HomeMy WebLinkAboutRegular Commission Meeting December 19, 2017
REGULAR MEETING COMMISSION CHAMBER
DECEMBER 19, 2017
Augusta Richmond County Commission convened at 2:00 p.m., December 19, 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 Augusta Richmond County Commission.
Mr. Mayor: I hope that everyone’s looking forward to the rest of this week and this holiday
season that is upon us, very excited about that as well and hope that each of you and your families
will experience peace, joy, love and happiness on the other side of all that you have going on.
We’re going to call this meeting to order. The Chair recognizes Madam Clerk.
The Clerk: I call your attention to the invocation portion of our agenda which will be
delivered by Imam Jawad Rasul of the Islamic Society of Augusta after which we’d have our
Pledge of Allegiance. Please stand.
The invocation was given by Imam Jawad Rasul, Islamic Society of Augusta.
The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America was recited.
Mr. Mayor: To Imam Jawad Rasul, thank you for coming to be our chaplain today. I’ve
already provided him with the Proclamation but I want to thank him and the rest of the members
who have joined him on today for what they do in our community. Augusta is a city of inclusion.
You matter and thank you for your spiritual guidance and your civic leadership not only today but
in the days ahead. That matters to me and it matters to this city and we know that you are partners
in making Augusta the place that she is. Thank you, God Bless. Would you join me in thanking
him for his service today? (APPLAUSE) Madam Clerk.
The Clerk:
RECOGNITION(S)
Commissioner Certificate
A. Congratulations! Commissioner Bill Fennoy and Andrew Jefferson who have completed
the necessary hours for certification under the Georgia Municipal Association and the
University of Georgia Carl Vinson Institute of Government’s training program to earn the
designation of Certified Commissioner.
The Clerk: Congratulations Commissioners Fennoy and Jefferson. (APPLAUSE)
The Clerk:
RECOGNITIONS(S)
Employee of the Month
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B. Congratulations! Mr. Curtis A. Briscoe, Jr., Office of the Tax Assessor as the December
2017 Employee of the Month.
The Clerk: Well done. Now we will recognize our Employee of the Month, Mr. Curtis
A. Briscoe, Jr. Would you please come forward to join the Mayor and our Administrator, Mr.
Ross if you would like to come down. Mr. Mayor, as they make their way down, Dear Mayor
Davis the Employee Recognition Committee has selected Curtis A. Briscoe, Jr. as Augusta
Georgia’s Employee of the Month for December 2017. Curtis Briscoe, Jr. joined the Richmond
Board of Assessors staff on May 25, 2013 as a Residential Appraiser II and was promoted to
Commercial Appraiser III in December 2016. Mr. Briscoe, Jr. is a 2012 graduate of Paine College
a BS in Accounting and a 2014 graduate of Strayer University where he earned his MBA. Under
the Tax Assessors Office reorganization of 2017 Mr. Briscoe was approved for a promotion to
Commercial Appraiser. As a result, he has assigned 216 deferred appeals not processed then
proceeded to structure a procedural tracking mechanism. This tracking mechanism now employed
by upper management of the appraisal staff tracked activities on these appraisals avoiding
evaluation loss estimate in over $42,000 dollars in tax dollars. Along with Planning and
Development and Information Technology Mr. Briscoe created an interdepartmental project for
use in the commercial evaluations for the 2018 digest. The project lore, field operation costs
reduced the impact of field discovery time, evaluate the efficiency of evaluation estimations, and
provides vastly improved safety for field personnel. The estimated impact is a 30% increase in
productivity and enhanced quality control improvements. Mr. Briscoe serves on both the Georgia
Association of Assessing Officials, Education Committee and Commercial Real Estate
Committee. He received the Augusta Champion Award on February 2017 for his training on
Business Personal Property. He is a 2016 Leadership of Augusta graduate and was among the top
ten young professionals to watch in 2017 featured in Augusta Magazine. Based on this nomination
Curtis A. Briscoe, Jr.’s outstanding contribution to the Office of the Tax Assessor and his service
to Augusta, Georgia the Employee Recognition Committee would appreciate you in joining us in
recognizes Mr. Briscoe as the December 2017 Employee of the Month. (APPLAUSE)
Congratulations.
Mr. Mayor: Yes, he’s going to say something. I had the great pleasure of watching Mr.
Briscoe grow over the three years that we’ve been here, and I’ve been most impressed with his
commitment to the community, his commitment to his team, and his commitment certainly to the
City of Augusta in terms of being an inconsonant professional. It’s exciting to see him receive the
recognition as being one of Augusta’s Top Ten among ten award this year, very excited. I
understand that he also most recently has been selected to be a part of the 2018 Leadership Georgia
Class, another very well deserved and distinguished recognition. You’re going to continue to do
amazing things not just for the City of Augusta but for her people and so congratulations, thank
you.
Mr. Briscoe: Wow, firstly I’d like to thank my Supervisor Nancy Grier, my Deputy Chief
Appraiser who is not present at this moment Melanie Oglesbee, Chief Appraiser Alvino Ross,
Chairman Bill Lee the Board of Assessors. Thank you to the nominating committee, Mayor Davis,
Commission and Ms. Allen I accept this award on behalf of the Tax Assessors Office although it
has my name on it this is for our entire team, thank you. (APPLAUSE)
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Mr. Mayor: Again would you give Curtis one more round of applause. (APPLAUSE)
The Clerk: Paul, he’s here ---
Mr. Mayor: He is?
The Clerk: --- he’s here.
Mr. Mayor: Outstanding. Paul, would you come forward, yes, you. So, I think they call
this taking a Point of Personal Privilege, okay. It took me the longest, Ms. Wilson, to get Rob
Sherman and Paul DeCamp separated. On occasion I would refer to Paul as Rob and Rob as Paul
but today we get it right. And so on today we would like to also offer congratulations to Mr. Paul
DeCamp, Deputy Director in the Planning and Development Department who will be retiring after
36 years of committed service to the City of Augusta and all of her citizens. Paul’s hard work and
dedication demonstrated his commitment to providing critical assistance to countless citizens in
the CSRA and serves as an example and inspiration for us all. The City of Augusta congratulates
you on this milestone achievement of retirement and extends to you our deepest appreciation for
your devoted service to our citizens, to this organization and we wish you the best upon your well-
deserved retirement. Would you join me in congratulating Paul DeCamp? (APPLAUSE)
Mr. DeCamp: Just very quickly I want to thank the Mayor, the Commissioners, all of the
folks who work in the various city departments and many of your predecessors. It’s been a
wonderful experience for me to work for this local government and for the citizens of Augusta.
And I wish the Commission, the Mayor, and the city government and in fact the citizens of the
community the best going forward. It’s been a wonderful experience and I thank you all.
(APPLAUSE)
Mr. Mayor: Congratulations, Paul.
Mr. DeCamp: Thank you.
The Clerk:
DELEGATIONS
C. Kim Hines and Robert Sims regarding an update on Grow Harrisburg as a model
program for public health and engagement.
The Clerk: Ms. Hines or Mr. Sims, are you in the Chamber?
(Ms. Hines and Mr. Sims did not appear before the Commission)
DELEGATIONS
D. Mr. Moses Todd, Founder I Love Augusta, regarding the location for the James Brown
Arena.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Todd ---
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Mr. Todd: Yes ---
Mr. Mayor: --- again thank you, five minutes.
Mr. Todd: --- yes, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor and members of the Commission, I guess the
last four to five months this community’s debated on the new arena where we would build it and
possibly how we would finance it. I’m not here to, I’m here standing in support of the Regency
Mall location but not all the deal and because I feel the deal needs to be negotiated further. But
let me say this that I’m not here to detract from the individuals that feel for the location of
downtown. I think that each location has it’s negatives and positives and in most cases if the
community works together and the Commission works together we can overcome the negatives
on either site. I would say that when we’re dealing with projects for downtown, the old urban city
limits, there’s not as much controversy over those projects as it is when we’re talking about South
Richmond. Approximately 9 months ago when Dr. Brooks Keel came to Pride and Progress and
I was invited over and we wholeheartedly supported them on the Cyber Center on Riverfront
Augusta the, which is a state and Augusta University Project. When that project come back with
for the $10 million-dollars for the parking deck approximately $10 million-dollars we
wholeheartedly supported that. But it seems when we’re talking Richmond County or South
Richmond County or South Augusta, I’m in the habit of saying South Richmond County South
Augusta that it stirs up controversy not just from within Augusta but by other neighboring counties,
et cetera. And basically what I want is what’s best for Augusta so, you know, I think that we don’t
need to kill the deal in the sense that we stop negotiating it that there was a proposal brought to
this Commission really not like any other proposal whether we’re talking about when I was on the
board and when the previous commissioners was on the board with the Riverfront developments
or the Morris Family or other developments or we’re talking about Center West Parkway or we’re
talking about Jimmy Dyess that the city gave tax abatements and the city made investments in
those projects. And if we look at Jimmy Dyess Parkway we can see what we’ve done, you know,
Hyatt’s development out there from 20/25 years ago. We look at Center West Parkway and can
see the development there. We look at downtown on the abatements and the breaks that were
given for the Riverfront properties. We can see that so all I’m requesting is that you know use
your vision to try to see Regency Mall or with a renovated mall with office space, with restaurants,
with a transit system tied to it, with a hotel and with thriving businesses at Regency Mall. And I
feel that we should continue this, whether you decide on the site location we should continue with
the negotiation. On the tax abatements if you have a problem there with a 10-years then you know
make a counteroffer. With the parking lot which I wouldn’t sign off on developing the parking lot
and all the lights for a 35-year I’m hearing agreement for parking at a dollar a year but you make
a counteroffer. You just don’t say hey, look we’re walking away. When you say you’re just
walking away from the concept then that’s what it tells me as a South Augustan that basically
you’re going to do it downtown and you’re going to ram it down the throats of the South Augustans
to do it downtown. And I would caution you to think about how you’re going to finance it when
you do that without South Augusta. We couldn’t pass a Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax
in this community. So I think that we should do whatever we do respectfully in that we shouldn’t
be influenced by individuals from outside of this community. Thank you, Mr. Mayor, and you
guys have a Merry Christmas.
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Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Mr. Todd, thank you. Thank you.
Mr. Sias: Mr. Mayor?
The Clerk: I call your attention to the consent portion ---
Mr. Mayor: Ms. Bonner ---
The Clerk: --- sir?
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Mr. Mayor: --- I think the gentleman from the 4 wants to say something.
The Clerk: Oh, I’m sorry.
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I have a question for Mr. Todd.
Mr. Todd: Yes, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Sias: Mr. Todd, as we talk about vision for our city and things that we do for our city
on many it’s about any occasion it’s always tough, always. This situation is no different. My
question to you is you come before this body on several occasions as a former Commissioner. You
opposed the stormwater program. Tell me what do you think of the stormwater program now if
you don’t mind.
Mr. Todd: If I go from what is reported in the Augusta Chronicle on Sunday I don’t think
much of it but, you know, and I try to answer honestly you know not to get any digs in. If I look
at how we’re spending the funds, you know, for cutting grass and picking up paper approximately
$3,000 dollars a mile I don’t think much of it. Now I didn’t make your Power Point Saturday, you
know, so perhaps I need to attend more of them but I’m not convinced by the ones I’ve heard
earlier and I’m not convinced with what I read. And, Commissioner, respectfully I know that I’m
depending on your help on this issue and you’re asking me how I feel about an issue that we
debated vigorously and we disagree and it’s probably not the only issue and we’ll probably going
to disagree on issues in the future. But I do appreciate, you know, your courage and vision as far
as the issues that you believe in.
Mr. Sias: But let me just advise you I would encourage you in the future not to get all your
information from the newspaper. And there are great projects that we’ve done with the stormwater
program, Patterson Bridge Road. You’re from South Augusta, you should be very familiar with
that. We had the dump truck in the thing on Central Avenue and there are tons of other projects
that we’ve done like that so apparently you know you might be a little lacking in getting your
information but we’ll be happy to provide as much to you as you desire in the future on the
stormwater program. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
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Mr. Todd: Yes, Mr. Mayor, my source of information is not his problem so I get it
(inaudible).
Mr. Mayor: Thank you. I appreciate that. All right, Madam Clerk.
The Clerk: I call your attention to the consent portion ---
Mr. Mayor: Ms. Bonner ---
Mr. Mayor: Yeah, the Chair recognizes ---
The Clerk: --- we’ll get there.
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Mr. Mayor: --- the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 8.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Todd, during your discussion you was all over
Augusta and there wasn’t much when it came for downtown there wasn’t much controversy when
it was spending money actually it was. At the TEE Center parking deck which I fought with some
of the people that you are aware of to where we could find a better deal for the citizens of Augusta
and that program, the project has been successful ever since. Now when it comes to this Regency
Mall I just got a text last night that I was the one who actually convinced the Coliseum Board to
go after the Regency Mall. That was news to me but I’ve been on an island ever since by myself.
But as far as the Regency Mall I looked at all four options, proposals and let me back up by saying
as far as the owners, the Cardinale’s, they didn’t reach out to Augusta. Augusta reached out to
them. They’re the innocent people in my book in this picture. The only way they had to negotiate
was looking at the media, looking at the newspaper so the whole process of the negotiation for the
Regency Mall Coliseum was tainted. Let me say James words was unorthodox way of doing
business which is odd. This is not the way business is conducted. There’s nobody that sits up here
behind this dais that can negotiate that big of a number in deals to look out what’s best for Augusta.
It’s usually done by professionals, experts is how we come up. No different when you was on the
Commission you relied on no different than our directors for their expertise, their education and
their skill. Same way with us as far as Regency Mall. Mayor, if I take too long all you’ve got to
do is stop me. But as far as Regency Mall I was looking at the arena, I started looking at it from a
different aspect Mr. Moses. I looked at how many times the arena would be used, 52 times, less
than two months out of the year. I believe the whole object of the Mayor, this Commission as well
as the people in South Richmond County want to see growth. They want to see something happen.
So do we but if we’re going to do it let’s do it right. Let’s find a venue that actually operates 52
weeks out of the year not 51 times. It’ll be the same thing as having an anchor store Bass Pro
Shop, COSTCO that’s open one day a week 6 hours a day. Will that abolish blight? No. Will
that attract new commercial? No. Will it attract retail? No. So we have to think outside the box
and that’s where my mind is at, sir. And I have been communicating bouncing things off of
colleagues to see if we could be coming up with a better solution for the Regency Mall. And
there’s actually talk between the Regency Mall owner and some of the developers so it’s not a
dead issue. We all want to see something grow but we want to do it right the first time. And this
Regency Mall arena has divided this county. You see it just as well as I do you’re on Facebook,
I’m not. That’s my calling. I’m done, sir.
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Mr. Todd: I appreciate your comments. I’m sure that this Commission will do what’s best.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9, Chairman of
Administrative Services.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I didn’t want to weigh in right here but it got so
heavy I feel like I almost have to because all this good dialogue is going on. And I’m hearing
everybody talk about the issue about growth and I agree that the arena probably won’t be used like
Commissioner Guilfoyle just stated that many times a year. But in my mind in my vision we ought
to not just build an arena. If you put just an arena anywhere else it’s not going to make it because
it’s just an arena that’s not used very much. And we don’t really depend on the local people using
the arena. We expect for entertainment shows to come for folks outside to come in and use it and
not for these people. So in my vision in my mind to make things happen it ain’t but three kind of
people in the world, Moses, in my opinion. A lot of different races, a lot of different nationalities
but ain’t but really three kinds of people in the world: people that can see things happen, people
that make things happen and the rest of us say what happened. So it’s time for us to make some
things to happen; it’s time for us to do more than just an arena. In my vision that we ought to have
a James Brown Arena, a real James Brown Arena, not something with a sign on it. We ought to
have a James Brown museum next door to it and we ought to have retail and restaurants around it.
