HomeMy WebLinkAboutRegular Commission Meeting October 1, 2019
REGULAR MEETING COMMISSION CHAMBER
OCTOBER 1, 2019
Augusta Richmond County Commission convened at 2:00 p.m., October 1, 2019, the Hon.
Hardie Davis Jr., Mayor, presiding.
PRESENT: Hons. B. Williams, Garrett, Sias, Fennoy, Frantom, M. Williams, Davis, D.
Williams, Hasan and Clarke, members of Augusta Richmond County Commission.
Mr. Mayor: Good afternoon, everybody. Welcome to your Commission Chamber. We’re
here to do the people’s business and we will call this meeting to order. The Chair recognizes
Madam Clerk.
The Clerk: Thank you, sir. At this time we will have our invocation by the Reverend Mark
Trimm, Senior Pastor of the Metropolitan Community Church of Our Redeemer after which our
Pledge of Allegiance. We would ask Judge Scott would he please lead us in our pledge. Thank
you. Please stand.
The invocation was given by Reverend Mark Trimm, Senior Pastor Metropolitan
Community Church of Our Redeemer.
The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America was recited.
The Clerk: Office of Mayor Hardie Davis Jr., by these presence be it known that Reverend
Mark Trimm, Senior Pastor of the Metropolitan Community Church or Our Redeemer is Chaplain
of the Day his spiritual guidance and civic leadership serves as an example for all citizens of
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Augusta. Given under my hand this 1 Day of October 2019, Hardie Davis Jr., Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Would you join me in thanking Pastor Trimm for the work that he does in this
amazing community. (APPLAUSE)
Mr. Mayor: All right, Madam Clerk, Recognitions.
The Clerk:
RECOGNITION(S)
Congratulations! Messrs. Harold & Charles Thompson on receiving recognition from the
Georgia Farm Bureau for 100 years of farming history. (Requested by Commissioner Bill
Fennoy)
The Clerk: I call your attention to the Recognition portion of our agenda. The Mayor and
the Commission offer their congratulations to Mr. Harold and Charles Thompson on receiving
recognition from the Georgia Farm Bureau for 100 years of farming history. Mr. Thompson,
would you please come forward, Mr. Harold and Charles, Ms. Joyce Law and Mr. Vaughn
Campbell, Mr. Mayor, Mr. Fennoy, Commissioner Fennoy, are you coming down?
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Mr. Fennoy: Yeah.
The Clerk: Dear Mr. Charles Thompson: on behalf of the City of Augusta, Georgia it is
my distinct pleasure to congratulate you on receiving the prestigious Georgia Centennial Farm
Family Award. Thompson Farms is very first family in the City of Augusta and the second African
American family of the river region to receive this award. Thompson farms is the largest
commodity farm in Richmond County, Augusta-Richmond County beginning from the assets of a
successful dray line the additional purchase of land in 1918 renders the Thompson Farm the oldest
continuous family owned African American business in Augusta. The Thompson family
contributions to the Augusta community goes back as far as 1870. John Thompson was a charter
member and the only farmer of the Augusta Branch of the NAACP in 1917 becoming Richmond
County Republican Party President. Additionally family member Wilson Jefferson served as a
Charter President of the Augusta Branch of the NAACP. Edwin F. Thompson was among the first
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African American men recruited and selected for the 325 Colored Field Signal Battalion serving
in World War I denoting the first time African American men served in the U.S. Army Signal
Corp. Harold Thompson Jr., graduated Lucy Craft Laney as valedictorian of the 1959 Class and
later was among the first African Americans to graduate from Augusta College. The Thompson
family legacy of religion, education, civic association, business and leadership is one warranting
great acknowledgement. For all of your accomplishments and the contributions to the City of
Augusta we honor you the Key to the City. Please take this time to enjoy your recognition.
Sincerely Hardie Davis Jr., Mayor. (APPLAUSE)
Mr. Fennoy: On Friday coming up at the Perry Fair the Thompson Family will receive
their award and my family and myself will be traveling to Perry, Georgia to watch Mr. Thompson
get his award and this will be paid out of my pocket and not taxpayer’s expense. I think that it’s
also important to note that the Republican Party in 1917 is not the same Republican Party that we
have here today. But I have gone to Mr. Thompson’s farm, I see the great work that he does down
there. I see the work that he does with the Hornsby Elementary School and Hornsby Middle
School. He is and his family is an asset to our community and I really do appreciate their
involvement and I’m looking forward to standing here 100 years from now so we can celebrate
their 200 years in farming. (APPLAUSE)
Ms. Law: Thank you everyone for carving out time to attend today’s Commission meeting
and this recognition for the Thompson family. This project was very long, very complex and I
could not made it happen of course without the great archival collection of the Thompson family.
And there were many officials with the county which we had to have official records that also
assisted and I’d like for those folks to be acknowledged at this time. I’m going to start from this
side and go have a little bit of order. Erik Engle from Planning, Historic Preservation Planning.
On the same row seated Thompson family members and also Ms. Minnie Chavez. From the
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Georgia Room helping me with 19 Century research Tina Ray Floyd, Tina Monaco. Cemetery
Department I saw Mr. Hegner, Mr. Hegner, stand up, official record. The riverkeeper, Riverkeeper
Carl Frank which is very important that the Thompson family is they are inherent Riverkeeper’s.
On this side of the room is Nancy Glazier here for Augusta Museum? Erick Montgomery presented
very, very critical maps that were very important to this. Not here today Suzanne Ms. Suzanne
from County Extension Service. And then my former employer I would like to readily recognize
Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History Executive Director and staff and our Board of
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Directors are here, please stand. Mrs. Betts and your staff please stand. Board of Directors Ms.
Clemmons, Mr. Maben and the other board of director members that are present. Thank you, thank
you so much for coming today. And also too we appeared January of 2018 to get permission to
get maps made and that was Ms. Allen’s department Information Technology. Thank you so much
and your staff is here with you. Mr. Paul Dunbar family attorney so of course he’s a keeper of the
records going back for 100 years but is also Mr. Campbell Vaughn’s father who did the 100 year
title search that also to make this happen. So is there anyone else I personally invited to come
today? Dr. Williams, Roscoe Williams, he’s been with all of us for our bicentennial and centennial
celebrations, thank you. Yes and the Tax Commissioners Office also allowing us access to their
records. Thank you so much, thank you very much. (APPLAUSE) Since Thompson’s Farm has
been in existence for so long there were other county agents that worked with the farm so Retired
Agents Clyde Lester and Sid Mullins were also very closely involved with the family and it was
Sid Mullins that first brought me down to the farm over 20 years ago so I’d like at this time please
for our current County Extension Agent to have the spotlight.
Mr. Vaughn: Thank you very much. It was, it’s been an honor to be able to work with this
and Joyce made a lot, most of this happen so she’s the one that certainly needs to get as much
recognition as possible. As you can see there were a lot of people that we involved in there. Just
to give a little bit more of a heads up about how this whole thing works. The centennial farm
recognizes a farm that has continuously been in operation for a 100 years and we have that the
farm was probably in operation a lot longer than that but we had to get it documented and we
should be well over 100 years now. And the thing that is the most amazing thing to me through
this entire process is as we talked about an African American farm is that that Charles’s
grandmother was the one who had bought all of this property back in the teens which is an amazing
thing that an African American lady who didn’t even have the right to vote bought hundreds and
hundreds you know of acres of land and managed a huge operation. And me being in the
agricultural field it’s my job to support and educate and it’s been an absolute honor to be a part of
Richmond County’s most historic, largest and amazing family so Mr. Thompson we thank you for
letting Joyce and I be involved in it as well. And we’re going to have a big time. We’re going
down to Perry and it looks like Bill’s coming with us so it sounds like fun. I didn’t know you were
coming.
Mr. Thompson: Good afternoon, first of all I’d like to thank the County Commission,
Mayor Hardie Davis for recognizing Thompson Farms as a centennial farm and I’d like to thank
them for inviting us here for this presentation. And I’d also like to give I guess special thanks to
our County Commissioner Mr. Bill Fennoy for his support in working with us over the years. I’d
like to thank those who came out today to witness this event and there’s one person I want to give
special thanks to. Thompson Farms is 100 years old but there’s a lady in the audience who came
out, she’s 99 years old her name is Mrs. Aida McDaniels. We all affectionally call here Granny.
Ask her to raise her hand. (APPLAUSE) Okay and I also have from the Thompson side I have a
relative here, she’s shaking her head no, but she came all the way from Oregon. Ramona, would
you please. (APPLAUSE) I don’t want to take too much time but I had brought one little article
with me. I won’t go through all of it but I planned to but there’s a family the of the birthday party
that was planned by Ms. Jackie Young and her family for her husband Al. Well, Al’s birthday and
my birthday fall on the same day. They invited me to be a part of that birthday party and when I
got there I got a surprise. They knew about the centennial so they honored me there at the birthday
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party for the centennial. And the children I think I got this right gave me a tee shirt. When they
handed it to me they told me, sir, you got to go take your shirt off for the birthday party and put
this tee shirt on. And I looked at this tee shirt and I thought about it and it reminded me of what
we went through for over 100 years. So at this time if you could hold the mike now.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, okay an overview of the struggle, difficulty and determination for the
continuation the continuing operation of the farm. Two months ago Al Young a friend of mine
had a birthday celebration. Since my birthday was the same day as his and the Young’s had heard
about this centennial recognition of the farm they surprised me with a shirt. (APPLAUSE) The
words on the shirt reminded me of what I had been through and what my parents, grandparents
and great-grandparents went through. The emblem on the shirt mud, sweat and gear. Mud. I think
not only on the slippery mud and dirt tilled in the field, the mudslinging by people we had to deal
with, the attorneys and the groups that tried to take the farm right out from under us. Sweat,
worried about abiotic factors including temperature, drought hoping we wouldn’t have a warm or
an insect invasion, we worried about too much rain. Gear, change in technology moving from
controlling weeds and grasses with steel to controlling them with chemicals from one row
equipment to eight to twelve row equipment, and equipment that drives itself now too. The words
of a song and I quote, “I can’t believe you brought me this far to leave me”. I thank God for the
wisdom, knowledge and understanding he gave my brother Harold and I to successfully grow the
farm. In order for this farm to remain in operation for over 100 years it had to be down with mud,
sweat and gears and to add to the emblem tears. (APPLAUSE)
Ms. Law: There’s one other person she’s behind the scenes person all the time but so
critical to any operation for the city and that’s Ms. Lena Bonner. She’s very instrumental in finding
some older ordinances that impacted the farm and we really needed those ordinances that were
very difficult to locate. Thank you so much my friend, thank you. (APPLAUSE)
Mr. Mayor: And we have ---
Ms. Law: Ms. Chavez, I’m going to let you do the honor on this.
Mr. Mayor: --- (unintelligible).
Mr. Thompson: Minnie, my fiancé Minnie, she (APPLAUSE) she got the ball and her
cousin John Bonds started they were working on their family history and while he was doing this
they worked on Thompson Farms and the Thompson family history and we really, we went from
there. From there it went to Mrs. Joyce Law’s sister-in-law and Mr. Bond, they worked hard on it
up until the time up until today. And I just want to thank all of them for all that they did, the time
that the spent of this when they could be doing a lot of other things. Again I thank you all.
(APPLAUSE)
Mr. Mayor: This is what Augusta’s all about when you think about the rich legacy that the
Thompsons have provided our city with not just their family but the lives that they’ve shaped by
not only farming but creating opportunities for people to be employed, feeding nations. Thank
you for the work that you’ve done and may God Bless you. (APPLAUSE)
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RECOGNITION(S)
Years of Service
B. Congratulations! September Years of Service Recipients.
The Clerk: At this time I call your attention to the Years of Service, Item B the Mayor and
Commission offer their congratulations to our September Years of Service Recipients which will
be presented by Ms. Sylvia Williams of our Human Resources Department.
Ms. Williams: Thank you Madam Clerk. Good afternoon Mayor Davis, Commissioners,
Administrator, Madam Clerk, Directors, special quests and citizens of Augusta, Georgia. My
name is Sylvia Williams, H.R. Department’s Employee Relations and Training Manager. Today
it is my esteemed pleasure to recognize the September Years of Service recipients. For the Month
of September 2019 we have 17 employees celebrating between 5 and 20 years of service. This
afternoon we would like to recognize our 25 to 50 years of service recipients. For the Month of
September the total number of years and institutional knowledge being celebrated here today is
560 years. When I call your name please come forward. Cynthia Llewellyn, Sheriff’s Office, 25
years. (APPLAUSE) Valerie Jenkins, Engineering, 25 years. (APPLAUSE) Brian Lewis, Civil
Court, 25 years. (APPLAUSE) Juanita Simpkins, Planning and Development, 25 years.
(APPLAUSE) Willie Anderson, Parks and Recreation, 30 years. (APPLAUSE) Darnel Connolly,
Parks and Recreation, 30 years. (APPLAUSE) Susan Herring, Sheriff’s Office, 30 years.
(APPLAUSE) Julie Livingston, Engineering, 30 years. Dana Pettigrew, Parks and Recreation, 30
years. Kim Watkins, Tax Commissioner’s Office, 40 years. (APPLAUSE) Nancy Morawski, Clerk
of Commission, 45 years. (APPLAUSE) If you are here and I did not call your name please come
forward at this time. Congratulations to all of our Years of Service Recipients, please join me in
a round of applause in thanking these employees for their loyal service. (APPLAUSE)
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk ---
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: --- all right, Madam Clerk, in this august body I want to take a moment and
draw everyone’s attention before we take a moment to reflect on yesterday the City of Augusta,
this nation and the world lost the Diva of the Opera Augusta’s daughter in the one born on
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September the 15 1945 who went to see her Lord and Savior on September the 30 2019. We
mourn the loss of a regal American soprano, our favorite daughter and in the words of Barak
Obama a great American. Today I ask this august body and our city to pause with me at this time
for a moment of reflection as we remember the rich legacy of a daughter who was born right here
matriculated through our public schools, went on to make us all proud in one Ms. Jessye Norman.
