. Williams: They can be addressed now or we can pull them however you want to
do it.
Mr. Mayor: All right, we’re going to pull Items 3, 15 and 16, that’s 3, 15 and 16. Any
other motions to remove or add to the consent agenda? The Chair recognizes the Commissioner
st
from the 1.
Mr. Fennoy: Yes, I’d like to pull Item number 9 and Item number 7.
26
Mr. Mayor: Do you want to rethink that?
Mr. Fennoy: Not at this time, sir.
Mr. Sias: Move to approve.
Mr. Frantom: Second.
CONSENT AGENDA
PLANNING
1. Z-17-17 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to
approve with the conditions listed below a petition by Larry G. Check, on behalf of Michael
Woodcock, requesting a change of zoning from Zone B-2 (General Business) with conditions
to Zone B-1 affecting property containing .88 acres and known as 3161 Gordon Highway.
Tax Map 092-0-015-00-0 DISTRICT 3. 1. The only additional structure permitted shall be
the billboard as described in this application. 2. Any other new structures would need to
return to the Planning Commission for additional approval.
2. Z-17-21 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to
approve with the conditions listed below a petition by Monks of Mt. Tabor, on behalf of the
Order of St. Helens requesting a Special Exception to utilize the existing former convent as
a monastery per Section 26-1 (a) of the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance for Augusta-
Richmond County affecting property containing approximately 20 acres and known as 3042
Eagle Drive. Tax Map 109-0-001-00-0 DISTRICT 6 1. The use of the property shall be
limited to a monastery with no community outreach programs conducted on site. 2. The
property shall be inspected for a Certificate of Occupancy as to a transfer of use and to
ensure compliance with all necessary building and fire codes. 3. Emergency access shall be
provided for public safety agencies.
4. Z-17-26 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to
deny a petition by Guru Darshaw, LLC requesting a change of zoning from Zone A
(Agriculture) to Zone B-2 (General Business) affecting property containing l98 acres and
known as 2657 Tobacco Road. Tax Map 140-2-002-00-0 DISTRICT 4
PUBLIC SERVICES
5. Motion to approve Marina and Warehouse Operations Contract RFQ 16-204A.
(Approved by Public Services Committee July 11, 2017)
6. Motion to approve amendments to the Augusta, Georgia Code, Title 6, Chapter 6, Article
3, Regulated Businesses, to add a new Section 6-6-48 to provide regulations for Special
Entertainment Permits, and to Title 2, Chapter 1, Article 1, Business Tax Certificate, Section
20103 Administrative and Regulatory Fee Structure, to establish the Special Entertainment
Permit regulatory fee.
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE AUGUSTA, GOERGIA CODE, TITLE 6, CHAPTER
6, ARTICLE 3, REGULATED BUSINESSES, NEW SECTION 6-6-48 SPECIAL
ENTERTAINMENT PERMIT; SO AS TO PROVIDE REGULATIONS FOR THE
REQUIREMENT OF AN OCCUPATION TAX CERTIFICATE, THE PROCESS FOR
PERMIT RENEWAL; HOURS OF OPERATION; AND TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR
VIOLATING THE CODE SECTION; TO REPEAL ALL CODE SECTIONS AND
27
ORDINANCES AND PARTS OF CODE SECTIONS AND ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT
HEREWITH; TO PROVIDE AN EFFECTIVE DATE AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
SPECIAL ENTERTAINMENT PERMIT; SO: (Approved by the Commission June 29,
2017)
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
8. Motion to approve holding a work-study session of the Administrative Services
Committee regarding the development of an evaluation tool for the Administrator and direct
reports. (Approved by Administrative Services Committee July 11, 2017)
10. Motion to approve amendment to Augusta, Georgia Procurement Code to include the
adoption of Public-Private (P3) “Unsolicited Proposals”. (Approved by Administrative
Services Committee July 11, 2017)
PUBLIC SAFETY
11. Motion to approve acceptance of contract for Accountability Court Case Manager.
(Approved by Public Safety Committee July 11, 2017)
12. Motion to approve acceptance of the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC)
Juvenile Justice Incentive Grant Award in the amount of $300,000.00, MOU Agreement with
Community Solutions, Inc. (CSI) in the amount of $28,800.00 Grant #Y18-8-002 (Approved
by Public Safety Committee July 11, 2017)
FINANCE
13. Motion to approve New Position in the Juvenile Court (Administrative Assistant II,
Salary Grade 43). (Approved by Finance Committee July 11, 2017)
ENGINEERING SERVICES
14. Motion to approve authorizing the Administrator to seek quotations from professional
services firms to perform a programmatic, operations and financial review of the
Environmental Services Department with the option of having an audit if they decide that is
necessary. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee July 11, 2017)
17. Motion to authorize condemnation to acquire title of a portion of property for permanent
easement – 128 Courtland Drive (Parcel 061-2-206-00-0). (Approved by Engineering
Services Committee July 11, 2017)
18. Motion to authorize condemnation to acquire title of the entire parcel, (Parcel 087-4-080-
00-0) 100 Dan Bowles Road. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee July 11, 2107)
19. Motion to authorize condemnation to acquire title of the entire parcel, (Parcel 088-3-001-
00-0) 2007 Florida Road. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee July 11, 2017)
20. Motion to approve Award of Bid #17-207 for the Construction of the Rock Creek Relief
Sewer Project to Legacy Water Group. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee July
11, 2017)
21. Motion to approve a request for Solid Waste Collections change in Yard Waste/Bulky
Waste Services. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee July 11, 2017)
PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS
22. Motion to approve the minutes of the regular and Legal/Executive Session meetings of
the Commission held June 29, and July 11, 2017.
28
APPOINTMENTS
23. Motion to approve the appointment of Mr. Lowell Greenbaum to the Augusta Canal
Authority representing District 1.
PUBLIC SAFETY
28. Motion to approve revised Probation Services Order (7.11.17). (Approved by Public
Safety Committee July 11, 2017)
Mr. Mayor: All right, voting.
Mr. Guilfoyle votes No.
Motion Passes 9-1. \[Items 1 2, 4-6, 8, 9-23, 28\]
The Clerk: Are you going to pull or ---
Mr. Mayor: We’re going to Number 26, 27 ---
The Clerk: Twenty-seven.
Mr. Mayor: --- we’re going to go to Number 27.
The Clerk:
PUBLIC SAFETY
27. Discuss the preservation of the Joint Law Enforcement Center, 401 Walton Way.
Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes Chief Judge Brown.
Judge Brown: Good afternoon, everybody. Honorable Mayor and to all of these Honorable
Commissioners let me just say this at the outset thank you for allowing us to have this conversation
with you today. It was Mark Twain, I believe, who said that there’s no death like being talked to
death and I promise you I won’t talk you to death this evening. One famous wife said to her
husband I promise you I won’t keep you too long. My good friend, longtime friend Ms. Bonner
was kind enough to send me a copy of the agenda, and I looked at it and its thickness and I said
my goodness you folks are real busy doing the people’s business and I commend you for that. I
have a great crowd of witnesses who’ve been here with me today so of them are seated now to my
right and behind me. The Mayor was kind enough to recognize many of them. Some had to leave
to get back to court and to also take care of the people’s business. And I just wanted to thank them
for taking away from their busy schedules and coming to support me today. Today has just blessed
my soul with the young people who have been recognized and who have also done great work for
this community. And there’s one young man who has done a lot of research for us and worked
hard on our request to you today. And he could not be here. His name is Simon Williams; he is
the Law Clerk now for myself and Judge Flythe and previously for my old suite mate Judge
Overstreet. And I can tell you they overworked him and he’s now on a little vacation and couldn’t
be here. And I just wanted to recognize him because much of what we learned was on account of
29
this young man’s work. Now the premises that we occupy right now used to be Court Room 1 and
thank you for preserving some of the beautiful marble that’s in this courtroom. I can report to you
that my late father who’s now deceased as a construction laborer worked on this courtroom and he
would be real proud of that and I’m proud of it. But inscribed on the wall in marble in this
courtroom were the words of Thomas Jefferson which were in effect the most sacred of the duties
of any government is to render fair and impartial justice to all of its citizens. On the other end of
the hall was Court Room 2 and inscribed in marble on those walls were the words of Parker who
was an abolitionist preacher and those words were, Justice is the idea of God it is the ideal of man.
And I had my twelve-year old granddaughter Google this for me because it occurred to me in
connection with those words was this phrase and that is, Justice that is delayed is justice that is
denied. And those were words that were actually coined a phrase by Blackstone. And one of the
reasons that we’re here today to make this plea to you to preserve 401 Walton Way is because
that’s the business that we’re in that is rendering fair and impartial justice to all of our citizens and
I, we need your help in that regard. Let me say at the outset I would be remiss if I didn’t thank
you for what you already have done and I’m not here today on behalf of myself or my colleagues
to point fingers or to say this or that has not been done, we’re grateful. In these Chambers that
we’re in now, you allow us to use as the Drug Court. And one of my distinguished colleagues
who actually was involved in a relation of a very beautiful courthouse and court building that we
use now in the Federal arena said this, we don’t have a crime problem, we’ve got a drug problem.
In addition, ya’ll let us use this courtroom for that and indeed we’re grateful for that. We’re also
grateful that you allow us now to work in a judicial facility that my recollection it costs about $67
million dollars. It’s got 17 courtrooms in it, only eight with a lockup capacity, and as we work
and enjoy the fruits and the benefits of what you all did to allow us to be in that today, we’re simply
grateful and often wonder how could we have done what we used to do when we were in this
building with only about three or four courtrooms. But the truth of the matter is this. We face
many challenges and we need more courtroom space. We need a space for the Juvenile Court, we
need more office space, we need more storage space, we need a place for mediation and we need
a place for future growth, and we have determined that 401 Walton Way is ideal for that and that’s
what we need for that. Now you might say you’ve got 17 courtrooms and I mentioned to you that
we’ve got eight but we’ve got over 25 judges competing for usage of eight courtrooms with a
lockup. And why do we need more courtrooms with a lockup and I can tell you that the scheduling
now for those courtrooms is a real challenge; it’s a nightmare. And I commend the folks who are
in the process of doing that for us and have been doing a wonderful job at it including now the
Juvenile Court but they face some real challenges and we need more. Now you might ask me this
why do you need a courtroom when you’ve got eight with lockups with more lockups? And the
best way that I could demonstrate or explain that to you is this. If the Sheriff’s Department places
patrol cars out on Bobby Jones Expressway, that modifies behavior. A courtroom with a lockup
gives us the ability to modify and insure appropriate decorum and behavior. We need more
courtrooms to prevent persons from being in the courtrooms. Now that might sound strange to
you but that’s the reality of it. And the availability of a courtroom allows us and enables us to
resolve cases. The mere availability of that courtroom and the presence of a judge and as the old
warriors used to say the warm breath of a jury helps us to resolve cases. Now lady and gentlemen,
we don’t have a shortage of cases. We are in a growth pattern. There’s no shortage of cases in
Juvenile arena, there is no shortage of lawsuits being filed, there’s no shortage of divorces, child
custody matters the whole gamut, there’s no shortages. As a matter of fact, we are in a serious
growth pattern and it would be easy to try to respond to the question why and start pointing fingers,
30
there’s enough blame to go around. And I would respond to that in this way. My two-year old
grandson and I told this story last year when I was campaigning and I wound up in the paper and
it may again but it’s true. My two-year old grandson was in church with me, his grand mamma
was next to him and he was kicking her, just kicking her. And she was embarrassed being in the
position she’s in in church wondering why, where did this boy learn that from. And I was sitting
holding my big Sunday School book, the kind that they give to us who have a little difficulty
reading small print, and so I rolled it up and I reached over and got him and pulled him in front of
me and I did the next best thing to his best assurance and first thing that he did of course what to
look around to see who was watching him then he proceeded to cry. I didn’t bruise him; I didn’t
scar him, but guess what? He understands now that those feet are made for walking and not for
kicking his grandmother. And I say that to say this. We have young people doing great and
wonderful things in this community. We witnessed some of that today. But we also have to do
what, and that is we’ve got to train them and sometimes even chastise them because we what, love
them. And if we don’t do that, we don’t love them and there are consequences. There was a case,
it’s not a pending case and I can talk about it but there were five young men. One of them was a
15-year old boy who orchestrated, engineered a drug deal with others. So they arrive at the location
where the deal was to take place, he has engineered the deal with counterfeit money. The people
who were delivering the drugs showed up with a backpack and no drugs. One had a pistol that the
investigator testified that the only way you could hurt somebody with it was to throw it at them.