Now if you look at North Augusta and look how the baseball stadium just done blew up over there
and how big it’s gotten how it’s growing. You’ve got to grow something. You can’t just put a
box in an open field and say hey that’s we done something we got to do something with some
magnitude to it. The wow factor is something that’s been around for a long time. I didn’t come up
with that but that’s something that really effects people when you say wow, what happened look
at that so we need to be doing stuff on that level. Now this government and I was here when we
talked about taking the government complex, Natasha, and putting it out at the Regency Mall. We
were going to buy that building and put all the government complex but we didn’t do it. We
proposed a racetrack in South Augusta. It would’ve brought all kinds of money in and we didn’t
do it. Now we want to do, take the James Brown Arena which we ain’t heard nothing about James
Brown before he made the song Say it Loud I’m Black and I’m Proud, we ain’t heard nothing since
then yet we start talking about the James Brown Arena. Now everybody wants to kill it. The
location is the ideal location I got no doubt and if somebody else at home or in here that’s got a
better location then they need to speak up and show it. But as far as the location the location is the
ideal location and I agree we need to negotiate to do something that’s going to attract people and
money. We need to create a tourist destination here. And there’s another entertainer another local
person that we can use their name like we can James Brown to attract the people we’ll use him or
her. But I don’t know no other name that we can use in the City of Augusta that we’re going to
help this city economically like we need to help. So we can talk about it all day long about ain’t
going to make it but we have to be able to do some things. We’ve got to be able to put some stuff
in place where folks will from all over the world will want to come to this city. And if you ever
travel anywhere and you mention you’re from Augusta, ain’t but two names are going to come up.
That’s the Augusta National and James Brown. They don’t know nothing about Columbia County,
they don’t know about Evans, they don’t know about nothing but James Brown and the Augusta
National because he’s known and those two entities are known all over the world. So we need to
build on that. We need to make sure that we do this, thank you, Mr. Mayor.
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Mr. Todd: Mr. Mayor, I believe the plan of what it’s supposed to look like or may look
like is on the screen (inaudible).
Mr. Mayor: That’s quite all right. All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from
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the 5.
Mr. Jefferson: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. The Augusta Richmond County Civic Center that’s
located downtown at one time we had arena football, one time we had ice hockey. We’ve had
college basketball games there, we’ve had boxing matches that were televised on ESPN coming
live to you from Augusta, Georgia. Now we are talking about building a complex in South
Augusta, let’s just say the Regency Mall location. Now, what we’re talking about right now is a
shell of a building. Now with marketing best way our coliseum management will come in and our
promoters. Now if we just build a building just to have concerts once in a while when performers
are on a circuit from Columbia to Augusta up and down the east coast true, we’re looking at about
52 times a year. But if we think outside the box as my colleague stated earlier whenever there’s a
banquet for any organization we’re using either the Marriott in Augusta or the Double Tree. Now
that complex should be built with a banquet facility that could be rented out that will hold anywhere
from 600-plus people. Also greenspace will be there so that an event we have right now the
Augusta Common for 60 days of the Ice Follies it could be held out there in greenspace. We’re
looking at not just a building but we’re looking at a complex that will house and secure the people
on one location and it will have space to hold let’s say a winter wonderland for Christmas and
you’ve got to look at using the total complex not just outside. The Georgia High School
Association for years used the Centerplex in Macon, Georgia. Now they recently started using
Georgia Tech. But if we build a facility that’s noteworthy we could put ourselves in line the same
way the Mercedes Benz Stadium did with the Atlanta Falcons not just to hold a football but to hold
multipurpose national championships like the Mercedes Benz. We could hold Georgia High
School Association tournaments here in Augusta at least put in a bid for it. AAU Basketball in the
summertime could be used there and also ESPN has not forgotten about Augusta but they’re
looking for great locations to marvel over when they have Boxing after Dark. So what we got to
do is stop polarizing ourselves with South Augusta, West Augusta, East Augusta, the west side of
town. What we need to do is look at what it's worth. In a few weeks you have seen Wrightsboro
Road where Augusta Mall is handle traffic (unintelligible) to twice as much traffic at Christmas
time. At Christmas time if you could handle traffic coming and going at the end of an event with
the proper police guidance, you could handle traffic from the Gordon Highway, Deans Bridge
Road location without any congestion, without any hiccups. So, what we have to do is utilize what
we have. We have a jewel in the rough in the location. I won’t make a dime off of it. No one on
the dais will make a dime off of it but what you must look at Augusta regardless who they bring if
there’s no such thing is they won’t come to South Augusta to see it. If they brought Celine Dion
tomorrow I would buy ten tickets to go because you are able to get the caliber of entertainment
with a big enough facility and ample parking with security. Now I know I’m going long. I’m
going to cut it off at that point but I just want my colleagues to know I’ve sat here the better part
of a year and not said very much. But it’s time that we all think outside the box and utilize what
Augusta has to offer and that is prime Richmond County soil in the City of Augusta that we could
hold a great amount of people with ease. Thank you very much for that overage, Mr. Mayor.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 1.
Mr. Fennoy: Yes, Mr. Mayor. It’s not too often that I agree with Commissioner Moses
Todd and it’s not too often that I agree with Commissioner Marion Williams. I’ve received a lot
of phone calls from businesses and residents that live in District 1 because they want to see the
arena downtown. And one of the comments that was made to me is that you represent downtown
and should want to see the arena downtown but what I had to remind people that I represent
downtown Augusta but also represent Augusta. I want to see downtown Augusta grow and
progress but I also want to see Augusta grow and progress. We can’t have and every conference
and convention that I have attended they talk about the importance of downtown Augusta because
that’s where your tax base, that’s where your tax money is going to be generated from and I agree
with that and I support that but I also think that we just can’t neglect other parts of Augusta. Now
several of my colleagues have talked about development in South Augusta. Now when you talk
about this project right here and you talking about development I mean this is it. This is it. It seems
hypocritical for someone to say I want to see South Augusta grow and then turn around and not
consider a project such as this. Again, it’s rare that I could agree with Commissioner Williams
and Commissioner Moses Todd at the same time and as soon as I get home I’m going to make a
notation in my calendar that this is something that was done. But I want to see I really want to see
Augusta grow. I want to see all parts of Augusta grow and I don’t think any part of Augusta should
be ignored. Thank you, sir.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Commissioner Fennoy. Thank you, Mr. Todd, and all the
Commissioners. This issue is an item on our regular agenda and it is my hope that much of the
conversation that I’ve heard that there’s still some more left in the reserve tank to talk about
because this is an important issue. It’s Item 27 on our actually Item 28 on our agenda and it
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certainly merits a great deal more conversation. I think I like what the Commissioner from the 5
said, Commissioner Hasan, that he’s sat here about a year and hadn’t said anything. I’ve sat here
for four months and I’ve watched the media assassinate my character and my good name. I’ve
watched Facebook friendly’s and frenemy’s do the same thing and I’ve said nothing. And so what
I’m going to do because we do have some other business in front of us is that since we have a
captive audience today, I’m going to say something and I’m going to say something in a way that’s
constructive but in a way that allows me to say what has not been said but also allows me to explain
to those that are watching, those that are listening and those that are video taping to hear from me
about why I’ve supported this as the site. No longer the innuendo, no longer the calling me a
crook, strong arming which I think the majority of the people recognize as not true but you’re
going to hear from me today. All right, Madam Clerk, let’s move forward.
The Clerk: I call your attention to our consent agenda which consists of Items 1-25, Items
1-25. If there are any objectors to one of our Planning petitions would you please signify your
objection by raising your hand. I call your attention to:
Item 1: Is a request for a Special Exception to establish and Inert Landfill in an Heavy
Industry Zone located on property known as 1710 Dixon Airline Road.
Item 2: Is a request for a Special Exception to establish a Family Personal Care Home on
property located at 2704 Vernon Drive.
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The Clerk: Are there any objectors to either of those Planning petitions? Mr. Todd, would
you note which one?
Mr. Todd: (Inaudible).
The Clerk: Okay.
Mr. Mayor: It’s Item 1 on ---
The Clerk: Item number one.
Mr. Mayor: --- Item number one on your agenda okay.
The Clerk: Our consent agenda Items 1-25 with one objector to Item 1.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, Madam Clerk, if we could add the following items to the consent agenda
Item number 31, Item number 26, ---
Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Mayor, I’ve got a question about Item 31.
Mr. Mayor: --- okay.
Mr. Fennoy: And if, are we are we selecting one person or everybody?
Mr. Mayor: Everybody.
The Clerk: Everybody.
Mr. Fennoy: And the reason I asked that question it said due to the resignation of one
person.
Mr. Mayor: That’s true ---
The Clerk: Yes, Ms. Kathy Schofe she resigned, Dr. Reverend Paulwyn Boliek, they’re
recommending that he replace Ms. Schofe. All the others are reappointments, Mr. Kendrick, Mr.
Gardiner and Ms. Moore.
Mr. Fennoy: All right, I have my answer.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. D. Williams: Mr. Mayor, (unintelligible) I’m sorry.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, thank you. Mr. Mayor, I’m going to pull Item number one, I think
I heard something about, yes okay.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, item’s pulled. All right, the Chair recognizes ---
Mr. D. Williams: I’d like to pull Item number 17.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. Mayor: I’d like to pull Item 19 and Item 14 I need some clarity on 14 please, item 14.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, so we’re pulling Item 19 and 14?
Mr. M. Williams: Right.
Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes, sir?
Mr. Sias: (Inaudible).
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Mr. Mayor: 26 and 31. Okay, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 1.
Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Mayor, I’d like to add Item number 28 to the consent agenda.
Mr. Mayor: With objection.
Mr. Mayor: With objection.
Mr. D. Williams: Good try.
Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair will entertain a motion.
Mr. Sias: So moved.
Mr. Frantom: Second.
CONSENT AGENDA
PLANNING
2. Z-17-40 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Planning Commission to approve
with the below stated conditions petition by Angela Bates requesting a Special Exception to
establish a Family Personal Care Home per Section 26-1-H of the Comprehensive Zoning
Ordinance for Augusta Georgia affecting property containing .57 acres and known as 2704
Vernon Drive. Tax Map 096-1-205-000 DISTRICT 5 1. The home shall be staffed in three (3)
8-hour shifts on a 7-day, 24-hour basis with no staff sleeping in the home. 2. A private room
shall be provided for staff to conduct business. 3. No more than four (4) clients are permitted
to reside in the home, based on the number and size of the existing bedrooms. 4. In order to
continue to maintain a local business license, the applicant must continue to maintain a
license with the State of Georgia, proof of compliance with the minimum requirements of
Chapter 111.8-62.01 of the O.C.G.A must be provided, and the applicant must provide
updated fire department compliance for four (4) clients. All requirements must be met within
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six (6) months of approval of the Special Exception, or the Special Exception is void. 5. If
wheelchair bound persons reside in the residence all 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible
Design requirements must be met, including but not limited to: • All doorways must be at
least 3 feet wide. • At least one bathroom that permits a wheelchair dependent person to use
all bathroom facilities unimpeded. 6. All conditions must be met prior to issuance of a local
business license. 7. If approved, a security system to insure the safety and welfare of the
residents must be installed by the property owner before a business license shall be issued.
8. Staff will review the most recent area crime report to determine whether the use should
continue to operate following one (1) year of the effective date of approval.
PUBLIC SERVICES
3. Motion to approve a resolution permitting the Mayor to execute Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) Grants having expedited deadlines for the Fiscal Year 2018 and 2019
as approved by the Augusta Aviation Commission on November 30, 2017. (Approved by
Public Services Committee December 12, 2017)
4. Motion to approve a resolution permitting the Mayor to execute Georgia Department of
Transportation Grants (GDOT) having expedited deadlines for the Fiscal Year 2018 and
2019 as approved by the Augusta Aviation Commission at their November 30, 2017 meeting.
(Approved by Public Services Committee December 12, 2017)
5. Motion to approve an agreement with Airline Data, Inc. to provide aviation statistical
data services for the Augusta Regional Airport as approved by the Augusta Aviation
Commission on November 30, 2017. (Approved by Public Services Committee December 12,
2017)
6. Motion to approve authorization for Augusta to submit a Pre-Application with the
Georgia Natural Resources Department for 2017-2018 Recreational Trails Program (RTP)
grant. (Approved by Public Services Committee December 12, 2017)
7. Motion to approve the zoning restriction agreement between Augusta Regional Airport
and the City of Augusta, GA as approved by the Augusta Aviation Commission November
30, 2017. (Approved by Public Services Committee December 12, 2017)
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
8. Motion to approve the new compensation schedule developed by the Archer Company as
part of the Classification and Compensation Study effective January 1, 2018 (Exhibit I);
authorize the implementation plan as outlined by the Administrator in a budget summary
document dated November 21, 2017 (Exhibit II-page 4); and, authorize the transfer of funds
from contingency in order to implement the plan. (Approved by Administrative Services
Committee December 12, 2017)
9. Motion to approve prioritized list from the Administrator and staff regarding the
recommendation outlined within the Facility Space Allocation Plan. (Approved by
Administrative Services Committee December 12, 2017)
10. Motion to approve Housing and Community Development Department’s (HCD’s)
contract procedural process relative to authorization of agreements/contract/HUD forms for
the various federal programs administered by the Department for program/calendar year
2018) (Approved by Administrative Services Committee December 12, 2017)
11. Motion to deny the Protest of Humdinger Equipment, LTD regarding ITB 17-273
Landfill Compactor for the Augusta, Georgia – Environmental Services Department and to
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lift the stay of procurement in accordance with Augusta, GA Code. (Approved by
Administrative Services Committee December 12, 2017)
PUBLIC SAFETY
12. Motion to approve a request from the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office for funding to
support the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) Region #5 Chemical,
Biological, Nuclear, Explosive (CBRNE) team. The amount is $42,962.00. (Approved by
Public Safety Committee December 12, 2017)
13. Motion to accept an award in the amount of $6,000.00 from the Department of Homeland
Security for the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office Bomb K-9 Unit. The monies will assist
RCSO in sustaining the Bomb-K-9. (Approved by Public Safety Committee December 12,
2017)
15. Motion to approve CSRA Probation Services, Inc. as company to provide Superior Court
with probation supervision services for misdemeanor violations in the Augusta Judicial
Circuit. (Approved by Public Safety Committee December 17, 2017)
16. Motion to approve recommended service provider RFP 17-262 for the Augusta Judicial
Circuit Adult Felony Drug Court program. (Approved by Public Safety Committee
December 17, 2017)
ENGINEERING SERVICES
18. Motion to determine that Canterbury Drive, North of Ramsgate Road, as shown on the
attached map has ceased to be used by the public to the extent that no substantial public
purpose is served by it or that its removal from the county road system is otherwise in the
best public interest, and to receive as information the results of the public hearing held
regarding the issue of abandonment pursuant to O.C.G.A. §32-7-2, with the abandoned
property to be quite-claimed to the appropriate party(ies), as provided by law and easement
to be retained over the entire abandoned portion for existing or future utilities-as directed
by Augusta Engineering Department and Augusta Utilities Department and adopt the
attached Resolution. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee December 12, 2017)
20. Motion to approve the purchase of five (5) 4-inch emergency backup pumps for the
Utilities Department to be used at wastewater lift stations. (Approved by Engineering
Services Committee December 12, 2017)
21. Motion to approve award of Construction Contract to Reeves Construction Company in
the amount of $4,653,252.00 for Transportation Investment Act (TIA) Project, North Leg
Road Improvements Project – Phase II as requested by AED. Award is contingent upon
receipt of signed contracts and proper bonds (ITB 17-264). (Approved by Engineering
Services Committee December 12, 2017)
22. Motion to approve awarding contract to P&H Supply Co., for Bid Item #17-281 for
Pipeline Inspection System. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee December 12,
2017)
23. Motion to approve Procurement of Replacement Parts for Hypochlorite Generation
Equipment. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee December 12, 2017)
PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS
24. Motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of the Commission held December
5, 2017, and Special Called meeting held December 12, 2017.