Would you join me as we pause at this time in remembering her rich legacy, the lives that she has
impacted and will continue to even in her passing, as we pause. Thank you. We have ordered
flags on all local government buildings to be lowered to half-staff until sunrise Monday October
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the 7 and we declare rest in peace a humanitarian, a singer, someone who loved us, Ms. Jessye
Norman, thank you. Madam Clerk.
DELEGATIONS
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C. Ms. Von Pouncey regarding Food Deserts and the need for a grocery store in the Laney-
Walker Community.
The Clerk: I call your attention to the Delegation portion of our agenda Item number C,
Dr. Von Pouncey regarding Food Deserts and the need for a grocery store in the Laney-Walker
Community.
Ms. Von Pouncey: Thank you unless they say after everything we have heard and
witnessed today that God is good, God is good, God is good.
Mr. Mayor: Ms. Pouncey you have five minutes if you’ll state for the record your name
so we can enter it in and your address.
Ms. Pouncey: Okay name is Dr. Von Pouncey and I am here to talk about our Food Desert.
Good afternoon Mayor, Commissioners and (inaudible).
Mr. Mayor: Yes if you’ll Ms. Pouncey if you’ll give us your address.
Dr. Pouncey: Yes, 1399 Walton Way, Augusta Georgia 30901.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you.
Dr. Pouncey: Okay, I have some prepared remarks I’d like to share with you all on behalf
of some very concerned constituents but if I could first take a moment and share with you an
experience that I’ve had as someone that lives in a Food Desert I would really appreciate it. I am
a person that is committed to supporting their district. My district is District 1 and I committed to
shopping for groceries in my district only. And what this means is that for three weeks I shopped
at Family Dollar, Dollar General and gas stations and I have to confess to you that it wasn’t easy.
It was not easy to resist the urge to get in my car and go to another state or go to another district
but I was committed to the experience. I spent many days going from one Family Dollar to another
trying to find the five to ten items that we on my list. If it wasn’t Family Dollar I was at it was
Dollar General. There were times when I would walk in and I would be so exited because I thought
I had gotten lucky enough to find the very last carton of eggs that were left and then upon inspection
three of them would be cracked. There were times when I would go to get milk and juice and the
expiration date would only be two days out and I had to deliberate upon whether or not I was still
going to purchase that item. And I think the thing that affected me the most was when I went to a
gas station to buy milk because there was none available at the Dollar General or the Family Dollar
and I realized that I was paying for 16-ounces of milk what I could normally pay for an entire
gallon. And I stood in that line and I thought about it and I realized that I knew better but I could
not do better. I felt so marginalized at that moment. And so if I could say to you that I stand before
you as a product of District 1, a resident of District 1 but also as a member of the New South
Institute and a New South Institute is a collective group of constituents from all districts coming
together to effect great change in local government and education. We are committed to supporting
our mission. We believe in the strength of persistence and we believe in the strength of
community. It’s been a longstanding issue that Food Deserts exist in Augusta-Richmond County.
The Food Desert exists when residents don’t have a grocery store within a mile of where they live
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and then sadly to fill the gap unhealthy sources of food take over like fast food restaurants and
convenience stores and then you have a food swamp. Lastly we also are food insecure and when
you are food insecure if you don’t have a car, you don’t have the ability to get to the healthy food
store that is more than a mile away. For those of us without cars access is the issue. For those of
us who are senior citizens, access is the issue. For those of us that have to work two or three jobs,
for those of us in the Richmond County, access is the issue. Let’s think about this for a minute
when we talk about access being the issue. Can you catch a bus to a grocery store? Maybe if you
don’t have to have someone come with you to help you carry your groceries and if all the routes
were not approximately more than one hour. Can you catch an Uber to a grocery store? Maybe if
you didn’t have to pay one dollar per mile and ten-cents per minute as they wait for you to shop.
In this situation time is money. But then you know you ask yourself can you catch a bus or a Uber
to a farmer’s market? Maybe if you only need to shop on a Saturday and if you have exact change
and if you can handle all of the transfers. And to our senior citizens all of the aforementioned
items are downright disrespectful. They have worked so hard for us and they have paved the way
for us and we need a better solution for them. We have a triple threat that we’re faced with and it
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cannot continue. Augusta-Richmond County ranks 125 out of 159 counties in health outcomes.
We spend millions to a centralized industry to move into Augusta and we must approach the
elimination of the Food Desert with the same evenness. The New South Institute is asking you
and the Mayor to work with us and other groups to visibly attack and solve this problem.
Continued failure is not an option and we need all hands on deck. We have to be creative in our
solution to this issue. Furthermore we need to expedite the Laney-Walker Projects. The projects
that have been proposed are ways to make the area more attractive and they have been on the
drawing board for many years. We need to move from preparation to implementation.
Developments such as this will increase the number of people that patron the community and
which in turn will increase the visibility and attractiveness of the area. I just want close by saying
that everyone in this room has the philosophical needs of air, food, water, shelter and clothing and
it’s unacceptable when we deny people access to these very, very, very basic needs. Understanding
why we have a Food Desert does not mitigate the fact that we should not have a Food Desert and
we ask that you help us. We hope, we ask that you use your knowledge and your capacity to make
this a reality of eliminating our Food Desert issue. Thank you so much for your time, I appreciate
it.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you.
Dr. Pouncey: Any questions?
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor Ms. Pouncey, I thank you for coming. I shared
with a couple of members of the New South Institute and I’m 100% in agreement with what you
just said. I’ve been preaching about not necessarily calling it the Food Desert but the lack of food,
the lack of economic growth in that area. First of all, I’ve got a couple of questions but before I
do that I’d like to know, Mr. Mayor, if I can how many people are here in support. I need to see
the number of other people who feel the same way that Ms. Pouncey just mentioned. Mr. Mayor
Pro Tem, I guess since the Mayor’s got a sidebar maybe you can help me out with that.
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Ms. Davis: Ms. Bonner, do you need a count?
The Clerk: He can do it.
Mr. M. Williams: I would love to have a count though. I would like to know how many
people if we can. Did the Attorney count, Ms. Bonner? You count, I don’t trust his count.
Ms. Davis: I got 44.
The Clerk: Yeah, Commissioner Davis offered 44.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay well that’s speaks volume, Mr. Mayor, and I when I talked to the
people from the New South Institute I called you to share with you my concerns about how
devasting in the inner city. We talked about along the Laney-Walker area and I’m going to go
back and do what Mr. Thompson did and give you a little history. We had a number of food areas
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and food stores in the Laney-Walker James Brown Corridor now which was known as 9 at one
time. There was the Red Star, the Delmont, the Wilkes Café. We had the Tasty Shop, we had the
Paramount from Charlie Reed. We had a couple of movie theaters there, the Lenox Theater was
there at one point. The Red Star was the only place that the African American man could even
stay at one point. We had a 24-hour restaurant all day and all night. You could get anything you
wanted to eat at any time but since then all that has gone, Mr. Mayor, and we brought that to the
floor at one point. But it’s just devasting to me for me to ride through and nobody else seems to
think that that’s important. But I thank this group for coming and I thank this young lady for
coming and if I could ask one question it would be what do you think this government can do to
get to eliminate the Food Desert in those particular areas?
Ms. Pouncey. Yes, thank you so much for asking that because we did discuss that as a
committee. And we would like to ask that the Commission utilize and activate their economic
apparatus to include the Downtown Development Authority, the Economic Development
Authority and hopefully some members from the New South Institute to find a regional or national
grocery chain willing to put a store in the Food Deserts. We want to fix the problem.
Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor, can I respond? And I agree with that. Where I differ is that
we’ve got a synergy, we’ve got to create a destination point for people to come in there. Now a
chain store will not come because there’s one needed if there’s no economic dollars being spent
there. So we, this government I believe and I’ve been talking about, Mr. Mayor, trying to create a
reason for folks together so the store will have the patrons they need to participate. If we don’t
create something there, all those things that was there are all gone. There’s no reason for anybody
to come in that direction now unless we do something. And we’ve been talking about a James
Brown Heritage and James Brown Trace, we talked about putting the old gold LP albums encasing
them in the ground and putting a situation where they could light up at night, if it’d have to be a
solar panel to make them light up at night. Well, when you talk about James Brown Boulevard
folks get exited anyway they want to come. But if there’s nothing to come to there’s no reason to
come, Mr. Mayor, so I’m going to leave it right there but I just think this is good that a number of
people have showed up and there’s volume in numbers. I hope we get something through either
SPLOST, Housing and Community Development, something has got to change this situation.
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Mr. Mayor: I couldn’t agree with you more. All right, Ms. Pouncey, thank you. I do want
to ---
Ms. Pouncey: Thank you, sir.
Mr. Mayor: --- again you came with a specific item and that is the issue of Food Deserts.
There is an ongoing work with our Housing and Community Development team as well as the
Downtown Development Authority in working with a number of entities to try and resolve that
issue. I would encourage you to engage Director Welcher and their team as you have additional
meetings with the group New South who can shed some light on the efforts of the city at this point.
Ms. Pouncey: I’ll be more than welcome to do that. Thank you so much.
Mr. Mayor: All right, thank you ---
Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: --- all right, thank you so much.
Mr. M. Williams: Before Ms. Pouncey sits down, can I comment?
Mr. Mayor: Sure.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, sir. I thank you for giving her those instructions but I don’t
think she has the authority to talk to the Housing and Community Development as we have. She
can hold a conversation with them but she can’t give them no instruction. We need to have that
same conversation to let the Housing and Development, the SPLOST funds, everything else that
we can use to benefit. Now I’ve been, I’m glad she came because this has been on the radar for a
long time. This ain’t nothing new. Everybody done heard the same song before. And so what
I’m saying is since we’ve got a group that’s coming to speak to us about something we’ve been
talking about let’s, it won’t happen today but we ought to at least get the ball rolling today. We
ought to give some direction to Housing and Development and what we can do to make sure that
this don’t stop in this room because if we don’t keep it moving it’s going to land right here.
Mr. Mayor: Yeah, yeah you know how I am about that ---
Mr. M. Williams: That’s right.
Mr. Mayor: --- I don’t like just sitting around spinning so why don’t I do this then since I
want to kind of help you shake this then I see his hand.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay.
Mr. Mayor: You’re correct. She certainly can’t give our staff direction but we have
meetings all the time and we certainly know how to do that. So I think the conversation we’re
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having right now is that we’ll have Administrator Sims working with our community partners
convene a meeting in the next 14 days with Housing and Community Development and bring in
the appropriate staff and elected officials. Because you are the Super District Commissioner you
will be a part of that, Commissioner from District 1 will be a part of that conversation and the
Mayor Pro Tem will be a part of that conversation as well, okay? All right, very well, thank you.
All right, you’ll hear from Jarvis Sims within the next 36 hours.
Ms. Pouncey: Okay, thank you.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 1.
Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Mayor, since Mr. Welcher is here ---
Mr. Mayor: No ---
Mr. Fennoy: --- you don’t know what I’m going to say.
Mr. Mayor: --- I do. We just had a sidebar about it.
Mr. Fennoy: I might’ve changed my mind since then, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: I’m telepathic. Trust me, I’m trying to help you with that one. I am helping
you with that one but I’m also helping Director Welcher okay I am ---
Mr. M. Williams: I’m with you, Bill.
Mr. Mayor: --- trust me.
Mr. M. Williams: You’re with me?
Mr. M. Williams: I’m with you.
Mr. Fennoy: All right.
Mr. Mayor: Trust me.
Mr. Fennoy: I’m going to trust you this time, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Good, I encourage you to do that, thank you.
Ms. Pouncey: Okay well the community thanks you so much. We appreciate it.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you.
(APPLAUSE)
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Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, while people are exiting the Chamber I’m going to go to the
revisions to the Commission agenda that’s before everyone. One of those of course was just
additional information that was provided for our benefit regarding Messrs. Harold and Charles
Thompson as recipients of the Georgia Centennial Farm Family Award.
Mr. Sias: (Inaudible).
Mr. Mayor: Well, I did but now you hear all the chatter and I’ll wait and try and let that
yeah all right. Okay, Madam Clerk, regarding Number 20 there was a request to delete that from
the agenda ---
The Clerk: Yes, sir ---
Mr. Mayor: --- you and I talked about that.
The Clerk: --- yes, sir.
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
20. Motion to approve appropriation of $150,000 of CDBG related funds for land acquisition,
demolition, cleanup and re-development of a model duplex affordable housing unit in the
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15 street Targeted area. (Requested by Mayor Hardie Davis, Jr.)
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Move to approve the deletion from the agenda.
Mr. Frantom: Second.
Mr. M. Williams: With objection, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Sias: But that was a motion though.
Mr. Mayor: Yeah, I’m sorry. All right, Parliamentarian, again the motion was just to delete
it from the agenda. Can you speak to this matter pursuant to the rules?
Mr. Brown: Is this item under consideration or are you trying to form a consent agenda?
The Clerk: Just want to delete it.
Mr. Mayor: It’s on the regular agenda and more time needs to be devoted to it.
Mr. Brown: I would simply asking about procedure. Have you called the item for
consideration?
Mr. Mayor: No ---
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Mr. Brown: Well, before ---
Mr. Mayor: --- so the revisions to the Commission Agenda I’ve called it pursuant to this.
Mr. Brown: --- if you called the item up for consideration a motion can be made.
Mr. Mayor: And it was and a second.
Mr. Brown: If it’s been properly seconded, it’s independent of what the motion was. If
the motion is properly made and properly seconded then the proper procedure would be an
opportunity for discussion then a vote.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right.
Mr. M. Williams: Point of Order, Mr. Mayor. Point of clarity.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Attorney, is it not true that once the item gets on the agenda it
belongs to this body. I mean nobody can just decide to eliminate it or to pull it off if there’s an
objection.
Mr. Brown: That is true, however, a motion to delete can be entertained by the body but
not by the person who placed it on. The individual cannot pull it off. Only the Commission can
delete it.
Mr. M. Williams: But if there’s an objection what?
Mr. Brown: The matter would be heard.