Well long story short out of that occurrence now two young men are dead and three are in prison.
That’s the kind of case, one if you will, that we are addressing. And so we need the ability to do
our work to again use the courtrooms, the buildings, the resources to prevent that kind of thing
happening and we’re ready to do that. Now I want to anticipate some of your questions and some
of your concerns and I’ll do ahead and do that and I’ll take my seat. We don’t want to put anybody
in harm’s way and we know because we’ve studied and you know because there was a study done
in 2004 which addressed the concerns at 401 Walton Way, the moisture, the mildew, and the mold.
The study says that the way to remedy that is not by demolition but by stopping the moisture and
removing the mildew and the mold. And it specifically sets out I think it’s on Page 9 of the study
both the manner in which the remedial measures can be done, grading the surface so the water
won’t go into the building and again removing any moisture, mildew or mold that may be present.
Now I’ve got some classmates, Commissioner Williams, and some cousins that are brick masons
and what they say is this. Remove the panels, the study made reference to that too, break,
moisturize the, moisture-proof the windows, replace the windows and you’ve got a facility once
it’s been tested is capable of being used. Now we’ve got four courtrooms over there that the
Central Services Director was kind enough to let me take a look at and with some work they would
be ready to go and we need them. The Juvenile Court could use them right now and we could
accommodate the needs that we have.
Mr. Mayor: Judge, Judge Brown ---
Judge Brown: Yes.
Mr. Mayor: --- would you please, I think this might be very helpful I know that there are
a series of questions. Would you yield and take questions ---
Judge Brown: I’d be happy to.
31
Mr. Mayor: --- yeah would you yield and take questions? I know that I’ve got an imaginary
light here and it’s lit up.
Judge Brown: All right, I’d be happy to.
th
Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Good afternoon, Judge Brown ---
Judge Brown: Good afternoon.
Mr. Hasan: --- as well as to the rest of your colleagues. I thought surely you all had come
in to, I know your stuff was on the agenda but I thought for the most part I was hoping ya’ll was
just coming to recognize and support Judge Allen for his 30 years and rest be going after that but
obviously that’s not the case.
Judge Brown: We do support him.
Mr. Hasan: But, Judge, you know yourself you spoke with me probably six months or so
ago about this issue and I told you day one I would support you in terms of that. But in life support
from me what I’ve learned so it’s not just from me but I’ve learned in support your brother, your
sister when they’re right and when they’re wrong you know how you support them when they’re
right, how do you support them when they’re wrong, you try to restrain them, you try to restrain
them. So in this instance it’s not to say that you’re wrong I just use that as (unintelligible) because
that’s what it says in terms of that process. So, you just mentioned possibly Page 9 of that 2004
Study did it give us a number that it would take to potentially do just what you were saying in
terms of doing some remediation? Do you remember a number that was associated with that?
Judge Brown: No.
Mr. Hasan: Okay, okay. Also ---
Judge Brown: I also don’t remember the cost of the study.
Mr. Hasan: --- right okay good one, Judge. Also do you have any idea in terms of other
than just you may have some other ways of raising money because what we did was make a
decision, okay well let’s visit this from a very serious perspective not that it’s not already been
done but let’s up the ante.
Judge Brown: I’m glad you asked that question because I anticipated it.
Mr. Hasan: Okay.
32
Judge Brown: Number one in SPLOST VII I saw the figure $16 million dollars that was
for acquisition, improvements and renovations. And I was glad to hear the Financial Report today
because it looks like there’s money available.
Mr. Hasan: So you and the Mayor are working together now.
Judge Brown: Absolutely.
Mr. Hasan: But go ahead, Judge, I’m sorry.
Judge Brown: That’s one way, SPLOST VII. I was driving to work this morning and out
on Doug Barnard I saw this sign that said, Your Stormwater Fees at Work, Your Maintenance
Dollars at Work. So if we’ve got stormwater issues over there, let’s use some of that money. And
to find a way is this I was a Municipal Court Judge and I left in 1994 and I was in Courtroom
A119. And at that time in that courtroom in ’94 our collections were about $1.2 million dollars a
year, that’s in ’94. Now today I read the Grand Jury’s Report yesterday and one of my colleagues
pointed out to me that the Grand Jury Report said the Probate Court was turning over about $30,000
a month. Did ya’ll see that?
Mr. Hasan: I saw it.
Judge Brown: That’s another way. All right, now if you’ve got, let’s say you’ve got 25,000
cases pending and some of those cases are DUI’s, theft cases, battery cases, simple assault cases
and those cases need to move to one of those courtrooms that I was referring to and from those
cases as a result of inappropriate behavior, a translation from that case into $1,000 dollars, $500.00
dollars, all of which or some of which goes into the coffers of the county. Now 25,000 cases, I’m
not saying, I know there’s a lot there, I heard this when I was campaigning. Those cases translate
into what? Revenue. Now there’s a school of thought that for speeding, and I hear this from the
lawyers and they’re doing a very good job of stating their cases should not be fined, should not do
community service, should not have any time out in one of those lockups. That’s a school of
thought. I recognize it and I get that but those 25,000 cases translate into revenue we could use
some of that money.
Mr. Hasan: My final question, Mr. Mayor, with all that being said, Judge, you made
mention of the four courtrooms over there that you need those courtrooms and you just named
several potential revenues streams there that revenue could be enhanced or create new revenue
streams, why not us consider building a new facility and I’m just throwing a process out here and
why is that one so important as opposed to trying to do something different?
Judge Brown: I’m glad you asked that question because I anticipated that.
Mr. Sias: Ya’ll got a plan?
Mr. Hasan: We do.
33
Judge Brown: There you go. By the time you do a study, by the time you do the design,
by the time you get a location and to go back to your original question of the funding, we just don’t
have that kind of time. There’s urgency here and it just breaks my heart to see what’s going on.
And our, not making our Human Resources my classmate you know I don’t have any problem
with the other items that you all are ably addressing parking decks, dragstrips, Riverwalk, but it’s
time for the little pigs to get in the trough. The Juvenile Court, these children, it’s time.
Mr. Hasan: Thank you Judge, thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Yeah you know if I didn’t know any better, Ms. Bonner, I think I’d be in the
car pulling the visor down.
Judge Brown: If you don’t have any more questions, I want to yield some of my time to
Judge ---
Mr. Mayor: Well ---
Mr. Flanagan: Oh, I’ll be quick ---
Mr. Mayor: --- if Judge Flanagan comes up and he’s going to have to be ---
Judge Flanagan: --- and I’ll answer questions to. Hi, my name is Judge Flanagan. I’m the
Chief Judge in Juvenile Court for Richmond County, Columbia County and Burke County and
Judge Brown’s my boss, okay and so are you. I work for you. I represent the children. My job is
to keep children from going through the adult system. What I need a building for is not just a
courtroom. For those that don’t know children do not get found guilty in Juvenile Court. They
get found to be need of treatment, supervision and rehabilitation. Now in some other counties that
I work in we have classrooms for classes at night we have other programs for children. In one
county and I won’t mention the other county’s name they’ve got 22 programs. Now one of the
agenda items here is a $300,000 grant that we got from the state that we worked on for years to
help to get originally. We need a place to work out of not just the courtrooms. We need a place
for classrooms, for kids to meet, to have them play basketball out there in front of the building
with a basketball goal. You know Juvenile Court does thousands of cases you all up there probably
don’t know we have almost 300 kids in foster care. Those kids require a 72-hour hearing, a 10-
day hearing, a 30-day hearing and a review every six months. They need courtroom space for that.
When they get picked up or arrested, we have someone on call 24-hours a day. The Sheriff’s
Department cannot pick up any children. DFACS cannot take any children into custody without
an on-call Juvenile Court Officer giving the Sheriff’s Department and DFACS permission. So
we’re in the business 24-hours a day seven days a week just like the Sheriff’s Department. We do
other stuff besides stealing candy bars from Walmart. We do murder, rape, armed robbery,
probably do aggravated child molestation cases at least five or six every week in Juvenile Court.
We have judges over there on truancy day when Judge Johnson is over there sometimes 30 or 40
cases a day for truancy from the Board of Education. We’ve got to have other than the courtrooms
we’ve got to have a classroom spaces for the parents, places for people to meet. Right now we
don’t have it. You are very kind; we have some of the judges that are here, some of us are upstairs.