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APPOINTMENTS
25. Motion to ratify the following Augusta Legislative Delegations’ appointments and
reappointments:
Aishia Leverett, Augusta Port Authority; Cedric Johnson, Coliseum Authority; Leon Maben
and Clyde Lester, Historic Preservation Commission; Riverfront Review Board Kim Terry
and John Lee; Ulmer Bridges and Ken Bonds, Personnel Board.
PUBLIC SERVICES
26. Motion to approve GDOT Grant Contract 54, Runway 17/35 Remark and Rehabilitation,
Runway Incursion Markings, Air Carrier and GA Apron Rehabilitation Design, Airport
Drainage Master Plan, and Airport Access Control System Design Project No. AP018-9000-
54 (245) PID-T006596 in amount of $177,379.00.
APPOINTMENTS
31. Consider recommendations from the Department of Family and Children Services Board
to reappoint James Kendrick, Dr. Thomas Gardiner, Dorothy Moore, Dr. Josue Sanchez and
Mr. Paulwyn Boliek due to the resignation of Ms. Kathy Schofe.
Mr. Mayor: Voting.
Motion Passed 10-0. \[Items 2-13, 15, 16, 18, 20-26, 31\]
The Clerk:
PLANNING
1. Z-17-28 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Planning Commission to approve
with the below stated conditions a petition by KSS Properties requesting a Special Exception
to establish an Inert Landfill in the HI (Heavy Industrial) Zone per Section 24-2 (18) of the
Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance for Augusta-Richmond County affecting property
containing approximately 150 acres and known as 1710 Dixon Airline Road Tax Map 145-0-
033-00-0 Continued from August 2017. DISTRICT 6 1. Approval be granted for an inert
landfill only. This approval shall in no way be considered as an endorsement of or prelude
to any other operation such as a C&D facility. 2. Any construction or demolition waste or
other materials that can be leached into the water table deposited at this location prior to the
date of this zoning action must be removed within 90 days of zoning approval for the inert
landfill; 3. The inert landfill must have approval by Georgia EPD via the Solid Waste
Management Program. The site must comply with all Site Limitations as defined by Georgia
EPD, must submit a Design and Operations Plan, must hold a public hearing prior to the
issuance of a permit for operation, and must meet all other applicable regulations pursuant
to Georgia’s Rules for Solid Waste Management. 4. An inspection by the City of Augusta
and an inspection by the Georgia EPD be conducted and any deficiencies found be remedied
prior to the issuance of a permit by Georgia EPD and a business license by the City of
Augusta; 5. Georgia EPD needs to be provided documentation to the City of Augusta that
they approve the use of the landfill pit in the southern part of the property as a slurry pit.
Any additional permitting as required by Georgia EPD, or the City of Augusta, for a slurry
pit be secured prior to the issuance of a permit by Georgia EPD and a business license by the
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City of Augusta. If the slurry pit cannot be properly permitted, for whatever reason, then
the slurry pit shall be removed prior to the issuance of a permit by Georgia EPD and a
business license by the City of Augusta; 6. The inert landfill must have review and approval
by Georgia EPD via the Solid Waste Management Program. The site must comply with all
Site Limitations as defined by Georgia EPD, must submit a Design and Operation Plan, must
hold a public hearing prior to the issuance of a permit for operation, and must meet all other
applicable regulations pursuant to Georgia’s Rules for Solid Waste Management. 7. The
Development Plan for this inert landfill must comply with any other State and Federal
ordinances and regulations in effect at the time of development.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, Ms. Wilson, okay yes, come forward. All right, the Chair recognizes
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the Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. May I address Ms. Wilson please?
Mr. Mayor: Absolutely, please, sir.
Mr. Hasan: Ms. Wilson, how are you doing today?
Ms. Wilson: Fine, how are you doing, sir?
Mr. Hasan: This site, is it currently isn’t it currently zoned as an inert landfill?
Ms. Wilson: Currently it is. It lost its Special Exception because of a number of code
enforcement violations. Those violations have since been remedied and this a request to
reestablish it as an inert landfill.
Mr. Hasan: Okay, have you got any pushback say from the church that’s located next to it
in the vicinity of it or anything?
Ms. Wilson: No, not for this particular request.
Mr. Hasan: And my final question is in relation to it I know it’s the very same site that I
think attempting if I’m not mistaken you can correct me the C&D what impact if any does it have
on what they’re requesting today does it give leeway into that or does it, I mean that’s my question.
Ms. Wilson: The C&D is a totally separate request. This is only for the inert landfill. And
as a matter of fact the way the report is written it implies that this in no way basically supports a
C&D landfill. This is only for the inert landfill.
Mr. Hasan: All right, thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Motion to approve.
Mr. G. Smith: Second.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you. Ms. Wilson ---
Ms. Wilson: Yes, sir.
Mr. M. Williams: --- now you stated they had lost the licensing I guess at one point is that
what you just stated?
Ms. Wilson: What I said is that they had a Special Exception a number of years ago. With
Special Exceptions if you leave them and don’t use them for those uses you lose the Special
Exception so therefore they had to come back and reapply.
Mr. M. Williams: So this is a reapplication. They don’t have the license now.
Ms. Wilson: That’s correct, they do not have a license now.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Hasan asked the question and you said they was, you know, they had a
license. I’m hearing two things because if they lost them and now they’re reapplying. That means
they don’t have them, right?
Ms. Wilson: I’m sorry not unless I misunderstood what he asked I didn’t assume that he
was asking if they had a license for an inert landfill. I think he was, correct me, sir, I think he
asked if this was in essence moving it forward for a C&D landfill. They do not have a license for
that. At this point they do not have a license for an inert landfill either. They are here to request
a Special Exception so that they can move forward with getting approval from the other state
agencies to reestablish the inert landfill.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay, we’ll agree to disagree I heard, I mean I sat in on the Planning
and Zoning when it came through as well and I heard Mr. Hasan’s question, the second question
was about the C&D. But my question was asked then that I’m asking now what was the airport’s
response to this because no one from the airport showed up at the Planning and Zoning meeting.
And I had this brought through and I was told that they had a letter that the airport was fine with
it, it was no problem and I guess that’s my question now.
Ms. Wilson: Okay, sir, they basically what happened was this, and if you’ll recall got
pushed back for 90 days in order for them to reach out to the FAA and the airport to get a ruling
on whether this would require any additional work. They did get, we did hear back from the FAA
and for this particular use there were no findings. So they’ve gone through the process that we
asked them to go through to address concerns that the airport may have had. Now I haven’t heard
of any additional concerns from the airport and I think Mr. Judon is still probably here. He may be
able to answer or let you know if there are additional concern’s but I haven’t received any
additional concerns.
Mr. M. Williams: I like to hear from him if I can, Mr. Mayor, Mr. Judon, if you will. And,
Mr. Mayor, if I can my comment is it’s not to hold this up but with the cyber industry changing,
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moving in this direction the additional flights we’re talking about in what we’re talking about
doing I need to know from the airport itself whether or not they are in favor of this or not because
I did ask that question at Planning and Zoning. Mr. Judon, I’m just trying to figure out from the
airport perspective are you in favor of what they are trying to get approved today?
Mr. Judon: The Airport Commission generated a letter several months ago in opposition
to this and there were three points or three action steps that were in that particular letter. As Ms.
Wilson mentioned we asked them to have a review by the FAA and also the Georgia Department
of Transportation, their Aviation Division, and they did go back to both of those organizations.
Those organizations both found there not to be any type of adverse impact by virtue of having an
inert landfill in that particular location. And the third point that was made in the letter was a
concern or at least an awareness about the development in and around the airport just to again to
think a little futuristic in terms of how we want to develop in and around the airport in terms of
compatible type of businesses around the airport so those were the three point that were in the
letter and it was letter of opposition.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay, in your mind you’re saying your letter or their letter from the
EPA or EPD which you said?
Mr. Judon: It was a letter generated by the Airport Commission which again made those
points for review by the FAA, reviewed by GDOT. FAA and GDOT did not find any adverse,
they basically said that an inert landfill does not have an adverse impact on aviation or airport
operations. And again, the third point was just again in terms of planning in and around the airport
in terms of compatible uses.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay and I stated this before I don’t know how the birds who feed on
landfills would know whether or not there’s anything there they would have to stop by. I don’t
think they can see it from the air and say there’s nothing there for me to eat. I’ve got constituents
that put everything together and that would be my concern as an elected official to make sure that
nothing happens to a plane or somebody’s safety because it’s an inert landfill or any other kind.
So if you’re comfortable with it, I’m okay. I just needed to hear from you. I just needed to know.
You’re saying you’re comfortable with it, right?
Mr. Judon: Again the Commission’s ---
Mr. M. Williams: I understand that; I’m not trying to put you on the spot. I asked you, I
need to know if you’re comfortable. If you’re not comfortable with it, just say you’re not. If you
are, say you are.
Mr. Judon: --- again, from an aviation perspective, sir, there is no inert landfill from the
FAA’s perspective there is not a hazard. Again, it’s typically a solid waste landfill ---
Mr. M. Williams: I understand.
Mr. Judon: --- that a bird attracts it, an animal attracts it, et cetera.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay all right everybody just hold your horses. Let’s raise our hands. The
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Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Judon ---
Mr. Judon: Yes, sir.
Mr. Sias: --- you outlined three points and said the third one was the in accordance with
development plans or perspective development plans around the airport, that wasn’t, you didn’t
feel this inert landfill the letter from the Aviation Commission felt like that didn’t fit. Does the
airport own land next to this landfill proposal?
Mr. Judon: The inert landfill is approximately about .6 miles away from the airport and
there’s some land a little bit closer to the proposed inert landfill that the airport is possibly going
to purchase for some of our operations.
Mr. Sias: I just need, I’m going to ask you a simple straight question and I would appreciate
a simple straight answer. Was the Aviation Commission in favor of this landfill or against it?
Mr. Judon: Against it.
Mr. Sias: Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, the Chair will entertain a motion.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Motion to approve.
Mr. G. Smith: Second.
Mr. Mayor: All right, I’ve got a motion and a second.
Mr. Hasan: I’d like to make a substitute motion.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, we’ve got a motion and a second. All right, the Chair recognizes the
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Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, I’d like to make a motion to deny based on the airport governing
authority’s position on this and an attempt to purchase additional property around there, I’d like to
make a motion to deny.
Mr. Sias: Second.
Mr. Mayor: All right, I’ve got a substitute motion with a proper second. All those in favor
of the substitute will vote in accordance.
Mr. Guilfoyle and Mr. G. Smith vote No.
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Mr. Fennoy out.
Motion Passes 7-2.
The Clerk:
PUBLIC SAFETY
14. Motion to approve a request from the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office for
authorization to use funds from the Sheriff’s Surplus Sale in the amount of ($14,749.63) to
purchase equipment to enhance operations. (Approved by Public Safety Committee
December 12, 2017)
Mr. Mayor: Ms. Bonner, before we move on I know I’m on this other item. Madam
Administrator, I want to ask you a question with regards to Environmental Services. Last year if
memory serves me correctly these same petitioners came before us and asked us to consider our, I
guess waste management plan and it was supposed to be updated at the top of this year and there
was work again the dates may escape me but that was on the table. Can you bring me up to speed,
bring this body up to speed with where we are with regards to that? And again, if I’m putting you
on the spot just tell me that since we’re here I at least want to know where we are.
Ms. Jackson: I can give you some information to fill in the blanks, sir. Yes, we received
a petition to reopen the Dixon Airline Road request. It wasn’t in the form of a petition as I recall
it, it was just a request to open it as a C&D landfill. At that time I believe the Commission voted
in the affirmative as in being receptive to that idea however with the understanding that our local
solid waste management plan would have to be updated and approved by the State of Georgia in
order to get that C&D landfill in place. As I understand from Director Wilson and she can help
fill in the blanks if I don’t have this correct, but as I understand that the inert landfill itself would
have to be reopened as a first step in order to even move toward the C&D because obviously
they’re different levels of landfills with different requirements. They’d have to get, jump this
hurdle first before they could ever move to a C&D. We are in the process of getting the solid
waste management plan updated. We’ve put out an RFP, there have been vendors selected. I
understand a preferred vendor has been identified but that contract has not yet been signed.
Mr. Mayor: And that’s for the purposes of updating.
Ms. Jackson: Updating the solid waste management plan that would in turn have to be
completed and submitted to the State of Georgia.
Mr. Mayor: Okay and this was an action we took at the top of the year if I remember
correctly.
Ms. Jackson: At some point during last year, I don’t remember the specific dates.
Mr. Mayor: Okay and the action of this body just now, does it not effectively mute, negate
that corresponding action going forward?
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Ms. Jackson: It would appear to but again I’d have to research that one to be clear on
where we go from here with it since it’s a contradictory direction.
Mr. Mayor: Right, that’s correct, okay.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, can I say something please?
Mr. Mayor: Hold on a second ---
Mr. Hasan: Okay.
Mr. Mayor: --- Attorney Mackenzie, can you speak to this (inaudible).
Mr. MacKenzie: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: Again, the action that this body just took with regards to a prior action does
this not negate that?
Mr. MacKenzie: Well, if one of the requirements to get the C&D license is that you are a
first in operation is the regular inert landfill then this would have an impact to preclude the C&D
at least to this point. It would not stop the applicant from going back through the process to get
and obtain an opportunity to get the inert license first. But it would seem inconsistent with the
direction of moving forward with including that analysis as part of the plan that the consultant is
going to do and then not need any information because they’re not to that level. However, if the
petitioner comes back and ultimately gets the inert then that information would still be needed to
be able to move forward with the C&D.
Mr. Mayor: But is it not true that this body approved updating the solid waste management
plan with those initial conditions? Having then communicated and now we’ve come back and said
that that’s not what we’re doing.
Mr. MacKenzie: Well, it’s my understand that that was something that needed to be done
anyway. It wasn’t because of the request to have a C&D. That was just part of the analysis but
the update needed to done for other reasons as well.
Mr. Mayor: Okay and so from a directional standpoint, would you call this action a neutral
action such that the petitioner could in fact come back or not?
Mr. MacKenzie: Well, there’s certain procedures that require for a petitioner to go through
the process again and he would certainly still be open to doing that. It was just an action at this
level and he can have those remedies available.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right I just want to remind everybody this is what you said before.
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Now this is what you’re doing. All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6.