Mr. M. Williams: --- okay and I ain’t got no problem about it being heard and that’s what
my objection was. Now we talk about the rules and I shared with the Mayor earlier that I wasn’t
going to support this because the rules ain’t going to fit one side today and another side tomorrow.
Now we’re either going to go by the rules or we ain’t going to have no rules. Either way is fine
with me but we ain’t going to swap up.
Mr. Brown: If the item is properly called for consideration, anyone can make a motion
from the beginning to delete it. You could do a substitute motion to have it not deleted.
Mr. M. Williams: But if it belongs, and I’m still trying to get some clarity because it
belongs to the body. Now that’s a normal procedure of eliminating an item by going through the
motion but if it belongs to the body then it belongs to this body. You just can’t make a motion to
take it off. I mean I’m trying to get some clarity from you because you’re the legal counsel.
Mr. Brown: Well, I disagree that you can’t make a motion to take it off. When you say it
belongs to the body I agree with that. If the body decides to take it off by the process of a motion
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and a second the item then would be deleted. However there should be between the motion and a
second in the vote an opportunity to discuss the matter. If the body does not wish, if the body does
not wish for it to be removed, the procedure to do that would be do a substitute motion, a substitute
motion either to hear the matter or something of that nature so that the matter could be discussed.
But if the body wants to delete it, I’m sure you agree that the body can delete something if the,
since the motion belongs the body, the body could vote to delete it. If the body does not want to
delete it, the motion will fail.
Mr. M. Williams: Without objection if the body wanted to delete it but if it belongs to the
body it needs to be heard. It don’t need to be deleted by a vote. Now I don’t want bring my Clerk
in here. I don’t have an understanding. I’m going on memory; you ought to have a book in front
of you that I’m going on memory from.
Mr. Brown: Just because a motion is made to delete does not mean it cannot be heard.
Mr. M. Williams: I agree. I agree with that part.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Brown: But the motion will have to wait to be voted on until after there is a discussion
so the matter can be heard. But you cannot deny a member a right to make a motion to delete an
item.
Mr. Mayor: I’ve got a motion and a second to delete the item from the agenda. All right,
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the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Yes, sir. Okay, you’ve got a motion and a second but you’re not going to vote
are you?
Mr. Mayor: I am.
Mr. Hasan: No, that’s what he was telling you. If you want to make commentary around
that item he still has the right to discuss the issue even though you may end up deleting it.
Mr. Mayor: But you can do that now as opposed to trying to explain to me what the
Attorney has already explained. I know what that is if you want to talk about it ---
Mr. Hasan: Yeah but you was fixing to do just what he told you what you still to deny the
opportunity just what he said should be done. It should still can be heard and at the end of that it
still could be deleted.
Mr. Mayor: --- if we’re going to debate a matter then we’re going to debate a matter.
That’s protocol, okay? And so the motion was to delete it from the agenda item. There’s a reason.
All of ya’ll received an email to delete this. There’s a reason. Every one of you received that
same email.
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Mr. Hasan: That don’t mean you have to agree to the email though ---
Mr. Mayor: Well ---
Mr. Hasan: --- receiving and agreeing to it is two different things.
Mr. Mayor: --- which is why again if you, you can move to delete or you can vote no and
if you vote no then you can have a debate about it.
Mr. Hasan: All I’m saying, Mr. Mayor, I agree with the Attorney in the terms of what he
said. My point was you would actually (unintelligible) what the Commissioner wanted to make
any commentary around it since he objected to the deletion, he said you can hear him out and still
the item can be deleted. Your motion still can be honored or a substitute motion can be made.
That’s what he was saying but you was fixing to go right to the vote and that’s what he’s saying
you don’t have a right to do because actually our rules and procedures say discussion does not start
up until the motion is made.
Mr. Mayor: And he just made it with a proper second.
Mr. Hasan: I’m just saying what you were fixing to do.
Mr. Mayor: I’m clear about what I was about to do. Absent a substitute, absent a substitute
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motion which is well within your right or the Commissioner from the 9’s.
Mr. M. Williams: But, Mr. Mayor, when something is added to the agenda the Clerk calls
it all the time when it’s added to the agenda it belongs to this body, the whole body. You just don’t
make a decision to pull it off because it ain’t got enough information. It shouldn’t have been on
there until it got the information but it’s on here and it should be heard. Now you may not like the
outcome that’s being heard but once it leaves the Clerk’s Office, once the time limit has been
allotted, it belongs to this body.
Mr. Mayor: All right ---
Mr. Sias: I’m going to withdraw my motion ---
Mr. Mayor: --- okay all right ---
Mr. Sias: --- so we can move along.
Mr. Mayor: --- yeah because we need to move along. All right, Madam Clerk, the
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Commissioner from the 4 has withdrawn his motion. I believe our next item is ‘D’ from a
Delegation standpoint?
The Clerk:
DELEGATIONS
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D. Ms. Kathleen Ernce, E.D., the Senior Citizens Council appreciation regarding Augusta’s
financial support for the SCC.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: You’ll have five minutes. Please state your name and address for
the record.
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Ms. Ernce: Kathleen J. Ernce, Senior Citizens Council, 307 11 Street, Augusta Georgia
30901.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you.
Ms. Ernce: Mayor Davis, Commissioners today is International Day of Older Persons.
This is an opportunity to honor and celebrate the countless contributions and enormous potential
of older people throughout the globe. The Augusta-Richmond County Board of Commissioners
has and hopefully will continue to dedicate themselves to promoting the health, wellbeing,
community involvement, independence of older persons and promote equality in access and
opportunities including access to healthcare, caregiving, the ability to work and remain employed,
access to lifelong learning and that they may continue to lead productive living throughout their
life course. It is in this spirit that the Senior Citizens Council, its Board of Directors, the staff, the
volunteers present this Certificate in Recognition to the Board of Commissioners commitment to
older persons.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Can ya’ll give us a round of applause here for that? Thank you.
(APPLAUSE) We appreciate what ya’ll do in this community for our seniors.
Ms. Ernce: Thank you so much.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Absolutely. Madam Clerk, can we move on to the Consent Agenda
---
The Clerk: Sir ---
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: --- can we move forward to the Consent Agenda please?
The Clerk: --- okay. I call your attention to our Consent Agenda which consists of Items
1 through 15, Items 1 through 15. For the benefit of any objectors to our Alcohol Petitions would
you please signify you objection by raising your hand once the petition is read. I call you attention
to:
Item 1: Is for a consumption on-premise Liquor, Beer & Wine License to be used in
connection with the location at 2819 Washington Road.
Item 2: Is a request for consumption on-premise Liquor, Beer and Wine License to be used
in connection with the location at 1347 Augusta West Parkway.
Item 3: Is a request for an on-premise consumption Liquor, Beer & Wine License to be
used in connection with Dave & Buster’s located at 807 Cabela Drive.
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Item 4: Is for an Arcade/Gameroom License in connection with the location at 807 Cabela
Drive.
The Clerk: Are there any objectors to any of those Alcohol Petitions and Gameroom
Petition?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, none.
The Clerk: Mr. Mayor Pro Tem and members of the Commission, our Consent Agenda
consists of Items 1 through 15 with no objectors to our Alcohol or Gameroom Petitions.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: At this time I’ll take any motions to add or remove from the Consent
Agenda. Commissioner Marion Williams.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor Pro Tem. First of all let me go back to the
Gameroom and this Dave and Buster’s is this waiving the other reading is that ---
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Can someone speak to this? I’m pretty sure that we did that.
Mr. M. Williams: --- is that to waive the second reading? I remember something ---
The Clerk: No, the motion does include with the waiver of the 180-day ---
Mr. M. Williams: --- but that isn’t ---
The Clerk: --- period for the purchase of the license.
Mr. M. Williams: --- but that is included, right?
The Clerk: Yes, sir, that’s in there as well.
Mr. M. Williams: All right. I want to pull Items 6 and I’ve got a question about Item 8.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Six and eight pulled.
Mr. M. Williams: Right.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay. Any other agenda items to pull or add to the Consent?
Commissioner Mary Davis.
Ms. Davis: I make a motion to approve please.
Mr. Garrett: Second.
CONSENT AGENDA
PUBLIC SERVICES
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1. Motion to approve New Ownership: A.N. 19-35: request by Ankitkumar Patel for a
consumption on premise Liquor, Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with World
of Beer Augusta located at 2819 Washington Rd. There will be Sunday Sales. District 7.
Super District 10. (Approved by Public Services Committee September 24,2 019)
2. Motion to approve New Location: A.N. 19-36: A request by Benjamin M. Zheng for a
consumption on premise Liquor, Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with Top
Crab Seafood & Bar located at 1347 Augusta West Parkway #02A. There will be Sunday
Sales. District 3. Super District 10. (Approved by Public Services Committee September 24,
2019)
3. Motion to approve New Location: A.N. 19-37: request by Gregory L. Sims for a
consumption on premise Liquor, Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with Dave
& Buster’s located at 807 Cabela Drive with a waiver of the 180 day period for the purchase
of the license. There will be Sunday Sales. District 7. Super District 20. (Approved by Public
Services Committee September 24, 2019)
4. Motion to approve New Location: A.N. 19-38: request by Gregory I. Sims for a
Arcade/Gameroom License to be used in connection with Dave & Buster’s located at 807
Cabela Drive; with a waiver of the 180 day period for the purchase of the license. There will
be Sunday Sales. District 7. Super District 10. (Approved by Public Services Committee
September 24, 2019)
5. Motion to approve the purchase of two (2) Ground Power Unites from Aero Specialties in
the amount of $39,333.50 per unit for a grand total $78,677.00. Bid Item 19-160A. (Approved
by Public Services Committee September 24, 2019)
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
7. Motion to approve award of contract to provide professional services to assess the long
term space needs of Augusta, Georgia Government operations to LS3P of Savannah, Georgia
in the amount of $118,000.00 RFQ 19-231. (Approved by Administrative Services Committee
September 24, 2019)
PUBLIC SAFETY
9. Motion to approve the allocation of funding for the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office
(RCSO) in the amount of $35,790.00 implement the Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Project
Safe Neighborhood. (Approved by Public Safety Committee September 24, 2019)
10. Motion to approve Amendment to the Inmates Food Services Contract with Trinity Food
Services Group, Inc. (Approved by Public Safety Committee September 24, 2019)
11. Motion to approve award of the Professional Management of (RCCI’s) Inmates’ Food
Services to Aramark Correctional Services, LLC effective November 2019 subject to receipt
of signed contract. RFP #19-220 (Approved by Public Safety Committee September 24, 2019)
ENGINEERING SERVICES
12. Motion to adopt Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMSs) and Flood Insurance Studies
(FISs) reflecting proposed flood hazard determinations within Augusta, GA (and the
jurisdictions of Blythe and Hephzibah) issued by the Department of Homeland Security’s
(DHS’s) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The effective date of the most
recent Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) and Flood Insurance Studies (FISs) for Augusta,
GA is November 15,2019. In keeping with the City of Augusta’s participation in the National
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Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and the Community Rating System (CRS), adoption of
Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) and Flood Insurance Studies (FISs) reflecting proposed
flood hazard determinations within Augusta, GA (and the jurisdictions of Blythe and
Hephzibah) issued by the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS’s) Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA). (Approved by Engineering Services Committee September
24, 2019)
13. Motion to approve an Ordinance to amend Title Eight, Chapter 1, Article 1 of the
Augusta GA Code entitled “Flood Damage Prevention” to provide for revisions as required
by the State Model Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance, additions to clarity language in the
text, and additional revisions to reduce flood risk, in keeping with the City of Augusta’s
participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and the Community Rating
System (CRS). (Approved by Engineering Services Committee September 24, 2019)
14. Motion to approve using previously awarded Bid Item 19-217 to Purchase an Additional
Lift Station Power House from Border States Industries at the Previously Approved Price of
$367,675.00. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee September 24, 2019)
PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS
15. Motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of the Augusta Commission held
on September 17, 2019 and Special Called Meeting held on September 24, 2019)
Mr. Mayor: I’ve got a motion and a second. Please vote.
Mr. Fennoy out.
Motion Passes 9-0. \[Items 1-5, 7, 9-15\]
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Madam Clerk, let’s just go top down please.
The Clerk:
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
6. Motion to deny an amendment to the AUGUSTA, GA CODE Section 1-2-13 (Rules of
Procedure), Section 2.01.02 to clarify that any voting member of the Commission is
permitted to make a motion at any point, without needing recognition by the Chair, during
any public meeting of the Commission, to become effective upon approval. (Approved by the
Administrative Services Committee September 24, 2019)
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Marion Williams.
Mr. M. Williams: I make a motion to approve instead of denying, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Hasan: Second.
Mr. Mayor: I’ve got a motion and a second to approve ---
Mr. Speaker: Instead of denying?
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Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: --- oh, I’m sorry, we’ve got a motion and a second to deny.
Commissioner Sias.
The Clerk: What was that now?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: He made a motion to approve it instead of deny it.
The Clerk: Right, right okay.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Sias.
Mr. Sias: I make a substitute motion for the agenda item as stated, as presented.
Mr. B. Williams: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We’ve got a substitute motion to deny as stated on the screen. We’re going
to vote on the substitute motion. Any further discussion before we vote? Voting on the substitute
motion to deny first.
Mr. D. Williams, Mr. Sias, Mr. B. Williams and Mr. Frantom vote Yes.
Ms. Davis, Mr. Hasan, Mr. Garrett, Mr. M. Williams and Mr. Clarke vote No.
Motion Fails 4-5.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, back to the original motion ---
The Clerk: Was to approve.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: --- was to approve. Any other discussion? Voting.
Ms. Davis, Mr. Hasan, Mr. Frantom, Mr. Garrett, Mr. M. Williams and Mr. Clarke vote
Yes.
Mr. Fennoy, Mr. D. Williams, Mr. Sias and Mr. B. Williams vote No.
Motion Passes 6-4.
The Clerk:
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
8. Motion to approve Housing and Community Development Department’s (HCD’s) request
to provide Laney Walker/Bethlehem Revitalization Funding to contract with Captialrise
LLC to construct two (2) workforce, residential units on Boyd Lane. (Approved by
Administrative Services Committee September 24, 2019)
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Marion Williams, you pulled this agenda item?
