HomeMy WebLinkAboutRegular Commission Meeting November 5, 2019
REGULAR MEETING COMMISSION CHAMBER
NOVEMBER 5, 2019
Augusta Richmond County Commission convened at 2:00 p.m., November 5, 2019, the
Hon. Hardie Davis, Jr., Mayor, presiding.
PRESENT: Hons. B. Williams, Garrett, Sias, Fennoy, Frantom, M. Williams, Davis
(participates by telephone on several items); D. Williams, Hasan and Clarke, members of Augusta
Richmond County Commission.
Mr. Mayor: All right, Madam Clerk, we’ll call to order the full Commission Meeting
scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
The Clerk: Yes, sir. At this time we will ask Reverend Terri R. Landers, Pastor of the
Lutheran Church of The Resurrection to please come forward to deliver our invocation and we
would like to ask Mr. Todd if he will please lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you.
The invocation was given by Reverend Terri R. Landers, Pastor, Lutheran Church of The
Resurrection.
The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America was recited.
The Clerk: Pastor Landers, they want to recognize you. Office of Mayor Hardie Davis
Jr., Reverend Landers. Office of Mayor Hardie Davis Jr., by these presence be it known that
Reverend Terri R. Landers, Pastor of the Lutheran Church of The Resurrection is the Chaplain of
the Day. Her spiritual guidance and civic leadership serves as an example for all citizens of
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Augusta. Given under my hand this 5 Day of November 2019, Hardie Davis Jr., Mayor.
Reverend Landers: Thank you so very much. (APPLAUSE)
The Clerk:
RECOGNITION(S)
A. Congratulations! October Years of Service Recipients.
The Clerk: I call your attention to our Recognition portion of our agenda the Mayor and
the Commission would like to offer their congratulations to our October Years of Service
Recipients. We ask Ms. Sylvia Williams of our H.R. Department to please come forward who will
announce this month’s recipients. Thank you.
Ms. Williams: Thank you, Madam Clerk. Good afternoon Mayor Davis, Commissioners,
Administrator, Madam Clerk, Directors, special guests and citizens of Augusta Georgia. My name
is Sylvia Williams. I’m the Employee Relations and Training Manager for the H.R. Department
this afternoon it is my esteemed pleasure to recognize the October Years of Service for the Month
of October 2019. For the Month of October we have 37-employees celebrating between 5 and 20-
years of service with Augusta Georgia this afternoon we would like to recognize our 25 to 50-
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Years of Service Recipients for the Month of October. The total years of service in institutional
knowledge that’s been celebrated here this afternoon is 565-years when I call your name please
come forward. Carl Collins, Engineering 25 years. (APPLAUSE) Mary Wells, Sheriff’s Office
30 years. (APPLAUSE) Michael Hopkins, Augusta Utilities 35 years. (APPLAUSE) Williams
Mills, Central Services 45 years. (APPLAUSE) Please join me in a round of applause as we thank
these loyal employees for their Years of Service. (APPLAUSE)
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk ---
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: --- there’s a lot of business in front of us; let’s see if we can try to move things
along a little bit. In front of us each of you should have at your seats an Addendum agenda for
consideration. We have two items one request of our Finance and Utilities Departments which is
approve attached documents related to issuance of bonds for the construction of water and sewer
projects at Fort Gordon. The other item is for us to formerly adopt the TIA Project List for the
2020 TIA public referendum of which had unanimous support from the Committee on last week.
Do we have concurrence to add these to the agenda without objection? All right, Madam Clerk.
The Clerk:
DELEGATIONS
B. Mr. Joseph Traina regarding voter protection/election security.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Traina, you have, after you’re all set up you have five minutes.
Mr. Traina: Thank you. The same thing I’ll be presenting on the screen you all should
have it in email that was sent as a You Tube link. Is there an option for the HDMI right here?
The Clerk: We’re getting you some technical assistance.
Mr. Traina: Okay, thank you.
Mr. Mayor: All right, why don’t we do this, why don’t we do this, Madam Clerk. Mr.
Traina, if you could yield and we’ll hear the next presenter and we’ll come back to you while we
can get you some help, how’s that?
Mr. Traina: Certainly.
Mr. Mayor: All right, fantastic. All right, Madam Clerk we’ll go to ---
The Clerk: Item Number C?
Mr. Mayor: --- yes.
The Clerk:
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DELEGATIONS
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C. Mr. Lamar Hawkins regarding Parking meter concern on 8 & Broad Street. Revised
pickup & drop-off signs.
Mr. Hawkins: How’s everybody doing, Commission? Well I’m here basically, this is my
third time here ---
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Hawkins, suspend. If you would state for the record your name and your
address.
Mr. Hawkins: --- Lamar Hawkins, 744 Broad Street Apt. 315.
Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir, you have five minutes.
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Mr. Hawkins: Okay, I’m here regarding the, you know, the parking situation on 8 Street.
I’m in a handicap building you know. A lot of people in my building no legs, one leg you know
on the air thing with the tanks with one leg. There’s a lot of sick people in my building. You’ve
got a lot of shut ins, nobody helping them, just nothing. I don’t have much and I give food and
give things and I live in the building with the people. You know I do what I can, I can only do so
much, you know, I’m not rich. But the parking situation people that are sick like that one leg and
just sick that is a burden for them to have to come downstairs every, you know, every two hours
to go out and put money in a meter every two hours they just, that’s a burden for these people.
They’re not going to be able to, now those people don’t have the money, you know, some of them
are paying $25.00, $35.00 dollars a month for rent yeah, don’t have nothing. And some of the
ones have cars they have a car but you know they put some gas in it one time in the month and
they just go far as the month, I’m serious it’s as far as the month would last because they ain’t no
money to put no more in the car. It’s a bad situation and I’ve talked with some people that’s told
me that it don’t make no you know somewhat it doesn’t make any difference that they’re still
handicapped. They still go down every two hours like the businessman like other people down
there and put money in the meter a man with one leg and on an oxygen tank has to come out every
two hours and put money in the meter. He’s regarded the same as a healthy man going out every
two hours and put money in the meter, you know, it doesn’t make any sense but I’ve been told
that. And I’m just here to plainly say that if people agree to hurt the handicapped like that but’s
all about money, it’s all about money downtown. I’ve been told that you want to build up
downtown and that’s all there is that’s all it is to it and our low income building like Richmond
Summit nobody’s really going to care nothing about that, you know it's about money, I’ve been
told that. All I have to say and I’m going to just make it simple like this. If ya’ll pass to put the
meters down there and people like that got to suffer every two hours to go down and put money in
a meter that’s fine. People that pass it and the few that go along with it they’re going to have to
pay a meter too to somebody one day but the person they’re going to pay is the Father and I’m
going to leave it at that. It’s just common sense to understand what I’m saying.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Hawkins, I appreciate you coming today to speak on the matter raising
your concern as it relates to the proposed parking conversation in downtown Augusta. And I like
the way you framed it what you’ve been told. What you’ve been told is inaccurate. But I’ll also
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go a step further and as you are at Richmond Summit as I think most of us who are familiar with
that property and the movement of people we’ve done a series of things as a city from a
transportation perspective to one, provide you with ease of access for emergency vehicles to come
in and out, that’s but one thing that we’ve done. Number two, what we’ve also done is provided
signage access for those individuals who are dropping off and also picking up individuals to be
able (unintelligible) Broad Street and pull into the Richmond Summit are so that you’re off of the
main street. But I might also add that today if we do move forward with the parking proposal I
believe you’re going to hear something today that makes it something that people all across our
community can and should support based on not only the rate structure but more importantly the
added value that will be given to our city in terms of economic growth and development. This is
not a conversation about grabbing money. This is a conversation about how we can enhance the
health, welfare and safety of all of our citizens who move in and around downtown and in particular
in those areas. And this conversation also involves enhancing Ellis Street that many of us in this
room know has substantial challenges to date and so what will happen with that is that if this moves
forward you will have enhanced safety measures there on Ellis Street as well and it will be more
of a functional road that supports those individuals at Richmond Summit as well as those
individuals who work in and along Broad Street. So what I would offer you is an opportunity to
remain here so that you can hear the presentation today and you’ll get greater insight into what’s
really being done.
Mr. Hawkins: Mr. Mayor, if you remember a couple of years ago I was here about the
signs that was out there. What happened here ya’ll voted unanimous on this but you put the wrong
signs up. It was supposed to have been a 15-minute drop off/pickup you know for people to take
their groceries up whatever and come down. It was supposed to have been a sign that said fifteen,
they have Unloading Zone No Parking that’s the sign. It was the wrong sign that was put up and
I’ve talked to two or three people over the years about that and they have done absolutely nothing.
Ya’ll voted some of the, these new Commissioners here it was voted on 15-minute drop off and if
you remember drop off and pickup and ya’ll voted unanimously and the sign supposed to say that.
You put the wrong signs up and nobody have done nothing. And people are getting tickets there
at a rapid rate. I got a ticket recently but I came down here because I know the law what was passed
I was up here no more than 10/12-minutes and I came down I had a ticket and I know I get 15-
minutes because the wrong sign was put up and nobody, since I’ve been told when the signs were
put up and you know it’s unloading, you pick up so that’s that. People are getting tickets; basically
oh well, the wrong sign was put up, Mr. Mayor. Could you put the right sign up there? 15 minutes
drop off and pickup at Richmond Summit. I’d gladly appreciate that, sir.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Hawkins, what I commit to you and this body commits to you is that we
will do everything necessary to make sure that not only the right sign’s put up but that those who
are moving in and out of Richmond Summit fully understand how they are to be used at it relates
to pickup and drop off. We’ll take care of it.
Mr. Hawkins: One more thing, also it’s people there that’s parking there all day and all
night. I come in, I can’t even take my groceries out because there’s cars everywhere. They need
to ticket more because people are just, it was meant to drop off, pick up, not stay there all night
(unintelligible). It’s meant for people to be there for 15 minutes, you know, drop the handicapped,
the dialysis van to come up, you know, wait on the person to come out and things of that nature
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that’s what the sign, is not for people to be there all night and their friends. Mr. Mayor, you need
to have the police go through there a little more, give more tickets. Maybe that will stop them for
being there all night where people like me can park. I have no cartilage in my hip. I’m in
tremendous pain but you couldn’t tell it. I’m struggling myself and but there’s people way worse
than me in that building.
Mr. Mayor: Well, let me submit to you as our time has expired ---
Mr. Hawkins: Okay.
Mr. Mayor: --- on this matter that if we move forward with the parking management
proposal it will allow us to begin remedying those types of situations and it’s going to be better
for all of us.
Mr. Hawkins: Okay, I appreciate it, thank you.
Mr. Mayor: All right.
The Clerk: Mr. Traina, are you now ready? Okay, Mr. Joseph Traina.
Mr. Traina: Good afternoon, Commissioners ---
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Traina if you will state for the record again your address.
Mr. Traina: --- my address?
Mr. Mayor: Yes.
Mr. Traina: 1933 Fenwick Street.
Mr. Mayor: You have five minutes.
Mr. Traina: Good afternoon, Commissioners, and many of you know me as activist who’s
been at the podium before to advocate for Ban the Box, improve public transit and stronger
coalition with neighborhood associations. Today the video that’s going to just be playing in the
background is also submit to you in your emails as a YouTube link that I encourage you to follow
up through. At the start of the video it’s showing me back in ’16, I’m sorry, ’15 talking to News
Channel 6 with Renita DuBose blowing the whistle on private and secret meetings being held by
the Democratic Party of Richmond County, an organization some of you are currently
(unintelligible) holders of while others donate to. Since then I’ve learned how power is abused by
leaders with partisan authority and how as a former state rep told me these leaders serve as the
gatekeepers. And especially ominous message received after reviewing Net Flicks is the Family,
you guys should all watch it, about the National Prayer Breakfast which is something I believe this
committee also participates in in much the same way. I’ve also learned how important it is that
local activists remain vigilant because there is no air support without a lot of luck and truly selfless
relationships in the community and DNC has no jurisdiction when corrupt party leaders restrict
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access and accountability at the state and county levels so the only folks to step up and help are
those with the most principled of constitutions, I hope that can be some of you all today. By the
two-minute mark you’ll see reference the party xx making public meetings private, at the three-
minutes you’ll see congressional candidates defending my position, at five minutes you’ll see
where an elderly woman was perjured by the party to get a restraining order on me just to keep me
out of meetings ---
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Traina, I want you to suspend. It is well within the right of all of our
citizens to have audience here and to come and present before this body. The caption reads you’re
going to speak to us about voter protection and election security ---
Mr. Traina: --- I am.
Mr. Mayor: --- and I’ve not heard that at this point ---
Mr. Traina: Would you let me finish, Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: --- I’m hearing about a matter that you raised with the Democratic Party and
we’re certainly not here to debate the Democratic Party (inaudible).
Mr. Traina: The party appoints two people from this partisan body to protect us and serve
us at the Board of Elections, is that true or not?
Mr. Hasan: No, it’s not true.
Mr. Mayor: It’s absolutely not true.
Mr. Traina: The party does not appoint, it’s not in the city Charter that the Board of
Elections has two ---
Mr. Mayor: I need you to suspend.
Mr. Traina: --- it’s interesting so we have Democratic members on the committee here?
Mr. Mayor: Suspend ---
Mr. Traina: Voter protection is in order here, sir.
Mr. Sias: (Unintelligible).
Mr. Traina: If we have an affiliate organization that’s not following the rules ---
Mr. Sias: (Unintelligible).
Mr. Traina: I understand that but we have a Board of Elections that falls under city
government, correct?
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Mr. Mayor: --- I asked you to suspend. You were coming to talk about voter security, the
new election machines and/or the role of the Board of Elections then we will be having a proper
conversation I believe. The matter as it relates to the Democratic party by state law statutory
requirement two members of the Republic Party and two members of the Democratic Party are
placed on the Board of Elections. That is why and how that happens. The local Democratic Party
again while they may be going to suggest and/or offer individuals to fill those two slots, it is a
statutory requirement for that to happen both representing the Republican and the Democratic
Party. I do not believe that as a body we’re going to be debating that measure. What we can talk
about again is the issue of election security and if you’re going to delve into that then that’s what
we want to hear today, okay?
Mr. Traina: Absolutely well I have in a video footage an organization that doesn’t exist
being attributed to campaign materials that if not you all then the Board of Elections at least should
be alerted to. These documents originated from the Walker Group and they were attributed to an
organization that doesn’t exist.
Mr. Mayor: Have you taken this matter up with the Board of Elections?
Mr. Traina: I will be taking it up with the Board of Elections. I thought it was also relevant
to you all because you all appoint people to our committees ---
Mr. Mayor: No, we do not.
Mr. Traina: --- maybe not the Board of Elections but many of you are part of this
organization which has a history of holding its own elections out of step with its own charter and
bylaws. If that doesn’t concern you as a public servant, I’m very concerned by that. I think that’s
unacceptable.
Mr. Mayor: I just want to raise the conversation as it relates to what your caption is. You
came under the guise or pretense of talking to us about voter protection ---
Mr. Traina: Yes ---
Mr. Mayor: --- and election security ---
Mr. Traina: --- absolutely ---
Mr. Mayor: --- which is an extremely important conversation that this body ---
Mr. Traina: --- 100% ---
Mr. Mayor: --- has been engaged in as it relates to the new machines and the concerns that
have been raised nationally and statewide regarding that matter. To this moment, I’ve not heard
anything in reference to that.
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Mr. Traina: --- well, you’ve interrupted me in my time, sir, so I would’ve loved to have
gotten through that in the presentation that I had prepared. But it does impact local and state and
national in that if we have affiliate organizations who take up positions in our Board of Elections
whose job it is to then supervise those machines in the carrying out of elections it is important. If
those entities also are the folks who send up delegates locally to represent us in organizations and
then nationally who select delegates at the national level who affect our elections that should
matter, right? It seems like you’d rather let go of responsibility of holding this organization
accountable in order to ---
Mr. Mayor: I’m going to ask you to suspend.
Mr. Trains: --- revert the conversation to something else.
Mr. Mayor: For the final time I’m going to ask you to suspend for the final time. As
members of this body we are nonpartisan in nature. This is a nonpartisan elected body of officials
and as such our purview again as it relates to the Board of Elections and those who work in this
local government begins and ends from an appropriation standpoint. And at the point that partisan
politics is the nature of your conversation while it has merit and I’m sure there are those in this
room who are concerned about it I want to bring you back to what your caption says you said you
were coming to talk about. And again I’ve watched this video and it has nothing to do with your
caption.
Mr. Traina: When did you watch the video, I just posted it.
Mr. Mayor: You just said you sent us an email, is that not true?
Mr. Traina: Yeah but I saw the views I don’t think that was one of you?
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Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 2.
Mr. D. Williams: I wanted to cut the video off ---
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. D. Williams: --- it’s still rolling.
Mr. Traina: There’s a lot of good information in there. You may not be a partisan
organization but the partisan organizations that impact our elections are paid money during
election time and those people are given jobs. That’s actually something that was referenced in
here. The District Chair and the County Chair one of which is running for District 1 is quoted in
there as talking about guaranteeing their people’s positions. When they couldn’t do that and I was
given the position they had me removed. Now corruption should be something that matters to the
people who sit on this board ---
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Traina ---
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Mr. Traina: --- Republican, Independent ---
Mr. Mayor: --- I said that I asked you ---
Mr. Traina: --- Democratic or otherwise.
Mr. Mayor: --- I said I asked you to ---
Mr. Traina: --- I think it’s incredible that you, sir ---
Mr. Mayor: --- I asked you to suspend for the final time. I would ask you to cease
conversation, your time is up.
Mr. Traina: -- my question which is related to this was whether this board with anybody
on this board would put in a formal request to the state party to revoke the county charter because
the county charter is the only thing giving them the authority to keep doing the corrupt business
that they’re getting away with here.
Mr. Mayor: I submit that you should engage in this conversation with the State Board of
Elections and the Democratic Party of Georgia. Your time has expired. Madam Clerk:
DELEGATIONS
D. Mr. Keith Brown regarding ARC Business License Inspectors.
The Clerk: Mr. Mayor and members of the Commission our Delegation D Mr. Keith
Brown has requested to be deleted from today’s agenda.
The Clerk:
DELEGATIONS
E. Citizens request to discuss the EMS service provided by Augusta. (Requested by
Commissioner Sammie Sias)
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, I’m going to take a Point of Personal Privilege. I tend to get
labeled as the bad guy, the hammer and the cop when these things come up.
Mr. Speaker: (Unintelligible).
Mr. Mayor: Well, I know I know and you know we tend to videotape these things and post
them on social media but the matter that was attempted to be presented had nothing to do with the
caption regarding voter protection. This is a matter that continues and there’s a proper forum to
have that. There’s a proper time to have this conversation and it will not be before this body. It
will not be. We have other business of the people to attend to and that’s not it, continue, Madam
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Clerk. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4.
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Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. Reference to a recent incident with EMS Service I just wanted
to share this with the body. Some may already know it, some may not. But what I have a Ms.
Carson (unintelligible) here today to speak on a matter that happened with them and I’d like to
bring her up, sir, and also prior to her speaking to run an audio tape of their 911 call, can we get
that?