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Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor, I think the final comments of the Attorney
was exactly right and that was exactly the update was something we needed to do anyway. It
didn’t do it to bring the C&D on. It didn’t guarantee it a spot, a slot to operate. It was just maybe
a consideration and had to be done as a plan that we was going to be doing. It did not guarantee it
an opportunity to operate, it didn’t guarantee it that. Obviously it could not have done that just to
do that. If you think about the action like you said that was taken today because it would have first
said that you needed to be an inert landfill based on what I’m hearing now which I was not aware
of to say that you needed to be an inert landfill first and then you could become a part of that so it
was not an automatic process. The only thing that was automatic there was that we needed to do
the revision of our plan and that C&D would be considered. It was not guaranteed. Thank you,
Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: I fully understood that as well, Commissioner, that it was not automatic. I just
want to make sure we all understand that slippery slope here. All right, the Chair recognizes the
Commissioner from the ---
th,
Mr. M. Williams: The 9 Mr. Mayor.
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Mr. Mayor: --- yes, the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: I wanted to refer back to the Clerk because I’m trying to remember when
this came back at the beginning of the year when we looked at this. Did we decide to do that, to
look at that anyway or were we already in the process of doing that because I think our Director at
that time said we wasn’t in favor of doing and I’m hearing this conversation now so what, Ms.
Bonner, can you help me out?
The Clerk: Well, they decided to the plan to update the plan in order to consider Mr.
McLeod’s request. The plan needed to be updated so that’s where we are now.
Mr. M. Williams: I’m trying to remember.
Mr. Mayor: Yeah well I remember exactly what Ms. Bonner said that the only reason we
were in fact updating the plan is effectively because of this item being brought to us ---
The Clerk: It needed to be updated.
Mr. Mayor: --- it needed to be updated in order to give consideration and again to give
consideration to that. Not to debate it again but I know that you’ve got multiple actions that are
going on, one that had a suspense date and time that we don’t have at this point and I’m hoping
that we will like real soon.
Ms. Jackson: Seventeen has to do with the Law Enforcement Center.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 8.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Mr. Mayor, I’m just riding on the previous agenda item.
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Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir.
Mr. Guilfoyle: The C&D landfill is what Wright McLeod was trying to go after earlier this
year which I believe it was by the majority of the Commission did not want to do that and we, one
of the colleagues actually had on the agenda that any garbage or debris that’s produced by Augusta
Richmond County stays in Richmond County in our landfill. But this what he’s applying for is an
inert landfill. It’s not garbage, it’s actually earth produced products bricks, concrete etc. It’s not
going to affect the airport whatsoever because there’s nothing there to attract birds. There’s no
food in this inert. It’s just basically yard waste and construction, you know, bricks and mortar.
Mr. Mayor: Yeah, I know.
Mr. Guilfoyle: And I just it was one there before and we have some throughout our city
but it ain’t in direct competition, I don’t believe, with our solid waste so anyway.
Mr. Mayor: And again my only reason for revisiting it was the issue around the solid waste
management plan. All right, Madam Clerk we are on Item 14. The Chair recognizes the
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Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I’m in support of this item my question would
be is this all of the money that we’ve got in the surplus sales I guess is what I’m asking. How
much more is there this $14,749 is that the balance or is that, Donna?
Ms. Williams: It’s the balance that is in the sales of surplus from the Sheriff’s Department.
Mr. M. Williams: That’s the balance?
Ms. Williams: Yes, sir.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay, so after this then, until we sell something else.
Ms. Williams: Until something else is sold that belongs, that comes through the Sheriff’s
Department this will take care of the balance ---
Mr. M. Williams: Okay.
Ms. Williams: --- that’s kind of unlikely to happen before now and the end of the year.
Mr. M. Williams: All right, I understand.
Ms. Williams: Okay.
Mr. M. Williams: I make a motion to approve, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Fennoy: Second.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ve got a motion and a second to approve. Voting.
Motion Passes 10-0.
The Clerk:
PUBLIC SAFETY
17. Motion to approve the Administrator’s recommendations of Option A to evaluate the
feasibility of renovating the Joint Law Enforcement Center and Option B to determine a
firm cost estimate to perform the work if Option A is determined to be feasible. (Approved
by Public Safety Committee December 12, 2017)
Mr. G. Smith: Motion to approve.
Mr. Fennoy: Second.
Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ve got a motion and a second, everybody suspend. The Chair
recognizes the Commissioner from the second.
Mr. D. Williams: Yes, Mr. Mayor, I have a letter that I would like to read into the record.
The Clerk: Would you like for the Clerk to read that?
Mr. D. Williams: Well, then let Madam Clerk, I don’t have to read it.
Mr. Mayor: I’m not trying to take anything away from you.
Mr. D. Williams: I know (inaudible).
Mr. Mayor: Don’t let Commissioner Hasan tell you I was trying to take anything away
from you.
Mr. D. Williams: (inaudible).
Mr. Hasan: If you don’t know I’ll remind you.
The Clerk: This letter is from Chief Judge Carl C. Brown, Jr. to the Honorable Hardie
Davis, Jr., Mayor, Commissioners William Fennoy, Dennis Williams, Mary Davis, Sammie Sias,
Andrew Jefferson, Ben Hasan, Sean Frantom, Wayne Guilfoyle, Marion Williams and Grady
Smith regarding preservation of 401 Walton Way. Dear Mayor and Commissioners in an effort to
prevent taxpayers from paying for another Feasibility Study regarding preserving 401 Walton Way
the following professionals have agreed to conduct a Feasibility Study and provide a report to you
by January 31, 2018. Mr. James Hull, Owner Hull Property Group, Mr. Dan Troutman, President
ACES, Mr. Christopher Booker, Architect, these experts have already opined that it is feasible. If
you elect to go forward with another taxpayer-funded study, they will conduct a parallel study and
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provide a written report. The following members of the Task Force for the Preservation of 401
Walton Way support this request. State Representative Barry Fleming, Dr. Charles Larke, Mr.
J.R. Riles, Mr. Larry Grant, Mr. Jack Long, Mr. John R.B. Long, Solicitor General Omeka
Loggins, Mrs. DeCara B. Myers, Ms. Ingrid Hicks, Mr. Sean Brooks and Judge Douglas Flanagan.
They are also exploring funding sources for the preservation and usage of this facility. Sincerely,
Carl C. Brown, Jr.
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 2.
Mr. D. Williams: Thank you, Madam Clerk. I’d like to have the Administrator to address
the issue.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Ms. Jackson: Yes, just to summarize what the options were as presented last week we did
have a conversation with Cranston Engineering who provided two proposals, one proposal
provides for a scope of work in the amount of about $23,000 dollars. That scope of work would
be an initial assessment of the building to determine if it could reasonably be rehabilitated for use
by the Juvenile Court. The idea here would be to have the first scope of work being Option A
done for that smaller amount of money and then if that study reveals that it would be reasonable
to think that you could use the building, they would then develop some very specific cost estimates
of what it would take to do the rehab so that was the information placed before the committee last
week.
Mr. D. Williams: Thank you, Madam Administrator.
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4.
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Mr. Sias: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. If I may ask my colleague from the 2 a question. Are
you asking that we approve this in accordance with the letter provided by the Judge?
Mr. D. Williams: No, sir, because we have to look into the matter with them being an
outside agency if we could possibly do it or not.
Mr. Sias: Well, I think we had a path forward but if you look at, if you analyze this
particular letter it says the folks that they’re asking to do the study has already agreed to it. Now
you know that’s for me that’s the fox in the henhouse so for example I support the agenda item as
stated and as is but I can’t support it under the way it’s been presented versus with this letter. I
just don’t see the accountability there. So for most definitely now you want inject that letter into
it then I’m going to be voting no and advocating against it. But if you want to proceed how we
already have it set up I’m all for it. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 2.
Mr. D. Williams: To my dear colleague what the letter is doing is outlining those
individuals that’s supporting the effort and they’re saying that they will be able to do it
24
independently, not independently but along with if we choose to use another source that’s all. And
they’re not saying that they’re already convinced, you know, if they’re already convinced that it’s
a possibility that they could use the building but we still don’t know how much the cost is. The
cost is the main thing to determine what the cost to redo the building to make it suitable.
Mr. Sias: I suggest you take another look at that letter.
Mr. Mayor: All right hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on. All right ---
Mr. D. Williams: We got a vote.
Mr. Mayor: --- okay all right going forward you direct your questions and your rebuttal to
the Chair. That’s what your rules state and that’s what we’ll do. All right, we’ve got a motion and
a proper second. All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the1st.
Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Mayor, I’d like to make a substitute motion, is that we wait until
st
after we hear from the study that’s, after the 31 let them bring their report back to us and
then we decide how we want to move forward with this.
Mr. Frantom: Second.
Mr. Mayor: All right, I’ve got a substitute motion with a proper second.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, I need to get my cleaned out I already voted. I need to get it cleaned
out.
Mr. Mayor: We’ll clean it out. All right, everybody suspend. All right, Ms. McFarley,
would you clear the machine? All right, very well.
Mr. Hasan: Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: We’ve got a substitute motion with a proper second and, Madam Clerk, do we
have the motion, the substitute?
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The Clerk: Yes, sir, to wait until after the January 31 study and then proceed with the
decision.
Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, all those in favor will vote yea and those opposed will vote no.
Voting.
Mr. D. Williams, Mr. Sias, Mr. Hasan and Mr. G. Smith.
Motion Passes 6-4.
st.
Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 1 State your inquiry.
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Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Mayor, I think that if there’s anything specifically that we will want this
group to bring back to us in reference to 401 such as if they decide that’s it’s feasible to move
forward if they could present us with some, a cost of how much it would cost to renovate it that
they bring that back to us at that particular time.
Mr. Mayor: All right. Madam Administrator.
Ms. Jackson: We can certainly make note of that to the study committee.
Mr. Fennoy: Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: All right. Madam Clerk, 19.
The Clerk:
ENGINEERING SERVICES
19. Motion to approve the One-Year Extension of the Agreement between Augusta and
Unimin Corporation for the Purchase of Landfill Gas. (Approved by Engineering Services
Committee December 12, 2017)
Mr. Mayor: Okay, I think Ms. Lori Videtto is coming to talk to that matter but I’m going
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to recognize the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I just wanted to get some details on the amount.
This is a one-year extension. I guess I’d like to know about the other lease agreement, how long
they were and how much cost. Now I’m, the background got $37,000 dollars per month. Is that
come into the landfill, how I mean how is that disbursed? I need some background on that please.
Mr. Mayor: All right, I’m going to yield to Ms. Videtto to speak to that matter in regards
to how resources are diverted back to the Enterprise Fund.
Mr. M. Williams: Yes, my first question, Ms. Lori, is the one-year extension is that one-
year extension because we had not did a three-year agreement that we normally do or why is the
one-year extension is the first question.
Ms. Videtto: This is an existing agreement that’s been in place for some time. It expires
at the end of this year. There were a number of terms that allowed it to continue forward. Since
we’re at the end of those existing terms we need to renegotiate the contract and we just simply
don’t have time to do that before the end of the year. We’re asking for the one-year extension to
have enough time to actually do this is an orderly manner and take good consideration of the
project.
Mr. M. Williams: And it’ll be under the same extension the same amount $37,000 per
month wouldn’t change.
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Ms. Videtto: It will change. It’s based on the amount of gas that we sell to the mine so
this is income to the landfill for the gas that we sell so it depends on the quantity of gas that’s sold.
That’s an average month over month.
Mr. M. Williams: And this is the same gas that we use to sell to the haulers and ---
Ms. Videtto: No, sir, this is truly the gas that comes out of the landfill ---
Mr. M. Williams: --- okay.
Ms. Videtto: --- the gas that we sell to the haulers comes out of the pipeline, the same gas
that goes in your house ---
Mr. M. Williams: Right.
Ms. Videtto: --- so this is truly landfill gas.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay so it’s two different gases. Okay I’m going to make a motion to
approve, Mr. Mayor. I didn’t understand the $37,000 per month and the why the one-year
extension but I understand a little better. Motion to approve, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Frantom: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a proper second. Voting.
Motion Passes 10-0.
The Clerk: Mr. Mayor, we’re down to 27.
Mr. Mayor: I want to go to Number 28.
The Clerk:
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
28. Motion to approve the Regency Mall location as the site for the new civic center and to
reject the deal for its construction with the continuation of negotiations along with the
establishment of a timeframe of 45 calendar days for action, a committee with named
participants who will continue with the negotiations and the identification of a funding
process/source. (No recommendation from Administrative Services Committee December
12, 2017)
Mr. M. Williams: So moved.
Mr. Fennoy: Second.
Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ve got a motion and a second. All right.
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Mr. Hasan: I’d like to make a substitute motion to deny, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Frantom: Second.
Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ve got a substitute motion and a second to deny. All right, let’s
have a little bit of discussion. All right, we’ve got a substitute motion to deny from the
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Commissioner from the 6 and a second from the Commissioner from the 7.
Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor, a question.
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: If this fails, where do we go from here?
Mr. Mayor: That’s a good question. Let’s see where we go from here, let’s just see where
we go from here. All right, you want to speak to this. I’m going to speak to this while they’re
filming me at the back of the room.
Mr. M. Williams: Is that what they’re doing filming you?
Mr. Mayor: Yeah ---
Mr. M. Williams: Trust me they got us all in there, you did that before.
Mr. Mayor: --- all right, are you going to go first?
Mr. M. Williams: Well, Mr. Mayor, I just, I had this put back on the committee agenda
because that’s what the process says. If it doesn’t pass today I plan to put it back on the agenda
again. I’m not just going to walk away from this. This is the model that we’ve been looking for,
this is the location we’ve been looking for. We need to have, negotiate or get someone to negotiate
some real skills in order to get what we need. But anybody you says they want to see Augusta
grow ought to be wrapping their arms around this. And knowing what we see out there and what
we see on this screen is totally different and it can look just like this if we put our minds and our
hearts and souls in it. So we proposed this site for several other things. Nothing happened.
Everything just fell by the wayside well I don’t think it fell by the wayside it was pushed by the
wayside if you want to know the truth because we don’t see the importance of growing in that
particular area. Now we can find all kinds of reasons not to do it, we can say the sky’s falling, we
can say the world’s coming to an end. We can say anything we want to but this is what we need
to be doing. We need to do that wow effect in that central corridor of Gordon Highway and Deans
Bridge Road. And I wish people would stop referring to it as Regency Mall. The mall is dead;
the mall is gone. That’s just the location that’s the place we need to have this situation set up in.
We won’t take that building we won’t go in there and try to renovate it. We’re really going to
have to do something on a large scale as we’re doing all over the City of Augusta right now. I
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think on Wednesday they’ve got a groundbreaking for the new building that the Governor’s putting
more money in along with the Cyber Building downtown. We’ve got hotels coming up; we’ve got
a lot of growth in the city. This is another part of Augusta that ought to be taking off and growing.
And if we have, if we do what we’re elected to do, this ought to be our vision, this ought to be our
roadmap that we can continue to move forward and making people understand that we don’t care
about any one part of this city any less or any more we care about the other part. So this is a long
time coming but I’m in very much support of that location. Not the deal I’ll say that again but the
location is the best thing we could do.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 2.
Mr. D. Williams: Mr. Mayor, two questions please ---
Mr. Mayor: Yes.
Mr. D. Williams: --- this drawing when was this drawing provided provide (inaudible) to
the Commission.
Mr. Mayor: Well, you, I don’t want to be curt but I almost want to say I’m going to leave
that up to each and everyone to determine for themselves, but you all were provided a copy of that
some months ago by way of mail, by way of email which again an Open Records Request can
certainly be given to tell you when that was done. But that was provided to you all several months
ago.
Mr. D. Williams: I don’t recall the (inaudible).
Mr. Mayor: Yeah, it’s there.
Mr. D. Williams: Are there any written agreements with any developers regarding this
plan?
Mr. Mayor: No ---
Mr. D. Williams: Okay, thank you.