We, we’re in a rented building for almost eight years. We’re on the third floor, we have buckets
34
catching rainwater when we were paying that kind of rent and you know it’s time for us to stand
up and put our children first. That’s my job. My job is to look out for children; your job is to look
out for the county and do the people’s business. I’m the kind of guy that’s like the thorn that says
I’m here for the children. I need to have a facility whether it’s here or a new one or somewhere
else. You know the county was kind enough with Ms. Takiyah and I went and looked at about at
least twelve other places to let you know before we moved into this building to try to find some
other place for us that would work. We couldn’t find any. This building looks like the most cost-
effective way. I know you’re going to have to do a survey to see what it would cost but I have an
idea with the new buildings cost because in Columbia County they’re adding on to the courthouse
and in Burke County they’re building a brand new courthouse. Juvenile Court will have facilities
in those buildings other than courtroom facilities so we can have them at night. In other counties
we have kids coming with their parents come at night for counseling and things like that starting
at 6:00 or 7:00 o’clock and going until 9:00 o’clock at night. We don’t have that here. We need
that here. Our children deserve it. Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: All right, here’s what we’re going to do I know again I’m going to go back to
my imaginary light system that is real, it’s here. We’re not going to solve this problem today and
since that be true and with all due respect to the judges and those that are with them again there
was a study that’s been referenced as it relates to 401 Walton Way. What’s seems to be more
prudent is that we take time to do a resource or a Space Optimization Review. We moved folks
from what was rented facility over on Broad Street. We brought them here and stuck them here
knowing that this was insufficient and now we’re coming in again. What we’re not going to do
today is try to debate the merits of whether it’s good or not. We can’t do that and then be effective
in allowing you to adjudicate these cases and addressing the needs of the people. What I’m going
to ask this body to do and I know again there’s still several lights, several hands, several questions
that are out here but we’re going end at the same place. Let’s do this right here. Now we’re going
to take an opportunity. I believe this will be a Public Safety matter and we need the Public Safety
Committee to take this issue on and engage our entire staff to include Central Services and the
Administrator’s Office and identify what a space plan would look like to meet the needs of the
judges. I don’t care where it’s at, but again at the end of the day that’s what we’re saying is needed
here. We can’t solve it today but that’s what we would ask for this body to do. Let’s take that on
and let’s move forward from that perspective. We’ll be here again for another 30 minutes just
asking questions and at the end of the day we’ll walk away they’ll be disappointed and the parents
will be sad and everybody else. We’re just not going to do that. All right so that’s all right the
Chair of Public Safety all right Commissioner Dennis Williams all right we’re tasking your
committee with this working in concert with Ms. Jackson. I see Central Services Director and I
see our Capital Projects Manager Maurice McDowell. That’s the team that we’ll put on this and
work on again coming back in 45 days.
Mr. D. Williams: Okay.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, 45 days.
Judge Flanagan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Hasan: Do we need a motion Mr. Mayor?
35
Judge Brown: Thank you all.
Mr. Sias: Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: All right I’m coming back I’m coming to you. All right, the Chair recognizes
th
the Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: For the, since this is a collective body, Mr. Mayor, I was going to make a motion
to do what you requested but I think that’s the proper and right way to do it and that’s what I’m
going to do.
Mr. Mayor: Fantastic.
Mr. Sias: I move that we move this to the Public Safety Committee for consideration
of both space and viability of Building 401.
Mr. Hasan: Back in 45 days.
Ms. Davis: I second it.
Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ve got a second from the Mayor Pro Tem. All right, I’m going
to give Madam Clerk an opportunity to capture that and we’ll vote. All right, voting.
Motion Passes 10-0.
Mr. Mayor: This would be a good time for a three-minute stretch break, wouldn’t it?
The Clerk: All right, sir.
Mr. Mayor: Stand at ease for three minutes breath, stretch and let it go.
\[SHORT BREAK\]
Mr. Mayor: Okay, we’ll come back to order. All right, Madam Clerk, we’re going to go
3, 15 and 3, 15 and 16. All right, we’ll do 3 first then 15 and 16 as companion just so you’re aware
of it. We’ll do three individually then 15 and 16 together.
The Clerk: Okay those are Commissioner Williams’ pulls, right?
Mr. Mayor: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Are we going to do them as companions?
Mr. Mayor: Three first then 15 and 16 as companion.
36
The Clerk: Okay.
Mr. Mayor: All right.
The Clerk:
PLANNING
3. Z-17-22 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Planning Commission to approve
with the conditions listed below a petition by Gordon Hardy, on behalf of Pilcher-Hardy
Rentals, LLC, requesting a Special Exception to re-establish a church in an existing structure
per Section 26-1 (a) of the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance for Augusta-Richmond County
affecting property containing 3.41 acres and known as 2801 Ingleside Drive. Tax Map 025-
2-124-02-0 DISTRICT 7 1. The water and sewer shall be inspected to ensure they meet the
capacity for the occupants’ use. 2. The property shall be inspected for a Certificate of
Occupancy as to a transfer of use and to ensure that all codes are being met. 3. Any additions
or expansion of the property shall require a site plan to ensure compliance with existing
codes and ordinances. 4. Any additional parking lot or security lighting shall be directed
away from adjoining residential properties.
th
Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I pulled this item not because I’m opposed to it
but to add to the church to make sure they have the daycare and all the other aspects of the church
added at the same time versus having to reapply and come back to create that when they need that.
I thought this would be the time to go ahead and add them to, to have everything they needed.
Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes Planning Director Wilson.
Ms. Wilson: Sir, if the daycare is an ancillary use for the church then they can do that
under the church so they should be able to still do that.
Mr. M. Williams: Well, I mean I’m just trying to get some clarity then because there are
several that had to come back and apply for it to have those entities there. So, everything they
need should be included, is that what I’m hearing?
Ms. Wilson: Everything that they need for this application they should be included. Some
of the churches that have come back have basically added like a full-blown school but if they want
to do a daycare or something that is as I said more of an ancillary use versus a full-blown use then
they will be okay, yes, sir.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay Mr. Mayor I make a motion to approve ---
Mr. Frantom: Second.
37
Mr. M. Williams: --- I was in support all the time but I wanted to make sure that was
clarified and it was understood that they didn’t have to come back to jump in any other hoops that
may come up.
Mr. Mayor: Okay great, we’ve got a motion and a proper second. Those in favor will vote
yea and those opposed will vote no.
Motion Passes 10-0.
The Clerk:
ENGINEERING SERVICES
15. Motion to approve funding for final Design Consultant Services Supplemental
th
Agreement to Wolverton & Associates, Inc. in the amount of $1,347,424.97 for the 15 Street
Pedestrian Improvement Project as requested by the AED. (Approved by Engineering
Services Committee July 11, 2017)
16. Motion to approve Professional Services Proposal from WK Dickson & Company for the
th
necessary design of Utility Relocations for the GDOT SR 4/15 Street from Milledgeville Rd
to Government Rd Project in the amount of $125,000. (Approved by Engineering Services
Committee July 11, 2017)
th
Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. My question on these two was the Local and
Small Business Participation have been added or have been consulted as much as needed or is that
a part with that amount of money I want to make sure it’s clarified that they have reached out to,
can somebody address that?
Mr. Ladson: Mr. Mayor, members of the Commission, I can, all I can say it went through
the process and the process is the Small Business. Now all the details on it I can’t answer.
Mr. M. Williams: So that’s not your expertise then, right?
Mr. Ladson: No, sir.
Mr. M. Williams: Who’s expertise is that?
Mr. Ladson: That would be I think the Director of Compliance.
Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, the Chair recognizes Administrator Jackson.
Ms. Jackson: Yes, the Compliance Director is not here today but if I understand correctly,
this is a professional service. Our Small Business Program is not applicable to professional
services contracts as I recall.
Mr. M. Williams: That’s just one of them, Ms. Jackson, right? The other one ---
38
The Clerk: Just 15 is professional.
Mr. Williams: --- that’s right.
Ms. Jackson: Well 15 is also a Design Consultant Services so I think it would applicable
that both 15 and 16.
Mr. M. Williams: You mean when we spend a million, three forty-seven and it can be
Professional Services and don’t have to include the Local and Small Business that we’ve been
preaching about and making sure that they are a part? The dollar amount doesn’t have any effect
at all on that, is that what you’re saying?
Ms. Jackson: I understand in accordance with the current set of policies that we have those
goals do not apply to Professional Services Contracts.
Mr. M. Williams: Things that make you go hmm-mmm. I make a motion to approve,
Mr. Mayor –
Mr. Frantom: Second.
Mr. M. Williams: --- I thought it should be at least ---
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor?
Mr. M. Williams: --- considered when you’re talking about that, that dollar figure whether
it’s Professional Services or not. We might have to look at that policy.
th
Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6 for an inquiry.
Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Also, Mr. Mayor, this is not the first time this came
up in the realm of Professional Services and I think it’s something that I’d like to try to put on the
agenda, the committee cycle under the Engineering Services to try to look further into that because
I think it’s an internal policy that allows that to happen and we need to rectify that. Thank you,
Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you.
Mr. M. Williams: So moved, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Okay we’ve got a motion ---
Mr. Frantom: Second.
Mr. Mayor: --- and a proper second 15 and 16. All right, you’re voting on 15 and 16 a
motion to approve, voting.
39
Motion Passes 10-0.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you. The Chair directs this following question to the Commissioner
th
from the 6. Commissioner Hasan, you’re going to put on the next committee agenda ---
Mr. Hasan: Yes, sir, I am. Sir?
Mr. Mayor: --- with regards to that?
Mr. Hasan: Yes, I want to put it on the next committee cycle to look at the Professional
Services and look at it so we can include the Local Small and Disadvantaged Business into these
programs. Anything because I think right now, we have Ms. Jackson’s not correct anything over
$100,000 dollars is when it comes into play not on this Professional Services in general ---
Ms. Jackson: For non-professional services, yes, $100,000 dollars or above.
Mr. Hasan: So we need to, Mr. Mayor, take it to the committee cycle with that in mind to
make it inclusive of. Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you. All right, Madam Clerk ---
The Clerk: Okay our next item ---
Mr. Mayor: --- seven and nine we can take both of them together.
The Clerk: Okay.
The Clerk:
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
7. Motion to approve amending the Phase II James Brown Blvd sidewalk project to include
painted record images of the Godfather of Soul’s greatest hits. Painted record images would
be located on both sides of the street along James Brown Blvd. and to receive a report back
in 30-days from the DDA, the Arts Council and Housing & Development as to how the City
can move forward with the project utilizing funding from GDOT as a primary source or
another grant if GDOT funding cannot be used. (Approved by Administrative Services
Committee July 11, 2017)
thth
9. Motion to designate the corridor between 8 Street and 9 Street from Laney Walker
Blvd to Reynolds St as the James Brown Heritage Trail and start process. (Approved by
Administrative Services Committee July 11, 2017)
Mr. Mayor: All right, I want to remind us that these items were on the consent agenda.
st
The Commissioner from the 1 wanted them pulled to speak to the issues around that area. The
st
Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 1.
40
Mr. Fennoy: Yes, Mr. Mayor and fellow Commissioners, I don’t, I don’t have an issue
with either one of those items but the exception of the condition of James Brown Boulevard from
really from Walton Way all the way up to Twiggs Street. We have their properties especially on
the between behind Dyess Park where the grass gets four, five, six-feet tall. Between Laney
Walker Twiggs Street, you have houses that you really can’t see because they have been covered
up by weeds. I think that if we’re going to pay tribute to James Brown and have that designated
th
then we need to clean up that area. On 8 Street behind the Crime Lab you have a, it’s the old
th
Foundry. I think they started tearing down the part on Twiggs Street but on the 8 Street side, it’s
a complete jungle back there. The grass, trees I mean it’s, so if we’re going to designate these
areas then we need to find a way to clean these areas up before we could move forward with the,
with a trail.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, so I think what I just heard is that as part of the work we do in that area
th
we should make sure that we also clean up the area 8 and Hopkins. And I think you’re going to
be hearing something soon from Housing and Community Development that will address those
issues, already in motion.
Mr. Fennoy: Well and if we do that, Mr. Mayor, I think that we should have a permanent
plan. I mean once we do something then we will have something in place with that area will
always be clean and presentable.
Mr. Mayor: I think what they have in mind is pretty permanent.