Mr. Mayor: All right, everybody just suspend for a moment. All right, if you’ll state for
the record your name and your address, ma’am.
Ms. Speaker: Hi my name is Carson Palacz and I live at 235 Stonington Drive, Martinez,
GA.
Mr. Mayor: All right you have five minutes.
Ms. Palacz: Are we going to play the video first?
Mr. Sias: It’s the audio tape, it’s ready to go.
The Clerk: Are you ready?
Mr. Mayor: Okay, proceed.
Mr. M. Williams: I’ve got some objections, Mr. Mayor. Hold on now. If we’re going to
play a tape from one we need to have somebody from the other side here to defend that. Now we
ain’t going to play this side game today. We’re going to put everything on the table so if we’re
going to play one side at least have somebody here to defend what is being played. I can go outside
and make a video with a German Shepherd and come back here and show it. You ain’t seen a
German Shepherd, you ain’t seen my video. So if we’re going to do something now, let’s do this
right ---
Mr. Mayor: All right, so ---
Mr. M. Williams: --- we ain’t, we’re starting off right today.
Mr. Sias: Mr. Mayor.
Mr. M. Williams: I don’t mind hearing what you’ve got to say but we ain’t playing no tape
in here without somebody to defend the other side.
Mr. Mayor: --- all right let’s, let me talk about how we’re going to operate. Here’s our
posture. Again we just had a matter that we gave the presenter an opportunity to get their stuff
ready and it had nothing to do with the caption. We then had someone come and talk about a real
matter that’s important as it relates to parking. Somebody else asked for the item to be deleted. It
is this body’s role in hearing and allowing the public to come in to speak and present all matters.
We have a matter that is a public conversation, a delegation thing, that I again just like most of us,
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hopefully we’re going to get a common set of facts, she’s going to present and we’re going to let
her do that, all right, continue.
Mr. Sias: Are we going to run the audio?
Mr. Mayor: We’re going to run it if you’ve got an audio we’re going to run it ---
Mr. Sias: It’s set up.
Mr. Mayor: --- and then we’ll let ---
The Clerk: Is that prior to her speaking, sir?
Mr. Sias: Yes.
The Clerk: Okay.
Mr. Mayor: --- okay then we’ll everybody else speak.
Mr. M. Williams: Wait now, hold it. You ain’t you sole chief operator ---
Mr. Mayor: I didn’t recognize you.
Mr. M. Williams: --- I understand. I don’t need to be recognized. You’re not the sole
chief, let me tell you this body belongs to this body. This ain’t the Mayor’s show today. This is,
if we’re going to do that we ought to have somebody to be explain the other side. How can you
bring one side ---
Mr. Mayor: But I don’t know what the side is.
Mr. M. Williams: --- well, I’m not going to hear what the side is until I know there are
both representatives here.
Mr. Mayor: Okay well that’s not, you don’t get an opportunity to do that (inaudible).
Mr. M. Williams: Well, no ---
Mr. Mayor: Play the video, whatever it is you have to play over there I need you to proceed.
Mr. M. Williams: --- so you’re going to do it the way you you’re going to do it anyway. I
mean this is going to be the Sammie Sias Show today, is that the way it’s going to be? I mean
you’re going to bring somebody in ---
Mr. Mayor: I didn’t bring anybody in.
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Mr. M. Williams: --- well okay, you talk about a common set of facts. Everybody ought
to have the same information, that’s your words.
Mr. Mayor: If you’ll proceed with whatever is being presented.
Mr. M. Williams: I’m putting it all on the table today, Cap.
Mr. Mayor: I’ll recognize you to give you an opportunity to do that.
(Video playing)
Mr. Sias: That concludes that tape, sir.
Mr. Mayor: Okay ---
Mr. Sias: Can we allow Ms. Carson to speak, Mr. Palacz to speak?
Mr. Mayor: --- well, Ms. Palacz, I’m going to give you a minute, your time is almost
expired.
Ms. Palacz: Okay, so my name is Carson Palacz and I’m a senior at Augusta University.
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On Sunday October 27 a member of my student organization collapsed during a meeting at the
Augusta University Summerville Campus. She needed an ambulance and despite repeatedly
telling the operator that a student had collapsed at school she was denied an ambulance due to a
cited policy regarding hospital property. I asked the Assistant Dean of my college if this policy
was correct because it concerned me. Augusta University has over 9,000 students, 1,700 faculty
members and 4,800 staff members ranging from the ages of 15 to 88 as cited by the school earlier
this year. The chance of one of those 15,000 plus people needing an ambulance at some point is
high. It would be and it was scary to hear I’m sorry we can’t send you an ambulance. It could
also be potentially fatal. If this is in fact the policy that Augusta University campuses are ineligible
to receive ambulances, what is the implications of that first school shooting or a teacher having a
heart attack? Dying due to a policy denying medical care seems like a poor way to go. I
approached my Dean about this because I was concerned and now I’m approaching you. So what
can you do to make sure it doesn’t happen again? Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right ---
Mr. Sias: I’m good, I just wanted to present.
Mr. Mayor: --- okay, I’m going to go in this order the Chair recognizes the Commissioner
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from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor, I advised you earlier that there needs to be someone here
because I never heard that video until just now. But I need for someone to be here from the
ambulance service to address that to tell exactly what happened. Now I’m hearing about policy,
I’m hearing about whether or not they can go on a hospital campus, and we know Augusta State
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is a big organization. And I do believe that an ambulance should’ve been dispatched, I don’t care
where you are on the hospital steps or in the hospital. You need to go in there. I get that but since
we don’t have but one side of the story and there’s always three sides: there’s a lie, there’s the
truth and there’s the other side that someone wants to present. When I saw this on the agenda I
was really concerned about it because this ain’t the first time we’ve been talking this EMS service.
Before Commissioner Sias got elected he came and not in April, Ms. Bonner, not this second floor
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but on the 8 floor telling us about how he’s going to put Gold Cross out of business, how they
wasn’t no good ---
Mr. Sias: Excuse me ---
Mr. M. Williams: --- and continues to do that ever since I’ve been elected.
Mr. Sias: (unintelligible).
Mr. M. Williams: Now he said he said he’s going to bring some evidence and proof here
we hadn’t seen yet. But every week there’s always something about this ambulance service. Every
week we’re talking about the zone we have, I thought we had moved past that. But I’m sick and
tired of being sick and tired of folks bringing sick and tired stuff in here. So I’m really
disappointed, Mr. Mayor, as to how we can even entertain and listen to one side without listening
to the other one. Now if that’s what I stated is a lie, Ms. Bonner, you need to go back and get the
records that he came in this Chamber saying before he ever got elected what he’s going to do about
the ambulance service. He even accused some people of being in the ambulance service’s pockets.
Now if that’s a lie, Ms. Bonner, I think you’ve got some minutes in your office somewhere if you
have to dig them out. I ain’t just making stuff up but I’m sick and tired of us going through the
same old thing with the same old raggedy folks who’s trying to tear this government up. All of
the money we done spent everywhere we worry about the ambulance service. We paid $3.5 million
dollars a year to change oil on cars and trucks when we worry about the ambulance stuff that we’ve
got to pay for poor folks who can’t pay for an ambulance themselves, for poor folk who’s laying
on the corner on the street on drugs and everything else but we worry about the ambulance service
but we paid $3.5 million dollars to change oil and ain’t nobody addressed it. I’m sick and tired of
this mess, man. That’s crazy.
Mr. Sias: Get well then ---
Mr. Mayor: Okay ---
Mr. M. Williams: You can’t get me well, buddy.
Mr. Sias: --- (inaudible) get well.
Mr. Mayor: --- okay, all right, all right, all right.
Mr. M. Williams: If we’re going to address an issue Mr. Mayor (unintelligible).
Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Mayor Pro Tem.
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Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Carson, I’m going to address your question of what’s
being done about it. Well, I’m happy to report that AU and Gold Cross met yesterday, the top
leadership team, and they are 100% satisfied with where Gold Cross is, they’re 100% satisfied on
the partnership and they’re going to make sure that things like this are monitored even more in the
future. And you know Gold Cross has over 80,000 calls a year and it’s an unfortunate situation
on how this happened with the individual not following protocol but some of these things happen.
But I just wanted to let you know that AU is fully supportive of Gold Cross. They had a great
meeting and they look forward to working with Gold Cross in the future, so thank you.
Ms. Palacz: Well, thanks.
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Mr. Mayor: All right the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 1.
Mr. Fennoy: Excuse me, what’s your name again?
Ms. Palacz: My name’s Carson.
Mr. Fennoy: Carson, is there a difference between AU Summerville and the AU Medical?
Ms. Palacz: There is. So the AU Summerville campus is mostly undergraduate students.
It’s located on the, it’s 2500 Walton Way and that’s really business school and math and education
happen and then more medical classes happen over on the medical campus.
Mr. Fennoy: Okay and Mr. Mayor, I don’t know what happened with that particular
situation but I think that when the call was made the dispatcher may have assumed that someone
was at the AU medical complex. And to me it doesn’t make a lot of sense to dispatch an ambulance
to the medical complex because you already have a ambulance, when I say Augusta Medical
already has an ambulance service that provides. Yeah. So I think it was a breakdown in
communication and I think that if a call like that needs to be is made again then we should be able
to distinguish whether we’re talking about the Summerville Campus on Walton Way and the
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campus around 15 Street and Laney Walker. But I honestly believe that they were just confused
on the location and based on the information that they had, that’s why they made the decision to
do what they did.
Ms. Palacz: Right, you can here in the tape the lady referencing like to the person behind
her like they’re on Summerville campus is this right? And we said multiple times like 2500 Walton
Way, this is the Summerville Campus this is not the medical campus but I mean I agree some
communication broke somewhere.
Mr. Fennoy: Okay.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you so much for coming.
Mr. Sias: Thank you.
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The Clerk: I call your attention to the Consent portion of our agenda which consist of Items
1-25, Items 1-25. If there are any objectors to either of our Alcohol Petitions would you please
signify your objection by raising your hand once the petition is read. I call your attention to:
Item 2: Which is a motion to approve a retail package Beer & Wine License to be used in
connection with the location at 2160 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Item 3: Is a request for a Liquor, Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with the
location at 2510 Peach Orchard Road Unit G.
The Clerk: Are there any objectors to either of those alcohol petitions? Mr. Mayor,
members of the Commission, our Consent Agenda consists of Items 1-25 with no objectors to
either of our alcohol petitions.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I’ve got a couple of items I don’t have a problem
with but I do have some questions on Item 6, Item 16 ---
The Clerk: Are you pulling, okay.
Mr. Mayor: Pulling 6, 16 ---
Mr. M. Williams: --- 17 and 21.
The Clerk: 16, 17 and 21?
Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Mayor Pro Tem.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you, sir. I’d like to pull Agenda Item Number 18 and like to
add Agenda Items 1 and 2.
Mr. Fennoy: Do that again.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: The Addendums.
Mr. Mayor: Addendum items.
Mr. Mayor: One and two.
Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor, I don’t have a problem with either one of the addendum but
I still have got some questions now with one and two. I mean even the bond issue that we done
for Fort Gordon I get that but I just think that, I’m not opposed to it ---
Mr. Mayor: Sure, you need to ask questions.
Mr. M. Williams: --- I just need to ask a couple of questions.
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Mr. Mayor: All right so with objection so it will remain on the agenda. All right, the Chair
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recognizes the Commissioner from the 1.
Mr. Fennoy: I’d like to add Items 34 and 35 to the Consent Agenda.
Mr. Garrett: I’ve got a question on 35.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, 34.
thth,
Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 8, yes 8 you had
your hand up.
Mr. Sias: (Unintelligible).
Mr. Mayor: Okay the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the ---
Mr. Garret: I’ll just wait.
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Mr. Mayor: --- okay, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 5.
Mr. B. Williams: I’d like to add Agenda Item 31 to the Consent Agenda, someone did 34,
correct?
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Mr. B. Williams: All right.
The Clerk: 31?
Mr. B. Williams: Yes, ma’am.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, just on 35 for clarity I was under the impression there was a bid
protest filed. Did that happen or not?
Mr. Mayor: That was last week, we heard that on last week.
Mr. Hasan: I thought it was cut short and was referred to the full Commission.
The Clerk: Are they adding 35 to the Consent Agenda?
Mr. Garrett: I pulled that.
The Clerk: You pulled it, you’re pulling it, no, it’s on the regular agenda.
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Mr. Mayor: It’s on the regular agenda. It’s not on consent.
Mr. Hasan: Okay, just making sure (unintelligible) okay all right so that means it remains
on the regular agenda.
Mr. Mayor: Regular agenda, yes, sir.
Mr. Hasan: Okay, just wanted to make sure.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, the Chair recognizes Mayor Pro Tem.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Motion to approve.
Mr. Fennoy: Second.
CONSENT AGENDA
PLANNING
1. ZA-R-257 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission
to approve a petition to amend the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance for Augusta Georgia
by amending Section 2 – Definitions to remove the “no restaurant component” from the
definition of Micro Brewery, Nano Brewery, Nano Distillery, Pico Brewery and Pico
Distillery. (Approved by the Commission on October 15, 2019 – second reading)
PUBLIC SERVICES
2. Motion to approve New Ownership: A.N. 19-39: request by Ashaben Patel for a retail
package Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with EZ Stop & Shop located at 2160
ML King Jr. Blvd. District 2. Super District 9. (Approved by Public Services Committee
October 29, 2019)
3. Motion to approve Alcohol Extension: A.N. 19-13 request by Alfonso Daggett for an
Extension to purchase the Liquor, Beer & Wine License for Gravity Lounge & Restaurant
located at 2510 Peach Orchard Road Unit G, due to extended work ongoing at the business
address. There will be Dance. District 2. Super District 9. This application was previously
approved on April 30, 2019. (Approved by Public Services Committee October 29, 2019)
4. Motion to approve designating that the funding $173,000 for the fourth unidentified
gateway art sculpture be designated to the Dr. Martin L. King Statue. (Approved by Public
Services Committee October 29, 2019)
5. Motion to approve request by Chang Huang for a Massage Operator’s License to be used
in connection with H Massage located at 1944 Walton Way Suite B. District 1. Super District
9. (Approved by Public Services Committee October 29, 2019)
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
7. Motion to approve Planning and Development Department requests the purchase of five
pickup trucks only at a cost of $117,825.00 from Gerald Jones Ford and come back to the
Commission in 30-days with a report regarding the status of the Ford Ranger trucks.
(Approved by Administrative Services Committee October 29, 2019)
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8. Motion to approve Utilities Department-Construction Division requests the purchase of
two non-CDL style dump trucks at a cost of $76,750 each using the Department’s enterprise
capital outlay. CSRA Fleetcare dba Matthew Motors – Bid 19-258. (Approved by
Administrative Services Committee October 29, 2019)
9. Motion to approve Bid-Award the contract for underground storage tank removal at 401
Walton Way to ATC Services of Augusta in the amount of $110,050.00. Bid Item 19-262.
(Approved by Administrative Services Committee October 29, 2019)
10. Motion to approve Housing and Community Development Department’s (HCD’s)
request to provide Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) funding to
Family Initiative of the CSRA, Inc to carry out program. (Approved by Administrative
Services Committee October 29, 2019)
11. Motion to approve Housing and Community Development Department’s (HCD’s)
request to provide HOME funding to J. Lovett Homes and Construction, LLC to develop
one (1) single family unit for a low to moderate income family evictions and to increase the
FY2019 Approved Budget utilizing prior years grant carryover. (Approved by
Administrative Services Committee October 29, 2019)
12. Motion to approve Housing and Community Development Department’s (HCD’s)
request to provide Laney Walker/Bethlehem Revitalization Funding to construct two (2)
workforce, residential units on Boyd Lane. (Approved by Administrative Services
Committee October 29, 2019)
13. Motion to approve the Decommissioning of DRE Voting System. (Approved by
Administrative Services Committee October 29, 2019)
14. Motion to approve permission for Mobile Food Truck Services at the Municipal Building.
(Approved by Administrative Services Committee October 29, 2019)
ENGINEERING SERVICES
15. Motion to approve award of Bid Item #19-135, Trash Services for Permanent Sidewalk
Receptacles, to Coleman Sanitation. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee October
29,2 019)
19. Motion to award RFQ #19-188, Professional Services for the Development of a Sanitary
Sewer Model to CDM Smith, Inc. in the amount of $329,200. (Approved by Engineering
Services Committee October 29, 2019)
20. Motion to approve the contract in Exhibit Item B and the list with of $1.4 million dollars
(use of recaptured SPLOST Funds) for paving of roads. (Approved by Engineering Services
Committee October 29, 2019)
22. Motion to approve Roadway Lighting Agreement with the Georgia Department of
Transportation in Conjunction with SR 88 @ CR58/Bath Edie Road Roundabout Project as
requested by AED. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee October 29, 2019)
23. Motion to approve the installation of 43 street lights in the Sims Landing Phase 2
development with an annual cost of $13,539.60. Also approve the creation of a new lighting
tax district for the 150 lots within Phase 2. Funding is available in Street Lighting budget
account #2760416105312310. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee October 29,
2019)
24. Motion to approve award of RFQ #18-314, Turnkey Performance Based Services to
Implement Energy Savings Measure to Noresco, LLC. (Approved by Engineering Services
Committee October 29, 2019)
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PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS
25. Motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of the Augusta Commission held
on October 15, 2019 and Special Called Meetings held on October 21 and October 29, 2019)
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
31. Motion to amend Ordinance Code of Augusta Georgia, Title One, Chapter Seven, Article
Four, Section 1-7-51 by repealing Sections 500.308 through 500.315 of the PPPM related to
Senior Executive Service (“SES”) employees with second reading waived; and to adopt a new
SES Policy and Procedures (including those related to severance pay) to become effective
upon approval.
PUBLIC SAFETY
34. Motion to approve and accept a grant for the continuation of the Victims of Crime Act
(VOCA) Grant with funding from the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council of Georgia to
provide services to crime victims from October 1, 2019 through September 30, 2020, and
authorize the Mayor to execute the necessary documents.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, voting.
Ms. Davis out.
Motion Passes 9-0. \[Items 1-5, 7-15, 19, 20, 22-25, 31, 34\]
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk ---
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: --- Number 18.
The Clerk:
ENGINEERING SERVICES
18. Motion to approve presentation from SP Plus on parking management implementation
proposal and result of the public hearings. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee
October 29, 2019)
Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes Mayor Pro Tem.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. My questions are it seems like we didn’t get
firm answers last week from the individuals that were here. They gave a great presentation but
you know my question was are we fixing Ellis and making it one way before we implement the
Parking Management Plan? Are we charging for people on Ellis that live in residential or work
downtown before we implement? And also the revenues, I’d like to see a map before I can approve
anything of where exactly the meters are going, what’s the anticipated revenue if we move
forward? I was told $700/$800,000 revenue $400,000 expenses. But for us to just move forward
and make it, oh we can change that, I just don’t think that’s the right approach because once the
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train’s left the station it’s really tough to pull it back and I feel like this is where the train’s leaving
the station. So can anybody speak to that on Ellis Street?
