Spending public dollars with nonprofit groups to host special events took center stage at the Tuesday Augusta Commission meeting.
Last week’s request by the Irish-American Heritage Society for $3,500 to cover security at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade was joined this week by the Band of Brothers’ request for $20,000-$25,000 to support its celebration of Juneteenth.
Last year’s Juneteenth, a celebration of the emancipation of enslaved African Americans, “was a great celebration,” said Commissioner Jordan Johnson, who brought the financial request to the commission.
Partnering with the commission for free use of the Augusta Common and a stage, last year’s Juneteenth had 123 registered vendors and 14 sponsors, said Johnny Gregory, a Band of Brothers Augusta founder.
This is the sixth year that Band of Brothers has hosted an event and the second year that Juneteenth has been an official holiday in Augusta. President Joe Biden made Juneteenth a federal holiday in 2021.
The timing and pairing of the requests troubled several commissioners. Commissioner Bobby Williams said it needed “a whole lot more discussion” at a future meeting.
“It’s tough for us to give one organization one amount and another organization another amount,” Commissioner Sean Frantom said.
Frantom and Commissioner Brandon Garrett suggested the groups apply for grants in conjunction with Destination Augusta, the convention and visitors bureau. Garrett recommended interim City Administrator Takiyah Douse set aside 10 nonprofit grants in next year’s budget and allow Destination Augusta to vet them.
Johnson said the commission routinely approves spending hundreds of thousands of dollars with other groups, such as Augusta Tomorrow and Arts in the Heart of Augusta, the large arts festival downtown, without question.
“It was consented through? and they got the money,” Johnson said. “When it is African-American-related, we always hesitate.”
The two requests were the only discussion items Tuesday. Twenty agenda items, including a $12.2 million construction contract with Reeves Construction for Greene Street, were approved as a group on a consent agenda.
Commissioner Alvin Mason said he had “a lot of questions” and that city officials should have better defined the understanding with Band of Brothers last year.
“All events are not created the same,” Mason said.
Johnson’s motion to transfer $20,000 to Parks and Recreation to support the Juneteenth event and the administrator to develop a program for city support of special events passed 10-0.
Mason’s motion to approve the funding for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, requested by organizer Sean Mooney, also passed unanimously.