Mr. M. Williams: Yes, sir, thank you, Mr. Mayor Pro Tem. I’m in support. My question
was that Housing and Community Development themselves are not contracting, are not
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subcontracting this work. I mean this is something that this is are we going into the business I
guess. I need to hear from somebody I see ---
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Can you speak to this, Mr. Welcher?
Mr. M. Williams: --- I’m in support of the two homes but I just want to make sure that
Housing and Development themselves are not competing work. We had situation at one point and
I want to make sure that’s not happening again.
Mr. Welcher: Mr. Mayor Pro Tem, members of the Commission, no, sir, Housing and
Community Development Department does not have a general contractor on staff so any type of
construction we do we have to bid out via contractor.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay but you are aware that at one point probably before your tenure
that there was a competition type thing and I’ve got some issues with that. When you hold not you
but when the person holding the purse strings can get their monies to do some things and we had
this issue before and that’s why, I’m going to make a motion to approve, Mr. Chairman. I’m not
against it. I just want to make sure I’m dotting my ‘i’s and crossing my ‘t’s.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Any further discussion? We’ve got a motion and a second to
approve. Please vote.
Motion Passes 10-0.
The Clerk:
PLANNING
16. Request that the planning department clarify their understanding of the commission’s
action. Request that the planning department provide a short comprehensive list of all
requirements that the property owner must comply with as approved by the commission.
These requirements must be realistic and should not act as intentional impediments.”
(Requested by Commissioner Sammie Sias)
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Sias, this is your agenda item.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, Mr. Mayor Pro Tem. I’d like somebody from leadership in Planning
to come forth please.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, Mr. Sherman.
Mr. Sias: How you doing, Mr. Sherman?
Mr. Sherman: Good.
Mr. Sias: I’m just trying to get a clarification on something here on this particular agenda
item. What the Commission approved was what the Planning Commission had recommended. I
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understand there may have been some disagreements with that but the Commission did approve
that. So my question is have we taken steps to go ahead and give the property owner a clear cut
path forward to complete their mission on what they need to do there per the direction of the
Commission?
Mr. Sherman: I believe so, yes. So the zoning was approved ---
Mr. Sherman: Correct.
Mr. Sherman: --- prior to the applicant applying for the zone he had a building constructed
on the property so now where we are is in order for us to issue a C.O. well, he’ll need to take out
a permit and he’ll need to have the building inspected as best as we can inspect it because it’s
completed. And it may be that he’ll have to get a civil engineer to go out there and do some
digging around the slab to see if it meets the codes. Prior to that though is a component of getting
a site plan or building plan you have to have a site plan approved. So it’s trying to go back and
recreate or address all the steps that have to be addressed prior to a permit being issued is where
we are and we will accommodate the applicant as best we can but there’s just certain things that
he’ll need to do in order for us to be able to sign off that it does comply with the codes.
Mr. Sias: Follow up?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Sure.
Mr. Sias: I don’t have a problem with that at all. What I’d like to ask ya’ll to do, Mr.
Sherman, is give for lack of a better word what you just listed the steps of what the individual
needs to do and do it at a fair and reasonable cost. And so the gentleman knows what he needs to
do say okay we’re going to do this if you require a civil engineer that’s fine but for lack of a better
word let it be fair ---
Mr. Sherman: We will.
Mr. Sias: --- let it be fair. This is small business owner that’s been in the city for years
and he already got bumped from one location one time before. So I’m just saying we need to be
fair to this business person. We need to go ahead and line out what he needs to do, Mr. Sherman,
and we don’t need I really don’t hate to believe we have some folks trying to subvert what the
Commission had approved.
Mr. Sherman: Yes, sir.
Mr. Sias: So can we depend on ya’ll to get that done and lay that out in a fair and equitable
manner for this individual?
Mr. Sherman: Yes, sir.
Mr. Sias: We really need ya’ll to do that.
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Mr. Sherman: We can do it.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, Mr. Mayor Pro Tem.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Can I get a motion?
Mr. Sias: Motion, I move that we accept this as information, well, move to accept it
as information.
Mr. Hasan: Second.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: I’ve got a motion and second to accept as information, voting please.
Mr. Sias: I look forward to that, Mr. Sherman.
Motion Passes 10-0.
The Clerk:
PUBLIC SERVICES
17. Update from Augusta Recreation on their Capital Improvement Projects.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Mr. Houck, can we make sure that’s emailed to the Commissioners
as well?
Mr. Houck: Yes, sir. Good afternoon Mayor Pro Tem, Commissioners. This presentation
today will give you just a little update on our SPLOST and the department’s really requesting
recommendation to move forward on some projects that we’ve been, sort of had on hold for some
time.
Mr. Hasan: Excuse me, can I ask a question?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Hasan wants to ask you a question.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Houck ---
Mr. Houck: Yes, sir ---
Mr. Hasan: --- Houck, right? Mr. Ron, I’ll keep it simple. Is this the same presentation
that we’ve seen historically or you made some revisions based on previous conversations?
Mr. Houck: --- I don’t believe that we have brought recommendations to this body. Some
of the information is probably just reminder information but there is some new information in this.
Mr. Hasan: Okay, let me and I apologize if I use the word recommendations from you as
much as conversation from the Commission was any changes made or adjustments made but you
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just answered that in saying there’s some new information so I look forward to seeing that. I just
want to see that, okay thank you, thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Houck: Okay, this slide number two tells you the SPLOST VII funding by year and
by category. Again this is just a reminder that we’ve had these I call them ‘silo’s’ where the
monies are earmarked for. And you can see our total SPLOST is $17.5 but they’re broken into
certain categories and I won’t belabor that point. The next few slides that we’ll go through is, are
some replacement costs on some community centers because there’s been a lot of talk about
whether there’s, where’s that threshold where we continue to invest in older buildings and where
we look at sort of biting the bullet to replace some of these centers and I’ll go through these
relatively quick. You can see Brigham was built in 1992. There’s about a $5.2 million-dollar
price tag to rebuild, Bernie Ward in ’78 about a $4.8 to replace and again these are costs that we
would be looking at to replace a similar square footage facility.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: You can use the arrows on the keyboard to go through, there you go.
Mr. Houck: Thank you. Warren Road built in ’75 $4.1 million, May Park built in ’78 $4.2
million, W.T. Johnson built in 1966 $5 million and you see that note there about a new pool cost.
If we decide to go into that venture the recommendation would be to eliminate Jones Pool which
is just a stone’s throw away from Johnson Center. McDuffie Woods built in ’90 $4 million
replacement cost ---
Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor Pro Tem?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Marion Williams.
Mr. M. Williams: Yeah, can I ask a question please?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Sure.
Mr. M. Williams: Ron, you know you’re talking about an update from the Recreation and
Parks on the Capital Improvement and I hear you comparing the time they was built and what
we’ve got now. I’m trying to figure out what are we going to do immediately or what we have
done already. I’ve been here too long. I’ve got the history. I know the ages of these buildings. My
question is now with the SPLOST money what are we doing and how soon are we going to be
doing it would help me out a lot. Can you share with me? When I looked at these photographs I
saw the playground equipment. I got excited but have any of this been installed and of this stuff
already been done that?
Mr. Houck: Yes, sir, if I can get through this. There’s only a few more slides ---
Mr. M. Williams: Okay.
Mr. Houck: --- then I can answer any questions. There’s some current projects that either
we need to address soon or we’ve had outstanding for a while that we’ve done design work on and
we’re waiting really the go ahead or we’re going to recommend moving forward on some of these.
23
There’s some safety upgrades in some of our parks with our lighting systems that we need to look
at addressing within this current SPLOST. Again as you know some of these projects coming up
here are projects that we’ve been in design on and there’s been some discussion on what we want
to do with these projects and that’s Dyess, Jamestown, Lombard Mill which is a land trust project
we’re doing for them, Lake Olmstead Park, Fleming Park. And this slide here indicates
approximately out of that $17.5 we have $11 million that’s uncommitted right now that we can
make some decisions on either put some more funding, do some of the existing projects to make
them where we want to get to or look at some replacements. We’ve spent 4.75, I’m sorry we have
4.75 on the way and we’ve spent 1.75. So I think the gist of this we’ve been again before you
looking for some direction. We’re at the point now I think we need to make some
recommendations to the Commission and see how we want to move forward on some of these
projects.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Are you done, Commissioner?
Mr. M. Williams: Yeah, if I can ask Ron you know you say you need to make some
recommendations. Are you saying that the Rec Department needs to make some recommendations
to us so we can move this thing along or is there another, is that the Administrator that’s holding
us up? I’m trying to figure out what, why we hadn’t spent this money, why these parks hadn’t had
the attention that it ---
Mr. Houck: Well, again I think we made a presentation back in May and it was a
presentation just to bring you up to speed and to sort of get some ideas on how we want to progress
with some of the projects. And there were some questions on what we want to do at Dyess, what
we wanted to do at Lake Olmstead and now we’re again in the posture I think we’re coming back
to try to make some recommendations on behalf the department administrator. This is where we
need to move on some of these things and again it’s the Commission’s call if that’s what they’d
like to see us move forward on.
Mr. M. Williams: --- Mr. Mayor Pro Tem, if I can finish up with this. Ron, I’m waiting
to do something. I mean we can, I don’t know who’s waiting on who but nobody’s moving. When
I look at Dyess and think about what’s happening there and what’s not happening there with the
building. We’ve got a lot of issues over there. I get that. When I think about Jones Pool who’s in
the corner in the booth in the back in the dark where it’s located at Holly Street. In my opinion it
ought to be moved out somewhere where people can find it to know and it served its purpose back
in the day but those days are long gone. So but we need to do something and not just you, the
Administrator or this body, we need to get something moving versus talking about it. We’ve got
seventeen what you said $17 million ---
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Eleven left to spend.
Mr. M. Williams: --- well, $11 million left now to buy recreation equipment. The stuff
was at what’s that Lumpkin Road ---
The Clerk: Bernie Ward?
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Mr. M. Williams: --- Bernie Ward had the same playground equipment was there when
the building was built. The same playground equipment, you know what I’m talking about.
Mr. Houck: We put new equipment (inaudible).
Mr. M. Williams: Yeah but when we had the inspection out there, the same piece of
equipment that was put there when the building was built. So with the monies we’ve got, with as
much use we get out of parks I would love to see us go ahead and do something so people get that
wow factor again, Mayor Pro Tem.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: I totally agree. I think we need a list of things and we need to vote
them (inaudible).
Mr. M. Williams: That’s right. If it’s our job, our fault, give it to us so we can get it out
there or back to you so we can go ahead and spend so, we can collect but we hadn’t spent this stuff.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, Commissioner Hasan.
Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Ron, last time I mean we’ve got underway, on
the way, underway, you’ve got about $4 million dollars so what does that mean?
Mr. Houck: Those are projects that we’re in design on and we’ve allocated funding for.
Mr. Hasan: You have a design but you hadn’t actually started the project you said.
Mr. Houck: We have not and again some of these recommendations will cover these
projects.
Mr. Hasan: Okay, so in other words but to my point, to your point as of right now we have
not started working on those projects with the $4 million dollars you’re looking at. I know we’ve
done the design work. I get that.
Mr. Houck: Not on the four or five major projects that were mentioned earlier, that’s
correct.
Mr. Hasan: Right, okay, so the money’s not been spent. Okay, great. Fleming Park, I see
you’ve got design, construction, sports complex, center renovation, swim center renovation. What
about the field, where’s the field? Is the field a part of this here with the lighting, the fencing and
everything that we’re going to have to do there? Is that a part of this?
Mr. Houck: Again if I can get through this next few slides I think that might answer --
Mr. Hasan: Okay, I thought you were through. I apologize.
Mr. Houck: --- will answer your questions.
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Mr. Hasan: Okay.
Mr. Houck: So some of the things we’re recommending we do need to move forward on.
As I mentioned earlier we have some lighting issues at a number of parks that we need to address
because we have some lights that are locked out right now. And we’re not turning lights on
because of some safety issues so we need to look at potentially reprogramming some SPLOST
dollars to take care of some of these lighting issues.
Mr. Hasan: Well, let me just say this Mr. Chairman and I’ll be through. Probably today,
Mr. Ron, I hear you keep emphasizing we need to move forward and we probably will but I would
think today my colleagues probably won’t until we could look over some of these things and
receive it as information and help prioritize some of these things. All right, thank you.
Mr. Houck: The other recommendation we’re 95% done with design on improving the
project at Jamestown. We recommend moving on that site improvement project. We’re 100%
through on design with the Lombard Mill Project. We’re recommending moving forward on that.
That’s SPLOST but that’s out of the land trust SPLOST. We’re just managing that project for
them. The recommendation for Lake Olmstead is that we take the Julian Smith Casino and the
barbeque pit money and concentrate on the barbeque pit. I know there was some discussion back
in May about looking at doing some enhancements especially to the casino and moving that
operation a little closer to the lake making it perhaps larger. I think that’s probably would be a
SPLOST VIII initiative. But I think we can take some existing dollars and maybe look at some of
the remaining SPLOST dollars and put it into the barbeque pit and take care of one of those rental
facilities at the lake. We have not done anything with Fleming Park yet but that’s a discussion we
need to have because there’s a number of options we think we can look at in terms of doing
something with the park and the center itself again whether it be some replacement stuff or
enhancement to existing. Dyess, we’re recommending that be part of the Heritage Trace
discussions that I believe there’s a meeting Monday on that that we’ll be coming back to the
Commission within 90 days or 120 days, I can’t recall exactly, with some recommendations on
that. We’re in the middle of doing some security camera enhancements at our center. We’re
partnering with the Marshal’s Department. They just, the Commission just approved their contract
I believe last week or the week before so they’re ready to move on some of the security camera
issues that we want to address in our centers. We do have if you take 2020 and 2021 projects that
we have not started because the funding’s not available until 2020 or ’21 we’ve got almost $3.3
million there that we can either program or take some of the recommendations again that we’ve
laid out here that we think need to happen with some of those remaining SPLOST dollars. We’ve
started a playground equipment replacement program where we replaced ten units in our system
so far. We’ve got another five or so we’d like to go ahead and replace because of safety issues.