Mr. Mayor: Absolutely. I think we have the vendor here today to be able to answer the
questions because I’d like to make sure we get all the answers today.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Let me, can I ask the first question to you, I’m sorry.
Mr. Speaker: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: My first question is if we approve today what is the next steps, I
guess would be the first question I have.
Mr. Speaker: Sure, if we approve today we’re going to move forward with the
implementation schedules so that means procuring equipment, getting closer to that idea of where
exactly the meters are going to go. We’ve estimated that it would take about 70 based on kind of
preliminary walkthroughs and mapping to cover the entire system. But where we need to go today
is to procurement process to get all that stuff here. We would for you know a nine to 13-week
kind of turnaround from today of when we could start the implementation. And then once that
happens there’s you know a four to six-week educational community engagement session that
happens to kind of get everybody up to speed with the system, get a lot of feedback. The way that
we structured our recommendation was to provide some flexibility in how those rates are managed
so what we’re looking to do is, is roll out with a soft plan then as we proceed use the data to kind
of guide the decision making process on how that looks so it’s not just the full sweep of everything
paid. It can be phased in I mean changed as we see how the system changes.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Will this body approve anything from rate structure to where the
spots are to whether we’re paying, whether there’s the $25.00 dollar rate or not, if Ellis is free does
this body still approve that even if it approves today or is this kind of what we’re approving today?
Mr. Speaker: What we put forth was a up to structure whereas the rate would be $.50 cents
up to a $1.50 then that would be applied based on how the data looks. The way that the permitting
works that could certainly be something that’s written in the legislation but that would need
commissioner approval to change or fluctuation or things like that. But we wanted to have that
flexibility in the rates and as the system changes if there’s a place where we could reduce the costs
to the parkers we would you know be able to work with the Transportation Engineering
Department to kind of put some measures in place on how we could monitor and judge that. Or if
there were places where the demand grew you may want to do a dollar or a $1.50 pricing. The
system’s very granular done on a block by block way that those things can be applied.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: And what about Ellis Street?
Mr. Speaker: The city could speak a little bit more about the infrastructure improvements
to Ellis Street but as we see it today we could move forward with going ahead and codifying that
area with (unintelligible) striping and things like that to create visible parking spaces and the plan
isn’t contingent on any broader scale changes to Ellis Street.
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Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Are you asking this body to make it one-way or is that not on the
table?
Mr. Mayor: Let me speak to that. I think, Dr. Malik, if you’ll approach as well. If everyone
remembers as part of our Parking Task Force our Traffic Engineer John Ussery was a part of this
Parking Task Force and there was a great deal of conversation around Ellis Street. And as I
understand it in my conversations today with our Engineering team because of Ellis Street I go
back to the conversation that Mr. Hawkins raised earlier with regards to that. But as I understand
it and this is from Engineering, permit parking can be implemented immediately as Ellis Street is
currently configured. Traffic Engineering can perform an analysis to determine if switching Ellis
Street to a one-way street will result in additional parking spaces for permit parking, employees
and downtown residents. Traffic Engineering would then move forward based on the direction of
the Commission. So SP Plus wouldn’t necessarily be responsible for that. They’d be responsible
for the implementation of it on the other side of what this body decides. I also understand from
Traffic Engineering that when a roadway is modified to become a one-way street there is an
increase in the number of available parking spaces along that corridor. If Ellis Street is
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reconfigured in all likelihood it will resemble the new one-way portion of the 11 Street near the
Cyber Campus. I think we’re all familiar with that and more parking would be available if that
were to be implemented by this body. However Ellis Street whether it’s a two-way or one-way
street has a large number of driveways that take up significant portions of the street. I think all of
us are aware of that and Traffic Engineering estimates that the total number of spaces would
increase if it’s converted to a one-way street. And the question becomes what’s the net benefit of
doing that in terms of how many parking spaces that you gain but they will rely on the Commission
to say yes or no in terms of moving forward with that, okay?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: I think that’s the reason that I’m kind of hesitant to vote yes today is
because some of these things I think should be flushed out because we’re basically saying today
that we’re doing it and things are being ordered, processes are being created and I don’t think that
we’ve done a full scope of understanding what all’s going to be, I mean I haven’t even heard what
the timeframe is definitely going to be, whether we’re going to start lower or start high. I haven’t
heard, maybe I missed it whether Saturdays are on the docket or not on the docket and kind of
what that looks like by these things and so I’m just not there yet, so thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: I appreciate that. All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the
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9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, and I’m agreeing with the Mayor Pro Tem but
let me just go back and say that any one-way streets or any changes will have to be done by this
body. SP or this firm will not be the decide what street is one-way or not. That still falls back
with the Engineering Department and this body. They have to heed to whatever street that we as
an elected body have decided. The other thing is that I think the vendor just talked about ordering
some equipment and getting ready and everything was six weeks, what was the timeframe to order
equipment?
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Mr. Speaker: The longest timeframe is to get the pay stations and they say they’re 9 weeks
to delivery but ---
Mr. M. Williams: Okay ---
Mr. Speaker: --- we’re hopeful that we could kind of push that up. We just need a
confirmation to go ahead and proceed.
Mr. M. Williams: --- okay even if it was 9 weeks or shorter then in that time, Mr. Mayor,
I think what we are approving is to get them to go ahead and get started but any changes would
have to be done from this body. I don’t think they’re going to dictate because the contract is there.
I don’t think they’re going to dictate to us how many or what price or whatever. That still comes
back to this body, am I mistaken about that?
Mr. Mayor: No, you’re not mistaken, Commissioner. So let me calibrate everybody. The
way the caption reads here on 18 and I want to draw everybody’s attention, it says motion to
approve the presentation from SP Plus. The question that is before us is not the presentation being
approved but rather that we approve moving forward with implementation of the parking
management proposal and let me qualify that. That again requires ordering equipment, having a
lead time but you also have to adopt the Parking Ordinance which then speaks to what the final
fees will be. What you’ve asked this body is this vendor is to tell us what is the potential revenue
that we’re going to receive. Let us make no mistake that that’s predicated on what you establish
as your fee for hourly parking. That’s what drives that and so we all fully know that. As we start
at based on industry standard $1.50 and graduate down your revenue, your net operating revenue
goes down correspondally with that. On last week’s present presentation they talked about from
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5 Street all the way to 13 Street what that potentially will look like and using a tiered approach
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where from 5 to 13 is concerned and so that’s the matter that realistically this body needs to be
giving consideration to. But I do not believe in anywise that should stop us from moving forward
with implementation of the parking proposal. What needs to be adopted is what the fee structure
will be. And not only what the fee structure will be whether or not I think we all understand based
on the Parking Task Force recommendations that a residential component needs to be included in
that which would take into account those folks living on Broad Street so that they have space to
be able to park where they live and in those designated areas. And so that’s what is being presented
last week and what is being proposed this week. That part hasn’t changed, okay? All right, the
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Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 8.
Mr. Garrett: Thank you, Mayor. I had a couple of questions. I know I asked quite a few
last week but some more came to mind. What happens when we start construction on Broad Street
with the parking meters and, just kind of curious what’s going to happen there.
Mr. Speaker: Sure, the parking meter that we brought for display last week was the model
that we would use here so it’s solar powered, it’s bolted down with four anchors to the concrete
which makes it very easy to move and install so we’d work with the city’s Engineering Department
as they work their process through Broad Street. Because I think what they had said they would
do would be kind of a block by block move so they don’t put everything out of service. We would
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be able to take that equipment out you know before they got started and put it back in as they
finished up.
Mr. Garrett: So would it not be better instead of having to take it out now or when the
construction starts, wouldn’t it make a lot more sense just to put it in when the project’s completed?
Mr. Speaker: To do about eight machines it would take less than 8 hours so it’s not a huge
lift when it comes to installing or removing.
Mr. Garrett: And doesn’t the parking system follow the parking spaces per se or I know
that you pay a certain amount and you can move your car if you want to and all of that fancy jazz.
But if you’re doing construction on a block are you just not going to have paid parking then or?
Mr. Speaker: It just, I think it just depends on they structure the construction process. I’m
not sure if they’re going to take out one side of Broad and then work the other side or if they’re
going to take and entire section of Broad out or just work the middle median. But I think what the
Engineering Department talked about was trying to look for ways that they can mitigate that as
best as possible to not cause any issue on the consumer or businesses on that block. So I would
hope or assume that they would try to leave still available parking spaces in those areas as they
worked.
Mr. Garrett: Remind us again what is Augusta’s cost for implementing this program?
Mr. Speaker: I would need to, you want the cost of the equipment or the cost of the ---
Mr. Garrett: I just want to cost for Augusta.
Mr. Speaker: --- let me just pull that up so I get you the exact number here. So we went
back this last week and we updated our model based on the newest recommendations, so the start
up costs for the program which would include the, all the equipment taking vehicles, LPR Systems,
meters, signage estimated at about $575,000 dollars. Then the annual operating costs would be
about $700 and close to $800,000 dollars and that includes the amortization of that startup cost so
that wouldn’t be something the city would have to afford the first month as a capital expense.
Mr. Garrett: So I think a lot of us up here were under the understanding that it was going
to kind of be a zero sum for Augusta and you guys were going to use your operating costs to cover
everything.
Mr. Speaker: Yeah so that’s going to be deducted from the total revenue so what we would
do we would take the startup expense of $575 and we would amoritize that over a 5-year contract
so that it wouldn’t be a big capital expense the first few operations. And then included within that
it would go into the operating expense so you would have your receipts or you would have your
revenue, deduct operating expense and then depending on how the rates are applied there would
be the net operating income for the city so the city wouldn’t be out any money on day one. As
soon as they start receiving revenue the program will be revenue positive.
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Mr. Mayor: Let me translate that. It won’t cost the city any money because it’s coming
out of ---
Mr. Garrett: It’s not what he just said.
Mr. Mayor: --- it’s coming out of the operating revenue.
Mr. Sias: (Unintelligible).
Mr. Garrett: That’s not what he just said, Mayor. And with the money that comes in I
know that we’re having this conversation about revenue coming in and whether it’s net neutral or
not where does the money go that you said will be you know revenue positive, where does that
investment go?
Mr. Speaker: So we proposed the benefit district for the downtown area so any revenue
that was left over after operating expenses would be set aside in a fund that could be directed as
the stakeholders wished so whether that was a beautification efforts, additional parking growth,
new equipment, ambassadors working on Ellis Street, those kinds of things can be applied to that.
Ms. Durant: To statues?
Mr. Garrett: Negative. You won’t talk about the statues right now. But anyway thank you
for that, that was helpful.
Ms. Speaker: So I wanted to make sure were you satisfied with your answer in reference
to our role during the construction phase because we worked, I am an operator so we work very
closely in the cities anywhere from the City of Atlanta to Beaufort. We actually help with the city
in making sure that citizens are aware during the construction phase we act as ambassadors to
allow the citizens to know what is going to happen, where they can park so we actually act as a
positive hopefully for the process.
Mr. Garrett: No, I thought the explanation was pretty good, I appreciate it.
Ms. Speaker: Okay, thank you.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 5.
Mr. B. Williams: Motion to approve.
Mr. M. Williams: Second.
Mr. Mayor: All right, let’s qualify what we’re approving. A motion to approve
implementation?
Mr. B. Williams: Yes, sir and the equipment and moving forward.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay with a second, I’m coming to you. All right, the Chair recognizes the
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Commissioner from the 1.
Mr. Fennoy: Just for clarity the cost is going to be $575,000 dollars.
Mr. Speaker: The cost to start the program when you purchase the vehicles, the LPR
System, the signage, the pay station, that cost is $575,000 dollars.
Mr. Fennoy: Okay and that’s going to be spread out over a 5-year period.
Mr. Speaker: Yes, sir.
Mr. Fennoy: And so the first year you’re going to take out one-fifth of the $575,000?
Mr. Speaker: Correct.
Mr. Fennoy: Okay, is there an estimate of how much money the City of Augusta will
receive after you’ve taken out the one-fifth of the $575,000?
Mr. Speaker: It really depends on what the final rate structure is but the way that we
presented last week with the tiered structure where there was some areas that were $1.50 all the
way down to $.50 cents with your revenue minus expenses and included within those expenses is
that one-fifth payment. We think the city would net at about $1.3 million-dollars.
Mr. Fennoy: How many?
Mr. Speaker: $1.3 million.
Mr. Fennoy: The first year.
Mr. Speaker: First year.
Mr. Fennoy: Okay and five years later after we have paid this off based on what you just
said what will the city be getting after the five-year period?
Mr. Speaker: So after the five years you own all the equipment so the amortization is
complete and that equates to about $1,100 a month with fall off and so any revenue produced
minus expenses of the program that time it would be hard for me to project what the system would
look like in five years, how it’s grown or you know any changes to the rates and things like that.
Mr. Fennoy: Be very conservative and give me a number.
Mr. Speaker: I would say take the, when we do a budget we look at like a 3% year every
year depending on if there’s changes to the spaces and things like that so if you could say 3% over
the five years you would hope that the program would continue to increase revenue.
25
Mr. Fennoy: Are you an attorney or are you a ---
Ms. Speaker: We are operators.
Mr. Fennoy: --- I will accept that as an answer.
th
Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 10.
Mr. Clarke: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, last week I asked about adjudication tickets and I
really wasn’t satisfied with the answer. Are the people issuing tickets going to be lawfully
deputized to do that?
Mr. Speaker: It depends how the final ordinance is issued. Sometimes it’s given by the
Chief of Police, other times it’s through the Solicitor and other times it could be through the town
manager that gives (inaudible) that issues citations of behalf of the city.
Mr. Clarke: Okay, now I also asked the question about if a ticket was issued and somebody
didn’t want to pay it and you went through a process of three times coming back and all of this,
what happens if people still doesn’t pay it? Do they go to jail, do they get their license suspended?
I mean they get a knock on the door? What happens?
Mr. Speaker: So if you receive a citation and you choose not to pay it you’ll be noticed to
the life cycle of that citation so every time that it shows that it’s past due and it’s done it’s escalation
it’s a civil penalty so there isn’t jail time. It’s not a criminal charge so it hangs.
Mr. Clarke: Okay now the other thing that I’m real curious about is you say you’re not
buying a parking space but you’re buying time, is that correct?
Mr. Speaker: Yeah, you could look at it that way.
Mr. Clarke: Okay, so somebody pulls into a parking space and we’re trying to establish a
movement of every two hours, is that correct?
Mr. Speaker: Yeah, for certain stretches Broad would be the main place where you’d want
to increase that turnover so two hours ---
Mr. Clarke: All right, good. That leaves me this question. How do you monitor that? If
you’ve got an application that somebody can be sitting in a restaurant or a bar or another business
downtown and they only buy one hour of time and then they decide they don’t want to move the
car because they’re having a good time so they can buy another hour of time. Well boy, the time
really gets a good time so they buy another hour of time. How do you keep up with how long a
car is put, is parked. They could say well I come out and I moved down the block. I mean how do
you keep up with that?
Mr. Speaker: Well, what we do is we zone the blocks so every block would have a unique
identifier and when your license plate is in that block you purchase time. You can limit their ability
26
to purchase beyond that two-hour limit so that they would be forced to move the vehicle after two
hours to another block.
Mr. Clarke: And I didn’t hear the first part of that, you said that every block what?
Mr. Speaker: Every block would be zoned so you would have a specific number per block
and so when the person purchases their time they would put that number in and that’s what links
them to that payment on that space. So after the two hours the systems wouldn’t allow them to
purchase additional time. They would need to go to the next block and enter the other block zone
number to buy additional time.
Mr. Clarke: Okay but you’re still not saying how the car is being moved. All you’re doing
is walking down the block and buying other time. I mean there’s, I’m not getting a method of how
you know a car actually moves.
Mr. Speaker: Sure, so whether it’s in the LPR vehicle or whether it’s on the handheld the
person issuing the citation will enter the zone number and they get a list of license plates. So to
say if that license plates is paid or not paid in that system, so if it’s parked in that zone and they’ve
paid the hour, it’ll show them that they shouldn’t issue another ticket. But if that person cannot
extend past that two hours they’ll fall off that list and that’ll indicate to the officer that they should
issue (unintelligible).
Mr. Clarke: Okay, how many people are you going to have walking up and down, walking
up and down the street monitoring this?
Mr. Speaker: We typically had two staff depending on the time of the day and the day of
the week so it wasn’t a real punitive enforcement.
Ms. Speaker: We have something called an LPR System which is basically a camera
system that goes in and takes, monitor of every tag and it’s feeds back into the database to let us
know we check the system who has paid and who has not paid. I know it sounds, but it’s very
simple what we do is (unintelligible) all over the country.
Mr. Clarke: I’m happy ya’ll do it all over the country. I just wonder if it’s going to work
in Augusta and I don’t think it will. Thank you. No more questions, Mayor.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Marion Williams.
Mr. M. Williams: Yeah, I just want, Mayor Pro Tem, District 10 commissioner, I
understand your question but if somebody stays there all day, all night, all week, as long as they’re
paying you’re still making money. So it ain’t the fact of moving the car. It’s about if somebody
wants to pay that penalty and stay there for three hours, four hours, ten hours, if they pay that
money we know they’re there. Now I don’t nobody that’s going to park their car and pay a dollar
and a half every hour to keep their car there. Now that may be some of your friends but none of
my friends are going to do that.
27
Mr. Clarke: I’ve got some shady friends.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Are you good?
Mr. M. Williams: I’m good.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Sias.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem. Sir, I’ve got, I’m the slowest one up here so I need
a little help.
Mr. Speaker: That’s what we’re here for.
Mr. Sias: Now when you say $575K and you say the city doesn’t pay anything but we’re
going to get, so let me ask you this question and you’re going to have to make it simple for me.
Do we write a check for anything?
Mr. Speaker: No.
Mr. Sias: Now I’m good. Now the other question. On the management of the revenue
whether it’s spent downtown to you made some comments to that or we want to fix Storey Mill
Road you know my friend over here who lives out there we could do that whatever we wanted
with the funds or are we, we’re not writing it in the ordinance that every dollar made after debts
and things and expenses are paid has to be done downtown.
Mr. Speaker: That’s entirely up to this body on how they would like to use that revenue.
We’ve suggested the Benefits District as a way that the stakeholders can have some determination
on how that money is spent. The thing about the Benefits District is that money is offsetting any
expenses the General Fund may have so you could have that additional money left over through
another mode of financing to take care of those repairs outside of the district.
Mr. Sias: That answer should’ve got you two more votes on this.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: As we’re trying to decide something, my question is the every block
is zoned that is the first time I’ve heard of that because I was told you could go down to the Pizza
Joint or you could go to the down to the museum and still be able to park but you just told me that
every zone is different and now you have to buy time based on the zone that you’re in?
Mr. Speaker: You can carry your time with you but when it comes to extending your time
in purchasing in that section ---
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, I can hear that you can carry your time, okay, all right.
Commissioner Hasan.
Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Good evening ---
28
Mr. Speaker: --- sir.
Mr. Hasan: --- my question is I think last week I might have saw one of your slides it’ll
take about 60 days or so to get your equipment or something in, did I see that?