Mr. Mayor: --- not at all. I think that’s the case for any of our locations or at least I would
hope that there are no written agreements for anything because it hasn’t been debated to that point.
And so the answer to that is no, there are no written agreements.
Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor ---
Mr. Mayor: Yes.
Mr. M. Williams: --- if I can come in. I thought we was focusing on the location how did
we get to any agreements anyway? I’m talking about we need to at least lock down the location
29
because we have said we need to continue the negotiations? So if there was a written agreement
then it wouldn’t be no need in continuing the negotiations.
Mr. Mayor: Yes.
Mr. M. Williams: The location is what I thought we was going to pursue or try to get done
today and then in order after that to give us forty-five or 90 days or whatever time may be to sit
down. Now we done did something for a lot of different areas but we had not did anything for a
long time on that side of Augusta and we need to start to focusing. This is going to spur other
growth to come as well. We need to do something that I keep saying that wow factor same thing
they’re doing in North Augusta the baseball stadium, this would be something that will really be
totally different for the City of Augusta.
Mr. Mayor: Yeah, I think those are all (unintelligible) points and I too share that sentiment.
I want to take a brief stab at expressing to Joe White and the Augusta Chronicle and the citizens
of Augusta my interest in this. For decades I’ve lived in this community I’ve watched this
government from one administration to the next. I’ve watched and lived in this part of the
community every since we moved to Augusta but I’ve done more than watch I’ve gotten involved
as an active citizen and participant in what goes on in the heartbeat of our city. In 2015 after taking
office as Mayor, I was invited to come over and be a part of a brief meeting with members of the
Coliseum Authority and community as they rolled out their Feasibility Study about the possibilities
of building a new multi-purpose facility in the City of Augusta and it was nothing more than a
Feasibility Study at that time. That talked about Augusta’s ability to support a facility that was
much larger than the existing facility that we have. At no point in time in 2015 did that I give any
thought or consideration as to where it should be built or could be built. You fast forward to 2016
and there was a brief conversation with members of the Coliseum Authority in passing with me
about moving forward with building it. In February of 2017 after having talked to me by way of
phone and my former Chief of Staff Lynthia Owens at the time Brad Usry had reached out to me
and asked if I’d take a trip with him. The trip was to upper Broad, Harrisburg at which point he
communicated that that’s where he’d like to see the city build an arena, I said nothing. Fast forward
then to later in the year May timeframe and there were a series of conversations going on and
underway at that time there were vetting sites. I was invited to another meeting and at that time I
expressed an interest as to whether or not they should consider the Regency Mall site, again I too
agree that the mall is gone, it’s dead. And so that conversation was had and as I understand it the
members of the Coliseum Authority advanced it and said let’s include it. I had the same
conversation with Cedric Johnson, the Chairman and said the same thing. It wasn’t until much
later that that conversation turned into a real discussion about considering it. And I was invited to
another meeting that I went to where a series of sites were put on the screen and discussed in fact
I attended that meeting with Ms. Jackson. And so you fast forward to August I’ve heard so much
conversation about experts and the studies that have been spent, prices, etc., etc. and those things
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are real, they are, they do matter, they have merit. On August the 19 actually August the 18 an
ad-hoc committee was assembled, though it had been in place before, consisting of Ms. Jackson,
Henry Ingram, Brad Usry and Darren Smith who after understanding that the Harrisburg site was
not going to meet the requirements, that they chose the current location, that was chosen, the
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current location was voted on. On August the 22 the Coliseum Authority members met and the
Coliseum Authority members selected the Regency site out of the six sites that they had. What
30
ensued after that again for all of us myself included was and has been disappointing in many
instances certainly uncivil. And I think the thing that I’m constantly reminded of is, Mayor, always
remember your portion in this. There is not mistake about it. I am an advocate for the Regency
site. I believe it is an opportunity for Augusta to reconnect this city. I’ve said that time after time
after time that if we’re ever going to reconnect our city this is our opportunity to do it. This is the
location in which to do it at and that we had an investment at our disposal that we controlled we
meaning the government controlled and not the private sector. There’s much debate about my
handling of this. I’ve acknowledged to Cedric Johnson that I could’ve had more discussion with
him and handled this in a little bit more artful way, but I will not make excuses or bones about the
fact that I still support the site. I lived in this community since 1985 and I’ve watched as this area
of our community has been systematically excluded from the overall prosperity of our city, overall
systematically excluded. I’ve watched as we have talked and debated from one administration to
the next about what could happen and what should happen. I’ve watched in the Copenhaver
administration where the Shields Plan was done to the tune of $750,000 dollars and they talk about
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the jobs corridor up 15 Street down MLK and across the Gordon Highway and nothing’s been
done. I’ve watched as I travel along Gordon Highway and I see Wayne Frazier frustrated because
students who were attending the alternative school on Bungalow Road walked across a dangerous
highway and we did nothing. I’ve watched as we have seen one investment after the other in my
administration, this Commission, where we’ve grown downtown in a way in three years that is
unprecedented, Commissioner Hasan. And as we’ve watched that I kept going back to this
conversation about building and reconnecting the city, a city that works for everybody. I’ve
watched as those of you who sit here as well that this debate around the JBA. I agree with
Commissioner Marion Williams that there’s a point in time where this city wouldn’t even
recognize James Brown but now we’ve come back to the place of Save the James and that has
merit as well. At the end of the day we all live in the city. At the end of the day I would submit
to you that there’s no one as passionate about Augusta to include her downtown than I am and we
don’t have to debate that. We all have our desires for a city, a progressive city, a city that’s much
bigger than she is today. And as we look at this issue even with the picture that’s before us right
now I’ve never seen as the experts put it so duly us just building us an arena and the arena being a
silver bullet, a panacea. But what I have seen is what you have in front of you, the possibilities of
reconnecting our city in a way that are constructive of giving individuals who are born into
impoverished conditions, who grow up in impoverished conditions and who ultimately die in
impoverished conditions because our city has talked, talked, talked, and talked about what should
happen, what could happen, and has done nothing. This is not the first time this site has been
considered. In 2004 the very paper that’s writing about me now, that’s writing about the four folks
who voted to support the site and called them imbeciles and other things that they have families
and that are hurtful. The same paper that has called me a crook and called the other four hijackers,
what is it that we want out of this? I will tell you what I want. I want a city that works for all of
her citizens. I want a city that not only works for all of her citizens but begins to include those who
we refer to as the least of these and it’s prosperity. Not a government handout but a leg up, a lift,
a community that says that we are one Augusta. In 2014 I said that no longer will we be a white
Augusta versus a black Augusta. No longer will we be a South Augusta versus a West Augusta
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but the narrative since August the 22 has been he has divided our city, he has divided our city,
he has divided our city. I do take issue with that. I have friends who live in every sector of this
city. I travel all across this city and people expect me to be the Mayor for Augusta. Not the black
folks Mayor, not the white folks Mayor. They expect me to be the Mayor for Augusta, a Mayor
31
with a progressive vision, a vision that as I read in the Metro Spirit others do not share that my
desire to build an arena at Regency is not akin to the vision of others and that’s fine. But you
elected to me the Mayor. You did and you asked me to support everybody. And so this picture
that you have in front of you again regardless of how the Commissioners vote today I will continue
to champion. When you think about, Ms. Bonner, that of the 19 schools that we have talked about
in this community there are 59 schools, 19 that were on the Governor’s list. 11 of those schools
are of three miles of this location, eleven. These are little poor white kids, black kids from all
walks of life and if I do nothing else as your Mayor and champion issues and causes that say we
will include you, that we will think about how we can involve you and provide you with the things
that the rest of us enjoy because as my Grandma says we’ve got a little bit of edgeumacation. But
the Regency site this site is in the city’s most strategic corridor. The conversation we’re having,
Commissioner Davis, about Cyber we would not be having were it not for Fort Gordon. We would
not be having it were it not for NSA Georgia that are all located at Fort Gordon on that installation.
And when people drive into the city they come down Gordon Highway. What they see today is
not what they should see. They should see something that looks like this. And this idea was
nothing more than an arena, a multipurpose facility being an anchor, Commissioner Todd, with
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others who will be brought to the table. The Commissioner from the 2 asked a question are there
any agreements? Well, I haven’t been involved in making any deals. I haven’t signed any
agreements. That would not be prudent for me as the Mayor to do that. The Mayor’s not a lone
ranger but the Mayor certainly does have vision for a broader city that includes and involves
everybody. And so it is strategically located I don’t have all of the answers but what I do have is
a desire to see us reconnect Augusta, to reconnect Augusta in a way that’s never been done before
because today that area’s the dividing line between the haves and the have nots. It is the dividing
line between an area of our community that was rich in history, that is rich in opportunity and it
was the gateway into the downtown. That is what I believe, that is what I support today. I will
continue to support it and champion it tomorrow that we don’t have to disparage one another, we
don’t have to be called crooks, we don’t have to frame me in the frame of others who may have
done bad things in order to cache and categorize our stories. I will tell you it is hurtful, it is. My
sixteen-year-old he reads and sees it he hears about it at Davison and I understand that there are
those that don’t care and I will tell you it is hurtful. I have never stolen anything nor would I. I
haven’t cut a deal. In fact I have invited two of these Commissioners to sit in on a meeting that I
attended with the folks who own the mall. I have nothing to hide but I’m passionate about the city
and all of its city and all of our representatives. And so again whether you support the site or not
that’s debatable. Whether you support the deal or not that’s also debatable. I do not believe that it
is a good deal. I believe that there was opportunity for us to strike a deal that will give us an
opportunity to make an investment in an area of our city that connects the city in a way that’s never
been done before. And so to that end I’ll close one time not like Sunday morning but this area
represents the best of our community. It represents the least of our community that we have an
opportunity to tell them that we do care, we do believe in you and we’re here to work for all of
Augusta and not just a portion of our city, I’ll stop there. All right, I’m going to the Commissioner
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from the 7 then I’ll come back to you.
Mr. Frantom: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. That was a passionate speech and I understand it
but you know we’re all up here getting chastised as well. It isn’t just you, okay? Yes my district
probably is heavily against this but I don’t think it’s just because location when you look at the
fact that I live closer to Regency Mall than I live to downtown Augusta where I live in District 7.
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But the bottom line on this is that the experts didn’t support this location. The administrative the
committee before it came to pass 4-1 the Tuesday before the vote didn’t support this location. All
the developers in this community, I won’t say all, but the four or five that I’ve talked to they don’t
support an arena but they want to help. The owner of the Aiken Mall that spent $3 plus million
wants to help and today if the arena doesn’t pass, why are we not working together for solutions
to help the entire community, mixed use, something, instead of saying the James Brown Arena is
the end all be all for this site? We’re better than that and we need to do something. And I hadn’t
been on this Commission three years. I can’t sit here and say that I knew all the history and the
politics. I’m not in the political game of years ago but I’m here now and I’m here to represent all
of Augusta. And that’s why all of these developers, some of them I go to church with, they want
to help so and as Commissioner Guilfoyle mentioned earlier they’ve talked to the Cardinale’s and
they want to help too but let’s just not sit here bang our head up against the wall thinking that this
arena is the end be all and that this is the only thing South Augusta can get and it’s the only hope
they’re going to have because that’s not true. There’s a lot of great things going on in South
Augusta, infrastructure you’ve got Starbucks, you’ve got things going on, airport, you’ve got
things going on.
Mr. Mayor: Hold on, hold on.
Mr. Frantom: So let’s not try to play on the emotions of everybody as well as let’s look at
the history. In 2004 you know you chastised the Augusta Chronicle. It failed 66%. Do you think
that, the voters that I talked I got letters from District 5 a subdivision across the street that didn’t
want it so let’s find a solution and not just think this is the end all be all if the arena doesn’t pass
today. And with that being said I’d like to ask my colleague to reconsider his motion,
Commissioner Hasan, to read the following: Motion to reject the proposal to build an arena at
Regency Mall location and request that the Coliseum Authority propose a different location to
build the arena other than Regency Mall.
Mr. Mayor: Okay ---
Mr. Frantom: Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: --- all right.
Mr. Hasan: I’m not amending my motion, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, I understand. All right so let me say this that, you know, the one thing
that I haven’t done is play on the emotions. I’ve been straightforward since day one. And at no
point in time have I suggested that the arena is the end all to be all but I am pretty doggone clear
that and I said this, there is a single investment that we control that can become an anchor
development. You once again further affirm what I’m suggesting to you, Commissioner, that all
of a sudden everybody wants to talk, we’ve been talking. And to your point in 2004 it was a single
issue on SPLOST, a single issue to build the Billy Bar as it was affectionately referred to. And
when people saw the pictures and saw all of those things they were up in arms and they soundly
rejected it, soundly rejected it. I wasn’t involved in that but they soundly rejected it because it was
a single issue SPLOST and history tells you that whether you’ve been here three years or one
33
month, history tells us that. And to that end it’s not an emotional construct. This is, there’s no
other single investment that we have at our disposal as a government that could have that catalytic
effect. Again, there are other things that can happen. They’ve been talked about on social media,
I mean they have been talked about. I’ve heard a resounding number of ideas and then on
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December the 5 when this body voted 7-1 to ‘squelch the conversation’ everybody got quiet.
Everybody went silent. That is exactly what we do in this city because until it is in our interest we
talk but it’s no longer our interest we get quiet. We have been quiet for twenty plus years and I’m
tired of being quiet. I’m tired of looking at the folks who live throughout this city and in particular
in this corridor and saying well 25 years from now ya’ll just hold on, ya’ll just hold on. We’re
going to come back 25 years from now ya’ll just hold on. I don’t think we can continue to do that.
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The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor ---
Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir.
Mr. Hasan: --- I appreciate that. Mr. Mayor, as I start out making my comments if you
don’t mind I’d like to start including the conversation with Item number 27. When we talk about
enhancing the quality of life and I’m going to say South Augusta to keep it simple. Commissioner
Sias, as my colleague’s made comments earlier we’re making eye contact trying to figure out what
planet are we from here and we’re going to be civil I think we’re having a great conversation as
you were saying, Mr. Mayor, I think we’re laying it on the table today. And that is as
Commissioner Sias came back up and tried to resurrect the item that’s on the agenda today from
2008 to create a South Augusta Development Authority which you realize we could not do an
authority we had to find a vehicle where you can carry this conversation. Now that conversation,
Mr. Mayor, started prior to SOGO ---
Mr. Mayor: 2004.
Mr. Hasan: --- which one?
Mr. Mayor: The one you’re referring to 2004.
Mr. Hasan: Okay 2004 but that started prior to SOGO we’re talking about on this current
commission at this particular time I mean 2004 but prior to that we had that’s even before SOGO
came into play. And here we are today with Item 27 on the agenda where Commissioner Sias if it
was me and I commend him for sticking with it he had to make so many concessions to get support
to create a business opportunity a business climate in South Augusta because the tit for tat about
the name it’s all South Augusta. We won this and we won that but really we didn’t want to support
the project hiding behind something making excuses and all of a sudden we’ve got a panacea here
and all of a sudden we can part the Red Sea and everybody all of a sudden you know concerned
about South Augusta. Well, it’s the same thing here we’ve got it on the agenda today. You know
you literally had at one of those meetings that we had around that subcommittee or ad hoc
committee which ever one you want to call it I had to say you know this is a scandalous shame
that we have to sit here and wrestle with a name because you’re saying South Augusta when we
know the needs are very real out there. Very real and we are arguing about a name but that was
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just a façade because you didn’t want to support the project, didn’t want to support it. So now all
of a sudden here we are now getting back to the site here that you have before us, Mr. Mayor, I
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don’t know who was involved with the conversation we saw it today, April the 22 April the 21
of this year when this hit the fan about the vote that had been taken, excuse me, four
Commissioners had approved it. There’s a letter in hand from the Cardinale family with your
name on it. Mr. Mayor, we knew nothing about this, I mean we knew nothing about it. Obviously
I will say as you do historically in passing, Commissioner, what do you think about the James
Brown Arena being at the Regency Mall. I think it’s a good idea if you get a good deal but that’s
to the extent of the whole conversation, that’s to the extent of the whole conversation with me on
a personal. I can’t speak about anybody else. That’s the extent of my conversation about it prior
to seeing it. And then as you know we talked that Sunday, Mr. Mayor, and myself and your wife
at the Candlelight Jazz about what I perceive to be some missteps there about taking an opportunity
and get this thing on the right track. I think you missed a golden opportunity to try to work these
things out but we just kept compounding so much so. So I won’t get into what we said then but
here the problem we’re addressing now. I believe as we’re addressing now our previous week
when we was able to get something passed here in terms of the demotion that I got at the meeting.