That’s roughly three quarters of a million. Minnick, Gracewood and Dowdy are facilities that
haven’t been touched in years. We do have money in the SPLOST in ‘20 and ‘21 to address those.
Minnick and Grace would obviously are important rental facilities in our system. We’ve got $335
for irrigation landscape projects which would go a long ways in helping our parks look more
esthetic. And our medians of course we maintain a number of medians throughout the city. We’ve
got some court resurfacing issues that I’m sure ya’ll are familiar with at Brigham, McDuffie,
Hillside and others. It’s about $400,000 and finally we’d like to make some impact on a splash
pad within our system that’s a little bigger than the one we have at Wood Park right now so we’re
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recommending the money we had at Lake Olmstead for a splash pad which was $200,000 dollars
combining that with the money we already have at McBean and some site improvement money
and to spend $400,000 on a splash pad in the McBean Community Park which that part of the
county obviously is delinquent in any type of aquatic facilities. And finally if we wanted to look
at doing a facility replacement, the department feels the center that’s probably in the worst
condition structurally and it was built with inmate labor and really needs a lot of attention and
that’s Henry Brigham Center. We’ve priced out making some improvements and we’d be looking
at spending about $2 million dollars if we wanted to do some enhanced improvements which is
not our recommended course of action. The recommended course of action is to use some of that
$11 million that’s unspent right now to start replacing some of these older centers and we’d be
looking at about a $5.2 million cost to do that at Brigham.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, thank you. Commissioner Hasan, are you complete?
Mr. Hasan: (Unintelligible).
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Sias.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem. Mr. Houck, the only concern I have I think you
may have addressed as you go through there on your recommendation for moving money
adjusting, are you going to abandon any projects that we spent money on to design and make these
improvements at a reasonable cost? Your recommendations don’t plan on abandoning any of
those, is it?
Mr. Houck: Well, if it’s the will of the Commission to as an example replace Brigham
Center then we’d certainly have to look at reprogramming some existing SPLOST dollars that
were earmarked for other projects otherwise again this gets pushed to a SPLOST VIII initiative
because there’s not $5.2 million dollars at Brigham right now.
Mr. Sias: So then, Mr. Houck, are you, you all are professionals that we asked to do this
so instead of say bringing a bucket of chips and say Commission ya’ll pick out are you going to
give us a real true recommendation of what you say what you recommend or your staff or whoever
recommend that the Commission should follow this. I don’t see the best process of just having
each Commissioner start fighting for something in their district. I think it should really be based
on the needs of the entire community and where we fit there. Major projects if they wasn’t already
an $8 million dollar project wasn’t in that $11 million and if you do that then everything else falls
apart. So I’m just saying I hope to see ya’ll bring some true, hard recommendations based on the
entire thing, money spent, designs and all these things and what fits for the entire community.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you, Commissioner Bobby Williams.
Mr. B. Williams: Mr. Houck, how you doing?
Mr. Houck: Doing fine, sir.
Mr. B. Williams: Okay you said to replace it it’s a little bit more than $5 million dollars?
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Mr. Houck: Yes, sir.
Mr. B. Williams: Okay right now we have about $11 million more or less to spend or what
have you. Okay, let’s say if we did want to go ahead and replace Brigham Center, what do you
think that you would have to reprogram?
Mr. Houck: We’d have to take a look at that because obviously there’s some projects that
wouldn’t get completed in this current SPLOST because we’d have to rob Peter to pay Paul
basically and again it’s a decision that you know do we want to look at these replacements of these
centers right now with existing dollars and move or move them to a SPLOST VIII initiative or do
want to take care of what we have the voters have approved in terms of current SPLOST projects
and dollars.
Mr. B. Williams: Okay, with that said, you said that Brigham Center is in the worse shape
of any of the centers ---
Mr. Houck: Yes, sir.
Mr. B. Williams: --- isn’t it true that they brought cranes in to pull the roof up twice?
Mr. Houck: Over the past few years, yes, sir.
Mr. B. Williams: Yes, sir. Isn’t it true that the center still has a rubber floor and rubber
floors haven’t been used in over 30 years?
Mr. Houck: It’s an old rubber floor hasn’t been replaced in since it was built, yes, sir.
Mr. B. Williams: Is the roof still leaking?
Mr. Houck: That I’m not 100% sure (unintelligible) ---
Mr. B. Williams: But it has been repaired a number of times (unintelligible) leaking.
Mr. Houck: --- yes, sir.
Mr. B. Williams: Okay, is it not true that it was built with nonskilled inmate labor ---
Mr. Houck: Correct.
Mr. B. Williams: --- a noncertified contractor.
Mr. Houck: The steel was erected. The rest of the building I believe was built with inmate
labor.
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Mr. B. Williams: Okay, isn’t it true that and I just heard this one that there’s some new
basketball racks or something that the roof won’t support?
Mr. Houck: There are potentially some structural issues that we need to address and that’s
the reason we didn’t replace the goals when we did some goal replacement.
Mr. B. Williams: Isn’t it true that all the major centers in Augusta, Georgia have a shingled
roof and Brigham Center has a tin roof?
Mr. Houck: I’m not 100% sure but the majority of them are.
Mr. B. Williams: They do have, but they do have tin around the top of it.
Mr. Houck: That one has a metal roof, yes, sir.
Mr. B. Williams: Okay, so would you say it’s in really bad shape and another thing with
Brigham having a rubber floor research says that a rubber floor is conducive to knee injuries. So
isn’t it true that when we put our kids out there on that rubber floor that we may or may not I don’t
know how many we’ve had in the past but have you heard that research about rubber floors are
conducive to injuries knees and so forth?
Mr. Houck: I will say rubber floors serve a purpose for multipurpose use but if you’re
talking about basketball the recommended flooring would be a wood floor.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, thank you, sir. Commissioner Dennis Williams.
Mr. D. Williams: Wouldn’t it make much sense ---
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Mike.
Mr. D. Williams: Wouldn’t it make much sense if we ask the Director to take his list of
recommendations and go and prioritize the list then bring it back to us and then we can look at it
based on the priority and the funding other than just going through this whole list?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: I think you would be correct.
Mr. D. Williams: I’d like to make a motion that we request the Director of Recreation
Services to come back in 30 days with a list of priorities, list of his recommendations with the
funding.
Mr. Sias: Second.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: All right, we have a motion and a second. We still have people who
would like to talk here. Commissioner Mary Davis.
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Ms. Davis: Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem. I see everything that’s on this list. I was just
curious has there been any real assessment of the Aquatic Center recently or have there been
improvements or I just don’t see them anywhere on this list and I keep hearing different gripes
from swim meets that we’ve had locally and also statewide of some issues with water temperature,
the surfacing of the pool, just different issues. I just was curious to see if that’s on any kind of
project list.
Mr. Houck: We just completed re-plastering the diving well pool at the Aquatic Center in
August of this year. We’ve been diligently trying to keep our dehumidification system up and
running there. That’s part of a performance contracting project that Central Services is taking the
lead on and part of that is to replace the dehumidification system.
Ms. Davis: Is that something we can do now with the exiting funds?
Mr. Houck: It possibly could be. It’s about a $1.3 price tag on that.
Ms. Davis: Can that be, so that wouldn’t be added on this list, it would be through Central
Services?
Mr. Houck: Well again, they’re looking at all sorts of utility and power requirements the
city has throughout the system in trying to do some performance contracting work that will get
this done perhaps cheaper than it would be to do an outright purchase on a de-humid system.
Ms. Davis: Okay, could we get some kind of a report with that, Commissioner Williams,
when he comes back in 30 days because I just, and that’s our main facility within I don’t know
how many miles around. You know different counties don’t have a facility like that and I just
hearing some issues with meets having to be canceled some people that were out of town here in
hotels and they couldn’t swim so I just want us to make sure as a commission we’re aware of that
because that services our entire community and outside of this community. Is that okay to add
that?
Mr. D. Williams: We’ll just add it on.
Ms. Davis: Just to see if there’s anything we would need to spend some funds on, okay,
thank you.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Bill Fennoy.
Mr. Fennoy: Ron ---
Mr. Houck: Sir.
Mr. Fennoy: --- we did a study and recommendation was brought back to us about the
various recreational facilities that we have, you know what I’m talking about?
Ms. Davis: A masterplan.
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Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Yeah are you referring to our masterplan?
Mr. Fennoy: Yeah, the masterplan ---
Mr. Houck: Yes, sir.
Mr. Fennoy: --- okay, the recommendations that you have, do they fall in place with the
masterplan?
Mr. Houck: Most of the projects we recommend, yes, sir, they do.
Mr. Fennoy: Okay so there was a question mark by Dyess Park. Is that questions been
removed or is that still a question mark?
Mr. Houck: I think it’s still a question mark because again there’s been discussion about
what to do with the old fire station, the need to replace a center with a similar center or perhaps a
smaller facility, how we maybe use the old church, Mother Trinity Church there to enhance that
potential park operation. So I think all of this is part of the Heritage Trail study that the Housing
Department and ourselves and Canal Authority a number of other agencies are going to start
looking at and coming back with a recommendation and hopefully that recommendation will
include where the park fits in in this whole corridor.
Mr. Fennoy: Okay and I guess my biggest concern is that to bring Dyess Park up to par
would cost close to a million dollars but once you do that you still wouldn’t have access to the
second floor and downstairs can only comfortably accommodate about 50 people at the most ---
Mr. Houck: One activity at a time.
Mr. Fennoy: --- yeah, one activity at a time. And what, have you had any discussion with
the Laney Walker Neighborhood Association about what it is they want to see as it relates to the
future of Dyess Park?
Mr. Houck: We have not in quite some time.
Mr. Fennoy: And I think that now is the time to have that discussion rather than make a
decision on what we’re going to do and they not have any input into that process.
Mr. Houck: We agree.
Mr. Fennoy: Yeah, I think that building is what 1890?
Mr. Houck: Somewhere around there, yes, sir.
Mr. Fennoy: So Commissioner Bobby Williams ---
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Mr. B. Williams: Yes, sir.
Mr. Fennoy: --- is it true that’s the oldest I mean the building has been there forever and a
day ---
The Clerk: Touché, sir.
Mr. Fennoy: --- I think that it was there before Mr. Thompson’s farm got started. So I
would really like to for you to come back after having conversations with the Laney Walker
Neighborhood about how we could maximize the use of the facility. And you know Trinity, that’s
a great idea we could because it’s sort of halfway connected together so we have a lot of options
there. But I’d like to see what the neighborhood says and when you come back in 30 days, would
that give you enough time to have a conversation with them?
Mr. Houck: I’m sure it will be.
Mr. Fennoy: Okay all right, thank you.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Brandon Garrett.
Mr. Garrett: Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem. To go along with Commissioner Dennis
William’ request to come back with a list for us to look at, could we also add on there the list that
was put out there for SPLOST VI that was promised to the citizens some of these projects. I know
we’re on there some of them are additions so just to kind of have that perspective too. That way
we’ll be able to tell our citizens you know these circumstances have come up like Brigham Center
and others.
Mr. Houck: We certainly, we keep that update monthly and we’d be glad to provide that
to everyone.
Mr. Garrett: Thank you.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, Commissioner Marion Williams.
Mr. M. Williams: I thought about what I was going to say (unintelligible). Ron, I’m
hearing all of this. I mean we know all of these issues exist from Brigham to the Aquatic Center
to Dyess Park. We know Dyess Park there’s no sense of putting any money in that building there;
we need to find another facility somewhere. So when you go to the neighborhood I hope you take
them something to look at or to make choices from not let them think well we can fix this up. I
don’t care how much money you put in that building. There’s not enough land area or space inside
that building to do any good. It’s done served its purpose. And I don’t want to tear the building
down but we know that Brigham’s Center has been in a disarray. It looked like somebody in your
department would have said to this body this is what needs to be done. This is a need. It’s not
something we want, it’s a need. Now we can’t do them all but we keep waiting on because we
don’t want nobody saying my district my area didn’t get this that and the other but there are some
things that’s got to be you got to start somewhere and if we build it and build it right. It’ll last a
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long time. When I go back Ms. Bonner and look at Warren Road and the facility we’ve got on
Lumpkin Road what is it ---
The Clerk: Bernie Ward.
Mr. M. Williams: --- Bernie Ward. When I look at the two out there I really, one was built
a year apart but they’re totally different built a year apart. So if we put the right money in one
facility and do that right then we take and fix another one but if we keep pinching off the funds
giving one a little bit just enough we would never get anywhere with that. So when you come
back with that list you’re talking about, have some issues that you can say these need to be done.
They might not like it. You ain’t doing it for them to like it. You give them chocolate ice cream
if you want something to like now but if you’re bringing back some issues bring them back and
show them what we need to be done and stuff that we can wait on and I think we’ll be able to move
forward with that.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you, sir, Commissioner Bobby Williams.
Mr. B. Williams: Yes, sir I have a question for Mr. Houck. When would the collection for
SPLOST VIII start, do you know? Does anybody know? Okay, I’m going to do this. Brigham
Center is a mega for political activity, community activity, athletic activity right in the middle of
District 5. Everybody tells you if you can’t win at District 5 you can’t win. The community
deserves better than what it has. Right now it has a dilapidated facility. I’m going to make a
substitute motion that we replace Brigham Center.
Mr. Hasan: Second.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: All right, we’ve got a motion and a second from Commissioner
Hasan.
Mr. Hasan: Yes, I’d like to, Mr. Chairman ---
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Are you done, Commissioner Bobby Williams?
Mr. Hasan: --- yes, I’d like to add on that if you don’t mind Dyess Park as well because
they don’t have a facility currently. Let me say and with that my hand was up, Mr. Chairman,
before he made the motion it was really about trying to downsize Brigham Center because it has
over 18,000 square foot if you replace it as it currently is. I think we need to look at in the context
of how we’re utilizing centers like that. Obviously Brigham Center I agree is one of the most
utilized centers in this neighborhood, in the community in the city but at the same time I think we
should look at between 12 to 15,000 feet as opposed to looking at the same size. Dyess Park here,
looking at about 10,000 square foot which would be four times larger than what it currently is.