Mr. Speaker: Well, we’ve been quoted from the manufacturer of the pay stations is they
said 9 weeks when they think that we could maybe get it a little bit sooner so we had a number of
tasks within that 9-week period that we had to do some of which would take about 60 days, the
others maybe 30days.
Mr. Hasan: Okay so in a perfect world if this was to pass today so do we see ourselves
implementing this the beginning of the second quarter of next year to get all the kinks out and get
things in place?
Mr. Speaker: Yeah, I would imagine the first quarter it would take some time for the
deployment and part of the implementation is that educational component where (inaudible).
Mr. Hasan: By the second quarter of next year we can foresee it being in place at that time?
Ms. Speaker: We want to ensure that we actually give at least four to six weeks where we
go out and do community engagement. We basically do educational classes, just to let the public
know and feel comfortable with new equipment, how does it work, are our ambassadors getting
very familiar with the downtown area and everyone getting familiar with them.
Mr. Hasan: Okay and with that, thank you. And to my colleagues if you decide to do this
and I will be supporting it. At this point I would not consider trying to start out of the gate with
Ellis Street because of those like some of those businesses over there on Broad Street most of them
drive up behind their businesses so you don’t get it would not just be worth it. That don’t mean
we wouldn’t consider turning it into a one-way street. I’m not sure about that but for the most part
to try to put meters on Ellis Street knowing the shape that Ellis Street is in I don’t think it would
be worth it at the end of the day so I wouldn’t let that balk me down with the process. You can
come back at a later time and deal with Ellis Street. I won’t let that be my determining factor.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: All right, Commissioner Bobby Williams.
Mr. B. Williams: Well, we’re talking to death. Either we need to vote it up or vote it down
or do something, come on.
Mr. M. Williams: I seconded the motion, motion to approve and a second (unintelligible)
All in favor let it be known by the normal sign of voting.
Mr. Mayor: Well, we don’t do that. I had a little technical matter over there at that ---
Mr. B. Williams: We’ve got a technical matter?
29
Mr. Mayor: --- (unintelligible).
Mr. B. Williams: Let’s move to the next item.
Mr. Garrett: They’re just carrying their time with them.
The Clerk: What zone you in?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: That’s right, what zone you in. Commissioner Garrett.
Mr. Garrett: I have one last question ---
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Sure.
Mr. Garrett: --- what happens if your projections are short and you don’t have enough to
cover your operating expenses since we’re not writing a check, who writes a check if you’re short?
Mr. Speaker: So if the revenue falls short of the operating expenses, it’s the city’s
responsibility to pay for the operating expenses. The way that we structured our financial
projection was looking at a 35% occupancy. So if you went down Broad Street today you would
notice that it was closer to a 95% occupancy so I don’t think that there’s going to be ---
Mr. Garrett: That’s because it’s still free.
Mr. Speaker: --- you’re right, that’s why we kept it so low but a lot of it comes down to
that rate management as well.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: All right, I’d like to make a substitute motion. I’d like to task
the Engineering Department to take the presentation and bring back to the Commission a
formal contract at the next commission committee meeting legal.
The Clerk: You want it on the special?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: A Special Called Meeting, I’m sorry, next Tuesday.
Mr. Fennoy: Second.
Mr. Hasan: Can I address that ---
The Clerk: Who seconded that?
Mr. Hasan: --- can I address that?
Mr. M. Williams: Second.
30
Mr. Hasan: Can we make that a Commission meeting, Mr. Mayor, and not committee.
That’s one week to try to put that contract together.
Mr. Mayor: But you’ve got all the elements that go in it right now. That right there is just
clarifying what you all just spent time talking about.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Do you need two weeks, next full Commission meeting?
Mr. Hasan: Am I a genius or what?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Contract at the next full Commission meeting.
Mr. Hasan: Second.
Mr. Mayor: All right, I’ve got a motion and a second for the substitute ---
The Clerk: To come back in two weeks.
Mr. M. Williams: I made a second on the Special Called Meeting, ya’ll changing it now?
Mr. Mayor: --- all right, voting.
Mr. Garrett and Mr. Clarke vote No.
Ms. Davis out.
Motion Passes 7-2.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: We’re going to go to Agenda Item 26.
Mr. Fennoy: Motion to deny.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Let her read it first.
The Clerk:
PLANNING
26. Z-19-22 – A request for concurrent with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to
approve with the conditions below a petition by DOTT Augusta Investments II LLC
requesting a Special Exception to construct 6 attached townhomes not to exceed 5.5 units per
acre per Section 10-2-a of the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance for Augusta Georgie
affecting property containing 1.19 acres and known as 613 Johns Road. Tax Map 034-2-075-
00-0 DISTRICT 1 1. The development shall substantially conform to the site plan submitted
on date received 4/23/2019. 2. The proposed development must adhere to the open space and
buffer yard requirements of Section 13. (Deferred from the June 18, 2019 Commission
Meeting)
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Fennoy.
31
Mr. Fennoy: Motion to deny.
Mr. B. Williams: Second.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: I’ve got a motion and a second. Any further discussion?
Commissioner Hasan.
Mr. Hasan: Is this the conversation we’ve been having for quite some time?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Yes, sir.
Mr. Hasan: Okay, all right then I just wanted to make it for clarity, all right.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Marion Williams.
Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor Pro Tem, we’ve got some people here who wanted to speak
on this issue I think. I think we maybe need to hear from them.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Do you want to get the objectors to raise their hand?
The Clerk: Yes.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Can we get all the objectors to raise your hand, objectors, keep your
hands up please. How many do you have sir, how many?
The Clerk: Twenty-three.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Twenty-three objectors.
The Clerk: Twenty-three.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay.
The Clerk: Do we have any, okay.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: And supporters of the project.
The Clerk: Those in support of the project would you please stand.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: All right, Commissioner Marion Williams.
Mr. M. Williams: Yeah, I was going to hear from, well I mean I counted the objectors. I
think how many do we have, Ms. Bonner, twenty-one?
The Clerk: Twenty-three ---
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Mr. M. Williams: Twenty-three?
The Clerk: --- twenty-three, yes, sir.
Mr. M. Williams: And we have a motion to deny on the floor?
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: All right, we’ve got a motion and a second. Please vote.
Ms. Davis and Mr. Sias out.
Motion Passes 8-0.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Unanimously denied and you’re good to go. Thank ya’ll, Sand Hills
Community, for coming out.
The Clerk: Commissioner Davis ---
Ms. Davis: I’m here, thank you.
The Clerk: --- okay. Mr. Mayor Pro Tem, Commissioner Davis is joining the meeting by
telephone.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Agenda item number 27 please.
The Clerk:
PLANNING
27. Z-19-43 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to
approve with the conditions below a petition by Kirk S. Laney, on behalf of Dixon Airline
Recycling & Disposal LLC, requesting a Special Exception to establish an Inert Fill Area
and a Construction and Demolition Landfill per Section 24-2-18 and of the Comprehensive
Zoning Ordinance for Augusta, Georgia and amend conditions from Z-18-31 affecting
property containing approximately 52 acres of the total 150.76 acres and known as part of
1710 Dixon Airline Road. Part of Tax Map 145-0-033-00-0 DISTRICT 6. 1. Approval be
granted for a Construction and Demolition Landfill and an Inert Landfill on approximately
51.9 acres of land designated as “Proposed C&D-Inert Landfill with C&D-Inert Waste
Recycling” as delineated on the Conceptual Site Plan submitted with the Special Exception
application and which is located entirely east of the power transmission lines and easement
and which is also currently zoned HI (Heavy Industrial). Those areas previously zoned by
Special Exception (Z-18-31) in 2018 – approximately 3.16 acre area for recycling of concrete
product, and approximately 2.99 acre area for the recycling of land clearing wood debris
product for a total of 9.5 acres of recycling area will be included in this Special Exception
33
and will remain areas for recycling; 2. An inspection by the City of Augusta and an inspection
by the Georgia EPD must be conducted on the overall site and any deficiencies found on the
subject property must be corrected or remedied prior to a business license being issued by
the City of Augusta for any and all operation on the site; 3. The cemetery on the property
needs to be clearly delineated on any and all site plans, plats or depictions of the site, the
required cemetery buffer needs to be verified, and the cemetery and the required buffer need
to be adequately fenced to prevent encroachment by any of the inert fill and construction
and demolition fill and/or inert landfill or construction and demolition landfill activities and
operations, should the cemetery be located in any of, or close by to any of these areas; 4. A
200’ buffer similar to the one shown on the Conceptual Site Plan submitted with the Special
Exception application must be enforced between the proposed inert landfill and
Construction and Demolition landfill operations and the existing residential structures and
also be enforced against the existing exterior boundaries of the subject property. In no case
shall and undisturbed buffer be reduced below 200 feet in width against the adjoining
residential lots. 5. An annual inspection, as part of the annual business license renewal, shall
be conducted by Augusta Code Enforcement inspectors to ensure compliance with all
provisions of this zoning action and the previous zoning action for recycling (Z-18-31). 7.
Should the Inert Landfill and Construction and Demolition Landfill activities and operations
on the site cease, change in scope of work, or change in size, a new Special Exception will
have to be applied for prior to start of any future operation (other than the areas previously
approved by Special Exception, in the specified areas, as part of Z-18-31) within this area.
8. The owner must maintain the property permitting from EPD and DNR for any and all
activities and operations on the subject property, including the 9.5 acres approved under
Special Exception (Z-18-31) for the recycling areas. 9. The Site Plan for the Construction
and Demolition Landfill and Inert Landfill must comply with all local, State and Federal
laws, ordinances and regulations in effect at the time of development. 10. All Construction
and Demolition Landfill and Inert Landfill activities and operations must be performed
during the normal business hours of 6:00 am to 5:00 pm. 11. A Business License will be
required prior to the start of any Construction and Demolition Landfill and Inert Landfill
activities and operations. Permitting by the State for Construction and Demolition Landfill
and Inert Landfill activities and operations will be required prior to the issuance of a
Business License. (Deferred from the October 15, 2019 Commission meeting)
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Clarke.
Mr. Clarke: Motion to approve.
Mr. Garrett: Second.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: I’ve got a motion and a second, Commissioner Marion Williams then
Commission Hasan.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem. I want to hear from the Administrator or
his designee or whoever what I thought was supposed to happen was the Administrator along with
whoever else was appointed to bring back something to this Commission as to what their research
found as far as a C&D Landfill. Now I spoke to several other Commissioners about this C&D
34
Landfill in Columbia County, Sanford and Son, I think the name of it is and how much problem
they have with birds and how they have to plant seed to keep the landfill covered because and the
birds who migrate to that. I’m not opposed to this business but I do know at the airport being that
close to the airport that we’re going to attract birds and when those birds fly in I hadn’t heard
anything from the airport director and I asked him he had no problem with the issue but I asked
him would he sign something saying he’d be responsible. He wouldn’t. He talked about the FAA.
The FAA handles whatever’s in the air. I’m worried about what’s on the ground until the plane
gets in the air and the birds as well. So I need to hear a report because I thought it was going to
come back to the Commission and at least explain to us what they found versus putting it back on
this agenda.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Administrator Sims, Administrator, do you want to speak to his
request?
Mr. Sims: I hate to ask, can you say it again ---
Mr. M. Williams: No, I can’t say it no more ---
Mr. Sims: --- I just walked in.
Mr. M. Williams: --- I understand but you ain’t just first heard this now. Jarvis, I’m serious
about this. We have been talked about this for quite some time. I talked to your Deputy Director
about it. I asked ya’ll to go, this body asked you to go and look at some other C&D areas to tell us
whether it’s feasible for Augusta to go in competition with itself by opening up a C&D Landfill.
Now I need to know if you hadn’t done it, I understand that but I’m not going to repeat anything,
I just want you to give me your report as to what you found when it comes to a C&D Landfill as
far as bird attraction, as far as sowing seeds in the ground who feeds birds as well and attracting at
that distance to the airport.
Mr. Sims: Commissioner, staff and I are still doing a careful analysis. We also are looking
at some other matters regarding this matter.
Mr. Garrett: I think Maurice has something.
Mr. Sims: Maurice?
Mr. McDowell: Commissioner, to your request you had called and asked our office to
check with Sample and Son Landfill up in Columbia County to address their concerns with birds.
And staff had a conversation with that particular outfit and yes, they do have birds on site but
according to the operator there, there’s nothing they can really do because they’re bound by what
EPD says so they, that’s natural for a landfill for those birds to migrate there. They do try to
eradicate it with noise and that sort of stuff but that’s just natural for a landfill to have those types
of issues and concerns in terms of birds and them migrating to that particular landfill.
Mr. M. Williams: And that was my point knowing that birds are going to migrate to any
kind of landfill because one McDonald’s bag is going to attract birds because it could be one piece
35
of anything in there for them to eat. But we was told it was going to be a C&D Landfill and there
wasn’t going to be a bird problem. That close to our airport talking about bringing more flights
in, more direct flights in we’ve got, we had dogs out there at one point running birds. They’re still
today shooting out making noises out there to deal with the birds and we’re going to approve a
C&D Landfill in less than a mile from our airport. I mean something’s wrong with that picture to
me and I’ve been saying it all the time. But you brought that point out. They do have because
EPD I guess EPA whoever handles that have them to plant grass, birds are attracted to the seeds,
birds are attracted to trash. If one person throws something in the dumpster and it gets spread out
there they’re not going say well there’s nothing in that bag; they’re not going to pass on by. Birds
are already there for the seeds. And if there’s a way for them to migrate to it I mean we can sit
here and act like that’s fine and I ain’t got no problem with it but I’ve got a problem with something
happening to somebody on a plane because this body didn’t have enough sense to know there was
a landfill out there at one time and it’s not there anymore, not counting the violations and the other
stuff that we had to contend with. Something’s wrong with this body who can’t see.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Hasan.
Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem. Mr. McDowell, in checking with the landfill what
type of landfill was there?
Mr. McDowell: C&D.
Mr. Hasan: C&D ---
Mr. McDowell: Yes, sir.
Mr. Hasan: --- I was going to make a substitute motion to allow the Administrator and his
team to bring back information around that Letter of Consistency which is very inappropriate.
Nobody, well, this governing body did not authorize it and I think it probably impacted in so many
ways the Planning Board to make the decision that they were the, they felt as though that the
governing body was in support of that. But however I’m going to make a motion to deny because
I think you know and all of us know now no matter how you feel about this project or not when
you’re talking about birds, birds bring down planes. They get sucked up in that engine and they
bring down planes and they’re in that vicinity where that can happen. That is a dangerous
proposition when you’ve got that our staff has checked on that and he’s standing here, I thought
the way he started out that he was going to say well really there’s not any birds up there,
Commissioner, every now and then they have a little problem. I think if you’ve got birds in the
vicinity you’ve got a very serious safety issue and with that I make a motion to deny.
Mr. M. Williams: Second.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: All right, I’ve got a motion and a second, substitute motion to deny,
Commissioner Garrett.
Mr. Garrett: I think at this point in the conversation let’s call for a vote.
36
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Clarke.
Mr. Clarke: I was just wondering is there anybody here from the project that would like to
speak.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Dan.
Mr. Troutman: Commissioners, my name is Dan Troutman. I live at 1339 Wingfield
Street. As noted a couple of weeks ago our firm works for Mr. Laney who’s the owner of this.
And I would certainly would like to speak to the bird issue; I know that’s a concern. I’m a pilot
myself and I really don’t want a bird taking a plane down out of the air either and certainly anything
you do to cultivate land may or may not attract more birds than are already there. But I think that
the thing we’re not thinking about is on two sides of the property on the east side of the airport and
the north side of the airport is the Phinizy Center and the Augusta Waste Water Treatment Facility
ponds which attract hundreds of thousands of birds. They attract migratory birds, ducks and there’s
food sources that grow in there and that is much more of an effect and that is why the air guns are
at the airport and they’re seen in the proximity of the airport to move them out. We truly believe
and we went to the FAA and we got a letter from the FAA not only the local airport here, we got
a letter from DOT and all these things really are secondary to the zoning. If you approve the
zoning the ball just starts. The letter that Commissioner Hasan referred to that was written as being
one of the things that’s required to even submit the application to the state to have a potential of
getting it, they have not approved anything and that letter’s required for that. Planning and Zoning
asked for that. They said are you going to be able to get it. We said we don’t know, we’ll go ask
and we did. A lot of these things still have to be vetted and ya’ll have got another swing at the bat
I’m sure as that process goes on. But the property was previously zoned this way. When he bought
it out of bankruptcy to try to turn it around to a business it was still zoned this way and then it was
pulled back when they tried to make more property together. So what he is asking is that you
approve the zoning back to where it was for a special use exception I guess it’s called to where a
C&D and an Inert Landfill could be operated and then the process starts and the permitting. And
I would hope that the Commission would vote to approve that because he has invested more I
mean several million dollars in this. Now part of that is the recycling that is an operating business
at this point but he has done a lot of the engineering and the surveying work which was requested
by Planning and Zoning to better clarify at this Commission’s request what was going to be done
plumb down to where fences are going to be and buffers are going to be. All of that’s been done
in advance which normally would be part of the permitting process but he has advanced that and
done that to help answers the questions of this Commission. So I thank you for your time and I
hope we can have your support.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, Commissioner Dennis Williams.
Mr. D. Williams: Mr. Mayor Pro Tem, may I address the staff?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Sure.
Mr. D. Williams: Staff, your recommendation from the Planning Commission to approve
with the conditions do you still stand behind that?
37
Mr. Sherman: For the zoning application yes, sir. Based on the information that we have
you’ve spoken of the airport concern with the birds. We do have a letter from the airport that
references correspondence from Georgia DOT and the FAA that have no problem with this and
that’s what we have.
Mr. D. Williams: And there’s fifteen requirements that they have to meet before they can
get business licenses to operate.
Mr. Sherman: So the conditions that we’ve put on the zoning recommendation takes all of
that into consideration. Before they can apply for a business license they will have had, will have
had to comply with the state and federal guidelines among other conditions as well.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Marion Williams.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor Pro Tem. The Chairman just brought some more
issues out and I appreciate that. He just told us that Phinizy Swamp who was out there who
automatically have birds migrating in and out and if we do an additional C&D Landfill, it’s going
to create more birds, and I’m grateful for him pointing that out. I forgot about that. Birds are just
naturally in the air. That’s what birds do. Birds don’t walk. Birds fly and so since birds fly we’re
going to have more birds flying with those at Phinizy Swamp. Now he said we get another swing
at the bat. I’m tired of swinging the bat. Ain’t no since of hitting a ball twice when you can hit it
one time. So if we’re going to deny this I think it should be denied because there are several others
things we hadn’t brought up. Rob, I spoke with you about all of the violations that the EPD, I’m
sorry ---
Mr. Troutman: Correct.