Mr. Fennoy: And last but not least, Mr. Mayor, where old Trinity used to be there were
plans to work with Recreation and Parks and convert that into something. I think that before we
move forward with that then maybe we should look at, get with Recreation and Parks get with the
Atlanta Gas and Light and get with Trinity and see how we could come up with a comprehensive
plan that includes that area also.
Mr. Mayor: Yeah you know ---
Mr. Fennoy: Maurice is over there grinning.
Mr. Mayor: --- he’s grinning because he’s telegraphing my next statement. You keep
moving the goalpost. And since he played for Georgia Southern and I played for Georgia Tech
they did the same thing and we still scored and we’re about to score again. All right, I think all of
those things have merit and they’re included in not only the conversation and discussions and they
again are certainly, you know, germane to this broader conversation but I think the underlined
motion is to approve Item 7 and designate do not preclude those things happening as well. Housing
and Community Development already has a project that they’re working towards and I think you’ll
be pleased going forward with what’ll be included in that.
Mr. Fennoy: Motion to approve, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Hasan: Second.
41
Mr. Mayor: Thank you. We’ve got a proper motion and a second. Voting.
Motion Passes 10-0.
Mr. Mayor: I think we’re on the regular agenda at this point. Okay all right, top to bottom.
The Clerk:
PUBLIC SERVICES
24. New Location Application: A.N. 17-21: A request by Kweli J. Hall for a retail package
Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with Greene Street Grocery located at 1002
Greene Street. District 1. Super District 9. (No recommendation from Public Services
Committee July 11, 2017)
Mr. Sherman: Okay Item number 24 it’s a relocation application it’s A.N. 17-21: It’s a
request by Kewli J. Hall for a retail package Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with
Green Street Grocery located at 1002 Greene Street. District 1. Super District 9. There’s, it says
th
no recommendation from the Public Services Committee at the July 11 meeting. Now what I
presented to you at that meeting was and it boiled down to a soft approval. And we said it that
way because we began to have some reservations about what our recommendation was at that time
because since we submitted the agenda item we started hearing from the tenants. This is at
Maxwell House Apartments. Two of the tenants came to the meeting and they spoke to and it
brought to light what we didn’t know when we submitted the agenda item. But at that meeting I
think it was Commissioner Davis recommended or had a recommendation that this go forward
without a recommendation to give us an opportunity to meet with the ones who may be impacted
by this to gather some additional information and that’s what we did. So, I meant to bring a
handout for you and I may still have it in the next few minutes if it’s brought down to me but if I
don’t I’ll tell you what it says. We have the objective criteria in reviewing alcohol applications
and that is that the property has to be properly zoned and it has to meet distance requirements from
churches, schools, playgrounds and libraries. In this case it did meet that criteria, the objective
criteria. There’s other criteria for you to consider and it’s in the alcohol ordinance it's labeled as
additional considerations. And this is considerations that you think about to for the benefit of the
public interest and welfare. And there are a dozen considerations and I read them to you last time
but real quickly the reputation and the character of the applicant, previous violations of liquor laws,
the manner of conducting prior liquor business, the location and I’ll come back to that. The number
of business in the trading area, dancing, previous revocation of license, payment of taxes,
congregation of minors, prior incidents and that’s incidents at the facility. And it actually says
within a city block of the present location and previous denial or revocation. So the applicant
doesn’t have any of these but what comes to mind and this is subjective is the location, what impact
this will have on the neighborhood. But as I was saying the other day the neighborhood in this
case is the apartment building. There is concern with loitering around the building, there’s the
Sheriff’s office. After going back and looking at more information and this may not be a huge
number but this year, they’ve had eleven calls to report over there and last year there were thirty-
one. And it ranges from everything from car break-ins, battery but the more the higher number or
just trouble with the suspect, mentally incompetent person, simple assault, simple battery and then
it has theft, robbery and loss of property. So, when we started looking at all this information we
42
also called, it was mentioned by one of the women the other week Serenity Health. And I contacted
them and they have I think they said or what the lady said roughly 50 patients, clients that live at
the facility. And they are there they’re enrolled in the Behavioral Health Substance Abuse Out-
patient Treatment Programs. And when I was talking to the person at the organization they said
well on the one hand these are all adults, they’re responsible for their actions, they know what
happens if they stray to the wrong side, they know what happens if they stray to the right side. But
at the same time he was saying that this would not be the most ideal situation for those patients,
those clients not to have alcohol so readily available that if they have substance abuse or alcohol
abuse rehabilitation that they can walk out their door and walk right into a store where they sell
alcohol. Now while the store is needed there, I talked to different ones and the store is needed,
there’s not a grocery store nearby. This is going to be just a small market. Alcohol is available at
other locations; it doesn’t necessarily have to be at this location. After talking to the other people
and doing a little bit more gathering more information in considering this, we’re looking out for
the public interest and welfare. In this case, it’s mostly looking out for the public, the interest of
those that live in the apartment building. Our recommendation in getting back with the Sheriff’s
Office is that it not be approved. Now I haven’t asked if there are objectors here; the applicant is
here as well.
Mr. Mayor: Okay so we have the applicant here, Rob, and we’ll hear from them. All right
are you ready for one, okay great. Hold on, ma’am, if you’ll come forward.
Ms. Valerie: I’m Valerie, I’m the Property Manager of Maxwell House Apartments and
I’m represented by TPI which is the management company over that area. I’ve been in Maxwell
House as a Property Manager back in 2015 when I came on however our facility is not designed
for a rehabilitation center, it’s an open center. We do have Serenity Health and Behavior but
there’s different programs that we have. We have voucher programs and we have subsidized and
so forth. However, it’s not for to stop them but it’s better to get them strong enough. There’s
alcohol that’s being sold outside of the area, local convenience stores and so forth. My main
projective was to bring a store to the area to help my residents out, to be able to get their household
needs, to be able to get cashier checks without going the extra distance across the bridge to North
Augusta or down the way. They have so many that do not have transportation unfortunately or
family members to look out for them. So I thought about it and I asked the community what would
they like to have and give them a vote on it. They asked for a convenience store or a grocery store
th
since the one on Kroger’s of 15 Street shut down. We did set it up where they can get rides from
our community to go to stores and to go to doctor’s appointments but however that is getting to
where the money has not been able to keep it up. We only have so much that they can do. We
have extra ministry there that you go there and do the counseling and we also have church there
on Sundays and we’re not going to be doing no alcohol on Sundays. There are certain clauses in
the lease that states there’s no single alcohol to be sold. We do have Richmond County Sheriff’s
Department Special Services that’s there to do security at night and so forth. Yes, sir?
Mr. Mayor: Okay, you’ve got a couple for questions but I’m going to ask you a question
I was confused just then. Are you advocating for alcohol to be sold there?
Ms. Valerie: Yes, we did. It was like a grocery store, we couldn’t say no to him because
it’s a grocery store. Some grocery stores do have alcohol or the stores that I’ve been in have
43
alcohol but there’s no singles. It’s in a bulk of four or more. However, we do have a clause in
there where the resident, if one of my residents came in and it may be up under the program list
they would not be served alcohol because they have to talk to their counselor and everyone else.
However, they still can go down to the local area and they can get the alcohol from someone else.
th
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6 for a
question.
Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I think you may be able to answer this but I’m going
to ask this question for clarity. Ma’am, what’s your name again, ma’am, I’m sorry.
Ms. Valerie: Valerie.
Mr. Hasan: Ms. Valerie, you do realize we’re not talking about denying to have a
convenience a grocery store in the facility you do realize that, right? We’re only talking about the
alcohol aspect of it.
Ms. Valerie: Okay, all right.
Mr. Hasan: Because the decision that if we voted if we happen to vote it down that means
you still can have your grocery store so that’s not at risk here.
Ms. Valerie: Okay, thank you.
Mr. Hasan: Okay, okay.
Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner oh, are you?
Mr. Hasan: No, I wasn’t, Mr. Mayor, but I did want to ---
Mr. Mayor: Go ahead, you have the floor.
Mr. Hasan: --- I did want to say this here for the record for what Mr. Sherman has already
said and that was really and there was somewhat additional consideration which is already in the
ordinance. In addition, it says in determining whether or not any license applied for here on in
shall be granted, renewed, transferred or issued to a new location in addition to all provisions
ordinance the following shall be considered in the public interest and welfare. It gives a list of
those things about character the applicant and things like that. But it goes down to Item 4 and
begins like you said to talk about a location for which the license is sought as to traffic congestion,
the general character of the neighborhood. And the one thing I think is most important that we
look at this as in effect such as establishment has on the adjacent surrounding property values.
And most important thing throughout that we’re talking about the Maxwell House. That is a
neighborhood, that is a neighborhood and so we look at all the interests when we’re talking about
Serenity and entities like that who have clients there for (unintelligible) and things of that nature
then we have to keep those things in consideration. And this not one of those things we typically
44
worry about. You have the leeway one way or the other to vote this up or down and just be mindful
of that if we do this it’s in the provisions we have. Thank you, sir.
Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, just you’ve got a lot more questions.
Ms. Valerie: Okay.
th
Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 5.
Mr. Jefferson: Thank you. When you stated your name, you stated that you were the
Property Manager from the Maxwell House.
Ms. Valerie: Yes, sir.
Mr. Jefferson: But by my recollection, you did not state where you live.
Ms. Valerie: I live in Screven County. I do not live in Richmond County however I travel
to Richmond County every day sometimes twice a day if there’s an emergency call to come back.
And also on the weekends the same thing as well.
Mr. Jefferson: Okay, the point I was getting at we state where we live and neighborhoods
you know have neighborhood associations they have neighborhood watches whatever you want to
call it. And the concerns of the neighborhood are brought to the Commission or to the Planning
Commission by committee. Now we aren’t denying a license for a convenience store, a business
license for that. The convenience store makes bigger profits with gasoline and alcohol we all know
that. But the voice of the community the people that live there even though you’re not a rehab
facility the best interest of the people there when they voice their opinion is to have an opinion that
matters. I mean in Screven County where you live and pay taxes when you vote you want your
voice to be heard and when you speak to your representative, you would like to be represented.
And basically that’s what we’re trying to do today is to give the residents of that community which
is that apartment complex a voice and a platform to be heard. And with that being said, I just want
you to be mindful he could open up the convenience store, sell what convenience store sells but
the question is not the convenience store, the question is the Beer & Wine License. And you know
I mean because the argument you’re giving is confusing. Now we know what we’re up here for
but the way you’re presenting it is giving the opinion that we’re denying him a livelihood for
opening a store and that’s not the case. And with that being said I’m going to turn it back over to
the Mayor and have other questions. I just wanted to get that clarified.
th
Mr. Mayor: Okay all right the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 8.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Ms. Valerie, you had said that you are the
apartment manager?
Ms. Valerie: Yes, sir.
Mr. Guilfoyle: And you’re up here speaking on behalf of the liquor license applicant?