That may well work well for Commissioner Fennoy I’m not sure but I think both of them need to
be considered because you don’t have anything at Dyess Park. The second floor is not available.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Dennis Williams.
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Mr. D. Williams: I was going to tack on in the list if you would bring give justification as
to how you prioritize ---
Mr. Hasan: Prioritize.
The Clerk: We got it, sir.
Mr. D. Williams: --- thank you, ma’am, how you list the items on there.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, Commissioner Sias.
Mr. Sias: Thank you. I share Commissioner Bobby Williams’ trying to get his area at
Brigham brought back to standards or a new building but here’s what I need to ask Mr. Houck.
Mr. Houck, in this SPLOST VII funding was replacement of Brigham Center in that initial
SPLOST list that was voted and approved?
Mr. Houck: No, sir.
Mr. Sias: Now if we’re going to start doing this now, we did say we were going to wait
for a recommend, well we didn’t say we’d wait we said a motion to have Mr. Houck bring back
some things but we’re sitting here at this moment fundamentally changing the SPLOST and I think
there’s an issue with doing that so I think we really think if you’re going the funding from SPLOST
VII all that was technically allocated. I know Mr. Houck was saying well we’ve got this money
ain’t been spent but those are all the projects that were already designated for this money, am I
correct?
Mr. Houck: Yes, sir and again if I can refer back to this slide again here. When the
SPLOST was passed, there wasn’t any identified center to replace. There were categories again
for community center improvements for $4 million dollars. Then it was up to the department and
the Administrator and the Commission to decide what capital projects which we took to the
Commission that the Commission approved our list of capital projects and how we were going to
spend the $4 million for community center improvements or how we were going to spend $2
million dollars for swimming pools and splash pads. So there was no individual center per se
attached to SPLOST VII for improvement or replacement.
Mr. Sias: All right, thank you.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Marion Williams.
Mr. M. Williams: Yeah, I hope we wait on the list but I can support it either way but I
don’t want to downsize. Now if we’re going to do, we’re going build another facility where it be
at any park the growth that we’ve got coming to Augusta I don’t want to downsize what we’ve got
because we think it’s too big or we think it’s not been used. The city’s growing so I’m not in favor
of supporting anything that’s going to cut anything out. Maybe don’t add anything it in but I’m
certainly not going to vote to cut anything out of any of the parks.
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Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Bobby Williams.
Mr. B. Williams: Yes, sir, two things. One, Mr. Houck, go back to Page 2 on your report
please. Oh, you’ve got it pulled up.
Mr. Houck: Yes, sir.
Mr. B. Williams: Okay, neighborhood parks, urban parks, open space and playgrounds
and also community center improvements and equipment that’s $8 million dollars, correct?
Mr. Houck: Correct.
Mr. B. Williams: And we’re not even talking about $8 million dollars. And also I will
amend my motion to include Dyess Park.
Mr. Hasan: Second.
Mr. Mayor: All right, Commissioner Fennoy.
Mr. Fennoy: You know I think we’re putting the cart before the horse. You know when
people want to have events here in Augusta we already know that the Julian Smith Casino is too
small for a lot of events that people want to have. I think that we need to do like the Mayor would
say do put the brakes on and let our Recreation and Parks person bring back to us a
recommendation. People that supported SPLOST VII you’re going to have some naysayers. I
don’t care what you do. They’re going to be out there totally opposed to SPLOST VIII and we
don’t want to give them a reason not to support SPLOST VIII. I think that if the Recreation and
Parks brings back to us a recommendation to replace Henry Brigham or to replace Dyess Park or
whatever the recommendation they bring back. If we don’t have monies to do that at this particular
time, then those projects could be included in SPLOST VIII. But again we are losing events to
surrounding areas simply because we don’t have the facility to accommodate a large enough
facility to accommodate the event that they would like to have. So I say put the ---
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Pump the brakes.
Mr. Fennoy: --- yeah, put the pedal to the metal.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: All right, last I’m going to let Commissioner Bobby Williams.
Mr. B. Williams: Okay, I just pointed out two categories that had a combined $8 million
dollars and so that’s money, that’s one. Two, we’re talking about where you have we’re talking
about South Augusta where you have situations you know lately where we’re having the most
crime in the area. If you look at situations where you have so many people moving out and are
looking for some hope we, and I’m trying to make sure we have some kind of situation or
something as Commissioner Marion Williams said some kind of wow effect, some type of shot in
the arm, some type of community goodness that we can find some way that we can give people a
ray of hope that we’re still looking at South Augusta and saying South Augusta is still somebody,
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South Augusta matters. You know I’m emotional about this because I’m seeing so much of what’s
not done. We talk about all the other areas and I’m telling you the least amount of money is being
put in South Augusta. We have some other areas that have places, have areas, have situations,
have blight, have crime, have this and that but I can tell you what, not like South Augusta. And I
refer to I laugh as I say this, Marion Williams says who’s on first and what’s on second. If you
don’t know who’s on third South Augusta’s on third trying to score and, Ms. Bonner, if it doesn’t
go through put it back on the agenda.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you, sir. Mr. Houck ---
Mr. Houck: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: --- is there money you said we can’t basically change what’s already
been allocated based on SPLOST VII. Is there any money from a drawing standpoint or feasibility
or whatever to start the process of a new facility, is there money within here that we could allocated
towards Brigham Center?
Mr. Houck: Um ---
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: It’s like undesignated, it’s just a category I guess.
Mr. Houck: --- again if we did that we’d probably be pulling some money from another
project. We just don’t have a contingency on seven now. There may be some recreation
contingency dollars.
Mr. B. Williams: What is going to make the biggest impact (inaudible).
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Tom, you got some money back there? All right, so we’ve had a
healthy discussion about the needs and wants and you know we understand that the Brigham
Center needs it, Dyess Park needs it. We have I guess a substitute motion on the floor, is that
correct? I mean ---
The Clerk: Yes, sir, substitute motion is to replace Henry Brigham Center along with
Dyess Park.
Mr. M. Williams: Not to take away from the size, I can’t support it. Ya’ll got to get it clear.
I’m not taking away from no size. I ain’t going down. I’m going up.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Do we I guess one the one question I have is do we need to add a
dollar figure with this request or I mean we don’t, do we need to know ---
Mr. Hasan: (Unintelligible).
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: --- 5.2 and what?
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Mr. Houck: The Dyess cost was about $2.7 and that was based on a masterplan site specific
masterplan that was done in 2008 or ’10 for Dyess and at the time that was the recommended
square footage for a new center there.
Mr. M. William: Mr. Mayor Pro Tem, when he said there where is there? At that same
location?
Mr. Houck: In the park but not at that same location where the fire station is.
Mr. M. Williams: I mean is there room? Is there enough space there to put anything else
if you take the fire station down which I wouldn’t suggest that but where you going to put it at?
Mr. Houck: I think there needs to be something between the existing 2.7 and a proposed
10,000 square foot. It doesn’t need to be that big.
Mr. M. Williams: My question, Mr. Mayor Pro Tem, is where on that site? You’ve got the
pool there, you’ve got the tennis court with nothing on it but I don’t know where that could go at.
That’s why I’m trying to get an understanding.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: I think this is where they really need to come back with those details.
I think you know we can sit here and talk all day about it but at the end of the day I think you know
in your, well let’s see what passes and doesn’t and then we’ll come back to that. So let’s vote on
the substitute motion, Madam Clerk, can you repeat it?
The Clerk: The substitute motion to replace the Henry Brigham Community Center as well
as Dyess Park Community Center.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, voting.
Mr. B. Williams, Mr. Hasan and Mr. M. Williams vote Yes.
Mr. Fennoy, Mr. D. Williams, Ms. Davis, Mr. Sias, Mr. Frantom, Mr. Garrett and Mr. Clark vote
No.
Motion Fails 3-7.
Mr. B. Williams: Put it back on the agenda.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Back to the original motion which included ---
The Clerk: For the Director to submit a prioritized list of capital improvement project with
the Director’s recommendation in 30 days to include the Henry Brigham Center, the Aquatic
Center and guidelines and criteria for the recommendation.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: --- and the SPLOST VII list.
The Clerk: Yes, the list he’s doing now SPLOST VII, yes. Mr. Dennis Williams and Mr.
Sias.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, Commissioner Hasan.
Mr. Hasan: Yes, thank you. Mr. Chairman, I, just in allowing the Director to bring back
a recommended list and I can stand corrected if Mr. Tim or Mr. Houck or the Administrator whom
ever. I don’t want us to believe that under assumption that as long as we keep the money on the
recreation project around the SPLOST and we can show there’s not necessarily a need or a want
for a project and it stays in that area of SPLOST we have the ability to do that I think without
violating the SPLOST law. That’s what I want to make sure we don’t have to do what was voted
on per se but the people the public needs to see something and it needs to be in that realm of reality
of what we voted on.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: I think that’s the clarity that some of us up here especially me want
when we come bring this back so we’re not violating or affecting future SPLOSTS by saying we’re
just going to do this so definitely. So we’ve got a motion and a second based on what Madam
Clerk just ---
The Clerk: To bring back a prioritized list ---
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: --- what was the date that we ---
The Clerk: --- 30 days from today.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Garrett.
Mr. Garrett: When the recommendations come back, can we get somebody from the
Administrator’s Office to present the recommendations along with Ron?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Administrator Sims, can you speak to that?
Mr. Sims: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, all right. We’ve got a motion and a second to bring an update
in 30 days with a few different items. Voting.
Mr. Speaker: (Inaudible).
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: I said a few items, there’s like five of them.
Motion Passes 10-0.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you.
The Clerk:
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
38
19. Discuss/approve Lease Agreement establishing the location of a Sheriff’s Office
substation at 2816 Washington Road. (Deferred from the September 14, 2019 Special Called
Meeting)
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: All right, who’s going to speak to this?
The Clerk: The attorney, General Counsel is handling that.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Have we received, have we received the updated document? Mr.
Frails, please state your name and address for the record please.
Mr. Frails: My name is Randolph Frails. I’m with Frails and Wilson, my address is 211
Pleasant Home Road Suite A, Augusta, Georgia I’m the counsel for Richmond County Sheriff’s
Department.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, does anyone have any questions? Has the, everything been
fulfilled on the agreement as we stated?
Mr. Frails: We have corrected the agreement as we had discussed earlier in a previous
meeting. We have removed the information concerning the clauses related to insurance, the lease.
The improvements have been made on the property; it’s my understanding that the improvements
were in excess of $350,000 dollars. They were not made by the Sheriff’s Department. They were
made by the tenant. They were made by the landlord. The space is 2,600 square feet. It will be
used as a Sheriff’s Substation. The Sheriff will redeploy individuals from other deputies from other
substations to man it. It’s not going to be an increase in manpower or anything like that.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, Commissioner Hasan.
Mr. Hasan: Motion to approve.
Mr. D. Williams: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We’ve got a motion and a second. Any other discussion, voting.
Mr. M. Williams abstains.
Mr. Clarke out.
Motion Passes 8-0-1.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Madam Clerk, can we go back to Number 18, we skipped it.
The Clerk:
PUBLIC SERVICES
18. Motion to approve the updated template for Memoranda of Understanding (MOU)
between Augusta, Georgia and Community Partners for the joint operation of community
centers. (Deferred from the September 24, 2019 Public Services Committee)
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Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Dennis Williams.
Mr. D. Williams: Move for approval.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Can I get a second? Commissioner Marion Williams.
Mr. M. Williams: Yeah, I’ve got a couple of questions. Who’s going to address this?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Ron.
Mr. M. Williams: Ron, I’m waiting, I’ve been asking and have been about MOU’s for
quite some time and I guess I looked at the backup here but I’m not still clear on a lot of stuff.
Have we had any public input on any of this? First question.
Mr. Houck: No, sir. What we want to do, well let me back up. The Commission passed
the most recent MOU with W.T. Johnson’s 30901 in 2018 ---
Mr. M. Williams: And they’ve been waiting since then to get the rest of them that one was
brought forth and I questioned that why was that brought forth and the rest of them was not but we
know that so go ahead.
Mr. Houck: --- so when we looked at that staff said we think there’s some possibilities of
strengthened the MOU to put a little more teeth in it and not only that protect the city but protect
the community partners as well, build in some transparency and better accountability which I think
we’re all looking for. So we looked at it and these are recommendations that if the Commission
approves then we’ll insert these in the new MOU’s and we’ll bring them back all before the end
of the year, the current ones that need to be updated.
Mr. M. Williams: Can you point out those issues that have been enhanced, more
accountability you said, if there’s going to be a partnership and it’s been problem with me for a
while. When we’ve got a partnership but that’s not a true partnership. There’s no recreation
employees involved except you know we own the building and pay for the building but if there’s
going to be a partnership it ought to be something that we can need each other to work with I guess.
Am I being clear with that, Ron? Do you understand what I’m saying?
Mr. Houck: Yes, sir. Again I can go through some of the proposed added items we’d like
to see in MOU’s from a responsibility standpoint from a community partner and from the city’s
end. From the community partner there’s some items that were not in the most recent MOU that
we think’s important. One is that, one of those is for the entity if they’re a nonprofit to show us to
be able to provide a copy of their and/or registration that shows their nonprofit status through the
Secretary of State’s Office. They would provide staffing to rentals and adhere to our guidelines,
rental guidelines which we’re in the process of reviewing making any changes to those which
would be part of this MOU. They would submit volunteer release forms for all volunteers, they
would create programs and activities annually with Augusta, discuss the operations programs.
There’d be an indemnity and hold harmless agreement, there’d be liability coverage, they would
40
have to inform Augusta of all changes in staffing levels, personnel, hours of operations. They
would all need to be approved and they provide quarterly report of usage in revenues to Augusta
based on a template we would provide them and then they would provide an annual summary
report of revenues and expenses.
Mr. M. Williams: So are you saying those was not in the agreement prior to this, that those
things were not in here?
Mr. Houck: No, sir.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay, so where’s the partnership? Where’s the city’s involvement that
this community if we’re going to partnership with any community, where’s the city’s input that
the city’s going to provide?