I made the mistake. They call that the Ben Hasan Rule. We could’ve literally, you know, that put
us so far back in terms of the things that we could’ve got done, Mr. Mayor, around this. It just
didn’t make any sense. You could’ve, we could’ve just kept working kept trying to get some
things done but everything that seems to move forward just kept putting us backwards because
you had an opportunity to do some great things here. The owner even the owner called me at
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12:00 o’clock that day December the 5 and said to me, Commissioner, that was one of the several
things we discussed he said I was told that if the Coliseum Authority passes the site the
Commission will start the negotiating process. Mr. Mayor, we don’t negotiate for the Coliseum
Authority. We do not negotiate. The Coliseum Authority is an authority. They negotiate for
themselves; they conduct their own business. They are a state sanctioned entity as you know. We
don’t do that and we were voting on that last week, you know, we don’t have the authority to vote
for them. That’s one of the things my colleagues always say I hate authorities because you have
no control over them. So these are the kinds of things that concern me around those things, Mr.
Mayor, because we don’t know where we are. The Cardinale family from talking to them I had
the pleasure today to being at State Bank. I ran into Clay Boardman today in the bank he and James
McKinnon the son-in-law of the owner seems to have had a date that we were even meeting from
1:00 to 2:00 o’clock. They had an hour-long conversation; they called me the next day. I called
James McKinnon to verify that I talked to him today as well to try to see was this a real
conversation here. I didn’t want to say what I’m saying now without verifying it. And he did say
they had a very decent conversation. He still believes that something could possibly be done. I
won’t say he didn’t say that he said that but he was still kind of upset and hurt because he believed
if it got here we would start negotiations. Mr. Mayor, yourself, the Administrator, the Attorney,
the Commission just does not negotiate for the Coliseum Authority. That’s not our job, that’s not
our job and if the Coliseum Authority could not negotiate for themselves then they need to be
removed from office and removed off of the Authority.
Mr. Mayor: You know, Commissioner, your last point is probably the most salient of this
conversation and that is that ‘this body can’t negotiate’ for a state authorized entity and I find that
to be certainly debatable. If that be true then this body had no business giving them an artificial
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date of November the 30 to have something sent to us. If that be true then this body was outside
35
of its jurisdiction and I think legally you probably already know the answer to that, I mean you
just well you already knew that, you gave me the opening so I’m going to step on in.
Mr. Hasan: Well, step on in, I welcome you.
Mr. Mayor: And this body had no jurisdiction to artificially send something and say by
this day at this time you need to have given us an answer. This body had no jurisdiction to do that
whatsoever. And the reality of it is this body in doing that inserted itself into the process. This
body at that time inserted itself into the process and said that for all practical purposes we’re now
going to take over which necessitates you not only can do that you can engage in discussions as
you are already acknowledging that you talked to the McKinnons, you had conversations with
them. You also again Commissioner Sias, yourself, myself and the Cardinale’s we’ve sat and we
had a conversation about this whole idea as well. I’m going to say it again I acknowledge today,
yesterday and tomorrow that there are things that could’ve been done differently in terms of
handling this. It doesn’t change the fact that all of us have to be engaged in willingness and
wanting to handle that. Now we’re going to vote here in just a moment and this is good
conversation, I share your concern about what you’ve indicated with regards to 2004. When I was
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on Fox and did the interview on Fox I stated specifically that you, the Commissioner from the 4,
Steven Kendrick, Harold Jones and others from a community activist standpoint were engaged in
this conversation about having a South Development Authority let’s call it what it is. I agree with
you I think we quit tiptoeing around it and call it what it is. You live in South Augusta, I live in
South Augusta, you live in South Augusta. It is what it is. At the end of the day we have an
opportunity to chart a course that’s never been charted before in this city and I think that I too
share your sentiment about the need for this. I also would disagree with you from a standpoint
that this body in fact can in fact create authorities. This body, this body meaning the Augusta
Commission created the DDA the Downtown Development Authority ---
Mr. Hasan: Yeah, yeah.
Mr. Mayor: --- and you have the power within this governing authority to create a separate
entity but politically you chose not to, politically you chose not to and I understand that.
Mr. Hasan: Can I follow up?
Mr. Mayor: Yeah, I’m going to come back to you.
Mr. Hasan: Okay, okay.
Mr. Mayor: And so what we agree on is that we care about the city, we care about the
community. What we agree on is that there were missteps and have been, what we agree on is that
we have to do something for communities of interest that have systematically been excluded from
the overall prosperity of our city. You know people have been talking about crime over there ain’t
nobody going to go over there well I would ask the Sheriff as you’re watching how many deputies
do we have in that corridor as opposed to how many substations and deputies do we have in
downtown. How many deputies? That’s what I would ask. We’re partners in this process and if
we’ve got issues of criminal activity and element then we sure as heck need to increase the number
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of deputies we got in that area. We need to do everything within our disposal to include having
good public policy that takes that expanse of red fields, vacant and abandoned, slate parking spaces
and strip malls and we need to turn them into green fields because retail was overdeveloped in a
city that builds a mall today and a week later opens another mall. That’s not smart and it’s not
economic growth and development. And all of those things have to happen to include Item number
27 to get us to a better place that says we’re doing more than talking but we’re going to do
something about it. I’ll yield to you.
Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I appreciate that. My point in mentioning the 2004
Item number 27 was, Mr. Mayor, but you did admit that we possibly missed steps here. But my
point in saying what I said around that is that you possibly could have wrapped us around that as
you were trying to do that we probably wouldn’t be here today we’d be in a much better place if
we had focused all our energy in trying to do that. As you were doing that then SOGO comes up
and here we are. And you know one for you one of your perfect slogans one of your many is I
began with the end in mind, you know? And so obviously, Mr. Mayor, I just think from my
conversations with those two gentlemen today it seems to be that they are somewhat coming to a
meeting of the minds. I can’t say it’s an absolute but they seemed to enjoy each other’s dialogue
about some other things. I don’t view this project any different. I knew it creates heartburn. I
remember when the baseball stadium with the North Augusta it created heartburn for a lot of
Augustans. Once again we’re losing something but now by the grace of God we’ve been blessed
with over a hundred million-dollars that the state Governor Deal has put down there. And when
you add in our $12 million we’re at $110/$112 million dollars on that piece of property. So I can
believe the same things based on the nature of the conversation that’s centered around those things
it’s not the end of the world. What you have done for sure you have put a light on this that
unprecedented in terms of it needs to have a life and it has potential. There’s no doubt about that,
you’re do be commended for that. You’re to be commended for that that’s very real and I think
something will happen now. But I just think, Mr. Mayor, and we’re voting that we clearly
understood, Commissioner Sias clearly understood that we’re limited but here’s something, Mr.
Mayor, that many of you may not realize and my colleagues may disagree with me on this. When
we attended the meeting the Coliseum Authority per the motion that Commissioner Sias has sent
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to them on the 21 of November and we went to the 28 meeting Commissioner Dennis Williams,
Commissioner Fennoy, Commissioner Sammy Sias and myself as we sat there we said nothing.
We was absolutely silent. As a matter of fact I chuckled a few times before they went into Legal
and Commissioner Sias took issue with that so we don’t be laughing up in there. So finally, when
the Executive Session came in, well, he did. When the Executive Session came in we was
absolutely silent. We watched them, observed them talk about what was before them. And here
was the question, Mr. Mayor. Here was the question that they said no less than three times they
asked themselves if the Commission, if the Commission rejects what we are sending them, what
did we, what do we do, my colleagues I think will attest to this I believe I can speak for them.
They said each and every time we’ll move on, we’ll move on to another site. They said that, Mr.
Mayor, so all you’re trying to do is hold them to what they said as well, they agreed to that that
they would move on. And that’s and last week when Ms. Wiley was in here last time we voted
excuse me, I asked her directly before the meeting even started that she said in the paper she is
absolutely for the Regency Mall site on a personal level. I said well what did what did, did you
all say she said yes, we did say we would move on. So, Mr. Mayor, those are things there that are
probably not privy to everybody but, we said that we never had a conversation but that’s what they
37
said as well. So, I don’t see as we invoked any as much as encouraging it we know it didn’t have
because you said it yourself one of first comments that you made to the media, the last time I
checked this was an authority and they are an independent entity pretty much. Those were your
words.
Mr. Mayor: I said it again today.
Mr. Hasan: All right absolutely, absolutely ---
Mr. Mayor: (unintelligible).
Mr. Hasan: --- yes, so we know that so they said it as well they would move on.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 1.
Mr. Fennoy: Yes, Mr. Mayor, I had to take some notes because I couldn’t remember all I
was going to say. But, you, know my colleague said that we shouldn’t be involved in that but
when we vote no we do get involved. You know looking at this picture and go back to Number
27 where you want to create economic development in South Augusta I see economic development
and commercial development in South Augusta based on what’s pictured here. So, how can one
say I want economic development in South Augusta and not be in support of, and I think, Mr.
Mayor, based on the conversations we’re having today we need to be a little bit more specific than
South Augusta because this right here is South Augusta. So, if you don’t see economic
development here I see more than an arena then how could you support economic development in
other areas of South Augusta. One of my concerns about the present location is how long would
it take to take the present arena down, how long would it take to reconstruct another arena once
it’s down. This past weekend Ms. Jackson was over in Columbia and they was paying $150.00
dollars minimum to see Ms. Jackson and if you’re on the front row then you paid $500.00 dollars.
Mr. Hasan: That’s against her contract, that’s against Ms. Jackson’s contract.
Mr. Fennoy: But she’s moonlighting every now and then. But my point is is that if it’s
going to take us two to three years to take down the existing arena and construct another one then
how many show, quality shows can Augusta expect to have? If in the past whenever
recommendations from different boards and authorities have come before this Commission, we
have respected and acknowledged whatever decisions that they have made and I think that in this
particular situation right here we need to continue to acknowledge and respect the decisions that
our authority’s and boards make. And if Commissioner Hasan believes that we have no say so in
what the authorities do then we really shouldn’t be here having that conversation.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you. All right, I’m going to go down to the Commissioner from the
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4.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I’ve got a question but I’ve got a comment before that.
When you, reference your comment about this body inserting yourself with an official artificial
date and so forth I think that was well after this body had inserted itself totally in that conversation
38
in that thing. So I think you can put that artificial part there in the parking lot as you like to say
you can park that one, okay, we was already in it long before that now and I’m going to assume
you agree with that, correct?
Mr. Mayor: I believe the man knows ---
Mr. Sias: Excuse me before you answer ---
Mr. Mayor: --- has great passion with what he said.
Mr. Sias: --- see right here?
Mr. Mayor: I appreciate that.
Mr. Sias: You won’t agree with that? Thank you, next question. Why did you skip 27?
Mr. Mayor: I skipped 27 because I wanted to go ahead and dispel of this issue, dispose of
this matter and go ahead and have that debate. And now that we’re having it the second time I
thought we’d go ahead and do that, that’s why.
Mr. Sias: Why’d you skip 27?
Mr. Mayor: I just told you that ---
Mr. Sias: Okay.
Mr. Mayor: --- that’s why.
Mr. Sias: Now I’m going to call that one to the elephants there to swallow on that one but
I just wanted to ask the question ---
Mr. Mayor: There’s no (unintelligible) here. We had started the debate during the
delegation’s portion and I wanted to go ahead and dispose of it. I mean everybody’s going to do
what they’re going to do.
Mr. Sias: Yeah but we didn’t skip all the other things to get to that so anyway I just wanted
to know the answer, thank you, sir.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 5.
Mr. Jefferson: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I’ve never been accused of being Fred Astaire. I’ve
never been accused of being graceful so I’m not going to tap dance. I’m just going to say it like it
is. I sat up here and listened to a couple of my colleagues refer to the Regency Mall area, South
Augusta as if it was a third world country. They may not realize that’s they presented it but that’s
the way it came out. I live closer to Regency Mall area than I do to downtown Augusta as if South
Augusta or Regency Mall has a tail and it wags. Now we all preach One Augusta but we’re sitting
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up here talking about the Regency Mall area and I want to call to my colleague’s attention
something I heard him say several months on TV when this first came out. West Augusta and the
City of Augusta will not tolerate the arena being put, how did, don’t holler, I didn’t say you I was
looking out toward the audience.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner suspend, suspend, suspend, suspend. All right, suspend all
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right okay all right I’m going to yield to the Commissioner from the 5 but let’s not personalize
this, let’s not personalize this. All right, thank you.
Mr. Jefferson: Okay I still have the floor correct?
Mr. Mayor: You do.
Mr. Jefferson: Thank you. I wasn’t the only one that heard those comments and it is a
sense of superiority when it comes to this issue. It is a sense of entitle, we aren’t going to allow
and I think I pay just as much damn tax in Richmond County as anybody else from a percentage
standpoint so I will not sit here and have my constituents, my friends, laugh all you want to. This
is comedy hour.
Mr. Frantom: (unintelligible) directed to me.
Mr. Mayor: All right ---
Mr. Jefferson: I apologize, Mr. Mayor ---
Mr. Mayor: All right okay everybody ---
Mr. Jefferson: --- I will continue my floor time.
Ms. Frantom: (unintelligible).
Mr. Mayor: --- like I said everybody suspend, all right everybody suspend. Commissioner
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Frantom he just, Commissioner Frantom. All right to the Commissioner from the 7 he just
apologized to you. He just apologized, everybody suspend. This is again, it’s a tough issue, it is,
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but we can be civil in our discourse. Now I’m going to repeat it the Commissioner from the 5
just apologized to you. Okay, he said that. All right, it’s in the record; he said that. All right
continue.
Mr. Jefferson: You know this arena may never go out there. This is a point I’m trying to
get across. I want the entire CSRA to see exactly if it don’t go out there, not because it’s a bad
site because there is bias about what happens in Augusta. This isn’t just happened. I’ve been
Augusta since 1960. I’ve seen Augusta get to a certain level and I’ve also seen Augusta turn it
back and go the other way. And I feel that people say this issue divided Augusta, divided
Richmond County. No, it didn’t divide it. It just brought the truth out.
Mr. M. Williams: That’s right.
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Mr. Jefferson: The truth of the matter is, the truth of the matter is whether or not this arena
goes at the Gordon Highway Deans Bridge Road site I have no control. I will vote my conviction.