45
Ms. Valerie: I’m up here speaking on behalf of Maxwell House. Some of my residents
came to me for an opinion which I came to the meeting on last week however, I was just getting
back in the office from vacation so I wasn’t clearly to enlighten them of the situation. They had
some concerns about would the people be able to come in on the inside of the store or inside of the
property if they don’t live here at Maxwell House so I had to indicate to them that there are two
entrance ways inside that store which was the old pharmacy at the Maxwell House. The people
who live at the Maxwell House can actually enter into the store and the people who do not live at
Maxwell House can enter into the street store without coming into the building of Maxwell House
property. That was one of the issues that they had.
Mr. Guilfoyle: How would you control who is on the list that you spoke about?
Ms. Valerie: On the list that I was speaking on, Serenity House and Behavior, there’s fifty
people that’s on a voucher program there’s not fifty people that’s actually on the alcohol drug
awareness list. There’s only ten of those. So those ten people they have to meet with their
caseworker on a day-to-day basis which is right down the street from us. Those people will come
in and they will basically talk to those individuals to find out if this is an issue with them or not.
From my understanding, there’s no issue. They just had a concern about how would outside people
get into the Maxwell House. Would they be able to enter into store and there’s no way that they
can actually enter into the store way by coming into through that way.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Right as my colleague was speaking of that, we represent the people here
---
Ms. Valerie: Yes, sir.
Mr. Guilfoyle: --- in Augusta-Richmond County no different than your council represents
the people of Screven County which is a taxpayer like you. At this moment I would like to make
a motion to deny out of respect for the residents in the building.
Mr. Hasan: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, I’ve got a motion and a proper second. All right still more discussion
but I want to make sure a motion and a proper second to deny this request. The Chair recognizes
th
the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I don’t know how we can make a motion to do
anything if we have not heard the argument completely yet or had heard the other side. Ms.
Valerie, thank you for coming before we get too deep I want to share just a little bit of information.
From being in Augusta a long time Ms. Johnson it ain’t that I know so much but I’ve been around
a long time. I’ve been in the Maxwell House pharmacy plenty of times and there’s an entrance on
the side that you come in from the building and there’s another main entrance on the street and
people who live in the Maxwell House can come in from that entrance. And I didn’t hear this at
the Planning and Zoning meeting but the concern about strangers I guess walking off the street
coming into the Maxwell House wasn’t addressed then but I understand perfectly now that they’d
46
be coming in from the street but they won’t be able to exit but the same way they came in and the
people from the Maxwell House can come in from the side. But this is about in my mind about
the Planning and Zoning who gave a recommendation, Rob, to say approve and then some kind of
soft approval that came up too in committee. How are you going to give a soft approval? It’s
either an approval or not an approval. I had one call and had two people come down here about
the alcohol. Now I heard we wasn’t denying this young man or this being from opening this
opening up a store. If you deny him from selling alcohol there are other stores do sell are the same
caliber you’re really denying him. And I think he has a right to hire an attorney or somebody who
can represent him in a court of law to get the service that you ought to be providing. Now I’m the
last man alcohol ought to be the last thing I ought to be talking about but let me tell you something
I’m going to do what I think is right and what I think is fair. And if you meet the guidelines like
Planning and Zoning said you met and the Sheriff’s Department said you met last week and they
didn’t change their minds somebody must’ve talked to them to change their minds I guess, I don’t
know. But I think that it’s proper to give you the opportunity to sell and if you violate any rules
by selling to minors or to selling after hours if there is such a thing with the state passing a law.
Sean, I think you can sell 24/7 I think it’s out there somewhere I don’t know but whatever the state
law says if you violate that law I can understand them pulling that back in from not allowing you
to continue that. But to have your store, to have what you the license you’re supposed to have,
I’m going to make a substitute motion because somebody already said I make a motion. I’m going
to make a substitute to give the authority to have your business in that facility and if there’s any
reason other than what I’ve been hearing and if you can’t do that, I wish somebody would speak
on it now versus waiting until later. Alcohol ain’t the biggest problem now if what I’m hearing
and I heard at committee was that they can walk to Brodie’s I think that is right around the corner
it’s about 25-steps different than walking into the building but it’s about 25/30 steps I don’t know
exactly how many but it’s right there. The lady came and said she can walk either direction in less
than five minutes and get drugs and alcohol already there. So I mean it’s like this is going to be
the save-all, this one building’s going to stop all of it. I probably could support it but if it’s going
to be just saving people steps that’s going to do that anyway I think you ought to have it. So my
substitute motion is to approve the alcohol license for this convenience store that’s only going sell
not singles but four to six packs or more I think it is, okay that’s my motion. Thank you very
much.
Mr. D. Williams: I’ll second the motion.
Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, so I’ve got a substitute motion with a proper second. This is
our posture. We’re going to take that up first and dispose of that and then we’re going to come
back to the main motion which was to deny. All right so we’re going to recognize the
st.
Commissioner from the 1 Go ahead and state your inquiry.
Mr. Fennoy: Yes, Mr. Mayor. I don’t think a lot of people really understand the disease of
addiction. You know back in the 70’s and 80’s they had 30 and 45-day in-house treatment
programs and the success rate of those people that participated in these programs was 20/25%.
People that are in the program at Serenity are in an outpatient program and we as citizens and
elected officials need to do everything we could do to minimize their exposure to alcohol. You
know it doesn’t matter if it’s wine, if it’s beer, if it’s liquor, it’s a mind-altering drug. I believe to
allow the applicant to sell alcohol, alcoholic beverages will put a lot of individuals and a lot of
47
families at risk. I look at the subjective reasons not to grant this application and I think that the
subjective reasons not to grant outweigh the objective reasons to grant. As a Commissioner, this
is my fifth year and I have never voted against anybody getting an alcohol license but I will in this
particular case.
Mr. Mayor: Okay the Commissioner is complete. All right, are you Mr. Hall? Okay you
indicated that you were allowing the young lady to speak on your behalf, is that correct? All right,
would you still like an opportunity to speak? Okay.
Mr. Hall: You know out of, out of all the residents at the Maxwell House two showed up.
That’s not much of a, you know, that’s not many people to represent. You know most of the people
th
at the Maxwell House love the idea they always, they usually have to walk like down to 13 Street
to get their beer or walk up the walkway. You know like I said before me selling beer isn’t really
the main reason I’m selling beer is to draw attention, to attract customers. I see convenience stores
all over the place with the same kind of people. You’ve got the Yellow Store down on East
Boundary I’m quite sure they’ve got their problems. I mean you’ve got houses directly across the
street, you know and they’re selling alcohol so I mean the difference is Maxwell House is just an
apartment complex, but I would think the distance between the grocery store and the people is not
that much different from the Yellow Store and the people that live right across the street so I don’t
see what makes much of a difference but like I said they’re going to get their alcohol regardless.
They going to see alcohol everyday it comes on you in Budweiser, Anheuser Busch commercials
I mean everywhere. Anytime they walk out of Maxwell House they walk around the corner
they’re going to see the advertisement on the window so it’s really nothing to make too much of a
difference whether or not I sell it or someone else sells it, it boils down to the same thing. But like
I said the main reason why I need to sell it is to draw attention, attract customers from drive-bys
walk-bys because I don’t think just the people from the Maxwell House will be enough people to
support my business.
Mr. Mayor: All right, are there any objectors, are there any objectors in the audience to
the request? Are there any objectors? If there are, please stand at this time. Yes.
Mr. Speaker: (Inaudible)
Mr. Mayor: All right, okay all right, okay all right, here’s our posture. I’ve got all right
that’s another objector okay all right I’ve got a substitute motion to approve with a proper second,
okay we’re going to vote it up or down. This is the substitute motion, voting. Again, it is to
approve the request.
Mr. D. Williams and Mr. M. Williams vote Yes.
Mr. Fennoy, Ms. Davis, Mr. Sias, Mr. Jefferson, Mr. Hasan, Mr. Frantom, Mr. Guilfoyle and Mr.
G. Smith vote No.
Motion Fails 2-8.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, we’re now back to the main motion and the motion from the
th
Commissioner from the 8 was to deny this request with a proper second. Again that is the motion
to deny the application with a proper second. Voting.
48
Mr. Fennoy, Ms. Davis, Mr. Sias, Mr. Jefferson, Mr. Hasan, Mr. Frantom, Mr. Guilfoyle
and Mr. G. Smith vote Yes.
Mr. D. Williams and Mr. M. Williams vote No.
Motion Passes 8-2.
Mr. M. Williams: Point of Privilege, Mr. Mayor.
th.
Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9 State your
inquiry.
Mr. M. Williams: Young man, go get you a Jim Plunkett and carry him with you, okay?
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk.
The Clerk:
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
25. Motion to adopt an Authorizing Resolution in connection with the Laney-Walker and
Bethlehem Redevelopment Plan to authorize Augusta to enter into an Intergovernmental
Redevelopment Contract with the Urban Redevelopment Agency of Augusta and to execute
such other ancillary documents as approved by the General Counsel which are necessary in
support of the issuance of bonds by the Urban Redevelopment Agency of Augusta in with
the construction of the Foundry Place project. (Requested by Commissioner Sammie Sias)
th
Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. This agenda item about the Foundry Project has been with us
for quite a while. We’ve had numerous briefings within Executive Session and we’ve had a work
session that was here in the Chamber and we’ve heard from quite a few folks concerning this
project. And one of the points I want to make is some of the folks that were in favor of this project
we know our Urban Renewal Agency headed by the former Mayor Young and who’s been very
stringent about looking these types of projects over where they are actually part of the bonding
process we heard from their approval. We also got a letter from the Chairman of the Housing and
Community Development Citizens Advisory Committee when they had recommended approval
for this project. We know the Finance Department went over it, ran various models about risk,
failure whatever and they were in favor of the project, said they couldn’t find nothing to hinder it.
I find that in my myself question our Financial Advisor about what did they feel about this project
was is it in good standing and I got a, received a yes from that as well. We also had a chance to
hear from the developers and the developers are, was some folks that their reputation above
reproach and they’ve had examples of successful projects all around. Now is this project perfect?
No. There was some things that was done with this project that probably could’ve been done a
little better but I can tell you that’s not new to the world. There’s a lot of things that this body
does that maybe could be done a little better. And as the old saying goes hindsight is 20/20. But
looking at this project and looking at the area where it’s slated to go we’re always talking about
economic development, revitalization, blight and despair. What I believe this project gives us the
49
opportunity to do erase some blight, dilapidated areas, dilapidated houses, cut some grass and
attract some businesses and other folks to our area. Being right across from the railroad tracks per
se from Augusta University, we know Augusta University is constantly expanding. We need these
folks to live in Augusta, Georgia versus coming down what is that St. Bernard or whatever that
parkway is huh, no not Doug Bernard it’s the other one, St. Sebastian, coming in from St. Sebastian
coming on down we rather them just walk across the street. We have a graduate program coming
to Augusta U and we have the opportunity to keep these folks. They can earn their living, do their
studies, play and do all that right there in Augusta, Georgia. There was some concern about our
bonding and the money that the city’s putting into this project. If this city could get a project like
this done for free, I’m sure all of us would be for it but this project has the facts and figures that’s
been gathered demonstrate that this should be sound financial project. There are some things that
we get sometimes that might be a little bit more expensive than normal but that doesn’t mean it’s
bad; it may speak to the quality of the project. So with that being said I had some concerns about
this project that I went over and over and over in the early part of it and I’ve gotten past that by
studying and looking at the facts, the people involved and so forth. So, Mr. Mayor, I thank you
for that opportunity and I won’t go ahead and jump up a make a motion at this time but I hope you
will come back around to me and I’ll get a chance to do that motion. Thank you.
st
Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 1.
Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Mayor, I also support this project. You know the gentleman that spoke
earlier talked about information that they look at when businesses consider coming to a particular
area. This project is in my district. My district represents some of the highest income in Richmond
County and some of the lowest income in the district. We have some of the highest educational
levels in the district and also some of the lowest educational levels in the district and I think that
we have Delta Manor in my district, we’ve got Allen Homes, we’ve M.M. Scott, we’ve got Irving
Towers and several low-income units that make up this district. I think that if this district is to
ever have a grocery store or to ever have a restaurant in East Augusta then we have got to change
the image of that district. And one of the ways of changing the image of the district is by bringing
in people on a higher income level, people on a higher educational level. There’s a lot of
development going on on Wrightsboro Road, there’s development going on on Holly Street. A
project like Walton Oaks is taking place at the old Cherry Tree Development and I think with all
of this going on that will really do a good job in enhancing the quality of life for everybody that
lives in the district. Earlier I talked about our directors and how qualified and how knowledgeable
they are and I think Mr. Welcher is a good example of that. And I don’t believe that Mr. Welcher
would bring a project to the Administrator and to this Commission if he doesn’t feel like it’s going
to benefit the district and benefit the City of Augusta, Georgia. So, at this time, Mr. Mayor, if Mr.
Sias is ready to make a motion I’m ready to second it.
nd
Mr. Mayor: Okay, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 2.
Mr. D. Williams: I’d like to make a motion to adopt this.
Mr. Fennoy: Second.
50
Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ve got a motion. All right, it’s late in the evening, Commissioner
Williams, and the sun is going down. All right, we’ve got a motion and a second to adopt. All
those in favor will vote yea and all those opposed will vote no.
Mr. Fennoy, Mr. D. Williams, Mr. Sias and Mr. Jefferson vote Yes.
Ms. Davis, Mr. Hasan, Mr. Frantom, Mr. Guilfoyle, Mr. M. Williams and Mr. G. Smith vote No.
Motion Fails 4-6.
Mr. Mayor: All right Item number 26.
The Clerk:
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
26. Discuss the suspension and/or debarment of contractors involved in Environmental
Services Department’s use of ARC Equipment in Lincoln County on private property in
accordance with but not limited to Procurement Section 1-10-80 of the Augusta Code.
(Requested by Commissioner Marion Williams)
th
Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I had this put on the agenda to address those
who were involved with this property and the moving of equipment to another county. And I felt
like there should be something done to make sure people don’t attempt to do this again. So, I
asked for this to be put on the agenda so staff can make some kind of recommendation as to what
we can do per Section 1-10-80 to debar or to make sure that entity or those entities would not have
an opportunity to any business with this government again.
Mr. Mayor: What are you proposing?
Mr. M. Williams: Proposing debarring meaning that they won’t be allowed to do work for
this government, Mr. Mayor. In my mind some people shouldn’t pay the ultimate price and other
people just, you know, act like nothing ever happened so if it’s good for the goose it’s good for
the gander. I’m thinking they ought not have the opportunity to do any work at any time with this
government because of that. In addition, if I need to make a motion to that effect, I’ll do that.
Mr. Mayor: Well, you’re certainly are well within your rights to do that.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay, that’s my motion.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, his motion is to debar contractors involved in Tractor Gate. All right,
the Chair recognizes Attorney MacKenzie.
Mr. MacKenzie: I thought I was just going to make a recommendation that the appropriate
wording for the motion would be consistent with the language of 1-10-80 which would be: A
motion to approve a resolution authorizing the Procurement Director to initiate an investigation
regarding this and report back to the Commission.
51
Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, I’m going to respond to that. I think we’ve had Ms. Jackson
doing an investigation, we’ve had the grand jury do an investigation, we’ve had the Sheriff’s
Department do an investigation, we’ve had the District Attorney do an investigation and I think
we’ve had a motion made that failed because it did not receive a proper second which is where we
are now.
Mr. Speaker: (Inaudible).
Mr. Mayor: No, that’s not a question, that’s a statement ---
Mr. Speaker: (Inaudible).
Mr. Mayor: --- yeah I see his hand up, I’m coming to him, I see him. But again, the
th
Commissioner from the 9 made a motion. It did not receive a proper second and thereby his
th
motion fails. All right, the Chair is going to recognize the Commissioner from the 10.
Mr. G. Smith: Mr. Mayor, I agree with my colleague Marion Williams on several issues
of this thing. I think the Procurement should have a form that all subcontractors fill out when they
bid each project or make sure it’s a project issued by Richmond County, they have to sign it and
adhere to the laws. And if not, subject to penalty which is disbarment and/or prosecution for
whatever’s done wrong. But I think when we use a little contract even for small jobs, there’s no
misunderstanding, it’s handled properly, everybody knows what they’re stepping into and then
that way there’s no excuse of I didn’t know.
Mr. Mayor: Okay so, Commissioner, are you making a motion now?
Mr. G. Smith: Yeah, I’d like to make a motion on that is you know we all live together
and work together but let’s do it the right way and everybody that has anything to do with this
county has to sign a subcontract agreement through Procurement to make sure that we’re in
compliance with the laws of this county.
Mr. Frantom: Second.
Mr. Mayor: All right, I’m going to recognize the Attorney so that because what I think I
just heard still doesn’t comport with 1-10-80. The Chair recognizes Attorney MacKenzie.
Mr. MacKenzie: It’s my understanding of what he’s proposing would not really implicate
1-10-80. He’s just saying to initiate a process whereby there’s some I guess signature required on
a document if I’m not reading that incorrectly so that wouldn’t necessarily implicate 1-10-80.
Mr. Smith: Mr. Mayor ---
th
Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 10.
52
Mr. Smith: --- what I meant by that, Mr. Attorney, was when we do subcontract work or
whatever whether it be equipment, supplies or whatever, when your name’s on the document
you’re fully aware that you’re doing work for the county and if something’s wrong and not being
fulfilled then you’re subject to the laws of this county, prosecution or disbarment from the project
or whatever. But once you’ve got your signature on that document, you know, that’s enough.
Mr. Mayor: All right, I’m going to, all right the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from
th
the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I think what my colleague Commissioner Smith is
saying is great but I’m assuming and the Procurement Director is not here or maybe somebody can
tell me but I would think for intents and purposes wouldn’t we have something like that already in
place?
Mr. Mayor: Well, Attorney MacKenzie.
Mr. MacKenzie: If there’s already a whole section on disbarment and describes the
conditions that actually links the two are ethics provisions as well, that puts every bidder on notice
that in the event they violate the ethics code or any of the terms or conditions of the Procurement
itself then it could subject them to discipline which could include up to the debarment for five
years.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, can I follow up with the Attorney?
Mr. Mayor: Please do.
Mr. Hasan: Yes, Mr. Attorney, so as you listen to Mr. Smith, Commissioner Smith, and
you’re talking about the ethics side of it which from what you here and you don’t have the book
before you the ethics before but when you think that the criteria which he said that would be part
of what’s already what we have in stature? That’s my question.
Mr. MacKenzie: The short answer would be yes. The Procurement process already
includes notice which is the code provision we have in place as well as the Procurement itself has
a number of disclosure statements in it which references debarment as well.
Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Okay so let me try and make heads or tails of this, Mr. John Clarke. I think
they already signed documents during the bids and middle process that articulates this and given
th,
the original motion from the Commissioner from the 9 its failure to receive a proper second and
the fact that Procurement Code already addresses this issue, I would say it’s proper for us to move
on from this item at this time.
Mr. M. Williams: Point of order, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: State your inquiry.
53
Mr. M. Williams: My inquiry is what’s happening to the people who have done work
outside this government. Then if that’s already in place I hadn’t heard nothing to that effect as if
that’s already in place like you stated then there ought to be something that happens to the
contractors or subcontractors, whoever was involved. Then if nothing happened then there’s
nothing in place and if something happened then somebody ought to tell me and Grady I mean the
rest of you already know. Grady, do you know?
Mr. Mayor: So a couple of things have happened, all right hold on, a couple of things have
happened. One, this body made a decision last week to send a demand letter to the contractors of
record or the perpetrators involved. That was the action that was requested of this body. Pursuant
to us hearing back from them it will either generate a second response or it will yield the fruit that
we have requested. But you put in place already a series of actions to take place that you directed
the Attorney to follow through on.
Mr. M. Williams: That was a monetary reimbursement from the time that, there wasn’t
anything about discipline action, that was a monetary thing we applied for and I guess hope we get
but nothing else was said. Then you mentioned about four different investigations which added
up to zero in my opinion because the entities you named including the Administrator, the Grand
Jury, the, everybody who did an investigation hadn’t shown anything yet. In fact, all of those
investigations contradict themselves so I’ve got some issues with that, Mr. Mayor, in this seat that
I’m in now. I don’t know about their seats but the seat I’m in I’ve got some problems with that.
Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, so since you brought this matter forward all right here’s what
we could do since we’re trying to dispose of things. Attorney MacKenzie, please restate what you
say could be included in a resolution.
Mr. Attorney: Well, in accordance with the terms of 1-10-80 the process, understand that
there’s not probably a need to given all the history to an in depth investigation but the process if
you wanted to take action pursuant to 1-10-80 which is where the Commission initiates the
debarment process is where you first request that your Procurement Director look into that under
some kind of investigative methodology. And I would suggest if you’re going to go that route a
motion to that effect and to report back to you. You could even do it at the next Legal Meeting.
That could be added to that agenda. I’m sure she could probably have something done by then and
to bring forth an appropriate worded resolution in addition to her investigation which would be
consistent with the code revision. I will also note you do have a pending motion with a second
that would need to be resolved.
Mr. Mayor: All right, Madam Clerk, can you restate that pending motion?
The Clerk: To require all subcontractors to sign a Procurement statement declaration.
th
Mr. Mayor: All right okay that was seconded by the Commissioner from the 7.
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
54
Mr. Mayor: And then it was explained that you effectively already do that in the
Procurement Code and that there’s no reason for us to do that. I’m going to ask the Commissioner
th,
to withdraw his motion, Commissioner from the 10 if you’ll ---
Mr. Smith: Withdraw.
Mr. Mayor: --- he waives, he withdraws his motion. Okay, so we’re back to zero now.
th
All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, it seems like the body doesn’t have the will to that’s including
myself to second Commissioner Williams’ motion but I will ask us to consider since we sent out
to recapture some funds in the event that they do not recognize and respect that then we seek
debarment of them.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Sias: Seek to what?
Mr. Hasan: Disbar, debar, I think you’ve got a debarment so I said it the way it was I said
disbar like I’m an attorney but then again I am.
Mr. Mayor: Yeah, I think that’s certainly proper that we follow the path that’s already
been adopted pursuant to last week’s meeting. And again we wait on that disposition and if it
requires additional action then at that point in time we can move forward.