Mr. Houck: Currently, we provide utilities all utilities ---
Mr. M. Williams: No, no, no I get that. We pay the utilities, we pay the expense, we do
the maintenance. We get that but I mean that’s like me letting you have my house but I’m still
going to pay for everything but you’re going to live in the house. I mean that’s not a good
partnership. It’s good for you but it’s going to be bad for me because I’m still going to have to
bear the expense whether you leave the lights on or not, whether you clean up or not, that’s not a
good partnership. A partnership ought to be where the city’s involved as well so we have staff
should have staff there, should have involvement with whatever program is being done so we can
be a partnership a true partnership is just what it is so I don’t see that. And you mentioned about
insurance, how would the insurance be addressed when it comes to partnership as far as community
involvement?
Mr. Houck: They would have to acquire and maintain and purchase liability insurance.
Mr. M. Williams: And that hadn’t been done before you’re saying and we’re still allowing
the other entities who the partnership we’ve got whether it be East Augusta, Sandridge or anybody
else they’ve been able to do that in the past but you’re saying that’s going to cease. Okay and what
rate of insurance, I say what rate what ---
Mr. Houck: A million dollars.
Mr. M. Williams: --- a million dollars for liability insurance.
Mr. Houck: Roughly $1,200 to $1,500 dollars a year.
Mr. M. Williams: And who’s going to pay that?
Mr. Houck: It’d be up to the community partner if the city so desires to make them have
liability coverage.
41
Mr. M. Williams: Well, but the city would almost have to have liability coverage if you’re
going to do what we’ve been doing I mean as far as leasing these buildings to a nonprofit and
something happens and the city would be liable. I can’t support what I see here now, Mr. Mayor
Pro Tem.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, Commissioner Sias.
Mr. Sias: Just a couple of questions about, just a couple of questions about some of the
add on things you were talking about. The liability insurance now you said a million dollars but
what I saw in here said $2 million dollars aggregate. Can you explain what the difference between
the one million and the two million?
Mr. Houck: Well, I think we did a little more research on that and we had some discussions
with Finance and Risk Management and the liability coverage we sort of obtained through National
Parks and Rec Association. By looking at some similar agreements in Raleigh, NC, Smyrna, GA
and Cleveland Metro Parks and all of them had liability coverage, two of them only had a million,
one had two. Again after looking at that we decided it would be reasonable and fair just to leave
it at one million which would do for most of our other requirements when someone comes in and
say rents the Augusta Common or rents Julian Smith or whatever.
Mr. Sias: Just a couple more follow ups on that. So when you do that what is the insurance
liability what does it cover?
Mr. Houck: Well, this agreement ---
Mr. Sias: Not the agreement what would the insurance be for?
Mr. Houck: --- I understand. The neighborhood associations are acting sort of as agents
for us by running programs so it would it would really cover any shortcomings or misdoings by
that community partner that would occur at a center whether it be with a person, whether it be
through an accident, whether it be through any other reason you’d have liability insurance so the
city wouldn’t be liable.
Mr. Sias: So this community partners is operating this center on behalf of the city and
somebody come out there and stumble and fall or slip floor who’s liability is that? Is it the city or
has the city transferred all operational liability to the community partner?
Mr. Houck: Well, I think it’s probably joint to be honest with you. It depends if it’s an
issue that the city was responsible for whether it’s a maintenance item or a capital item or whether
it’s perhaps a program related item that the community partner’s would take on for us.
Mr. Sias: That sound a bit gray, Mr. Houck, so in other words what I see here, just my
personal opinion, we’re transferring the responsibility of the city to a community partner who is
volunteering to do this and they’re not getting paid. This was the idea that the city did not have
enough resources personnel wise to operate these small, these small centers. And then now what
I see I mean here is this insurance things and the way we’re talking about liability we’re taking a
42
nonprofit who may have two or three folks out there volunteering and you’re giving them the full
liability and responsibility for this city thing. I just think if you’re going to do that I don’t think
you should have a community partnership. That’s definitely not one. That’s a transfer of liability
period. The last question is program funding. How much program funding do the city provide to
a small, to a small community center operated by a partner?
Mr. Houck: $700.00 dollars, less than $1,000 ---
Mr. Sias: $700.00 a year, right?
Mr. Houck: --- for the most part.
Mr. Sias: And that’s the accountability piece that is so critical I heard about. That almost
was the last question. And the other thing on the rental procedures and things that would do that
there may be some revenue or some (unintelligible) but what do you think would be a general
amount that a community partner might generate revenue, generate it through rentals as some of
these small centers because they can only have a small amount of folks or guests in these centers,
so generally how much is that on the average, a good guess?
Mr. Houck: $3,000 dollars.
Mr. Sias: That’s a high guess, that’s a high guess. But anyway so what we’re talking about
then and then from there you’ve got to pay your tenants and all these other things and folks and
then any remaining funds has to be put back into that community center, am I correct?
Mr. Houck: Correct.
Mr. Sias: So I think these partnerships can be good but I can’t support this one. All right,
thank you.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: All right, Commissioner Garrett.
Mr. Garrett: Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem. I’ve got a few questions for Mr. Houck.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Sure.
Mr. Garrett: How many of our community centers are operated through these types of
arrangements?
Mr. Houck: Currently we have three ---
Mr. Garrett: Three.
Mr. Houck: --- Jamestown, Eastview and W.T. Johnson.
Mr. Sias: What about Sand Hills?
43
Mr. Houck: Well, it’s not a community center agreement. We have park operational
agreements and that’s like MACH Academy that runs our tennis program at Fleming Tennis Center
and Diamond Lakes Community Center. And then we have lease agreements which again is a
little different. Soccer, Arsenal Soccer Club has a 40-year lease that started in ’97 with us. The
Lock and Dam, the Commission just approved the lease with the Corp for another 10 years.
Pendleton King Park and Hickman Park, we’re working on agreements now that they’ve had their
legal issues straightened out and have trusts operating these two areas.
Mr. Garrett: So there’s quite a few out there but you know this community center why
that’s the question I was asking. I understand the rationale behind the sports related ones. I mean
that’s not a homegoing thing throughout the year. Is there a reason why we need to continue these
MOU’s? Is the city not at a place where we can provide the resources as they’re needed?
Mr. Houck: You know I would say the community partners we’ve had with these three
entities as an example has saved the city money because if we had to staff and fund those facilities
at Eastview and Jamestown we’d probably be looking at $130,000 versus $15,000 dollars with the
city budgets each for those facilities. W. T. Johnson I’d say we budget thirty. If we had to get
into that operation we’d probably be looking at 250 or so, so there’s a cost savings. There’s also
again having the community out there involved in our programs which I don’t know if you can put
a dollar figure on that but that’s important.
Mr. Garrett: Okay, my colleague mentioned programming costs earlier. With the
programming that takes place at these community centers are, is any of the programming approved
by the city that takes place there?
Mr. Houck: It will be if we put some of these recommendations in place.
Mr. Garrett: They’re currently not?
Mr. Houck: No, sir.
Mr. Garret: Okay, thank you.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: What about, as a follow up what about the liability aspect of who
uses these facilities? Will it be, I mean on us as well or who?
Mr. Houck: Well again, right now we’re recommending, these are only recommendations
---
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Right.
Mr. Houck: --- and we haven’t had either Risk or the Law Department say don’t put this
liability agreement in place so again we certainly could add or delete from these proposed changes.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Real quickly, Commissioner Sias, are you (unintelligible).
44
Mr. Sias: Just real quick. Mr. Houck, you only mentioned a couple of them but upon
Commissioner Garrett’s question you then related there are several other type community partners
out there for example Sand Hills. I think San Hills has some kind of an agreement I’m not sure but
we have something, they used to though, right?
Mr. Houck: Yes, sir.
Mr. Sias: They used to okay I didn’t know they had broke off. I know they existed. Okay,
what I’m saying is then are all these partners no matter what type of partner they are, are they
going to be required for this liability?
Mr. Houck: Yes, sir.
Mr. Sias: Okay, just wanted to get an understanding.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Clarke.
Mr. Clarke: Mr. Mayor Pro Tem, I did have a couple of questions but they were answered
so I’d like to make a statement with a motion if I may. I think with this template it leaves too
many open questions and unanswered questions and I think it’s, it would probably do good to go
back and let’s revisit some things. So at this time I would make a motion that we not approve
this template and to go back to the drawing board on it.
Mr. Hasan: Second.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Is that a second from Commissioner Hasan? Okay. All right, we’ve
got one more, Commissioner Marion Williams.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor Pro Tem. Ron, I want to go back to the $700
dollars, you mentioned $700 dollars there. What was that about?
Mr. Houck: That’s the city again. We have an operating budget at three community centers
that cover utilities, cover different things. Part of that we provide a minimum amount of program
supply money for these groups.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay, does that include maintenance too or is maintenance different?
Mr. Houck: We do all the maintenance.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay so how much is that? I’m trying to figure out how much that is.
Just roughly, you don’t have to be on the head. I’ve got Donna if I need somebody to give me
exact (unintelligible).
Mr. Houck: A couple thousand dollars again we budget $15,000 ---
45
Mr. M. Williams: A couple of thousand would be good. Okay and then the rentals of these
facilities, do we control or, do we know how much rentals actually take place in a year’s time with
these facilities and how much the rentals will be?
Mr. Houck: --- we will, moving forward ---
Mr. M. Williams: No, no, no, no. Do we now know from the previous agreement? Not
this we, we just got a motion to not approve the other ones, the old ones. Do we know from year
to year how much money has been taken in through rentals or whatever agreements they may have
with any of these centers, do we know that?
Mr. Houck: --- I don’t know.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay, I didn’t think you did. That’s why I was asking it that way. So
that is a dollar figure though that goes into this as well and you said you thought maybe $3,000
dollars and I think Commissioner Sias said that was kind of high but he asked you to give a good
guess and that was a good guess $3,000 dollars is a good guess to me. When you talk about renting
these facilities during the holidays and different events and different things but we don’t control
that, we don’t what that is and when the liability comes from whatever rental they may have,
something could happen at night, something could happen in the day and you know I think that if
we don’t have insurance we’ll be putting the city at a greater risk because they rent it out. Now
there was a time, Ms. Bonner, when I really used to cut up. I don’t do that much now but if I was
at one of the facilities and something happened then ya’ll would have something on your hands
but since I mellowed down, since I got a little bit older, I kind of calmed myself down just a little
bit, most times.
Ms. Davis: Not in Savannah.
Mr. M. Williams: Not in Savannah okay we was out of town then. But I’m saying that we
need to go Commissioner Clarke has made a motion but we really need to go and look back at
these agreements and make sure what we’re doing. I’m not against any of these facilities but the
city ought to be running these facilities. They ought to be, everybody in this county and we’re a
consolidated government ought not to have a professional downtown doing something when
somebody’s who’s a nonprofessional doing something else out somewhere else and saying I’m
saving the city money. No, I disagree with that so we need to look at this very, very closely before
we pass any of this.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you, sir. Commissioner Dennis Williams.
Mr. D. Williams: My motion failed because I lost my second.
Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ve got a motion on the floor to deny the MOU as stated on the
screen voting, voting to deny.
Mr. D. Williams votes No.
Motion Passes 9-1.
46
The Clerk: Item 20, sir?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk:
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
20. Motion to approve appropriation of $150,000 of CDBG related funds for land acquisition,
demolition, cleanup and re-development of a model duplex affordable housing unit in the
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15 street targeted area. (Requested by Mayor Hardie Davis, Jr.)
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Sias.
Mr. Sias: Motion to deny.
Mr. D. Williams: I’ll second that one.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: I’ve got a motion and a second to deny, Commissioner Fennoy.
Mr. Fennoy: I’d like to make a substitute motion to ---
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Substitute motion ---
Mr. Fennoy: --- to delete.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: --- without a proper second. Commissioner Marion Williams.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor Pro Tem. I’ve got a couple of questions. In using
CDBG monies to propose anything in not Housing and Neighborhood Development I’m having
some issue with that. Is that process, is that the process that we’re supposed to use? Is that a
funding we can go to to do that? Who’s going to address it?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: I think Mr. Welcher or ---
Mr. M. Williams: I mean if it is I just need to know because I’ve got a request myself, I’m
waiting.
Mr. Welcher: Good afternoon, Mr. Commissioner. To answer your question the proposed
activities would be eligible but we do have an articulated process we must follow under federal
regulations to publicly notify projects before they’re undertaken with federal funds like CDBG.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay and you said it is a process that can be used but it has to be used
in what way now because I’m missing something.
47
Mr. Welcher: So typically we do not utilize CDBG for the purpose of providing affordable
housing. As you well know funding on an annual basis continues to decline. Typically for the
most part CDBG funding is used to provide and assist non-profits from a service aspect to provide
rehab to provide small business development loans and those types things.
Mr. M. Williams: So if we’ve got the CHODO’s and I call it CHODO’s now what would
they call it I mean I’m going back in the day.
Mr. Welcher: CHODO’s, nonprofits (inaudible).
Mr. M. Williams: Okay CHODO’s, nonprofits same difference but if we took anything
out there’s going to be less money they’ve got to use to do things with during the year. They’re
the ones that are supposed have their arms around this particular project or this type particular
project I would say in order to do that. There’s a great need in this city for housing and we talk
about affordable housing and we talk about all of the other things so I’m not against that but when
I saw this and I was wondering why it was even put on the agenda. Me and the Mayor had a
conversation about it. If we start that, if we open that door up, where would that stop at, Mr.
Welcher, just in your mind?
Mr. Welcher: In my mind you’re absolutely correct. If you, you all approve an annual
th
plan annually so are so our money for 2019 you approved at around November 8, November 15
and that was a plan that basically shows you exactly how we’re going to use the money. There’s
not a contingency when you talk about CDBG so if you take it you’ve got to take it from
somewhere and once again you’ll be taking it potentially from those nonprofits that you provide
money to provide services, you’ll be taking it from ACD to provide rehab work, you’ll be taking
it from HCD to provide funding for small businesses and etc., etc.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay, that’s all the questions I had.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, Commissioner Hasan.
Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. You know when you look at the agenda item it’s
talking about blight, something about purchasing property, demolition, rehab or revitalization of a
neighborhood and honestly you know this is something as I shared with my colleagues it’s
something that we need to seriously consider allowing our Land Bank and HCD to work together,
the Land Bank to do the acquisition of these properties and everything and deal with this blight
across the city because that’s the problem we have it’s across the city. We don’t need to target
another area at this point as much as target the whole city where blight is. And I think that’s where
we need to make that decision and I’d like to make a substitute motion and I’m not going hold up
on the motion just a minute. But I want to also make because I don’t want Mr. Welcher to go into
another conversation with Ms. Pouncey who was here earlier. I wholeheartedly agree. I was born
th
and raised in the Laney Walker area as all of you all know on James Brown Boulevard and 9
Street there and what you’re looking at now is that area that core area is 50% deserted, 50%
abandoned, 50% dilapidated. I was talking with a young man today who works for the retail with
the economic development and in his estimation not only is it 50% deserted but it’s 67% less
persons in that area than there was back in the day. So if Mr. Welcher is going to have this
48
conversation let’s not handcuff him believing that he can do some miracles to bring a store in there
when he can’t be allowed to put rooftops up in there. Rooftops are going to be very important in
that conversation in allowing him to have that conversation with those persons. I wholeheartedly
agree. When I came up here with three stores right within two miles of each other one right there
at D’Antignac and James Brown Boulevard, the Gurley’s right there on Laney Walker Boulevard
the Hills, the food, it was Hill’s Food Store I’m sorry at D’Antignac Street. And then you come
back and on Wrightsboro Road there was another Hill’s right there. We’re not even talking about
the corner grocery stores that was in those communities that served and everybody made money.
So two things is put these things where they need to be if we want to see the kind of success that
we’re capable of having. Number one, the demolition this blight needs to be in the Land Bank.
That’s my motion for that and to and Commissioner Sias already said to allow Mr. Welcher to deal
with those entities appropriately based on the ability to put rooftops on the ground.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, we don’t have a second there. Commissioner Marion Williams
and then Commissioner Sias.
Mr. M. Williams: I agree with my colleague about the rooftops but I believe if you put all
houses in the world in that area without some economic dollars, a reason for people to bring
business in there and rooftops will help sustain it but I think Commissioner Fennoy ---
Mr. Hasan: That’s in there.
Mr. M. Williams: --- well, I’m just saying I’m not opposed. I’m just saying that the rooftop
is one thing. You know we’re building houses. I see a lot of houses built. I see lot of construction
being done and a lot of grass being cut and all that but the economic dollars for people to want to
come in and want to grow we’ve been giving them pieces of the pie. We hadn’t brought the whole
pie, we just brought a piece of the pie. We got to make this city the Mayor’s always talking about
One Augusta but every part of Augusta ought to feel like they got a chance you know not to be a
Food Desert, there ought to be a place left to say you make it if you can. We’ve got to do some
things in my opinion to create a destination for folks to come and people want to live and want to
shop in the stores will want to come. You can go out and bring a store in but if that business is not
making any money, they’re going to pull up stakes in a little while. So I’m with you with the
rooftop but I think we’ve got to some economic, we had this conversation, Mr. Welcher. We got
to do something that’ll attract people in an area where they congregate and spend money while
they’re there. But if there’s no reason for them to come just to come home and go to bed that’s
like having a steakhouse in the middle of place. There’s no reason, everybody’s got a stove in
their own kitchen, they’ll cook their own steak. They may go out once in a while but you’ve got
to have a reason for folks to come. And if there’s a mass there they’ll leave their home and say
I’m going out to eat tonight because Tim Schroer is going to be there he’s going to buy my meal
so they’ll go out there. So if you don’t got no reason just have a stove in your kitchen you’ll cook
yourself. So all we’re saying is the same thing different ways, rooftop, but we’ve got to have some
economic dollars in an area where folks will feel like they’re making money, they’ll feel a part of
this city and they’ll want to grow this city and we had not done that.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: All right, Commissioner Hasan.
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Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Chair. Let me just, to my colleagues I absolutely agree, we’re
saying the same thing. I know this well not only did I just live there I ran a business in that area as
you know for twenty some odd years. As a matter of fact my first job I ever had I had at Gurley’s,
got paid $5.00 dollars for half a day Friday after school and all day Saturday so that’s my first job
I ever got paid so I know that and we’re saying the same thing. So let me make an amendment to
my motion. My motion really should’ve been just really to allow the Land Bank to take over this
so we can deal with blight and everything across this whole city and not deal with another
secondary target area because we’re going to see this again. Department heads, the Administrator,
they’re struggling with this issue. It’s creating a lot of unrest and we have a responsibility to take
out the unrest and do that. That’s what we need to do. So I amend my motion and take this issue
here and deal with, pass it over to the Land Bank and deal with blight across the City of Augusta.
That’s my motion.
Mr. M. Williams: I’m going to second it because he’ll need a second but.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, we’ve got a substitute motion and a second to place this issue
within the Land Bank ---
Mr. Hasan: With blight across the whole city not just this issue deal with blight across the
whole city.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: --- Commissioner Sias and then we’re voting.
Mr. Sias: Just quick clarification you’re talking whereas the Environmental Services and
all these other folks been doing that you want everything dumped in the Land Bank.
Mr. Hasan: Well see the Land Bank doesn’t need but probably two of those persons, most
(inaudible) Land Bank.
Mr. Sias: I’m just trying to get a clarification. You want it all there?
Mr. Hasan: They’re already on the Land Bank. The only ones not there is the Marshal’s
Department by one or two departments they’re already there.
Mr. Sias: Are you talking about the JCC thing ---
Mr. Hasan: Yeah ---
Mr. Sias: --- or are you talking about demolition?
Mr. Hasan: --- no, I’m talking, when you say that the Land Bank and demolition they can
work, Environmental Services and the Land Bank can work together on it. The Land Bank can
acquire the properties and Environmental Services still can be involved overseeing the demolition
aspect of it so they’re working together, that’s my point.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: All right, Commissioner Fennoy then we’re voting.
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Mr. Fennoy: I’d like to make a substitute ---
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: We’ve already got a substitute.
Mr. Fennoy: --- what’s the substitute?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: The substitute is ---
The Clerk: Is to turn the demolition and the blight over to the Land Bank Authority.
Mr. Fennoy: That’s the substitute?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: --- that’s the substitute. I’ve got a substitute motion on the floor,
voting.
The Clerk: That motion fails, ties as with ---
Mr. Fennoy: The Mayor Pro Tem’s got to vote again.
The Clerk: --- that requires a consolidation change.
Mr. D. Williams, Mr. B. Williams, Mr. Hasan, Mr. M. Williams and Mr. Clarke vote Yes.
Mr. Fennoy, Ms. Davis, Mr. Sias, Mr. Frantom and Mr. Garrett vote No.
Motion Ties 5-5.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Do we go back to the original motion?
The Clerk: The original motion is to deny.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay and we’re going to vote on that, is that correct?
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, all right, voting.
Motion Passes 10-0.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: All right, we’ve got a few more here. 21, Madam Chair.
The Clerk:
ENGINEERING SERVICES
21. Discuss the Olive Road Overpass. (Requested by Commissioner Marion Williams)
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Marion Williams.
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Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor Pro Tem. This is a very serious issue. I talked
with John about it and I know his opinion about putting up a rail. Some structure across where the
bridge is not down the highway but about 6 to 8-feet away from the bridge so that if a truck does
come we’ve got to raise the level of the street. I mean not a speed bump but we’ve got to the asphalt
raised up. But I think that that’s not enough. I think there ought to be a structure where the railroad
puts it up or the city puts it up. Now I think Engineering is going to tell us that we can’t put it on
the road, the highway. I get that but if we put six feet away from the railroad bridge or the overpass
itself and a structure where they won’t move it with a truck, where we’re not hitting the trestle then
we’ll eliminate this problem. We’ve got lights there, we’ve got a stop sign there and people still
have hit it so if we put a structure almost next to it where it will not move and the railroad itself
ought to be able to do that if we allow them to you know maybe it wouldn’t cost us anything if we
talk to them. We can’t lower the road down because of the spring under there. We can’t raise it
up because of the overpass itself. The railroad uses that for their main line so the only thing that
was going to stop it is something that people coming into the city renting these U Haul trucks don’t
understand they will not be able to go through there. Now I know the sign says no trucks. That’s
like telling Sean Frantom don’t speed. Ms. Bonner, he still speeds every once in a while not all the
time but he still does it. So I’m saying that the sign is not going do it. We need to put a structure
there or approve a structure there.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Mr. Ussery, can you speak to the request of Commissioner Marion
Williams?
Mr. Ussery: Good afternoon. My stance on this hasn’t changed. I do not recommend we
put anything fixed in the public right-of-way that can be hit. It’s intentionally too low. I’m not a
lawyer but I think that would open us up to some interesting legal issues. As far as asking the
railroad the railroad does own a section of right-of-way where their bridge crosses where our road
goes underneath our bridge. We could ask them if they could install something within their right-
of-way close to the bridge ---
Mr. M. Williams: That’s right.
Mr. Ussery: --- I can see if they would entertain that idea. I wouldn’t be too hopeful with
that but I can ask. But I will say the speed bumps have been in about two weeks. There’s two on
each approach. I’ve been out there several times various days various times of the day and they
are working, they are slowing people down. I can’t tell you how many U Haul type trucks have
hit that first bump not paying attention and I guarantee you they were paying attention by the time
they got to the next one and so they are having a good positive effect on the traffic through there.
I’m not going to say they will never not hit the bridge but they are having a positive effect.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commission Marion Williams, do you want to follow up?
Mr. M. Williams: No, I’m going to trust John. I mean I’ve been by I rode across it myself
and the asphalt is raised but we lost a life, let’s not forget we lost a life when someone hit it from
the coming into the south side of Augusta and knocked a beam over on the car and took the young
man’s life so I wouldn’t want that to happen again. That ought to be enough. Now if we, the
speed bumps may be working but I still think that we ought to talk to the railroad. They own that
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right-of-way. I mean we were talking about putting down half way the road that’s one thing but
next to the overpass where we have to go up under within 6 to 8-feet away on their property I think
that will secure us from not worrying about hitting that bridge again making something happen on
the opposite side.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay ---
Mr. M. Williams: Do I need to make a motion to that effect?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: --- Mr. Ussery, how long do you need to talk to the railroad when
can we ---
Mr. Ussery: 30 days. Give me 30 days.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: --- okay, make a motion to that effect.
Mr. M. Williams: I make a motion in 30 days John comes back and lets us know what
the railroad said about installing something themselves of a structure like that that will stop
them. And if that doesn’t work then nothing’s going to work.
Mr. D. Williams: Second.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: I’ve got a motion and a second. Commissioner Sias.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. Mr. Ussery, next time you walk out there take a look and think
about an overpass and come back and tell us how much that costs in general.
Mr. Ussery: That’s a great idea but it’ll be awful expensive.
Mr. M. Williams: Exactly.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: We’ve got a motion and a second to come back in 30 days, voting.
Motion Passes 10-0.
The Clerk:
ENGINEERING
22. Motion to approve directing Planning & Development Department to identify in their
2019 budget the funding to purchase 12 MDT’s for use by Code Enforcement Division and
bring information back to the Commission on October 1, 2019. (Approved by Engineering
Services Committee September 24, 2019)
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Bobby Williams.
Mr. B. Williams: Motion to approve. They need it.
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Mr. Garrett: Second.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: We’ve got a motion and a second, Commissioner Marion Williams.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you. Is it necessary for the MDT’s or can they use a laptop? I
mean I’m asking a question. Is that the same effect? I want to support but I’m asking a question,
Rob. Can a laptop do the same thing as a MDT’s going to do and we’ll get ten of those or whatever
those we need versus?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Mr. Sherman.
Mr. Sherman: Well, the MDT’s these will actually be mounted in the trucks. They’re
heavy duty, they come with a case so it’s hard to destroy them.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay, I’m in support. I just wanted to make sure that we couldn’t do it
a little bit cheaper and that’s why I was (unintelligible) but they’re going to be mounted in the
trucks and they’ll be something that we can readily use. I’m in support.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, we’ve got a motion and a second, voting.
Ms. Davis out.
Motion Passes 9-1.
The Clerk:
ATTORNEY
23. Approve the execution of the Letter of Consent with WGL Energy Systems, Inc. to
consent to the assignment of the Lease Agreement between Augusta and WGL Energy
System, Inc. pertaining to the Augusta Jail Site solar facility. (Requested by General Counsel
Wayne Brown)
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Sias.
Mr. Sias: Move to approve.
Mr. D. Williams: Second.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: I’ve got a motion and a second any further discussion, voting.
Mr. M. Williams: What are we voting on, Wayne? What am I voting on?
Mr. Brown: Just an assignment of we’re giving consent to permit solar company to assign
their rights to another solar company. It has no obligations for Augusta.
Mr. M. Williams: I don’t normally trust lawyers but I’m trusting you today.
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The Clerk: Okay, Mr. Bobby Williams, you’re voting yes?
Mr. B. Williams: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Garrett.
Mr. Garrett: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Sias.
Mr. Sias: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Fennoy.
Mr. Fennoy: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Frantom.
Mr. Frantom: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Hasan.
Mr. Hasan: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Dennis Williams.
Mr. D. Williams: Yes.
The Clerk: And Mr. Marion Williams.
Mr. M. Williams: Yes.
Ms. Davis and Mr. Clarke out.
Motion Passes 8-0.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Madam Clerk, is there any further business to discuss today?
The Clerk: No, sir, that’s it.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Meeting is adjourned.
\[MEETING ADJOURNED\]
Lena Bonner
Clerk of Commission
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CERTIFICATION:
I, Lena J. Bonner, Clerk of Commission, hereby certify that the above is a true and correct copy
of the minutes of the Regular Meeting of The Augusta Richmond County Commission held on
October 1, 2019.
______________________________
Clerk of Commission
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