Mr. M. Williams: --- was it EPD had a letter that came out with about ten to twelve things
in it and I said how does this thing keep coming back over and over and over again. It keeps
coming back to the table where we turned it down. But somebody’s going to show us what they’re
going to do anyway it seems like. Now I’ve got some texts about meeting with the owners. I didn’t
do that. I even got a letter put in my mailbox to ask me to meet with the owner and I wouldn’t
respond to that. I’m not against the owner. I don’t him, that’s not what it’s about. It’s about the
welfare and the safety of the people that’s going in and out of Augusta on planes. The violations
is one thing, I had the Clerk to try in touch with EPD to find out whether or not all of those
guidelines had been met. She didn’t do that. Well she tried but she never, Ms. Bonner, you need
to speak up now because I don’t want to put the words in your mouth but she couldn’t get nobody
to respond whether it be state ---
The Clerk: We called after, we made the request and they had voted on it last week so she
did make an attempt to return my call from EPD.
Mr. M. Williams: She made an attempt?
The Clerk: Yeah, and we never did connect so.
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Mr. M. Williams: Okay, okay well and I, well I couldn’t find out nothing. I couldn’t find
out, Rob, so I had my Clerk to call who normally gets through and got through after they done
made a vote. It’s too much of a coincidence to be a coincidence now. This thing has been going
on for a long time, they’ve been in violation for years. When it started out to be a pit out there to
move clay and all that kind of stuff I supported it at one time when they was moving clay out there,
Rob ---
Mr. Sherman: That’s right.
Mr. M. Williams: --- I mean I’m going back in history now. But I’m not against the owner
but we can’t do that. The other thing that nobody talked about, Mayor Pro Tem, is that why would
the City of Augusta who Environmental Services tells us they wasn’t supportive of this and then
now all of a sudden everybody is in support when they’re leaving Augusta going somewhere else
they give a letter of support but when they was in Augusta they said no, it’s not good for Augusta.
I was always told as an elected official that the more garbage we can bring in the more money this
city would make. We talk about sales and I don’t know anything about garbage but it talked about
the sales we need to get from Columbia County and other counties to bring into Augusta. Now
I’m hearing we’re running out of room, that’s another lie. We’re not running out of room. We
got more land at the landfill that we can ever use in a million years, Rob, so I’ve got some issues
with that. Now ya’ll can vote it up or down ---
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you, sir.
Mr. M. Williams: --- whatever you want to I’m not going to support it.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, Commissioner Hasan and then we’re voting.
Mr. Hasan: Yes, sir. I ask the young man then I want to ask the Attorney Brown so you
can get prepared out there. You made mention in your presentation about I think you said a letter
and you all decided to ask for it and you was able to get it, what letter was it you were referring
to?
Mr. Troutman: In the and I don’t have the exact word in front of me but part of the permit
process to get a landfill approved is you have go to the local landfill that covers the area and get a
letter stating that it is compliant with their landfill management plan and that’s the letter we
received, I don’t know several months ago and then just yesterday we received a note from the
Legal Department that they wanted to rescind that letter. And if I may speak to Mr. Williams point
he said there’s nothing that shows that those were completed. In your packet the letter dated
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August 29, 2019 from Georgia EPD the district office here says that the consent order that was
issued was completed and everything was complied with, and you have it in your packet. I have a
copy here if anybody would like to see. But that and I would like to again remind Commissioners
the whole picture. This was a consent order. This site was kind of a test case because of the
millings from DOT and they decided that they no longer wanted to do it that way and that was the
repairs and fixing that.
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Mr. Hasan: Yeah and I appreciate that ---
Mr. Troutman: Yes, sir.
Mr. Hasan: --- I just wanted to make sure about the letter itself because like I said I’m
disappointed on two levels about the letter. I’m disappointed with the Environmental Services
writing the letter and I am disappointed with the Planning Department recognizing it and putting
it in the presentation to the Board knowing that the Commission had not authorized it. So I’m
disappointed on two fronts on the letter. The letter should’ve came to us once it got there if it had
gotten it from the Environmental Services because it should have never been written because we
didn’t even know it was, we didn’t even know it was in the packet.
Mr. Troutman: I believe, I started to say I believe we submitted it as part of the package
when we submitted for the meeting and the letter ---
Mr. Hasan: You had it at that point though. See we didn’t authorize you to have it, that’s
my point.
Mr. Troutman: --- okay, that’s I mean I work for a lot of counties and that’s pretty typical
where it comes from. That’s the landfill department.
Mr. Hasan: With the support of the governing body.
Mr. Troutman: That I, I don’t know who authorized (inaudible).
Mr. Hasan: Okay, all right okay, thank you.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Any other questions?
Mr. Hasan: Yes, sir, thank you, sir.
Mr. Troutman: Thank you.
Mr. Hasan: Attorney Brown ---
Mr. Brown: Yes, sir.
Mr. Hasan: --- I’m hearing, I’m hearing, I think you’ve tried to convey that to us much
earlier so for clarity now that we’re on this road. It is said if this was to get approved, I don’t plan
to support it, I’m just asking the question, I’m just asking as a scenario here, if it was to be approved
today where are we and what has to happen from there?
Mr. Brown: What’s before you is of course is a planning application for a Special
Exception. If this is approved today it would simply mean that this location has been zoned
suitable for the applicant’s purpose that there’s to be a landfill. You will be granting them the
Special Exception. It comes before you as a Special Exception because there is a residential ---
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Mr. Hasan: Excuse me for a minute I don’t mean no harm gentleman, I can’t hear him.
Mr. Brown: --- there’s a residential structure within a 1,000 feet of this landfill therefore
it comes before this body. It could not automatically operate even in the zone as a landfill without
your permission and the permission is called a Special Exception. So if you grant the Special
Exception today they will have the zoning element that they need in order to receive a permit from
EPD.
Mr. Hasan: So at that point do they move forward with that? What happens, what do we
do? Are we out of it at that point because I might’ve missed something and I apologize to yourself
and my colleagues.
Mr. Brown: Not exactly. They will have solved their zoning requirement.
Mr. Hasan: So what will come back for us at best for anything?
Mr. Brown: Well, in addition to having the proper zoning, local zoning, the applicant has
to show EPD they have the proper zoning. That’s one element and if you grant it today they will
have accomplished that. They also have to show EPD among other things a Letter of Consistency
and of course that’s a letter from the Administrator’s Office that this governing body finds that
this use at that location is consistent with the Solid Waste Management Plan that Augusta has
passed.
Mr. Hasan: Okay so that’s ---
Mr. Brown: So therefore there will have to be an analysis by this government through
Environmental Services and the Administrator to determine if this use is consistent with the Solid
Waste Management Plan that is now in effect.
Mr. Hasan: --- so at this point present point we’re talking now if this was approved once
again you all are not in a position right now to make that determination. I know that’s not to ask
today but I’m saying but if you had to make that decision today you have not done your due
diligence to make that determination as of today.
Mr. Brown: It’s my understanding form administration that the analysis of consistency or
inconsistency has not yet been completed but is underway.
Mr. Hasan: Okay, okay thank you.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: All right, so we’ve got a substitute motion on the floor by
Commission Hasan seconded by Commissioner Marion Williams to deny. Substitute motion to
deny, voting.
The Clerk: Ms. Davis, did you understand what the substitute motion to deny and that’s
what we’re voting on, could you tell me ---
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Ms. Davis: (Unintelligible) ---
The Clerk: --- yes, ma’am.
Ms. Davis: --- no.
The Clerk: No, okay.
Mr. Fennoy, Mr. Hasan and Mr. M. Williams vote Yes.
Mr. D. Williams, Mr. Sias, Mr. Frantom, Mr. Garrett and Mr. Clarke vote No.
Motion Fails 3-7.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: All right, we’ll go back to the original motion to approve, motion to
approve, voting.
The Clerk: Ms. Davis, the motion is to approve.
Ms. Davis: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: You’re voting yes?
Ms. Davis: Yes.
The Clerk: Okay.
Ms. Davis, Mr. B. Williams, Mr. Frantom, Mr. Garrett, Mr. D. Williams and Mr. Clarke
vote Yes.
Mr. Fennoy, Mr. Sias, Mr. Hasan and Mr. M. Williams vote No.
Motion Passes 6-4.
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk ---
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: --- we’re going to go top to bottom.
The Clerk: Ms. Davis, we’re continuing on the pulled items from our Consent Agenda,
we’ll start with Item Number 6.
The Clerk:
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
6. Motion to approve Fire Department requests the purchase of two pickup trucks, one for
the Fire Department vehicle maintenance truck and one for the Fire Prevention Bureau.
(Approved by Administrative Services Committee October 29, 2019)
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Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Marion Williams.
Mr. M. Williams: Yes, Mr. Mayor Pro Tem. I’ve got no problem with the purchase of the
trucks. I just, I’ve got a question about the different color reds that the Fire Department has gotten
now. I can’t tell whether it’s a fire truck or what it is now. We talk about being uniform but there’s
some burgundy trucks, there’s some off red trucks and I’m just, my question is why can’t we stay
uniform with a color for the Fire Department, I guess, Chief James?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Chief James, would you like to speak to this please?
Chief James: Mr. Commissioner, typically in the past we ordered a truck from a company
through Fleet and when you order red from the factory in different years they come looking
different. We order red and some years they come but this year the red looks like a burgundy,
you’re correct, and some years they come in and they look a bright red. But when we order it we
tell Fleet that we want red and this is how they come in.
Mr. M. Williams: Chief James, you know I know a little bit about automobiles, right?
Chief James: I do, sir.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay I’m sure you do, if you know a little bit about automobiles you
can get the color you want. You’re buying; you don’t have to take what they give you. Now if
they were giving it to you now, you know, then you take whatever color it is but if you’re buying
a red truck the dealership knows red from whatever. Now we’re not paying any attention to that
if we’re just accepting whatever they say. That’s one thing but the Fire Department ought to be
uniform. I remember the old kind they used to have yellow trucks and they had white trucks and
they ended up with red trucks. Now all of our trucks seem to be the same color, fire trucks.
Chief James: We’ve been working that way.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay, but when we’re buying stuff going down the road I mean to me
it ought to be uniform and I’ve got no problem with the purchasing of the trucks (unintelligible)
for but I think we ought to specify to Fleet what we want and what color we want and if they have
to spray it before they send it, they ain’t got to rebuild the truck, just spray it if they have to.
Chief James: Yes, sir.
Mr. M. Williams: But I think it ought to be uniform and I’m going to make a motion to
approve because like I said I’m not against it ---
Mr. Garrett: Second.
Mr. M. Williams: --- I just think we need to make sure that we stay uniform.
Chief James: Yes, sir.
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Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: We’ve got a motion and a second, Commissioner Sias.
Mr. Sias: I’m ready to vote.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Williams, voting motion to approve, voting.
The Clerk: Ms. Davis, how do you vote?
Ms. Davis: It was a motion to approve, correct? Yes, ma’am (inaudible).
Mr. Hasan out.
Motion Passes 9-0.
The Clerk:
ENGINEERING SERVICES
16. Motion to authorize a $425,000.00 change order only to Atlantic Coast Consulting’s
(ACC) current Purchase Order P367569. (RFP 19-146C Environmental Compliance
Testing, Engineering & Consulting). (Approved by Engineering Services Committee
October 29, 2019)
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Marion Williams, I think you pulled this one?
Mr. M. Williams: Yes, sir, thank you, Mayor Pro Tem. The $425,000 dollar change order,
I guess I want to hear from Compliance. When these change orders come in, are we consistent
with what the rules say when we do a change order for $425,000 dollars?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: (Unintelligible) speak to this?
Ms. Edwards: On this particular one, Commissioner, there was no goal by the Compliance
Department that was placed on this particular project so therefore we would not track it. But to
answer your question as regarding other items that have goals on them we would receive
notification from whatever the user department or Procurement and then we would have a
conversation as to why the change order is being implemented. And really Compliance’s
perspective is to look at the scope at which it would affect the local small business. If the scope is
not affecting them in any matter, we really don’t dig into why the change order is occurring.
Mr. M. Williams: And this may be out of your purview but when we’re doing a bid because
it’s a single source is that why there is no goal set? I mean we’re going to spend, and this is a
change order for $425,000, what was the actual bid in the beginning?
Ms. Edwards: I can’t speak as to this particular item but I can tell you that if we have items
and they do not have a goal on them, the reason that they would not have a goal on them is because
we do not have a business in our program that can do that scope of work. That’s the only reason
you would have a zero percent goal.
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Mr. M. Williams: Okay.
Ms. Edwards: Now anything outside of that and what the bid was and the sourcing, that’s
outside of my area. That might would be a better question for Procurement. But if there’s a zero
percent goal then we just don’t have the people that can do the work.
Mr. M. Williams: And there’s a lot of that, Ms. Edwards, I get that. I may have to get with
Tim and find out how many times we done done it this way because there’s something that’s got
to be done. We spend a lot of money through single source because they are a single source I
guess we say no we don’t have a goal and but I think every dime that the government spends ought
to be an opportunity for everybody not because there’s a single source. Now and this is probably
another conversation for another time but we may not be able to do this one but something ought
to be noted so this government can find somebody maybe not local but find somebody to
participate in this amount of money we’re spending, this taxpayer’s money. So I think that we
ought to be mindful enough I mean if we can approve birds over the airport we ain’t no telling
what we’ll approve so.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: You making a motion to approve?
Mr. M. Williams: I’m making a motion to approve it.
Mr. Hasan: Second.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: We’ve got a motion and a second from Commission Hasan?
The Clerk: Yes.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Voting.
The Clerk: Ms. Davis?
Ms. Davis: Is that a motion to approve?
The Clerk: Yes, ma’am.
Ms. Davis: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Okay, thank you.
Mr. Clarke votes No.
Mr. Sias not voting.
Motion Passes 8-1.
The Clerk: Where are we headed, Mayor Pro Tem?
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Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Agenda item number 17.
The Clerk:
ENGINEERING SERVICES
17. Motion to approve Award of “Grounds and Landscaped Improvements and
Maintenance – Various Roadways and Roundabouts” Contract to Augusta Quality LLC,
subject to receipt of signed contract and proper insurance documents. The Contract is
effective 1/1/2020 for three years with Base year 1 and two option year renewal. Also,
approve not to exceed $241,970/year to fund these contracted services. Requested by AED.
BID 19-270 (Approved by Engineering Services Committee October 29, 2019)
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Marion Williams.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor Pro Tem. I’m in support of Engineering and I’m
in support of this project but I want to make sure the landfill has people doing some landscaping
and maintenance work as well. And I guess my question is to Malik this is strictly for the city
right-of-way not it’s not just maintenance landscape maintenance people we can use anywhere.
Dr. Malik: Yes, it’s city right-of-way.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay, I want to clarify that because there are some monies that we’re
spending in Environmental Services to do lots and other stuff with but this is just for the right-of-
way.
Dr. Malik: Yes, sir.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay, how many crews is this going to make us to have?
Mr. D. Williams: Second.
Mr. M. Williams: How many crews is this going to make us to have?
Dr. Malik: This is a contract services. It’s a year round, it’s up to the contractor how many
crews you know basically he has to maintain landscape areas year round so he has a schedule a
monthly schedule.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay, so this crew is going hire other folks to do that he’s going ---
Dr. Malik: They’re already going to do it I think it’s one of our small local businesses so
that’s a good thing that came out of this contract.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay, I got a motion to approve.
Mr. D. Williams: Second.
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Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: I’ve got a motion and a second, Commissioner Sias.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem. I’ve just got one quick question reference these
right-of-way issues for Dr. Malik. Dr. Malik, all of us up here are familiar with indirect cost
allocations and a few other things explain reference right-of-ways a franchise fee that Georgia
Power will pay.
Dr. Malik: It’s the same, yes, sir, a franchise fee is the same fee though it’s a different
percentage. I think they pay three something and stormwater fee I believe six.
Mr. Sias: So in other words Georgia Power will pay to use our right-of-ways?
Dr. Malik: Yes, sir.
Mr. Sias: Are we charging ourselves the stormwater fee to use, for the water to run through
our right-of-way?
Dr. Malik: Uhm ---
Mr. Sias: I got my answer, okay, we’re going to come back and address that, Mayor Pro
Tem, thank you.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: All right, we’ve got a motion and a second to approve, voting.
The Clerk: Ms. Davis, how are you voting, ma’am.
Ms. Davis: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Okay.
Mr. Garrett out.
Motion Passes 9-0.
The Clerk: Item 21, sir?
Mr. Mayor: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk:
ENGINEERING SERVICES
21. Motion to approve award of Design-Build Construction Contract to Blair Construction,
Inc. in the amount of $1,858,907.00 for Skyview Drainage Improvements. Design-Build
Construction Services as requested by AED. Award is contingent upon receipt of signed
contracts and proper bonds. RFP 19-236 (Approved by Engineering Services Committee
October 29, 2019)
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Ms. Edwards, again the same question on this one and I guess it’s a
single source I don’t know.
Ms. Edwards: I don’t know if it’s a sole source but I can tell you that on this particular
item there is a 6% LSBOP Goal and the company that they are recommending for the award they
are in compliance with everything that we’ve asked for at the pre-award stage.
Mr. M. Williams: So moved, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Sias: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Voting.
The Clerk: Ms. Davis?
Ms. Davis: Yes, ma’am.
Motion Passes 10-0.
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, we’re going to go to the Addendum agenda. In the words of
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the Commissioner from the 9 I’ve got a high priced attorney sitting over in the corner over there
with the Financial Advisor next to him. We’re going to get them off the clock. Item number one
on the Addendum agenda.
The Clerk:
ADDENDUM
36. Approve attached documents related to the issuance of $21 million plus cost of issuance
in bonds for the constructions of water and sewer projects at Fort Gordon. Authorizing the
Mayor and Clerk of Commission to sign and execute the attached documents.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: (Unintelligible) on back.
Mr. Mayor: Well, I’m coming to you first.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay, well, thank you, sir. I need to know, Mr. Mayor, I know we’re
doing a lot of work at Fort Gordon. We’re fixing to do a $21 million plus cost with a bond issuance
out there. What are we getting from Fort Gordon? What is being brought back to this government?
Utilities spend a lot of money. We’ve got water everywhere. In fact every week there’s something
going on at Fort Gordon and I don’t know how much money we done spend there and I’m not
opposed to that but I want to know what is the city getting back in return. Are we just building up
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for Fort Gordon? And I understand the military base is there and is a part of this community but I
need to hear from Tom ---
Mr. Mayor: Yeah, (unintelligible) the Mayor too.
Mr. M. Williams: --- okay hear from the Mayor, I want to hear from somebody.
Mr. Mayor: Yeah, you’ve got a $2 plus billion-dollar enterprise out there with some 30,000
civilian and/or service members every single day coming in and out of Gates 1, 5 soon to be Gate
6 and just the economic impact alone notwithstanding. Before I arrived, Madam Clerk, this city
entered into an agreement to provide water resources with the Fort and that’s a fairly substantial
contract and it brings substantial revenues into this government. I think if I were using one of your
words I don’t see any of it ---
Mr. M. Williams: Well ---
Mr. Mayor: --- you’ve got this thing called the Enterprise Fund but ---
Mr. M. Williams: --- (inaudible) my point. I don’t see enough or hear we vote on going
out but I don’t hear about the coming in. I need to know about the coming in part. I mean even
though we don’t get our hands on it but this body sits here and acts like Utilities is off limits. It’s
not off limits. Now we know how it got to be an enterprise and Tom didn’t ask for this but that’s
the way it’s set up. But I need to know what’s going in and coming out of there. I’m not going to
sit here and say okay we’re just going to approve this and approve this. I don’t hear nothing about
what’s coming in. I need to know that we spend this bond money, the bond’s being paid back, we
got a good rate and I get all that. But I ain’t heard nothing about what the revenue stream looks
like coming back this way. Now I don’t know about nobody else. Maybe ya’ll got a private
meeting and you all done heard about this. I need to hear about it.