Mr. Hasan: Okay, I can live with that.
Mr. Mayor: All right.
The Clerk: Item number 30?
Mr. Mayor: Yes.
The Clerk:
ADMINISTRATOR
30. Discuss/approve revenue source for Street Lighting.
Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes Administrator Jackson.
Ms. Jackson: Yes, sir, thank you. This follows up on the workshop that we had last week
regarding Street Lighting. I realize many Commission members were not here so I have asked
staff to give abbreviated versions of the presentations that they made last week. First would be
John Ussery, our Assistant Director of Engineering, and next Donna Williams with the financial
overview and recommendation.
55
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right the Chair recognizes Assistant Director Ussery. All right, Mr.
Ussery, you’re on deck.
Mr. Ussery: Good afternoon Mayor, Commissioners. I’ll try to make this brief. I know
we’ve all been here a while so I’ll try to get through this. This is the same presentation that I gave
at the workshop and so we’ll run through this for the benefit of those who would like to hear it
again or didn’t hear it the first time. If you’ll go to the second slide it says over the past three years
the fund that pays for the street lighting has experienced some challenges. Some of those
challenges include three things: the amount of taxes and fees that we collect have not kept pace
with the rate of the increase of cost of electricity, the cost of materials and maintenance have
increased significantly over the past few decades and Augusta has taken over responsibility and
maintenance of many new roadway lighting systems of major streets or arterial streets. I went
back to about 1990 and since the 1990’s according to information sent to us by Georgia Power and
Jefferson Energy Cooperative the cost of electricity over the past two decades has increased over
15%. If you do the math, it works out to about a 1% annual increase on average the cost of
electricity. Many of the taxes and fees that go into the Street Lighting Fund were established years
and years ago and have not been adjusted for the inflation or the cost increase in the cost of
electricity. The chart below is a chart we received on the next slide the chart is the cost of
electricity provided by Georgia Power and you can see that, you know, from 1990 to about 2001
the costs remain relatively flat and then from 2001 until today the cost has been on an upward
trend. But like I said, the average is about 1% per year. The second bullet point on the next slide
the cost of materials to maintain the system has risen significantly over the past few decades. The
item with the largest cost increase over the past few decades is poles and ballasts. The ballast is
on the top of the poles the part of the streetlight that holds the light and the electronics. In 1989 a
replacement pole could be purchased for about $800.00 dollars. Today that same pole costs over
$2,000 dollars. That’s an increase of 140%. Additionally, many of you are probably aware that
we don’t use the standard streetlight poles anymore. For a lot of our districts we’ve gone to the
decorative poles which cost even more to replace. Similarly, the cost of copper wire fluctuates
slightly from day to day but the trend is usually upwards. Think of the cost of copper like the cost
of gold. It’s on an open market and goes up and down but the trend is up a pound, the cost has
increased since the 1990’s over 250%. If you look at the chart on the next page, you can see that
in 1989 a pound of copper would cost you about $1.50. Today it’s somewhere between $2.50 to
$3.00 dollars. So it doesn’t sound like a lot but when you multiply this by hundreds of miles of
wire, the costs add up. The last bullet point was in the last few decades we’ve assumed the
responsibility for maintaining hundreds more streetlights along arterial streets within the county.
We had some discussion about this at the workshop but the short version that we did reach out to
some of our former employees or people that used to be in these positions that, you know, I don’t
have the benefit of knowing a lot of it so we did reach out to them and what we’ve learned is that
many of the streetlights that we now maintain were requested by this body at some point in the
past and there was some agreement signed between Augusta and GDOT. And so GDOT funded
the design and construction of the streetlights with the understanding that we would maintain them
after they were built. And so many of the arterial roads that’s how they got lighting was those
agreements, those agreements were obviously brought before this board at those times. So, that’s
my part of this. Does anybody have any questions on the first part of this?
th
Mr. Mayor: Okay all right the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4.
56
Mr. Sias: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I attended the workshop that we had and we heard a
good comprehensive report reference this item for the streetlights. And I called the Administrator
that night and informed her that, you know, appreciate all the information that they had given us
but the idea of a one-time fee I could not support because I think that is something we can correct
for the future but as to come up with a bill, a new bill on our taxes for this particular item at this
time, I think is kind of a burden on our citizens. So, I move, this is my motion, Mr. Mayor. I
move that we absorb the 2016 and 2017 deficit and task the streetlight sub-committee to
bring back a comprehensive recommendation to fix three areas: streetlights in new
developments, streetlights in old areas where there are no streetlights and a fee structure for
all streetlight services. That’s my motion.
Mr. Hasan: I’d like to second the motion, Mr. Mayor. I have a question.
Mr. Mayor: Hold on, hold on. All right, I want him to finish and then I’ve got a whole
bunch of lights up here and we’re going to come and get everybody. Okay all right he finished his
motion ---
Mr. Sias: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: --- all right was there a second to the motion?
Mr. Jefferson: There was a second.
The Clerk: Mr. Frantom.
Mr. Mayor: Frantom, okay. I’m going to raise this issue once more ---
Mr. Hasan: It’s already formed, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: --- huh?
Mr. Hasan: It’s already formed.
Mr. Mayor: It is?
Mr. Hasan: It’s already formed.
Mr. Sias: The Streetlight Sub-committee is already formed.
Mr. Hasan: It’s already formed, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Sias: Yes.
Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, ya’ll are wearing me out with these sub-committees. I mean
you’ve got an Engineering Services Committee that’s, they’re here for work, that’s what they
57
should be doing but again that’s neither here nor there. I’m going to the Commissioner from the
th
5.
Mr. Jefferson: Thank you. I know that you put ballasts, copper wire and so forth in that
but today’s streetlights aren’t the metal hyalite or the florescent type or the mercury vapor that an
LED which are energy efficient and they don’t require a ballast. And long runs of streetlights they
use, even the power company uses aluminum wire and the copper wire only goes from the sub-
feed panel to the base of the light. And I’m not questioning your ability to do this but I was just
looking at some things that over a period of time by using the LED lights we’re going to have a
tremendous reduction in the amount of electricity we use. Just like if Georgia Power put out a
streetlight today or tomorrow, if you notice, they’re not the big dome. There the two LED lights
and they illuminate almost as well but they don’t cost nearly as much which you know that but
wouldn’t that be somewhat of a savings?
Mr. Ussery: Yes, there is a savings when you talk about converting older systems to newer
systems with aluminum wire and switching to LED’s in particular.
Mr. Jefferson: They already have started doing that, am I correct?
Mr. Ussery: Yes, they’ve done a lot of it actually but the biggest component of these cost
increases is actually the first bullet point which is the cost of power. So, you may save power in
the long run by switching a lot of these streetlights from the old type the mercury the sodium vapor
you know all those to the new LED’s. There is a cost savings with that but the system has grown
so large and also the fact that the cost of power goes up at a pretty steady rate more than offsets
the savings that you get from switching to LED’s and some of the other things. And then also we
do have a lot of older systems in the county that do need to be maintained that haven’t, you know,
we haven’t had the time or the money yet to switch them out to the newer systems. So switching
out the light is the easy part but a lot of the copper wire that you mentioned, a lot of those systems
are still in place and still need to be maintained and repaired.
Mr. Jefferson: One last question, Mr. Mayor. But the question at hand was a back bill, am
I correct? And taking care of the deficit then moving forward. Taking care of the deficit will
eliminate that bill. But moving forward and a bunch of the lights have been retrofitted, the Calhoun
Expressway, Riverwatch Parkway, Walton Way, those have been retrofitted and as I noticed the
power company has been changing out a lot. So, I think the issue at hand is to take care of the
deficit and hopefully if we take care of the deficit as Commissioner Sias stated with that sub-
committee we should see it balance out. Is that possible?
Mr. Ussery: Well, we’re almost complete with an audit that’s one of the reasons why we
came forward at this point in time. About two weeks ago, we finally got to the point where we’re
comfortable with the actual cost of the system as it is with LED lights installed in most of the
streetlights, those types of things. And just the cost of power, Donna hasn’t done her presentation
yet but if I remember right it’s $2.7 million dollars is what it costs to turn on the streetlights every
streetlight in the county for one year. And so $4.7 million right and so that’s with a lot of those
improvements that you and I have been discussing in the last few minutes.
58
Mr. Jefferson: I’m going to stop because it’s becoming a volleyball game so I’m going to
let someone else chime in.
Mr. Mayor: All right then the Chair is going to recognize the distinguished lady from the
rd
3.
Ms. Davis: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I’m in support of the motion but I just wanted to make
clear before we take a vote where that money would come from so I guess this would be to the
Administrator, Mr. Mayor. The deficit, are we looking at $800,000?
Ms. Jackson: Yes, we’re looking at an approximate deficit of $425 or so thousand this
year, $440,000 from the previous year so ideally we would have to make up $865,000 dollars.
And in terms of where that comes from our options would be Fund Balance. Probably the next
best option would be to try to restrict expenses as best as possible in this year’s General Fund
operating budget in order to come up with that amount of money.
Mr. Mayor: I’ll piggyback off that and I’ll add this to that and this is to you, Madam
Administrator. All right, you’ve indicated that you brought forward $420 plus from last year. Did
we not absorb that in the 2016 budget?
Ms. Jackson: This fund is an independent fund I can’t remember, it’s a Special Revenue
Fund I believe is what we call it so that fund theoretically is supposed to support itself so right
now that fund itself is in a deficit position at the end of 2016.
Mr. Mayor: But this deficit again has gradually increased over a period of not less than
five years, is that not true?
Ms. Jackson: Actually, I believe that, Donna, correct me if I’m wrong that deficit was that
incurred during 2016?
Ms. Williams: The results of 2016 are such that it put the total Fund Balance for that fund
in a deficit position. There was a slight decrease in the Fund Balance for ’15 and then ‘16
completely wiped it out and put it into a deficit position.
Mr. Mayor: All right, is it not true based on what you said that again over a period of time
and you know that to be better than I do, we have gradually gotten to the place of where we are at
a deficit but it didn’t happen as a single event because what I’m hearing is that we’ve tracked
towards a deficit for a period of time and now we’ve reached that breaking point. That’s what
I’ve heard.
Ms. Williams: Correct.
Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, so since that be true and this is again, we’ve got a motion and
a second, we’ve got a motion and a second. Back to the gentle lady’s question in terms of funding
sources, Director Ladson, could we not pay for this out of TIA Discretionary Funds? Give me the
short version.
59
Mr. Ladson: I wouldn’t ---
Mr. Mayor: I know. You wouldn’t want to recommend that.
Mr. Ladson: --- right, I wouldn’t recommend that.
Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, I’m going to go back to my question. Could we not pay for
this out of TIA Discretionary Funds?
Mr. Ladson: There are some rules and regulations with paying for certain things out of the
TIA Discretionary and I believe I probably need to revisit that. I mean ---
Mr. Mayor: All right, I’ll let you do that; I’ll let you do that. All right, we’ve got a motion
and a second. All right, I’m coming; I know I’m coming ---
Mr. M. Williams: You’re skipping me.