I will vote my constituents’ way every time it hits this dais. I didn’t bring it up but when it’s
brought up I will vote in favor of it. And I sit here, listened to everybody, waited my turn and like
Commissioner Fennoy said I put a pen on that particular spot because I didn’t want to forget it
once I got the floor in respect to my other colleague’s time. But I’m just saying this. I just want to
be on record as saying I will support the site. I think it’s a great site. I’m not going to go into all of
the different reasons why, people got to voice their own opinions but it’s just like everything else.
It’s an opinion. Not 100% of District 5 is in favor of that site but not 100% of the other districts
are in favor of not putting it there. And we’ve heard and we’ve seen different people talk about
the reasons why it wouldn’t be out there. It’s just a disgusting part of town. It’s full of crime.
Well, if you don’t give it a chance you are going to have the kids in that community feeling inferior
because they live south of the Gordon Highway and they wasn’t privileged enough to live on a
certain sector of town. I’ll be honest with you my wife and I could’ve moved anywhere in the
CSRA we chose to but when I graduated I wanted to move where I finished high school and I did
that. Living in south Augusta is a choice. It’s not a punishment, it’s not a prison sentence. I’m
pretty sure the people out there with 15 and 30-year mortgages out there and paying their taxes
faithfully are sitting there saying well using words of the Mayor if not here where, if not now
when. I’m going to cut it off right there, Mr. Mayor, and people can think about that.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, okay the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Marcy, I’m not too good at apologizing so I’m
going to try to be careful of what I say because I don’t apologize too well so I’m going to take it
easy I think. But I’m remembering back when a young man John Stout I think his name was was
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going up and down 15 Street asking people about development and what you wanted to see here.
We had several meetings at T.W. Josey and a couple of other places and I went to a couple of those
meetings but after the second meeting I realized that I was wasting my time and the city’s money
because you don’t decide what you’d like to see there. You’ve got to have feasibility studies and
other things to know that that’ll work there not like you’d like to see it. But I’m thinking about all
of the meetings we took place at Josey and other places talking about developing that side and how
they’re going to do all this work and it really somebody was just getting paid and that’s the bottom
line, Mr. Mayor, and when I think about the other things we said we were going to do and we
hadn’t done it. My colleague told me earlier that a couple of developers and some business people
trying to find something to go at that site. Well if this won’t go to that site why would anything
else go to that site? I mean if you’ve got find something else that’ll work why this won’t work?
Ain’t nobody told me yet why exploring and doing what this picture looks like here what that
would do not just to that location but all around that location. Let’s don’t get narrow-minded in
thinking we’re just talking about that site and that’s all that’s going to happen because if that
happens what we saw in this picture it’s going to spread all over the south. Now I don’t mean just
South Augusta people are going to be coming from Waynesboro and everywhere else going to be
coming in here if we do this like this. So, if something else will work at that site somebody needs
to tell me why this won’t work. I’m trying to figure that out. That don’t make good sense now
because if something else will work and we’re going to develop it and they’re going to put money
in why can’t they put money in this? I don’t understand. Jimmy Smith, you’ve been in business a
41
long time. Now you need to tell me because I don’t own nothing, I’m just but I got common sense
now. My granddaddy told me common sense ain’t common to everybody so I have to remember
that too. Everybody ain’t got that, anybody can go to school but everybody ain’t got common
sense. But here I am. I’m trying to figure out why is it that and I think Commissioner Jefferson
kind of hit on it. We’re still divided. We talk like we’re not and we say we’re not but your actions
say that you are. Not what you say but what you do, saying we are divided, saying that we, the
have and the have nots. It’s like the hillbillys and the McCoy’s and everybody’s still mad about
something that happened 200 years ago. They don’t even know what they’re mad about but they’re
still mad. I get like that some time’s too. Now I ain’t easy turning loose on nobody but I don’t
forget nothing. I’m still mad about some stuff that happened to me in school but I can’t find them
now so but my point is if this is not a good location and that’s what we’re talking about just the
location. Mr. Mayor, you talk about the newspaper. I need to help you out on that. Let me tell you
how I survived the newspaper. I feed them, they don’t feed me. I don’t read the newspaper. I don’t
care what they say. I don’t have to see them at night. Once I close my door, I ain’t got to deal with
them. But the more they write the better off so you just feed them, Mr. Mayor, don’t let your son
read it and don’t you read the stuff they say. So I’m saying all that to say we need to go and take
a vote, Mr. Mayor. If this don’t go my Clerk knows what to do. I ain’t got to tell her; she already
knows what to do. If this don’t go today she already got those instructions. Now I ain’t had to
give them to her today because she’s had them long enough because we’re going to see it again. I
guarantee you now if we have to see it every week we’re going to see it. Mr. Mayor, I think we
ought to call for the question. Now somebody’s always calling for the question. I’m going to call
for it today. We need to go ahead and take a vote.
Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, that sounds good. Okay all right, the Chair recognizes the
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Commissioner from the 6 Restate your substitute motion.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, like I say I didn’t have a substitute motion because I inadvertently
said a motion to reject it that’s an outright vote. Ask Mr. Williams’ Clerk is that correct?
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Mr. Mayor: No, because the Commissioner from the 1 and 5 said motion to approve and
you came back with a substitute.
Mr. Hasan: Right ---
The Clerk: The motion was to deny.
Mr. Hasan: --- but it was to deny so that’s the process, okay, we’ll start with that, okay.
Mr. Sias: Are you going to withdraw your substitute?
Mr. Hasan: We can leave it there, we can leave it there to deny.
Mr. Mayor: All right, so we’re voting on the Commissioner’s substitute which was to
reject it. All right, all those in favor of the substitute will vote, those opposed will vote no.
Mr. Speaker: (inaudible).
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Mr. Mayor: Yeah, that was the Commissioner’s from the 6 substitute. He said to reject
it.
Mr. M. Williams: Now we ain’t going to have that same stuff you all called me up with
last week you all were doing about the vote. Now Grady can make his own mind up
(unintelligible).
Mr. Smith: (Inaudible).
Mr. Fennoy, Mr. Jefferson and Mr. M. Williams vote No.
Motion Passes 7-3.
Mr. M. Williams: Madam Clerk, will you put that back on the next agenda? If it needs to
go through committee, we’ll take it there then we’ll bring it back here but we will see it.
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: All right, I want to remind everyone what we discussed. This is an important
matter. It’s important for us to continue to champion reconnecting our city and redeveloping that
corridor. That was how we started this conversation. That is how I will continue the conversation
of how important it is to again include this area of our city and its economic growth and prosperity.
It is important to current Augustans and the future generations of Augustans. That’s what’s
important before now and tomorrow it’s what’s important. And if those that are talking say well
we can do this, this and this I’m going to ask you to bring it to the table. Bring it to the table.
Don’t just talk about it on social media and just talk about it you know in the chatrooms. Bring it
to the table. Bring it to the table.
Mr. M. Williams: Point of Personal Privilege, Mr. Mayor?
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: I’m, I’ve got no problem with them voting this down. I just think the
voters and the people in Richmond County need to know who’s supporting what and what they’re
doing. I think we understand that election time is coming. We need to know who we’re putting
in office and what they’re doing, why they’re in there. I think that’s very important, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right thank you. All right, Madam Clerk, we’ll move on to Item
number 27. I’m glad we had this conversation.
Mr. M. Williams: Me too. It should’ve been had a long time ago and in the open too.
Shouldn’t have been in the back room.
The Clerk:
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ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
27. Motion to approve the following individuals to serve on the ad-hoc Monitoring/Oversight
Committee for the commercial and Retail Project established with the Augusta Economic
Development Authority. This oversight and monitoring shall include employee hiring, firing,
compensation, strategic direction, and evaluation. This committee shall serve as the
Commission’s ability to directly input the needs of the Augusta constituency.
Monitoring/oversight described herein is reserved for the Project only and is not intended t
be interpreted as applying to the Development Authority normal operations. Effective day
of appointment is January 1, 2018. The term of each member shall be three years unless
reappointed, extended or removed. Delete Commissioner Ben Hasan from consideration.
Mayor Pro Tem Mary Davis
Commissioner Sammie Sias
The Mayor shall serve as ex-officio members of this ad-hoc committee. (No recommendation
from Administrative Services Committee December 12, 2017)
Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, I’m going to go to the Chair of Administrative Services but I
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think the Commissioner from the 4 you be on deck okay? All right, the Chair recognizes the
Chair of Administrative Services Commissioner Williams.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. This item came through Administrative
Services just like this. Now this wasn’t some discussion that we had in Administrative Services
and we decided on these names. When this item came to Administrative Services Committee,
which I chair, this is the way it came to us. So my question is and I’ve got several questions but
the oversight and the monitoring and the hiring and firing direct input I mean who come up with
these ideas or these lists of things that’s got to be on there along with the names of the
Commissioners that’s supposed to serve? I would have thought that would’ve been something
discussed as an item and we decided as a committee select someone or have the body to select
someone, but you just can’t choose your direction and your assignment for yourself and then put
yourself on it. I’ve got some big issues with that. So, my question is who come up with the
oversight and the monitoring and the employees hiring and firing, the direct input making you the
Mayor the ex-officio member because you’re already an ex-officio member of every committee
anyway so that tells me they didn’t know much about the process in the beginning. But I need to
know how this came up and how these names were selected because it ought to be something that
everybody ought to have an input in. With the development we just talked about going in the
center of the city and they’re not in support of that how can they be on a board like that, I don’t
understand that.
Mr. Mayor: I understand.
Mr. M. Williams: So who, I’ve got some big issues with this now.
Mr. Mayor: All right, so I’m going to ask you a question how you intend to do this, what
is your recommendation?
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Mr. M. Williams: My recommendation is to deny this and hopefully we’ll come to the
minds and put something in place that we can work with because I don’t think nobody can get
away with this except the people’s names on this agenda excluding probably the Mayor Pro Tem.
I don’t think she put her name on it but she may have but she was willing to get off the other day.
Now I don’t want to speak for her but my motion is to deny this.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, I’m going to go in this order. I’m going to go to the Commissioner from
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the 5 and then I’ll come back to you Commissioner Sias, okay?
Mr. Jefferson: I was just wanting to ask a question before we got started because I see that
we have Commissioner Ben Hasan, Mary Davis and Sammie Sias but at the last committee cycle
we had nominated two additional people, Bill Fennoy and Dennis Williams. I thought that’s what
was coming back because originally I had nominated Bill Fennoy and then Commissioner Hasan
nominated Dennis Williams but those aren’t the names that’s brought forward so did we miss
something somewhere?
Mr. Mayor: All right, that’s a very good question and we’re going to yield to the
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Commissioner from the 4.
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Mr. Sias: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, I appreciate that. To answer my colleague from the 5
question there was no final decision from that. That was just we would send it forward send it
back to committee that way when committee discussed it there was no final decision made.
Commissioner Hasan has said he wouldn’t withdraw his name and so I’m going to make a motion
in just a second, but I want to go back and answer a couple of other questions saying where did
this come from. Well, I think if we all pay attention this is an MOU that we approved. This
wording except for the names for the ad-hoc committee was in the MOU we approved, and this
body approved that. So, I don’t understand where all this angst is coming from about where these
words are coming from. This is an Oversight Committee that was approved by this body in the
MOU that we approved so Mr. Mayor, my motion is to nominate for this ad-hoc committee
Commissioner Dennis Williams, Mayor Pro Tem Mayor Davis and Commissioner Sammie
Sias.
Mr. Hasan: Second.
Mr. Jefferson: I’d like to make a substitute motion.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 5.
Mr. Jefferson: Okay, I would like to nominate Commissioner Sammie Sias, Mary Davis
and Bill Fennoy.
Mr. Fennoy: Second.
Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ve got a substitute motion with a second. All right, okay, the
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Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 1.
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Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Mayor ---
Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir.
Mr. Fennoy: --- one of the reasons I supported this ad-hoc committee because I was, if the
name was changed from South Augusta to Augusta but every conversation or most of the
conversations that we have about this committee it focuses on South Augusta. What I would like
to see is the Super District Commissioners recommend people to serve on this committee and then
let the Mayor have an appointment because that’s the only way that I feel reasonably assured that
all parts of Augusta will be adequately represented.
Mr. Frantom: Can you say that again, sir?
Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ve got a substitute motion with a proper second. Madam Clerk,
would you reiterate that please?
The Clerk: The substitute motion nominates Commissioner Sias, Mayor Pro Tem Mary
Davis and Commissioner Bill Fennoy as the three Oversight members from the Commission to
serve on the commercial and retail establish Oversight Committee, ad-hoc committee.
Mr. M. Williams: Point of Order, Mr. Mayor.
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, sir, If this fails we can nominate two more. Now I think
Commissioner Fennoy talked about the Super District Commissioners adding in a nomination plus
let you make one but we’re only talking about three people and then they’ve got a three-year term.
Should it not be more or should it be, if you’re going ---
The Clerk: The MOU only calls for three.
Mr. M. Williams: --- well, I’m asking the question, I’m asking the question. I mean if the
Super District Commissioner is going to appoint one person on each side and the Mayor appoints
one is that how you’re going to get the three?
Mr. Mayor: Well the way the ---
Mr. M. Williams: I mean I said if this fails. That’s my question.
Mr. Mayor: --- well, it would require an amendment to the MOU as well and you’ve
already voted on that it’s actually sitting on my desk to be signed.
Mr. M. Williams: But you ain’t signed it yet.
Mr. Mayor: No, I haven’t signed it yet.
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Mr. M. Williams: Okay, that’s good. Ain’t nothing lost.
Mr. Mayor: The Chairman of the Development Authority has in fact signed it but I have
not signed it yet. It just recently showed up on my desk. And so what you have in front of you is
an opportunity to support the substitute. If that fails you certainly have the ability to make another
substitute and we can substitute all the way until 5:00 o’clock. I’m not recommending that
(inaudible) ---
Mr. Hasan: You’ve got 15 minutes then.
Mr. Mayor: --- but you certainly can do that, Commissioner. All right so let’s do this.
Let’s vote it up or down. All right. so I’m going to add my two-cents to it, Commissioner. I
understand that this is absolutely necessary to have this ad-hoc monitoring. I don’t like the term
but it is what it is but it’s necessary for the Commission to again to be able to engage and have
some level of input into this conversation. And so to that end I think the substitute motion is an
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excellent motion. It allows you to have the Commissioner from the 1 involved in the discussion.
It almost creates a four-corners type of situation where’ve you’ve got the Commissioner from the
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1. the Commissioner from the 4 who’s out near south and then you’ve got the Commissioner
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from the 3. And so that’s my two-cents worth, all right? Voting.
Mr. D. Williams, Ms. Davis, Mr. Sias, Mr. Hasan, Mr. Frantom, Mr. M. Williams and Mr. G.
Smith vote No.
Motion Fails 3-7.
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 1.
Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Mayor, I’d like to make a substitute motion that people, Commissioners
that are selected to serve on this committee that one be appointed by the two Super District
Commissioners and the third person be appointed by the Mayor.
Mr. M. Williams: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Well, I’m going to ask ya’ll to withdraw that. I’m going to ask you to do that
if you don’t mind.
Mr. M. Williams: You’ve got to tell me why, Mr. Mayor. Now you ain’t going to tell me
to withdraw without telling me why you want me to withdraw it.
Mr. Mayor: I’m going to ask you to withdraw that because again I’m going to go back to
the way the MOU is written and sans amending your MOU, it just simply talks about appointing
members. Attorney MacKenzie, is that not true?
Mr. MacKenzie: Actually this is probably considered a hybrid motion. You do have a
section, you have a rule called 1.11 which is Appointments. This however is presented on the
Commission as a motion and includes more than just an appointment; there’s some additional
conditions in there. So, you could separate the two. Do the appointments separate from what the
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motion and all the terminology in the motion which is what you have on the agenda, that’s kind of
a hybrid situation there.