Mr. Mayor: Tom.
Mr. Wiedmeier: So the Army is paying us back for these projects so we’ll get this $21
million dollars paid back with interest but I think you’re asking a different question.
Mr. M. Williams: If I can respond, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Yeah, you can.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Tom. Now I kid you how much money Utilities, I really
ain’t kidding. I’m joking but I ain’t laughing. I mean it’s serious in my opinion. Enterprise has
been set up we get a fee what do you call it ---
Mr. Mayor: Franchise.
Mr. M. Williams: --- franchise fee to this government every year and we had not increased
it, we keep saying well that’s a private enterprise, I get that but this government who belongs to
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the people needs to know and needs to be able to get what is reasonable. I’m not saying drain that
department, I’m not saying take half of it. I’m saying that we need to look at that because as much
money we done spent out in the last year in the last year we need to know what’s going on out
there. I mean we sit here and act like okay let’s approve it. Nobody wants to talk about it.
Mr. Mayor: Well, I think your questions are certainly valid, Commissioner, but I think
what Director Wiedemeier said a moment ago was so significant and that is these bonds are being
paid back by the customer and as such that’s a win/win situation for us. It allows us to continue
to build and grow that resource that we enjoy the benefit of, of again a $2 plus billion dollar
enterprise. Folks who are living in the community, working in the community spending the money
you know we can’t necessarily put a you know price tag on what that return investment looks like
but it’s significant enough that this is the right thing for us to be doing and I’d encourage a motion
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to approve. I’m going to go the Commissioner from the 4.
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Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. Just in slight reference to what my colleague from the 9 was
mentioning one of the things that Fort Gordon has always been measured by is what they call a
financial impact. One example, all military students that attend a local school whether it’s
Richmond County, Columbia County, they pay impact funding for that. And one of the general
estimates of the financial impact of Fort Gordon in this general area of Richmond County,
Columbia County and maybe a couple other small counties is $2.4 billion dollars annually so
there’s a huge financial impact from Fort Gordon. Many, many soldiers you see them they live,
shop, eat, drink, party, play have fun in Richmond County and they’re spending dollars like we
mentioned earlier today what are these folks doing. We was talking about another venture of folks
coming and spending money. Folks from Fort Gordon have been spending money for years and
years here. I was a soldier running through Augusta spending money when I was Private, Sergeant
whatever else out there so there’s a huge financial impact and right now that’s estimated at $2.4
billion dollars.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Are you making a motion?
Mr. Sias: He made the motion.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: No, he didn’t.
Mr. Sias: I move to approve.
Mr. Speaker: Second.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: I’ve got a motion and a second. Any other discussion?
Commissioner Marion Williams.
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Mr. M. Williams: I want to follow up, and I agree with the 4 District Commissioner just
said but if we don’t see that if we don’t know what’s coming back in. Now here it is with anything
else. I mean I understand Fort Gordon and I’m in support. I understand about the soldiers and I
understand about the military base and what we got there but we have spent a lot of money in
utilities all across this county and we keep doing these different bonds, getting the money through
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the structure but we ain’t hearing nothing about what’s coming back in in a dollar amount as far
as this government. And this government ought to be transparent and that’s your words, Mayor
Pro Tem. We want to see more transparency. If I don’t know what Utilities got in their bank
account, checking account, whatever it is, I mean I don’t think that’s fair to this local governing
body to be operating in the blind so to speak. So I’m not against Tom. I kid him all the time about
how much money but I know there’s a lot of money there and I know it’s being used hopefully
wisely, I’m not saying he’s misusing the funds. But at the same time we don’t know anything
ourselves what we approve to go out and approve to build and to approve on this agenda but
nobody ever shows us any value. But I’m going to get with Tim. I mean I’m going to find out not
only on the work done but I’m going to get with Tim and I’m going to know more than what I
know now I guarantee you.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: We’ve got a motion and a second to approve, voting.
The Clerk: Ms. Davis:
Ms. Davis: Yes, ma’am.
Motion Passes 10-0.
The Clerk:
ADDENDUM
37. Move to approve the TIA Project List for the 2020 TIA public referendum. This list was
approved at the TIA work sessions and by the Engineering Committee on 29 October 2019.
(Requested by Commissioner Sammie Sias.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Williams, did you pull this agenda item?
Mr. M. Williams: Yeah, I did. I had a question on this one. We just approved the list. We
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had a meeting on October the 29 is that when the meeting was?
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The Clerk: Yes, sir, it was approved at the October 21 work session and approved at the
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October 29 Engineering Services Committee.
Mr. M. Williams: And my question is can anything be adjusted anymore if we decide to
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adjust something or do we have to go by only that list that was turned in on October 21?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: I’d like Commissioner Sias to speak to this.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem. I would like to ask Dr. Malik to come forward and
we answered the question that the Commissioner asked. And to your fact about adjustments,
Commissioner, I’m going to ask this board to entertain one adjustment now and that was on our
projected project, I don’t know if Dr. Malik, did you have a sheet for everybody today to pass out?
Dr. Malik: I have the sheet. I’ve not updated that.
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Mr. Sias: We just wanted to make two changes ---
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Is this change in our book, Commissioner?
The Clerk: It’s on your addendum agenda, the list (inaudible).
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: It’s on the addendum agenda, okay.
Mr. Hasan: Second page from the back.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: All right, everybody turn to that.
Mr. Hasan: Second page from the back.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay.
Mr. Sias: Yeah, as you look at project number, if you look to the left it says Item 10 R-
No. 10 and that is the Lock and Dam. You see $11 million there, you see that on there, it’ll be
Number 10 coming down on the list, right there 11, I’m sorry ---
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: I have it as Number 11, Number 11 in the green.
Mr. Sias: --- we want to make one small adjustment. We committed to the state to provide
$10 million dollars through TIA to request it. We want to change that from $11 million to $10
million because that was the commitment we made to the state, accept that change. And the second
change would be if you flip over to Item 6 or maybe 6 to 7 Golden Camp we wanted to take that
million and apply it to Golden Camp Road Resurfacing.
The Clerk: What number was that, sir?
Mr. Sias: I believe it’s number 66, it’s on the back ---
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Fifty-nine.
The Clerk: Fifty-nine ---
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Fifty-nine.
The Clerk: --- fifty-nine.
Dr. Malik: I think that’s the older list but it’s probably 69.
Mr. Sias: So that’s the change to reduce one from $11 million to $10 and the other one
and add in resurface of Golden Camp Road.
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Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: The Golden Camp is Number 59, is that ---
Mr. Sias: Which ever number it is it may be a little different the wording is Golden Camp
Road Resurfacing.
The Clerk: That’s what 59 says Golden Camp Road Resurfacing.
Dr. Malik: It has an assigned number of 134 (inaudible).
Mr. Sias: That will cost a little bit more than one-million but we won’t, we’re going to put
it in there because we expect some additional help as we submit this list.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, before we get it done, Commissioner Marion Williams, is
there any questions about those? Hameed, do you approve and agree with those changes?
Dr. Malik: Yes, sir, but I do want to add that the priority list is going to stay the same 32
when you go into the schedule with GDOT and all that the dollar amount may, you know, change
(unintelligible) so we can bring it back to this body for information ---
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay.
Dr. Malik: --- but the priority list the projects like 32 and we added one more to 33 are
going to stay as the priority list but the dollar amount may change as we go into further discussions.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Marion Williams.
Mr. Sias: Let me go back to finish (unintelligible).
Mr. M. Williams: I’m agreeing with the 59 for Golden Camp but the priority is not going
to change so that’s going to be there for another 20 years I mean and I’m just throwing it out there.
So if the money’s needed, we’re going to move the monies there but we’re not going to move the
project list we’re going to leave ---
Mr. Sias: No, it’s going, Golden Camp will be on the project list.
Mr. M. Williams: --- yeah, but it’s not going to move up in there. If it’s on the project list
and didn’t have the money now we’re putting a million dollars and I ain’t go no problem with that
but and Malik just said the project list is going to stay the same.
Mr. Sias: He’s talking about once we finish today, sir, that’s what he’s talking about.
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Dr. Malik: And add this to the priority list. It’s going to be 33 it’s 32 and 33 projects.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, so we’re going to move Golden Camp to 33.
Dr. Malik: Yes, sir.
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Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: We’re going to move Golden Camp to 33 from 59 which is now
priority.
Mr. Sias: Now to the other question, Mayor Pro Tem. If we obtain additional funding
from GDOT then Dr. Malik can look for additional projects to come back to this board to ask to
add because we expect some good things.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, so to wrap it up we’re going to take a million from Number
11 the Lock and Dam issue and we’re going to add a million to Golden Camp Resurfacing Number
59 and move 59 up to Number 33, is that correct ---
Dr. Malik: Correct.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: --- does everybody understand that? All good, can I get a vote?
Mr. Sias: Move to approve.
Mr. Garrett: Second.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: We’ve got a motion to approve Number 2 on the Addendum Agenda,
voting.
Motion Passes 10-0.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Madam Clerk, Number 28.
The Clerk:
PUBLIC SERVICES
28. Motion to approve proceeding with sculpture at Riverwatch Parkway and then following
up with the gateway art sculptures at San Bar Ferry Road. (No recommendation from public
Services Committee October 29, 2019)
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, as representing this area of Riverwatch you know when the
Commission was notified of the sculptures they came out and they had the public process of
unveiling and understanding what they did, there was lots of concern about this governing body
of how these sculptures represented Augusta. And we know art is different forms and people take
a different forms and I totally respect and understand that but now we’re going to go back and get
the input of the Sand Bar Ferry Community Road and the community to ask for input on what
they’d like to see and I believe that the district that I represent deserves the same courtesy. This
has been out in the community for a few weeks and I’ve put Facebook polls out and it’s been
determined I’d say 95 to 98% of the constituents that I represent are against these two sculptures,
we’re only out $6,000 dollars if we do not approve the sculptures. One of the sculptures at
Riverwatch and I think we owe it to the community if we’re going to do the process at Sand Bar
Ferry which I totally agree with of having a community meeting and community engagement I
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think that we need to do the same thing at Riverwatch. So I hope that someone on this body will
make a motion to that effect of stopping the Riverwatch sculpture and moving forward with the
Sand Bar Ferry Road.
Mr. Garrett: So moved.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Brandon Garrett.
Mr. B. Williams: Second.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: I’m not making the motion ya’ll will have to make the motion I’m
running the meeting.
The Clerk: Brandon Garrett and Bobby Williams seconded.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, I’ve got a motion and a second. Commissioner Ben Hasan.
Mr. Hasan: Yes, sir, did you have anything in mind? I mean my colleague over here he
has something I think I’m sorry, our colleague here to my right Commissioner John Clarke not
you Commissioner Dennis Williams on my left, say it out loud so people can hear. But anyway
I’m sorry. My colleague’s got something I think I’ve always been impressed with I think was
appropriate for that ---
Mr. Clarke: I didn’t put him up to this. I swear I didn’t.
Mr. Hasan: --- you know it’s normally had a bad connotation to when you said that part of
town but since you said it you know your constituents I think that’s appropriate for that we you
and your purview of the Masters and everything this is John Clark he had this, Commissioner
Clarke had this from day one and I think we ought to consider something of that nature right there
at the Riverwalk and all those intersections. So we can give you, do you need $6,000 dollars too
---
Mr. B. Williams: Inaudible.
Mr. Hasan: --- and something along that line, Commissioner, you know.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Well, I think once the MLK Partnership Statue was first brought
before us and we approved that today that opens my eyes too that there’s partnerships out there
that we could get to support something like that and I think that would be the right direction to go
as it is the major gateway and what we’re known for.
Mr. Hasan: Okay yeah, but I think it’s a good design.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Marion Williams.
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Mr. M. Williams: Now we’ve got a motion and a second, I think, to do the same process I
think and for both east and west so I’m waiting on a vote.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, Commissioner Bill Fennoy.
Mr. Fennoy: You know I think that the fact that Augusta is known for golfing is I mean
it’s known all over the world but I think that Augusta is known for stuff other than golf. And I
think that when people come through Augusta and they get to the gateways I just believe that they
should see something other than golf. You know if we want to focus golf on the gateways then
you know we have statues that once existed at the Golf Hall of Fame that we could put up at the
gateway to the city. But I just think that we need to let folks know that we do more than play golf
and get on the good foot in Augusta, Georgia.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Yes, sir. Commissioner Dennis Williams.
Mr. D. Williams: I would like to hopefully get a second to the motion. I’d like the motion
to proceed with the sculpture for Riverwatch Parkway one of the two that we already have
preferably the very first one. I don’t know the name, not the pots the other one.
Mr. Fennoy: I’ll second it, Commissioner.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Any further discussion, Commissioner Sias.
Mr. Sias: Mayor Pro Tem, explain your point again.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: The whole thing?
Mr. Sias: Sorta kinda.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: When this, when the Arts unveiled this Commission was pretty much
against any kind of any one because they felt like it didn’t represent the city because a lot of us
were not at the unveiling nor people in the community thought that represented the city well. And
I believe that if we’re doing the right thing in starting Sand Bar Ferry with a public information
feedback session and I believe the Riverwatch Parkway area deserves the same courtesy to hear
from the constituents before we go put a sculpture that doesn’t in my mind represent the city in a
way where that major corridor is known for all around the world. Also there’s partnerships like
the MLK Statue that I believe we could get at that corridor to possibly put something that more
represents the city. And my motion was to stop the Riverwatch, well, what I said was stop the
Riverwatch and move on to Sand Bar Ferry with the public meeting.
Mr. Sias: Did you get a second?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: There was already, it was voted on Garrett and Bobby Williams so
now we have a substitute with what the screen reads, Commissioner Dennis Williams.
Mr. Sias: You said the motion was voted on. You can’t a substitute ---
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The Clerk: It was just made.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: It was made, sorry.
Mr. Sias: Okay, because I was going to support your position in at least having a
community involvement to our Riverwatch no matter what it come up with but I do agree that the
citizens should have an opportunity to have some input. So we’re going to get a sculpture one way
or the other so, but I don’t have a problem with them having some input and I think that would be
only fair because I would really think to say the same thing for my area and any other area that
everybody should have an opportunity to input. I don’t kind of agree with the way you said it but
I agree with the intent that everybody should have a chance to input. So I would ask that the
substitute be to if my colleague would adjust his substitute to say allow community input or
meeting with the Riverwatch sculpture consideration. I would hope he wouldn’t mind doing that,
thank you.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Dennis Williams.
Mr. D. Williams: I’d like to say this before we take the vote now ---
Mr. Mayor: Would you speak into the microphone, sir?
Mr. D. Williams: --- the public had an opportunity to voice their like or dislike on the first
two sculptures, anyway, things that were here by the night that the artist made his presentation.
Also they were downstairs in the lobby for a length of time so people had an opportunity and most
of the public didn’t particularly care for either one of them but they had an opportunity also.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Exactly.
Mr. D. Williams: So we just need to go ahead with the sculpture because you’re not going
to get ten of us up here to agree on the same piece of art because all of us have in our minds
differently than one another so my substitute motion is approving (inaudible).
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: I don’t disagree, Commissioner Dennis Williams, with what you said
but we also never put $250,000 dollar art pieces in this community and now people are you know
it’s got the bullseye on it because it’s the first time we’ve done anything like this. And for us to
just go ahead and approve something that didn’t have community input in my mind that’s after the
fact. They were there, those pieces were done. There was no representation on the front end where
Sand Bar Ferry we’re giving representation on the frontend. And that’s all I’m asking for if it was
your district you would feel the same way I do because my district doesn’t want these two and
they’ve spoken loudly about that and that’s why I’m so passionate about it, thank you.
Commissioner Dennis Williams.
Mr. D. Williams: May I ask the Art Council Chairman a question please?
57
Mr. Mayor: Ms. Durant, if you’ll approach. While Ms. Durant is on her way, Madam
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Clerk, I don’t have the history that the distinguished gentleman from the 9 has with regards to the
inner workings of our local government and how we sometimes arrive at things and this in fact
might predate him. But as I understand it there are six statutes of golfers that are placed in the city
that roughly cost about two-hundred grand a piece and they are at the airport ---
Mr. Sias: (Unintelligible) the museum.
Mr. Mayor: --- they’re at the museum but we’ve done this before and unfortunately you
know we took a different approach this time of where they were not golf centric but they are
statues. Since we are having this conversation, I may as well go ahead and put it out on the table
because I was going to wait until Mayor’s Masters Reception but I’m going to be asking this
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community to support a similar statute of the Goat, the Tiger Woods who just won his 82
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tournament. And I think it’s fitting and proper in the words of the Commissioner from the 1 that
this city where Tiger Woods returned to prominence would raise the resources to have a bronze
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statue sculpted of him with this hands on the 18 green that we place in this city in its most proper
and fitting location. I will be challenging this community to do that and I think we can get that
done, Ms. Durant.
Ms. Durant: Yes, sir.
Mr. D. Williams: Yes, ma’am, can you tell me how long the two pieces of art was
downstairs for public viewing?
Ms. Durant: I believe it was a 2 ½ week period. We advertised it heavily, that was the
official vote that the official community vote. I know some Commissioners had their own what I
consider to straw poll but we did send the results of that poll to Procurement who is running this
process. The city voted more for statue one or two than they voted against it, did want to correct
that information that was just given to you. We did get more positive votes than negative votes
and there was one statute that received more votes than the other.
Mr. D. Williams: Thank you, thank you, Mr. Chair.
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Mr. Mayor: Thank you. All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 8.
Mr. Garrett: Thank you, Mayor. Permission to address Ms. Durant.
Mr. Mayor: Sure.
Mr. Garrett: You mentioned the polling that was sent to Procurement. Is there any way
you could share that with us because we never saw that.
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Ms. Durant: This, Procurement was told to halt the process on I think it was August 28
so what I would recommend would be for the Commission to unhalt the process so you could get
the score from Procurement but then I too would very much like for us, which you voted also on
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August 28 I believe was to proceed with Sand Bar Ferry Road as quickly as possible. Ron Houck
58
already has meetings set up, the community meetings have been scheduled so we could begin on
that process as well.
Mr. Garrett: Is there a reason why there weren’t any community meetings for this one
before the process?
Ms. Durant: The, we asked the artist to do the research themselves. If you did come to the
meeting or watched the videos that the Augusta Chronicle posted on their site they did extensive
research and one of the sculptures is golf sculpture. The other is more directly related to Augusta
our community basically our earth and our clay heritage. Also it reflected back on the canals and
some of the towers that you see on our mills.
Mr. Garrett: Thank you.
Ms. Durant: You’re welcome.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you. All right, I believe we’ve got a substitute motion with a proper
second that’s what we’re taking up first ---
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Can she read them?
Mr. Mayor: All right, Madam Clerk, if you will.