Mr. Mayor: --- no, I’m not going to skip you but hands went up first down there. I’m
thth
going to go to the Commissioner from the 8 then I’m coming to the 9.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Can I have your name again, please?
Mr. Ussery: My name is John Ussery; I’m the Assistant Director of Traffic.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Mr. Ussery, as far as you were talking about with my colleague about the
th
LED lights Georgia Power actually started a venture in 2016 where they had the 6 largest Georgia
cities, Augusta was one of them. With Augusta, they were changing out 14,022 streetlights to
LED’s. Do we pay per light or do we pay per wattage usage with these streetlights? How are we
charged with Georgia Power or Jefferson Electric etc.?
Mr. Ussery: I believe we pay per light.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Do you know that for a fact?
Mr. Ussery: I’m trying to remember the results of the audit.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Because I don’t I mean if a streetlight’s out we’re still having to pay for it?
Mr. Ussery: I think so, yes.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Really.
Mr. Ussery: Well, that’s one of the reasons the audit was conducted was it was we’re
charged, we were charged in big groups and so we wanted to know exactly how much we were
paying for each light and where the lights were located and who’s light was what and all that. And
60
so everything that I’ve seen from Georgia Power shows, you know, there’s ‘x’ number of these
lights at this cost per month.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Wouldn’t it be better since Georgia Power’s changing over to LED’s with
a program with Augusta-Richmond County has with Georgia Power, Jefferson Electric, it’s
negotiated, is that right? It’s a negotiated contract when we lease something. Would that be correct
to say?
Mr. Ussery: Well, it depends. There’s two kinds of lights streetlights you’re talking about.
There are lights that Augusta owns and all we pay for is the power and that’s at the current rate of
power.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Right.
Mr. Ussery: And then there’s other lights that are within Augusta-Richmond County that
we both pay Georgia Power to light and maintain.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Okay, this problem is not going to go away unless we come up with
solutions. And, Mr. Mayor, you might want to chime in and listen in on this one. In Flowery
Branch, Georgia the Commission had made a recommendation that the wishes of the Mayor to
speak with Georgia Power, speak about because they’re facing the same issues that we are with
streetlights and the cost of it. I don’t know if it’s $4.7 million dollars but Georgia Power actually
made a concession where reduced their budget by 14% just at the sitting down speaking. I mean
has anybody reached out to Georgia Power, Jefferson Electric, hey we need to sit down and talk
we’ve got major problems. You know I’ve seen other cities but you might want to take this in
consideration as well as my colleagues. After 2:00 o’clock at night shut off every other streetlight.
Now laugh at this but I will tell you this ---
Mr. Ussery: I’m laughing because that’s you’ve said that before in meetings it’s actually
the idea has come up.
Mr. Guilfoyle: --- the Mayor of Blythe right here within my district, he couldn’t afford the
streetlights so he shut off every other one. The monies that he’s saving he’s reverting to changing
over to LED’s that after a certain time it dims down to use less wattage so if somebody does walk
up underneath it, it goes back to full voltage for two hours. People have to make concessions
without putting the citizens at risk.
Mr. Ladson: I think it’s feasible but there’s always what’s the backlash behind that. We
have asked and I’m not saying this body but the body in that past have asked that like your
Riverwatch, your Walton Way, these roads, these streets are lighted. Okay, you light these streets
and you turn them off or turn them off every other light. At that point, why would GDOT pay for
the upfront cost to get these installed if you’re not going to use them?
Mr. Guilfoyle: Well, if you look at the Riverwatch itself they cut off every third or leave
one light of every four on and guess what you’ll still be lighting this room right here.
61
Mr. Ladson: And I’ll go back to the, Commissioner, I’ll go back to the original design ---
Mr. Guilfoyle: I understand.
Mr. Ladson: --- and the design was done by GDOT and was approved by three different
consultants, lighting this is what they do.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Right, but what we have to do as a body as our spokesperson is set up a
meeting. When you all get your little sub-committee together, invite the Mayor. Have the Mayor
speak. He’s our spokesperson, he’s our statesman, he’s our liaison, ah shut up. But anyway that
laughing about turning every other light off Blythe did it.
Mr. Ussery: I do think we’re finally to the point where we can have that conversation
because we had that conversation with Georgia Power but it was mostly trying to figure who’s was
what and how much it was and where it was and how much we pay for it.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Yeah but um, Mr. Mayor, I’ve got one more thing. I looked at our, I just
pulled random people who pay for streetlights in Arcadia off of Hephzibah/McBean Road, that’s
where the Mayor’s father lives. He pays $79.00 dollars a year. There’s a neighbor right behind
him that has a house and an empty lot which actually has a swimming pool. He pays $211.00 a
year. So with this program that ya’ll got either increase the millage rate or tack on $15.00 dollars
per lot. This guy will be paying more for trash I mean for lights than trash service.
Mr. Ladson: Yeah but the and I think there was some discussion that the program really
does need to be revamped and looked at who’s paying, who’s not paying and you probably would
be coming up with a flat fee.
Mr. Mayor: Director Ladson ---
Mr. Guilfoyle: It would just be good to negotiate.
Mr. Mayor: --- Mr. Ussery ---
Mr. Guilfoyle: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, thank you Abie, thank you, John.
Mr. Mayor: --- I think we’ve got a motion and a proper second. I do have to recognize the
th.
Commissioner from the 9 He has a question. All right, John, if you’ll come back. You’ve got
a couple of questions but we’ve got a motion and a second.
Mr. M. Williams: Two short questions, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: All right hold on, hold on. This is, you know, it’s 6:15 this is the third meeting,
rd
this is the 3 longest meeting we’ve had since I’ve been here and it’s too long. The Chair
th
recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
62
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. If there was a time on these meetings, they
didn’t tell me when I came down here. They’ve been longer than this before and they’ve been
shorter but I guess my first question is about like Riverwatch Parkway and I think you made
mention that DOT came in. It’s really crazy to have that many lights on that road that close
together as if somebody was giving them away. The other thing I’ve got a problem with why, we
talked about the putting up the what do you call those things the energy I mean ---
Mr. Ussery: LED’s?
Mr. M. Williams: --- not the LED’s the no, the energy effective thing that makes electrical,
what do you call it?
Mr. Hasan: Solar panels.
Mr. M. Williams: Solar panels. So what happened to the, I mean all of the lights we’ve
got all of the energy all of the room we’ve got has anybody thought about any of that yet to help
offset some of this stuff because it’s coming back now, it’s coming back.
Mr. Guilfoyle: We could’ve changed that trash to liquor.
Mr. M. Williams: I guess solar panels is something to operate the lights we hadn’t thought
about?
Mr. Ussery: The only thing I know about solar panels is, you know, I did move here from
California and like everybody wants solar panels so I can tell you that the cost of solar hasn’t got
to the point where it will actually save you money as opposed to directly hooking something up to
you know normal power so ---
Mr. Guilfoyle: Call for the question.
Mr. Ussery: --- so anyway.
Mr. Guilfoyle: It’s 5:17 in New Orleans right now.
Mr. M. Williams: John, John ---
Mr. Ussery: So that’s the little I know about solar, I don’t think the cost ---
Mr. M. Williams: --- okay well, you and I were talking, it wasn’t about these other fellas.
I mean they can call for the question all that means is we’re going to take another vote to take
another vote, that’s all that means. So, I was just trying to get some information because this is
going to come back to bite us and hopefully we will be thinking outside of the box to do something
different. If solar won’t do it then we don’t need to do that but we was told how much money that
a solar panel would bring in and how many people are going to that so you know more about that
than I do.
63
Mr. Mayor: All right we’ve got, Ms. Bonner, we’ve got a motion and a proper second.
th
And the Commissioner from the 5 wants to, he wants to be recognized.
Mr. Jefferson: Thank you, you didn’t have to say it like that.
Mr. Mayor: No, no, this is what happens when you get to 6:17.
Mr. Jefferson: I just wanted to ask one simple question of you and to the Administrator.
Is it possible to use lapsed salaries to make up a deficit, you know, positions that aren’t filled. You
know I mean that’s money that was budgeted and you have that money set aside and it should be
used for something and we could just hold off on hiring people to make up a deficit.
Ms. Jackson: Procedurally you can do that, sir. That would just mean that you all would
have to approve the transfer of the funding from the salaries line item into this fund to make up
that deficit. From a practical standpoint that can get tricky from the standpoint of we’re just
halfway through the year. We may if we have to make up that kind of number you know $860-
plus thousand dollars, it may mean that I have to exercise some reasonably drastic measures in
terms of holding positions vacant and so forth.
Mr. Jefferson: I mean but that wouldn’t cost us any more, am I correct?
Ms. Jackson: That would not “cost you any more” no, but I mean it’s just a matter of there
may be departments that need personnel that can’t get them because of this.
Mr. Jefferson: Thank you, I’m finished.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right ---
Ms. Jackson: And of course we can’t hold those positions vacant in those departments that
are overseen by elected officials which is a substantial percentage of our government so the impact
would be on our general government departments if we have to go that route.
Mr. Mayor: Well, that’s a practical matter, Ms. Jackson, from the standpoint of elected
officials. We know how many positions those are and we, if made that motion you could exclude
elected officials, is that not true?
Ms. Jackson: You could exclude them but the point being that that would place the burden
disproportionally on our general government departments.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: Then what’s being done now? I mean you’re saying you want to pull it from
Fund Balance.
Ms. Jackson: Well, Fund Balance at least is money you’ve already saved. You don’t know
what savings you’re going to realize from lapsed salaries.
64
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor?
Ms. Jackson: At least that’s done from previous years is my point. It’s a done deal.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: We’ve got a motion and a proper second.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: All right, Ms. Bonner, would you restate the motion? I’m coming to you.
The Clerk: The motion was for Augusta-Richmond County to absorb the 2016/2017
streetlight deficit and refer to the sub-committee to develop a plan for new development streetlights
along with old areas and develop a fee structure going forward.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, let me say something first.
Mr. Mayor: Hold on, hold on, I’m going to recognize you. All right, that’s the motion
th.
with a proper second. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6 State your inquiry.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, I just want to make mention of what the Administrator just
mentioned. I think the only four positions when you talk about elected officials that that pertains
to. That would be your Sheriff, your Probate Court, your Clerk of Court, and your Tax
Commissioner. Your constitution officers that would pertain to and not the Marshal, no, you’ve
got four constitution officers and that’s what that would pertain to when you talk about being able
to impact their budget. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor, if I can remind my colleague that half of the budget comes
from, half our budget goes to the Sheriff’s Office so that’s half ---
Mr. Hasan: That wasn’t my point.
Mr. M. Williams: --- I understand.
Mr. Mayor: We’ve got a motion and a second. Voting.
Mr. Fennoy and Mr. D. Williams out.
Mr. M. Williams not voting.
Motion Passes 7-0.
\[MEETING ADJOURNED\]
Lena Bonner
Clerk of Commission
65
CERTIFICATION:
I, Lena J. Bonner, Clerk of Commission, herby 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 July
18, 2017.
______________________________
Clerk of Commission
66