Mr. Fennoy: I withdraw my motion but I would also like to know according to the MOU
how are appointments made?
Mr. MacKenzie: If it was on the agenda as an appointment it should be made in accordance
with Rule 1.11 which is you just keep nominating candidates until you get a majority vote for
candidates being nominated.
Mr. Mayor: Which effectively is what your substitute is made minus you know just the
nominating people. So if there’s a substitute motion just nominating people I think that’s probably
in order, do you concur with that, Attorney MacKenzie?
Mr. MacKenzie: Yes.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Two points, Mr. Mayor. If my first one is out of order then I will make a second
one. Call for the question on the original motion.
Mr. Mayor: All right, calling for the question simply says he’s ready for debate to end on
this. Is that concurrence with that?
Mr. Sias: That’s correct.
Mr. Mayor: All right so ---
Mr. M. Williams: So this fails, Mr. Mayor, we come back and what then?
Mr. Mayor: --- well you’re calling for the question he says he wants debate to end. So
you’re voting on that; you’re not voting on this matter.
Mr. M. Williams: Right (inaudible).
Mr. Mayor: All right, I want to make sure everybody understands that. You’re voting
whether to end debate about this matter.
Mr. Hasan: No, sir, Mayor.
Mr. MacKenzie: That would only be if someone objected. I was actually reading the rules
so I didn’t hear if anybody objected to that. So then you would vote on whether or not to end
debate which is my understanding the vote you’re voting on now.
Mr. M. Williams: That’s right.
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Mr. Mayor: On the basis of the Commissioner of the 9.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor ---
Mr. Mayor: Yes.
Mr. Hasan: --- excuse me, I didn’t and I didn’t interpret so I ain’t going to say what he
said. I didn’t interpret the Commissioner as objecting as much as much as he was inquiring about
where do we go from here. That was ---
Mr. M. Williams: If it fails.
Mr. Hasan: --- yeah, if it fails.
Mr. M. Williams: I’m objecting.
Mr. Mayor: All right, so again I’ve already said I asked the Commissioner to withdraw his
motion, so I’ve taken myself out of your process. You’re voting right now for the end of the
debate. That’s all you’re voting on, you want to end debate. Again, I took myself out of it I said
you know don’t do that, wait a minute you said you had two questions.
Mr. Sias: I do, we’re working on the first one now.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, I thought it was a package deal.
Mr. Sias: No, sir, I’ve got both hands on the table.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, that’s a good thing today.
Mr. Sias: And elbows.
Mr. Mayor: I want you to stay that way now. All right, voting.
Mr. Fennoy and Mr. M. Williams vote No.
Motion Passes 8-2.
Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ve got the main item on the agenda, voting.
Mr. Sias: Original motion.
Mr. M. Williams: Can you read that back, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, would you restate that?
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The Clerk: The original motion, the following individuals to serve on ad-hoc Oversight
Monitoring Committee for the commercial and retail project, Commissioner Dennis Williams,
Mayor Pro Tem Mary Davis and Commissioner Sammie Sias.
Mr. Mayor: All right, voting.
Mr. Fennoy, Mr. Jefferson and Mr. M. Williams vote No.
Motion Passes 7-3.
Mr. Hasan: Ms. Bonner, what’s left?
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, we’ve got a lot of business in front of us. I don’t know where
everybody’s going, I don’t know where everybody’s going.
Mr. Sias: Mr. Mayor, you’ve been bouncing around (inaudible).
Mr. Mayor: Well, we where do you suggest we go? Item number 29.
The Clerk:
ENGINEERING SERVICES
29. Status report from staff regarding lights on D’Antignac Street in front of University
Hospital. (Requested by Commissioner Bill Fennoy)
Mr. Ussery: Good afternoon the status report as we got the P.O. for the work on Friday.
We work with Procurement and Finance to get that done so we’re working with the contractor
now, we should have the work started mid-January.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 1.
Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Mayor, the reason I had this item placed on the agenda because if you
ride on D’Antignac Street once the sun goes down it’s pitch black dark there because the lights are
not on. We have employees walking across the street. You also have visitors to University
Hospital walking across the street. And a couple of times I actually ran up on somebody because
I was just so dark out there I could barely see them. And you know with the Christmas decorations
being up it has really lit that area up but as soon as the decorations come down we need to do
something as soon as possible to get those lights on and up and running. That’s why I had this
placed on the agenda.
Mr. Mayor: All right very well, Mr. Ussery, thank you. All right thank you, all right, the
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Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I just want to make this announcement. I asked Ms.
Bonner due to the Governor coming into town on next Wednesday I’m sorry the first Wednesday
in January we had a streetlight subcommittee scheduled for 1:00 o’clock and I’m asking Ms.
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Bonner to send that out and change that to 11:00 a.m. to make allowances for the Governor being
here. So I just wanted to make that announcement to my colleagues and to anybody else.
Mr. Mayor: Very well, very well. Okay thank you all right, Madam Clerk, number 30.
The Clerk:
ENGINEERING SERVICES
30. Presentation by Ms. Vicky Mistry regarding a new road to be constructed in front of
hotel as hotel does not have an entrance.
Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes Ms. Vicky Mistry and her guest, five minutes.
If you’ll state for the record your name and your address, okay.
Ms. Mistry: I’m Ms. Vicky Mistry. This is Ms. (unintelligible) we are from Executive
Suites 3682 Deans Bridge Road, that is in Hephzibah South Augusta area. Mayor, thank you all
the Commissioners thank you so much this is our first time and kind of nerve wracking speaking
in front of you guys but we are here with the concern immediate concern for not having an entrance
at our hotel. That is really hurting our business. I have been there for ten-plus years in that business
so I can speak from the experience that our business even though it’s right outside of Gate 5 as
you’ll be getting all the military business but because there is not entrance and it’s pitch dark out
there, it creates a lot of problems. There is a lot of confusion for other guests at even when we
have a reservation they turn around and go back the other hotels so I’ve been losing constant
business for the last ten-plus years. And I’m at the point of going to be one of the statistics if I
don’t do nothing about it to include an entrance or something else to give some sort of support
from the community. I don’t know where our business is going to be so we are here with the first
thing we did concern to have a road built need to put a road right in front of the hotel so we can
retain some of that business. That’s what we’re here for today.
Mr. Mayor: All right. Ms. Jackson.
Ms. Jackson: I have not looked at this specific situation but with the blessing of the
Commission we can have our Engineering Department go evaluate the situation to see if there is
anything we could do.
Mr. Mayor: All right, that sounds excellent. All right the Chair recognizes the
thththth
Commissioner from the 6 and then the 9, I’m sorry the 4 and then the 9.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I believe the agenda item is a little bit misleading. It
doesn’t require a road it just requires an entrance, am I correct on that? So there’s a hotel right
behind them where you can simply turn off from Deans Bridge Road into the hotel so it’s not really
a road. They just want basically an ingress and egress lane on the one side, not a cut through, just
the opportunity to be able to turn off there. The cut through is actually on already there so if they
can get a just a, in looking at this and knowing where the hotel is in passing by three or four times
every day am I correct in saying you just need to be able to turn off Deans Bridge into your hotel,
am I correct?
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Ms. Mistry: That is correct, and I mean there used to be and I apologize I didn’t have time
to go to the Engineering Department and get the map because there used to be an entrance right in
front of the hotel. And I’m not sure why the city did away with it. I don’t have an answer for that
but I need to investigate a little more into that. But we would like to have some sort of support
from the community in order to retain our business because we are getting the business but we’re
losing it at the same time.
Mr. Sias: When they did road construction out there a few years ago, Mr. Mayor, that little
part was cut off. It’s right there by, next to the statue, correct?
Ms. Mistry: Yes.
Mr. Sias: Okay, so that’s basically what happened to it.
Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, Mr. Ussery, do you have a solution?
Mr. Ussery: Well, the solution is fairly simple not to take anything away from this
conversation but Deans Bridge is State Route 1. GDOT would have to approve any additional
ingress or egress from that state route. This is actually out of our hands; we can’t approve or deny
that. I would be happy to work with Ms. Mistry to get her the proper contacts so she can work
through that process with GDOT.
Mr. Mayor: Well, so here’s what I would ask of, she came to us for help. We are the folks
who interact with them. And so what I just heard from Ms. Jackson is that we’ll put a team together
that means you and we’ll work on getting her the help she needs.
Mr. Ussery: I can do that.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: And I’ll put that into a motion, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Jefferson: Second.
Mr. Mayor: All right ---
Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor, I’ve got a question please.
Mr. Mayor: --- okay absolutely. We’ve got a motion from the Mayor Pro Tem and a
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second from the Commissioner from the 5 to do just that okay? All right, the Chair recognizes
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the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: I’m trying to figure out the location of the hotel and what happened to
the entrance before. How long has that been done away with and who did that? Did GDOT remove
it? First of all, where is the hotel located?
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Ms. Mistry: It’s at 3682 Deans Bridge Road right after the cemetery and the Gordon Motel,
it’s right before Gate 5 on the left-hand side ---
Mr. M. Williams: On the left-hand side.
Mr. Mayor: On the left-hand side.
Ms. Mistry: --- not only not only, Mr. Mayor, not only the hotel is in the South Augusta
area it’s at the end of Deans Bridge Road. Everything else and I’ve been hearing this promise for
the past 10-years, you know, that the area is going to improve. And thank you for working on the
SOGO project because we’re a part of that. So we’ve been hearing it but nothing has been done
about it and we feel left out from, you know, everything is because now the downtown area is
growing, the Windsor Spring and Tobacco Road grew, the Jimmy Dyess grew everything has
grown except us. Now all the hotels all the business in the South Augusta we have to survive as
well, you know, and we’re trying our level best but it has not helped us.
Mr. Mayor: That’s right. All right well ---
Ms. Mistry: We also many times we contacted DOT to have a road sign on the exit because
we don’t have one right now before they giving me excuses that we don’t have enough space.
After they did the construction on Exit 5 and built the new construction, built the new road, we’ve
got plenty of signs over there but I’m not sure why we haven’t been authorized to put a hotel sign
there or how to go about it. We’ve made numerous calls so Mr. Jefferson we would like to have
a meeting with you and (unintelligible) to discuss all these concerns about the Augusta area if you
don’t mind, sir.
Mr. Jefferson: I’ll be happy to come see you some time this week. It’s the Executive Inn
and Suites right by the Windermere, correct?
Ms. Mistry: Yes, we appreciate it sir, thank you.
Mr. Mayor: Okay so what I’ve heard is we’ve got a motion and a second that Ussery’s
going to work with putting a team together to make sure we communicate with GDOT in order to
get you the help you need. All right, okay ---
Ms. Mistry: Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: --- all right, let’s vote on that though we need a vote.
Mr. M. Williams: Engineering I mean Mr. Ussery’s with Traffic is that right?
Mr. Mayor: That’s correct.
Mr. M. Williams: So where’s Engineering at?
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The Clerk: He’s representing Dr. Malik today.
Mr. M. Williams: Yeah, Malik is one thing ---
Ms. Jackson: He’s not here today so Mr. Ussery’s standing in for him.
Mr. M. Williams: --- okay I would love to see something on paper too to see how it’s set
up what we’re doing and what we’re not doing versus just going out there and doing something. I
would like to know that the changes have been made and what changes were made versus, you
know and I’m thinking Mr. Malik is not going and not that they’re not going to do their job but I’d
like to know to see what the improvement was or was not and also the assigned address as well,
all that ought to be included in that, that’s part of District 5. Yeah but I think if Engineering bring
us back a diagram of something we’re proposing, what they’re doing and we can say okay that’s
good or that’s not good. If we just say go out there and cut they may cut a road on the other side
of the road that’s already there, that’s what they’re using already.
Mr. Mayor: All right, okay, let me have everybody’s attention. All right, we’ve got a
motion and that motion is to move forward with us supporting getting an entrance developed there.
We will then ask after adopting this we’ll have you all come back to us and present that to the
Commission, that the Chairman of Engineering Services we will refer that to your committee and
let it come through that process, okay? All right so if we can do that, that’s how we’ll move
forward.
Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Mayor, should we put this on the next cycle for Engineering
(unintelligible).
Mr. Mayor: Well ---
Mr. Usery: Because of the holidays I don’t know ---
Mr. Fennoy: All right, that’s fine.
Mr. Usery: --- you know who’s there.
Mr. Mayor: We’ll let them just follow that process. All right, let’s vote on this and then
we’ll go from there okay and that will come through the normal committee process in January but
we will work with you.
Mr. Frantom and Mr. Guilfoyle out.
Motion Passes 8-0.
ADDENDUM
32. Motion to approve prioritized list from the Administrator and staff regarding the
recommendations outlined within the Facility Space Allocation Plan (Approved by
Administrative Services Committee December 12, 2017), and authorize award of contract
for renovations to the Central Services Department administrative offices on Peach Orchard
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Road to Contract Management Inc. of Augusta in the amount of $529,584, Bid Item 17-209A.
(Referred from November 28, 2017 Administrative Services Committee)
Mr. Mayor: All right now we had, that was just a revision to the agenda earlier that was
Item number 9 that you voted on by unanimous consent. I just want to draw your attention to it but
you’ve already voted on it. And again, it’s this matter with regards to the Facility Space Allocation
Plans so it went through committee, you all voted on this by way of unanimous consent. I just want
to draw everybody’s attention to it, okay? That’s the matter that’s in front of you highlighted in
yellow. Again, that’s just saying we’re going to move forward with that. All right, you voted on
it by way of unanimous consent. Now I know everybody wants to leave but there is a matter that’s
still before us that requires us to go into Executive Session. Two weeks ago we talked about this
issue with regards to Gold Cross. There was a legal action that they took just a few days ago as it
relates to the meeting that should’ve taken place on today but did not take place. And what we
indicated is that we would in fact come back and discuss that in Executive Session and if you all
want to do that then we’ll vote and go forward and if you don’t then we’ll suspend until our next
Executive Session which is not until January I guess ---
Mr. MacKenzie: Ninth.
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Mr. Mayor: --- January 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Is that an urgency, Mr. Mayor, to do this today? I mean I’ve got no
problem doing it but ---
Mr. Mayor: Okay. what’s the pleasure of this body ---
Mr. M. Williams: --- Andrew?
Mr. Mayor: --- to wait?
Mr. MacKenzie: There’s no urgency.
Mr. Mayor: No urgency, okay. All right, I think that they have been worn down today,
they’ve been worn down.
The Clerk: Good dialogue, Mr. Mayor, good dialogue.
Mr. Sias: Speak for yourself now.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 1.
Mr. Fennoy: Yes, I would just like to remind my colleagues of the luncheon Thursday at
Red Lobster with our Clerk of Commission and the staff ---
Mr. Mayor: Have you sent out an announcement about that?
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Mr. Fennoy: --- yes an announcement. Well, Ms. Bonner, I think she had sent out an
announcement?
The Clerk: Yes, sir, it’s in your agenda book.
Mr. Fennoy: It’s in your agenda book.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Fennoy: And would also like to wish everybody a Merry Christmas and a Happy New
Year and safe travels in case you’re on the road.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right, very well. All right, if there be no motions to reconsider we
are adjourned.
\[MEETING ADJOURNED\]
Lena Bonner
Clerk of Commission
CERTIFICATION:
I, Lena Bonner, Clerk of Commission, hereby certify that the above is a true and correct copy of
the minutes of the Regular Meeting of The Augusta Richmond County Commission held on
December 19, 2017.
______________________________
Clerk of Commission
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