The Clerk: That motion was to approve proceeding with the sculpture at Riverwatch
Parkway and then follow up with the gateway sculpture at Sand Bar Ferry.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: All right, voting.
The Clerk: Ms. Davis?
Ms. Davis: No, ma’am.
Mr. Fennoy, Mr. D. Williams and Mr. Hasan vote Yes.
Motion Fails 3-7.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, what’s our posture, Madam Clerk?
The Clerk: We have an original motion, sir.
Mr. Mayor: Okay and the original motion is?
The Clerk: That motion was to stop the sculpture at Riverwatch Parkway, have community
input and follow up with the gateway sculpture at Sand Bar Ferry with public input.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, that motion has a proper second?
The Clerk: Yes, sir, Mr. Garrett and Mr. Bobby Williams.
Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor, I mean we don’t have a sculpture then we don’t meet ---
Mr. Mayor: That’s what that means.
Mr. M. Williams: --- I want to be clear we don’t have we’re not going to proceed we’re
just going to meet and try to come up with something, is that right?
The Clerk: That’s right.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay, vote me in.
Mr. Mayor: We’re starting over right.
Mr. M. Williams: East and west.
Mr. Mayor: All right, voting.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, can you hold up before you post it if you don’t mind.
Mr. Mayor: Hold on a second, all right, everybody keep voting.
Mr. M. Williams: Keep voting?
Mr. Mayor: Yeah, I’m going to give him a Point of Personal Privilege.
Mr. Hasan: Okay, okay.
Mr. Mayor: All right, keep voting.
Mr. Hasan: I appreciate that. That’s how I get him, don’t ask for it, and I can get it then.
Thank you, sir. It is about something different to your point, Commissioner.
rd,
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner from the 3 how does she vote?
The Clerk: Are you done?
Mr. Mayor: I hadn’t recognized him (inaudible).
Mr. Hasan: He didn’t recognize me yet.
The Clerk: Well, okay Commissioner Davis?
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Ms. Davis: Yes, ma’am.
Mr. Sias and Mr. Hasan vote No.
Mr. D. Williams abstains.
Motion Passes 7-2-1.
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Maybe I might be out of order of overlooking on the
agenda we also was talking about the sculpture the monument of Dr. Martin Luther King and I
wanted ---
The Clerk: The Consent Agenda.
Mr. Hasan: --- Ma’am?
The Clerk: It was approved on the Consent Agenda.
Mr. Hasan: Location and everything?
The Clerk: We didn’t identify a location; we just approved designating the money.
Mr. Hasan: Well, can we, okay so if it’s voted on now it’s too late to do anything about it.
I mean I want the same criteria, that’s all I want. I want the same criteria, let the community weight
in on it as opposed to just that committee make that decision. If we’re going to do that my
colleague Commissioner Bill Fennoy said let’s be consistent and so if everybody’s going to allow
Riverwatch Parkway now we’re saying Sand Bar Ferry Road community to weigh in on it so let’s
let the community weigh in also on the MLK statue as well. That’s all I’m saying, take it away
from the committee, they ain’t got no money.
Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor, Dr. King’s going to look like Dr. King. He ain’t going to
look like something (unintelligible).
Mr. Hasan: I don’t I mean I’m talking about the location, Commissioner, I’m talking about,
Commissioner, and I appreciate that. I meant location, I meant location.
Mr. M. Williams: The location wasn’t no problem. I mean the artwork (unintelligible).
Mr. Hasan: No, they’re still debating about (unintelligible) downtown, right?
Mr. Mayor: All right, so let’s calibrate everybody. That item number four was approved
on the Consent Agenda and the only thing that was approved was the funding mechanism ---
Mr. Hasan: Okay.
61
Mr. Mayor: --- the conversation still persists about final location in some people’s minds,
not in everybody, but some people’s minds. All right, all right, all right ---
Mr. Fennoy: That’s it Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: --- I wish. Madam Clerk.
The Clerk:
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVCIES
29. Discuss future of old jail property. (Requested by Commissioner John Clare).
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Commissioner from the 10.
Mr. Clarke: Yes, sir, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Thank you, Mr. Mayor I know that we’ve
already got a procurement to remove the fuel tanks under the property and we can go ahead and
do that but what I would like to do and the reason why is I would like to stop the procurement
process going forward because there’s so much interest and activity surrounding the old jail
property with the movie industry. We’ve had I think three movies filmed there. There’s one just
done and there’s another one supposed to be done. Paramount Pictures had issued a statement
through the Rick Kelly that this one of the only facilities of its kind that can be used the way that
they use it. They can use it as a jail, a prison, a hospital, or a courthouse that’s outside façade
that’s what it looks like. Then on the inside you also have your existing jail cells, you have your
open rooms, they can build a hospital ward in it, they have the court rooms that they can use and
it’s pretty consistent. And I happened to visit the filming location last week at the Olmstead
Stadium and talked to the two producers and a location director that is very high on this property
and they plan on coming back in the future with another movie. So I would just like to stop the
procurement process and let’s weigh in on this location being a source of revenue, worldwide
attention, and a destination possibly for the movie industry. So I propose that, make a motion that
we discontinue or stop the procurement process that is now in motion.
Mr. Hasan: Second.
Mr. Mayor: All right, I’ve got a motion and a second to cease procurement services for
the ---
The Clerk: Demolition.
Mr. Mayor: --- demolition of the old jail at 401 Walton Way. All right, we’re going to go
st
in this order. The Chair recognizes the Commission from the 1.
Mr. Fennoy: You know the old jail is an eyesore in the neighborhood. Judge Brown had
talked about our youth and a need for a facility that will provide agencies an opportunity to work
with our youth. We’re talking about keeping it up then you’re talking about maintenance. And
then what happens when the facility is not being used for film. How many film projects is going
62
to come here as a result of an old jail that has issues with leaking sewage and, so I would like to
make a substitute motion that we move forward with the demolition of 401.
Mr. Sias: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, we’ve got a motion and a second, substitute motion and a proper second.
Mr. M. Williams: I thought you were going to come back this way.
Mr. Mayor: Well, I was going to come back this way but I’m going to ask ya’ll why don’t
we just vote it up or down and see what it looks like. Let’s move on with it, vote it up or down
and see what it looks like.
Mr. Garrett: I have a question before I can vote on it.
Mr. Mayor: All right, okay, ya’ll don’t want to just vote?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: No, not yet.
Mr. Fennoy: I’m going to order some pizzas (inaudible).
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 8, state your inquiry.
Mr. Garrett: Thank you, sir. I agree with where Commissioner Clarke is coming from on
using, continuing to use this for filming. I was told by when suicide squad came through that this
is one of the only remaining empty jails sitting around that is useful for filming. To me it’s a good
revenue source if we can continue to use it but as Commissioner Fennoy said how many more
times can we use it? So it’s one of those items where if we continue with Procurement what’s the
timeline we’re looking at before it gets blown up or can we get somebody to come film here and
blow it up for us?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: I knew you were going to say that.
Mr. Mayor: All right, so Procurement if you’ll approach. All right, sir, I believe the
gentleman Daryl, tell me your last name again, sir.
Mr. Speaker: White.
Mr. Mayor: All right, Mr. White.
Mr. White: Mr. Mayor and members of the Commission, what was your question again
Commissioner?
Mr. Garrett: Get somebody to blow up the jail for us.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Timeline.
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Mr. Garrett: If we continue with Procurement the way it’s going now of getting in torn
down, what kind of timeline are we looking at just for future filming prospects if you know if there
were someone on the horizon that we don’t know about just so everybody could be on the same
page?
Mr. White: Are you referring for us a timeline to complete the process as far as demolition
of the structure. Well, next week before you is a protest. We have a vendor that’s protesting the
process to be included in the process. Once the, that protest has resolved itself then we’ll move
forward with recommendations of a potential firm and a contract. And so realistically you’ll
probably looking anywhere from 90 to 120 days.
Mr. Garrett: So is it feasible that we could find somebody that wants to come film it being
blown up?
Mr. White: I can’t speak to that, Commissioner. I’m not in the film industry.
Mr. Garrett: Just throwing it up trying to save us some money too.
Mr. White: I understand.
Mr. Brown: Commissioner, Central Services will be able to provide a little bit of additional
information about the timeline of your question.
Mr. Garrett: Thank you.
Ms. Douse: One of the questions you just asked, Commissioner, was about having
someone film it to blow it up and the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau has put that out for the last
couple of years to see if there was any interest in anyone coming in to film it being blown up. In
relation to the timeline because the Commission made efforts earlier this year to get this building
demolished the only thing that’s holding us up is the protest that will be presented next week. So
once we get approval on that all hands are on deck to go ahead and move forward with that
procurement.
Mr. Garrett: Very good, thank you.
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 5.
Mr. B. Williams: Thank you, sir. I do believe that regardless of the condition of the
building that’s prime real estate and I think it needs to be torn down to make way for something
that we can truly use. Whether we go back with something with the Juvenile Justice System or we
do something else we need to make it something useful for the City of Augusta.
Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Mayor Pro Tem.
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Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. It was, I think it was on the Commission’s
schedule next week to meet with the CVB and hear kind of their thoughts about this ---
Mr. Mayor: Monday.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: --- is it next week? I would just hope that we pump the brakes maybe
and let’s hear from them to see if there’s any economic impact because I mean if we could push it
back a year what’s a year if we can make the city some money. I mean I understand it needs to be
torn down, they voted to tear it down, we got to tear it down but if there was a way to pump the
brakes for just a little bit because it is a structure I’ve heard that is being used and it’s like one of
a kind in the State of Georgia. I just think we should hear from the CVB before we make a decision
today, thank you.
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. We hopefully hadn’t forgot that we voted to do
this Procurement is doing. Ms. Douse and her staff went out and got proposals to tear this building
down. Now I’m hearing about possibly using it for a movie but it’s going to sit there when we’re
not using movies and we don’t know how long that will be. You’re not going to build, you’re not
going to do every movie in Augusta at the jail. We also told Judge Brown we was going to get
bring this down and look at doing a facility for the Juvenile Justice Department to be able to bring
some closure to some of this crazy stuff the young folks are doing. So I know we’d like to see it,
we’d like to have it there but it was out on Phinizy Road and we had and it wasn’t doing us one
thing but right downtown coming into town looking at the jail deteriorating I think we need to get
rid of that piece of building that’s sitting there. I started to say sore eye but I just think that we’re
already committed. Now you can’t go back and forth, back and forth. You’ve got to fish or cut
bait one or two, Mr. Mayor. So I think we need to go ahead and do what Procurement has already
done and go ahead and proceed with this and if the film industry wants to use Augusta to set up
something they can set up in Augusta but as far as us providing a building for them to use when
they might use it. Donna, I hadn’t said anything about you today but I need to know how much
money’s been made already and if it wasn’t significant for the two movies or whatever made there
why are we going, just because they come to Augusta now the people ain’t coming, the movie
industry’s making money taking it somewhere else. They ain’t moving to Augusta. So was there
any money made?
Mr. Mayor: Okay, so Central Services who works with the CVB in that can speak to that
matter. All right, Ms. Douse, I got your answer, I got you.
Mr. M. Williams: No, no, he ain’t got you, Ms. Douse, he got him.
Ms. Douse: I heard him say I got the answer. My apologies. So we have three films that
have filmed at 401 Walton Way this year and the first was filmed in March. They were charged
$1,500 dollars. The second filmed shortly thereafter, I’m trying to calculate their rate. Both are
charged $815.00 dollars per day. One was there 22 days and another one was there less than 10
days so I don’t have those exact figures in front of me but that’s the amount of time that they were
there at $815.00 a day.
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Mr. M. Williams: And what’s our motion, Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: Well, you’ve got a couple. You’ve got a motion and you’ve got a substitute
which is the superior motion right now and that is to ---
The Clerk: Move forward with the demolition of 401 Walton Way. Your main motion is
to decease Procurement of the demolition of 401 Walton Way.
Mr. M. Williams: All right, let’s vote.
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Mr. Mayor: --- okay, all right. The Commissioner from the 4 wants to say something.
Mr. Sias: Thank you. I would hate to be deprived of my opportunity to speak as an elected
official but one thing I want to remind us is demolition of 401 was put on SPLOST VII. And I do
remember some long discussions in here with a certain judge saying that we couldn’t divert from
that. So we’ve already committed through the public through SPLOST and everything else to tear
that building down and now we’re talking about deviating from that. There’s no legal reason to
be able to deviate from that so I consistently support go ahead and demolish this building.
Mr. Fennoy: That’s not true.
Mr. Mayor: All right, all right, hold on, hold on, hold on. We’ve got a series of hands still
flying up and we want to try and get everybody. All right, I’m going back to the Commissioner
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from the 10.
Mr. Clarke: Okay, first of all we deviate from things that we’ve voted on and things that
we’ve passed. We deviate all the time so that’s not even an argument. Okay, the other thing about
it is and yeah it’s funny as hell when you look at the daily rent that Central Services or whoever
has set the rent paid. We’re not just looking at the rent of building. We’re looking at the revenue
that they’re spending in Augusta, Georgia and bringing in a tax base. So yes we made a
commitment to the Juvenile Courts that we’re going to build them something. They’re supposed
to be working with us so it’s a two-way street. Now all of a sudden that building has sit down
there for years vacant and now suddenly it’s got to be torn down. Well, I’ll tell you what why
don’t we just take a trash can and go ahead and put a bucket of money in it that we always throw
away and burn it up. That’s all I got to say. Tear it down, vote to tear it down, whatever, but I’m
voting to stop Procurement.
Mr. Mayor: All right, I’ve got a substitute motion, Madam Clerk. Can you read it for the
record again?
The Clerk: The substitute motion is to move forward with the demolition of 401 Walton
Way.
Mr. Mayor: All right, voting.
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Mr. Hasan: You’re tearing down a moneymaker. It’s a one of a kind, can’t find them
nowhere else.
The Clerk: Ms. Davis ---
Ms. Davis: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: --- you’re moving to move forward with the demolition of it?
Ms. Davis: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Ma’am?
Ms. Davis: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Okay.
Mr. D. Williams, Mr. Hasan, Mr. Frantom and Mr. Clarke vote No.
Motion Passes 6-4.
Mr. Mayor: Number 32, Madam Clerk.
The Clerk:
PUBLIC SAFETY
32. Motion to stop Augusta’s pursuit of the EMS Zone. (Requested by Commissioner
Brandon Garrett)
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 8.
Mr. Garrett: This came about because I was, I saw that there was a meeting coming up this
Thursday with the EMS Council coming in to discuss. I see where once again Augusta is still
talking about pursuing the Zone. I really thought that we had addressed all of this during the long,
long conversation with getting the MOU in place for Augusta and Gold Cross. So really what I
wanted to do here was to make a motion to stop Augusta’s pursuit of the EMS Zone.
Mr. Frantom: Second.
The Clerk: Who was that, I’m sorry.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: I seconded it but I still want to say something.
Mr. Sias: Let’s vote.
Mr. M. Williams: I’ve got a question, Mr. Mayor.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: I don’t see Denise the lawyer ---
Mr. Mayor: Right there.
Mr. M. Williams: --- I was looking for Denise, somebody I can trust, but I’m going to ask
Mr. Brown anyway.
Mr. Brown: I think we need to look for Jenise.
Mr. M. Williams: I need to know pursuing the Zone if we had the zone what would that
do for this body having the zone?
Mr. Brown: I believe that’s an administrative question but for the legal side of it, it will
obligate us to insure that EMS services are provided throughout the county. It does not mean that
we have to be the ambulance service but we would be the administrators of that zone. So we could
chose, this body could chose to run its own ambulances in the name of Augusta or it could select
from any number of possible vendors.
Mr. M. Williams: So if we had the zone we can decide that if we wanted to be in the
ambulance business we could do that because we got the zone or we can designate or select
somebody else to do it.
Mr. Brown: Yes.
Mr. M. Williams: Well and I didn’t need Denise because you gave me the right answer I
believe. That’s another way of tricking us to get into the ambulance business because once we get
the zone we’ve been lied to before now. Not necessarily coming from you now let me straighten
this up. Not necessarily coming from you but the legal mind have told us in years back you know
because we had a co-zone and nobody talked about a co-zone, we’re talking about getting the zone.
Once we had the zone or once somebody else got the zone they had to provide services, we had to
get them one time because you know they had the zone it's up to them to do it. So if we get the
zone that’s going to mean we automatically going force this government in a way not today or
tomorrow but because we got the zone we can quickly say okay we got the zone now so we need
to be, run our own ambulances. We can’t run the Fire Department but then we’re going to try to
add in ambulances we done bought. We done spent three-hundred, Donna, I’m going to need your
help on this one how many thousands of dollars have we spent on equipment not manpower just
equipment since we bought ambulances and then we still ended up with the same contract with the
provider who’s been in place. But we’re paying them and we’re doing the same thing they’re
doing because we ain’t too smart up here. To me that don’t make good sense for us to be able to
negotiate and buy ambulances and put ambulances on the street and run them along with our
firetrucks along with another private entity that’s doing it for a subsidy. So I’m not going to fall
for that trick now. I mean I think you answered correct that we could provide our own services if
we had it and that’s why we’d get it. We was told before not by you but by somebody else that
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we need to go after the zone. We was co-zone and then we find out later that we was tricked into
that one. You ain’t tricking me today now. I’ve been tricked but you won’t trick me today.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 1.
Mr. Fennoy: Yes, Mr. Mayor, if I remember correctly my colleagues along with myself
voted to pursue the zone. I may be wrong but I don’t think that the Fire Department is interested
in getting into the ambulance service. When questioned about the purchase of ambulances I was
told that the ambulance show up on different fire scenes in case a fireman is injured and has to be
rushed to the hospital. I have seen a bunch of accidents where the Fire Department was the first on
the scene. My concern is the safety and welfare of the citizens of Richmond County and people
that traveling through Richmond County that may be involved in an accident. I think that it’s my
responsibility as a Commissioner to ensure that they have access to care in time of an emergency.
I have been at the Brigham Center and there was a person that had gotten ill and it took a minute
or two before someone could come and provide care for them and I think what disturbs me about
that situation is that on Wheeler Road there was an ambulance service right around the corner but
because the city didn’t have the zone unless they were dispatched to the center which was less than
five minutes away they could not respond to that call. I for the life of me do not want to see another
situation like that happen again if it could be prevented. And again I think it’s our responsibility
as Commissioners to minimize as much as possible the possibilities of incidents like that
happening again.
Mr. Mayor: All right, thank you, sir. The Chair recognizes the Mayor Pro Tem.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Commissioner Fennoy, I agree 100% with
the safety and the welfare of the citizens to be number one and that’s why I 100% support Gold
Cross and what they do for this community. 350 something employees, the amount of money they
invest back into this community, the new equipment that they put forward in fact I think tonight
there’s going to be new ambulances and equipment that they have done. This government did vote
to go after the zone but that was before the contract and now this contract has done great things
for our community. Not only that it’s cut the cost of every citizen that lives in Richmond County
in half. You look at this company and they have a state accreditation that only 7 out of 270
ambulance services have in the state. I mean I think that it’s pretty sad that we’re attacking a
business like this that is so involved in our community and does such a good job. I think that I
agree with Commissioner Marion Williams that you know we’ve got the Fire Department to worry
about and we’ve got mandatory issues, overtime issues right now in the Fire Department that we
need to get solved. I think that our focus needs to stay on that area. I think that when you look at
the fact that in the 2020 budget we budgeted nine positions at Lieutenant pay for EMA positions.
That is concerning because that is a push towards more getting in the ambulance business. So I
agree with this motion and I think that we’ve got to realize how good we truly have it for the
citizens and again who we represent totally throughout this community. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
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Mr. Mayor: Thank you. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 2.
Mr. D. Williams: Yes, sir. I’m just curious as to how happy some our citizens are that’s
laying in the ground on the ground rather down in May Park waiting 45 minutes for an ambulance
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to show up. I don’t know how happy they will be with that. Now we talk about how great Gold
Cross is. Now they have a contract with us but they only want to go to a certain side of town.
They want to guarantee their money then we’ll give them a $600,000 dollar subsidy ahead of time
that’s supposedly for indigent care but we pay them ahead of time. Have we received any kind of
reports from Gold Cross since they’ve been in operation? No. They’ve supposed to have been
providing reports telling how many patients they have, how many patients that was changed, was
their code was changed from one to another and they’re not doing that, so where’s that? And we
talk about Gold Cross. Okay Gold Cross like the young lady at the campus. Yeah, they came out,
oh well it was a miscommunication blah, blah, blah you know. And they’re not all that great just
because they’re Gold Cross and we need, we gave them $600,000 dollars a year thus far for a
subsidy. They should be out there picking up anybody laying on the ground in Richmond County,
Thank you, Mr. Mayor Pro Tem.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, sir. All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the
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5.
Mr. B. Williams: Thank you, sir. I know we’ve sat up here, we’ve said some good things
about Gold Cross and we had some people who didn’t say some things were so good but I can tell
you right after we did the vote to do the contract with Gold Cross I received a lot of calls. And
there is one lady who wants to come before the Commission and tell her story about when her
husband died when they called an extra ambulance so she could ride in behind him and not with a
dead body and I can bring her in. I think the point is is that we need to make a decision as we have
and analyze what they’ve done at the end of the year at least give them six months in to talk about
what they’ve and how they’ve done it, how they provided service, and with that said let’s vote.
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. The Chairman of Public Safety Commissioner
Dennis Williams that he hadn’t got any report and he’s the Chairman of Public Safety. If he wanted
a report he should’ve at least put it on the agenda to come in here and let them refute what he said
or let them bring him something but I don’t think he asked for that, maybe he did. But let’s go
back to when we was told about we needed to go after the zone when we had a co-zone,
Commissioner Fennoy mentioned about he was told that the ambulance on the Fire Department
went behind a fire truck in case a fireman got hurt he needed to go to the hospital they sent a truck.
Well, if the Sheriff’s Department sent a firetruck or ambulance behind every police call that goes
out because in case they might need to get a ride to the hospital I don’t think we have a Sheriff’s
Department, I think we’d have a mess over there. So I got a problem when we can be told anything
about taking an ambulance in case of a fireman getting hurt they send an ambulance and we didn’t
have but two back then and one of them wasn’t running but we didn’t have but two and they say
they’d send it out. I was a fireman, Donna, nine years with the City of Augusta and Augusta
Richmond County. I worked the suburban fire station and the City of Augusta but we never had to
take an ambulance behind any firetruck in case somebody got hurt because a fireman’s life is
important like anybody else’s but if you need emergency service then you call for that. But I’m
just tired of the playing the game that we’ve been playing about the ambulance service. If we can’t
pay the subsidy, how can we afford to go into the ambulance business? How can we equip the
ambulance? How can we house them? How can we maintain them? How can we pay the staff?
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How can we buy the equipment that goes on the ambulance? Not just the defibrillator but all of
the stuff they’re going to need if we’re complaining about the subsidy we’ve got to pay. Now let’s
go back, Ms. Bonner, I need you to help me, when Jerry Brigham was here and the indigent care
was put out there when we had people laying on the street who didn’t have no job, homeless people
that Commissioner Williams tried to talk about laying in May Park. They’re all over the city.
They ain’t just in May Park, they’re all over the city and if he ain’t been to May Park he needs to
ride with me and I’ll show him some stuff. They’re right there walking the street acting like they
ain’t got good sense, Mr. Mayor, and I guess they hadn’t. But I’m sick of folks being tricked and
being fooled to think that somebody’s just telling you something. You ought to open up your eyes
and see what’s in front of you, see how the needs of any ambulance service who’s got to pick up
people who don’t have no money. How many times they’re not paid a dime to pick people up and
take them to the hospital. How many people call and ambulance and say I’m sick because they
ain’t go nowhere to stay and they stay at the hospital that night because they ain’t nowhere else to
stay. They call an ambulance and the ambulance got to pick them up. How many times have they
done picked up people I’m talking about 30, 40, 50, 60 times that hadn’t paid yet? Somebody
needs to wake up and I mean I ain’t got much time here but I’m sure tired and tired of trying to
preach to them and make them understand some stuff, Mr. Mayor. It's a lot of stuff put together.
I mean Gold Cross or green cross, they ain’t no better than nobody else. They’re going to make
mistakes but for the money we pay them if you go down (unintelligible) and see what they pay up
there where everybody’s got a car on that side of town, where folks ain’t got even no place to stay
they’re staying in (unintelligible) boxes they got to pick up.
Mr. Mayor: All right, so we’ve got a motion in fact I believe this is the substitute motion,
Madam Clerk, that’s before us?
The Clerk: You just have one motion.
Mr. Mayor: Just one motion ---
The Clerk: The original motion.
Mr. Mayor: --- okay, the original motion, all right, motion to stop pursuit. All right, we’re
going to vote on this matter, voting.
Mr. B. Williams: Ms. Bonner, can you read the motion again please?
Mr. Mayor: Hold on, hold on, the motion is before you on the screen that is what you’re
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voting on that is to stop Augusta’s pursuit of the EMS Zone. Is the Commissioner from the 3
still on the line?
The Clerk: Yes, sir, she’s here. Ms. Davis, how are you voting?
Ms. Davis: Yes, ma’am.
Mr. Frantom, Mr. Garrett, Mr. M. Williams, Mr. Clarke and Ms. Davis vote Yes.
Mr. D. Williams, Mr. Sias, Mr. B. Williams and Mr. Hasan vote Yes.
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Mr. Fennoy abstains.
Motion Fails 5-4-1.
Mr. Mayor: Item 33, Madam Clerk.
The Clerk:
PUBLIC SAFETY
33. Discuss the EMS service and how it is provided. (Requested by Commissioner Sammie
Sias)
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: This has already been discussed so move to accept as information.
Mr. Garrett: Second.
Mr. Mayor: All right, thank you. Let’s go to Item number 30.
The Clerk: We’re going to do that by consent?
Mr. Mayor: By consent, yes.
The Clerk:
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
30. Mandate that Augusta Department Directors attend Commission/committee/work
session, etc. meetings when agenda items are on agendas relative to their departments.
(Requested by Commissioner Marion Williams)
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. It was stated earlier about the institution of
knowledge and longevity and whatever you want to call it I’ve been here. And I’m noticing how
the department heads are not in this Chamber when we need information. I’m noticing how that
when we got to wait until the department head comes in and knowing that they see this agenda and
there may be a situation where they have to answer to something but we’ve got to wait. Now here
we go again where the tail’s wagging the dog. We need to make sure that those department heads
who get paid to do this job either they’re there or their designee to be in this room. Now it don’t
make sense for us to go and have to wait on somebody who’s in the great room somewhere coming
in here when they ought to be in the Chamber not just to come in the Chamber but if there’s a
related item on here, the department heads need to be here. My motion is to approve that.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, that motion fails without a proper second.
Mr. Garrett: What was the motion? I didn’t hear it.
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Mr. Mayor: What you see on the screen, all right, that was a motion to approve that. The
Chair recognizes ---
Mr. Garrett: I’ll second that.
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Mr. Mayor: --- the Commissioner the 1, all right, I’ll recognize the second. The Chair
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recognizes the Commissioner from the 1.
Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Mayor, I agree that someone from the department head if they know
what’s on the agenda they should be here but I don’t see why it has to be the Director ---
Mr. M. Williams: Or their designee, it doesn’t have to be the Director.
Mr. Fennoy: --- but I’m just going by what the caption says. One of my concerns is that
you know we have on a average a Commission meeting twice month, committee meeting ---
Mr. Mayor: Four times.
Mr. Fennoy: --- all right, four times a month which means that a department director would
have to, he can’t be off on Tuesday because they may have to be at a Commission meeting. So if
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the distinguished Commissioner from the 9 is willing to change his motion that the department
head or someone from the department is here to answer any questions that we may have, I’m okay
with it.
Mr. M. Williams: So moved.
Mr. B. Williams: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Let me ask you this, let me ask you this. I know it’s been a long day, I mean
a long day and I think we all understand the spirit of the intent behind what’s on the caption but I
don’t think it’s prudent for us to again begin unilaterally voting on things like this. Administrator
Sims, it’s important that when we’re having meetings particularly the full Commission meetings
where there’s some likelihood that additional questions may evolve that the appropriate staff
persons be here. But I would urge this body and I understand where you were trying to go, sir,
and I think again it’s completely prudent that people need to be here but when we start mandating
that somebody has to show up I want to caution us on those things. It’s important for us to be here
and there are questions that persist the appropriate staff, Administrator Sims, need to be here to
respond to the matters at hand and I would urge this body to take that approach as opposed to just.
Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor, I’ve got no problem just giving the Administrator the
instruction to have him meet with his department heads and have them either them or someone in
his department. But let me go back at one point there were sitting outside eating popcorn watching
the screen and then when something came up they jumped up and run up in here. Now then it got
to the point now where since we had the monitors turned off very few department heads come in
here and I can name the ones that’s in here now they come in. Now I’m not trying to make it so
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they have to come here and listen to us. If it’s something they want to be in they fill the Chamber
up, if it’s something they’re interested in they fill up but without calling somebody having
somebody come down, I ran for this seat, half of this city. I’m elected. I don’t like a lot of folks
and a lot of folks don’t like me they’re going to respect this body, Mr. Mayor. I think it’s
disrespectful for them not to come in here or send somebody to answer whatever questions. Now
they had a problem before but it’s gotten more and more relaxed.
Mr. Mayor: And I think having this conversation is you’re alerting and acknowledging
that there’s an issue and I think resoundingly that Administrator Sims his department direct a
meeting on Thursday that will address this matter and it won’t continue.
Mr. Sims: Duly noted, thank you.
Mr. Mayor: All right, Mr. Mayor Pro Tem.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Well, I mean I was just going to make a substitute motion that we
task the Administrator to send out an memo just basically saying we’d like people representing
their agenda items at the Commission meetings or committee meetings and just kind of lightly do
it as opposed to mandate. I don’t like the word mandate either. That’s why I didn’t second it, a
softer approach.
Mr. Mayor: I think he fully understands that.
Mr. M. Williams: I’m going to see what happens.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right.
The Clerk: Okay, Mr. Frantom who seconded that.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor ---
Mr. Mayor: Well, I think we’re at the point, Madam Clerk, as we’re having this
conversation we’re not going to go through the formality of voting on it we’re going to see if ---
Mr. Hasan: --- well, let me ---
Mr. Mayor: --- compliance with just having a conversation.
Mr. Hasan: --- Mr. Mayor, I ---
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: --- Mr. Mayor, based on the adjustment that Commissioner Marion Williams
made per the request of Commissioner Fennoy I personally, I understand your point and I wish it
was I viewed it as being just that simple but I think if the Administrator just arbitrarily and said
that you all need to be here and somebody defied him and he doesn’t have any leverage then they
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could either say well that’s necessarily a policy in this government. I think it ought to be voted on
today just as it was presented so he will have that leverage moving forward as an established policy
in this government that they ought to be here. And the Administrator’s job is to remind them
officially that they’re to be here, if they don’t be here then appropriate actions can be taken. I just
think we make that position a toothless tiger in doing that I don’t see, I personally think you ought
to vote on it and then have some leverage moving forward.
Mr. Mayor: Well, you know that’s again my analysis and I don’t have the history of the
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gentleman from the 9 That’s part of what’s wrong with this culture in this government that it
becomes so punitive in nature that you know I’m going to drop a hammer down on you if you
don’t do what I tell you to do or not.
Mr. Hasan: It’s not punitive, Mr. Mayor, it’s not punitive ---
Mr. M. Williams: (Unintelligible).
Mr. Hasan: --- that’s policy.
Mr. Mayor: Well, we don’t have a policy ---
Mr. Hasan: Exactly why you should vote on it.
Mr. Mayor: --- and again that’s a different conversation than what’s here. I mean if we’re
saying we’re going to draft a policy that we mandate and/or affirm that the department directors
and those staff people have to be here I just, I don’t think that’s the direction and the posture this
government should go in. That’s just my opinion. I don’t get a chance to vote. I just get a chance
to just talk.
Mr. M. Williams: So what do we if they don’t show up, Mr. Mayor? Commissioner Hasan
brought a good point. I hadn’t thought about that if we just give it to the Administrator he shares
it with them and they don’t show up then what happens?
Mr. Mayor: Well, what I hope wouldn’t happen is anyone would shout you should be fired.
Mr. M. Williams: No, no, no I didn’t say that now see ---
Mr. Mayor: I know I’m just saying.
Mr. M. Williams: --- I asking what should happen.
Mr. Mayor: What would you suggest should happen?
Mr. M. Williams: Well, I mean if there’s a policy then they violate the policy like
Commissioner Hasan has said.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, what’s the (inaudible) violation.
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Mr. M. Williams: Then there ought to be some form of reprimand, some kind of way ---
Mr. Mayor: (Unintelligible) punitive something to happen that’s what I’m saying. Now
we’re being punitive just because I didn’t show up at the meeting.
Mr. M. Williams: --- yeah. but if there’s a part of the rule the rules are the rules and you’re
the one talking about the rules ---
Mr. Mayor: (Unintelligible).
Mr. M. Williams: --- make a rule we’re trying to get something in place.
Mr. Mayor: I’m trying to urge you not to do that, that’s all.
Mr. M. Williams: So you’re going to let the tail keep wagging the dog is what you’re
saying.
Mr. Mayor: No, I mean if you want to vote on it you can. I’m just suggesting you don’t do
it. That’s all I’m doing, I’m suggesting you don’t do it.
Mr. Garrett: Let’s let the Administrator deal with it.
Mr. Mayor: That’s what I’m suggesting.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: That’s what I’d do.
Mr. Hasan: Ya’ll going to support taking punitive actions against them if they don’t show
up?
Mr. Mayor: All right, so I think ---
Mr. Hasan: If they decide not to show up if he reminds them of the meeting and if they
don’t show up, are you going to support it when they take punitive actions against them?
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Mr. Mayor: --- the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 1.
Mr. Fennoy: You know often I talk about the department heads and how they do a great
job for the city and I think that we have had our department heads recognized statewide and
nationally for the great job that they do for the city. And I think that 95% of the people that work
for the city are supportive of this government and they want to do everything they possibly can to
make sure that we move forward. So I just don’t believe that if our Administrator asks department
heads to be at a Commission or committee meeting or have a representative from their department
at a Commission or committee meeting that they’re going to ignore that. I mean I just want to
believe that and with that being said, Mr. Mayor, my sugar’s dropping (inaudible).
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Mr. Mayor: I understand, I understand. All right, Madam Clerk, what’s our posture?
The Clerk: You have a motion on the floor.
Mr. Mayor: And the motion is?
The Clerk: To mandate that the department directors attend Commission/committee/work
sessions etc. meeting when agenda items are on the agenda relative to their departments.
Mr. Mayor: All right, voting.
Mr. Hasan: Commissioner Marion Williams motion?
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: A terrible thing.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: I don’t know I support it. We’re policy makers.
Mr. Mayor: Yeah, it’s a terrible thing.
The Clerk: Ms. Davis?
Ms. Davis: No, ma’am.
Mr. B. Williams, Mr. Hasan, Mr. M. Williams and Mr. Clarke vote Yes.
Mr. D. Williams, Mr. Sias, Mr. Frantom, Mr. Garret and Ms. Davis.
Mr. Fennoy out.
Motion Fails 4-5.
Mr. Mayor: All right, Mr. Sims, that one’s on you. All right, our last item I hope, 35?
The Clerk:
ENGINEERING SERVICES
35. Motion to approve the purchase of Caterpillar model D-8T WH/W GPS Dozer, bid item
#19-266, from Yancey Brothers as the compliant bidder with no exceptions. (No
recommendation from Engineering Services Committee October 29, 2019)
Mr. Mayor: All right, do we have a representative here today, yes okay very well, okay.
All right, we’ve got one final item on the agenda and we need to hear it. Everybody take your
nd
seats. All right, if you’ll approach the podium, sir, I want you to, Commissioner from the 2 can
I get you to pause for just a minute? Your constituents are wanting you to stay for about five
minutes, just five minutes five minutes, I promise you.
Mr. B. Williams: As Smokey would say, baby, please don’t go.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, sir, if you can again state your name and your address for the
record.
Mr. Brantley: Jamie Brantley, 135 Wedgewood Court, Sandersville.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, and you’re representing?
Mr. Brantley: Yancey Brothers.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right, and any words you want to speak on in regards to this matter?
Mr. Brantley: Um ---
Mr. Mayor: Okay hold on, if you’ll suspend, oh okay, all right, okay, here’s what our
posture is at this point. If you’ll just suspend, the Chair’s going to recognize the Commissioner
th
from the 9 for a motion.
Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor, this needs to go back to and I know this gentleman’s been
here before, take it back to Administrative Services so we can hear the protest of both sides and
then that body will eventually make a decision there or send it to the full Commission. But I think
we heard some last week but nobody may have heard it all so my motion is to go back to
Administrative Services and we’ll hear the protest with them and if we have to have a recorder
to record everything being said so it’ll go officially on our record ---
Mr. Garrett: Second.
Mr. M. Williams: --- that’s my motion.
Mr. Mayor: We’ve got a motion and a second, voting.
The Clerk: Ms. Davis, are you there?
Ms. Davis: (Inaudible).
The Clerk: Yeah, they’re asking that Item 35 be moved forward to Administrative Services
to hear (inaudible). Are you voting for that?
Ms. Davis: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Okay, all right.
Mr. Fennoy and Mr. Hasan out.
Motion Passes 8-0.
Mr. Mayor: This meeting is adjourned.
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The Clerk: We’re done, ma’am.
Ms. Davis: (Inaudible) that was a good day for me to be out of town.
The Clerk: Well, you have a safe trip back in.
Ms. Davis: Thank you.
The Clerk: You’re welcome. Bye now.
\[MEETING ADJOURNED\]
Lena Bonner
Clerk of Commission
CERTIFICATION:
I, Lena J. Bonner, Clerk of Commission, hereby certify that the above is a true and correct copy
of the minutes of the Regular Meeting of The Augusta Richmond County Commission held on
November 15, 2019.
______________________________
Clerk of Commission
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