Augusta residential garbage pickup is “at a standstill” while hauling away mountains of storm debris left by Hurricane Helene will take “months” and cost millions, city officials said Monday.
That said, the Augusta Commission took several steps Monday toward recovery from the massive storm, hiring two debris contractors and appointing three interim department heads.
Most residents remain without power and water, in addition to Richmond County being under a boil water advisory and 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. curfew.
Commission hires debris removal, monitoring firms
The first debris item was for Mayor Garnett Johnson to execute an “initial response” contract with Ceres Environmental Services Inc. for $6.3 million for debris removal services.
The Florida-based company specializes in natural disaster recovery and is one of the firms Augusta hired after the 2014 ice storm, when it had no debris removal firm under contract.
The $6.3 million, hoped to be reimbursed by FEMA, covers starting the process.
“This is just the initial phase,” said Administrator Tameka Allen said, who took office last week.
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Once collections get underway, “additional funds are going to be necessary,” she said.
After the ice storm, Augusta spent more than $17.7 million to clear roughly 736,000 cubic yards of debris and repair damaged sidewalks and street lamps, according to prior reports. It took several years for the city to replenish its reserves and get mostly full reimbursement from FEMA.
The commission also hired for up to $550,000 Savannah-based engineering firm Goodwyn Mills & Cawood to perform debris management and financial recovery services.
GMC, which has existing design contracts with the city, took over debris monitoring services from Augusta’s prior consultant, Witt O’Brien.
The firms will begin directing the public how to properly place the debris for pickup, Allen said.
Removing it all will take time For the loads of cut up trees and branches homeowners and contractors are leaving at the curb, “it’s going to be months,” Johnson said.
MORE: Columbia County provides update on Hurricane Helene relief efforts
The firms hired Monday will ensure Augusta gets the maximum reimbursement from FEMA based on the amounts of material and how they are stored and disposed, he said.
Garbage is piling up
Johnson said the city is aware the garbage was piling up, especially at apartment complexes, and is considering going to larger containers for them in the next day or so.
A 311 operator had little to add for callers inquiring about the next planned household garbage pickup.
Homeowners pay an annual fee for once-weekly garbage and recycling pickup.
The service is currently “at a standstill,” the operator said, with future plans “to be determined.”
In another item approved Monday, through Oct. 5 Richmond County residents may transport five bags of household trash to the landfill in Blythe at no charge, Allen said.
Also in other action, the commission received a donation of up to $100,000 from Comcast for the storm recovery effort, to be transferred to the United Way of the CSRA.
Three interim department chiefs named
The commission also appointed, with several commissioners absent for each vote, three department deputies as interim department heads.
Their new salaries were not specified, but include either a 15% raise or an increase to the minimum for their salary grade, whichever is larger.
The commission voted 7-4 to promote Deputy Finance Director Tim Schroer to interim finance director, replacing Donna Williams who it removed last week.
Schroer has been with the department since 2005 and earned around $108,000 in 2022.
The commission voted 7-4 to promote Deputy Chief Information Officer Reggie Horne to interim CIO, to replace Allen after she was promoted last week.
Horne, an employee since 2007, earned $94,000 in 2022.
The commission voted 7-4 to appoint Deputy Procurement Director Darrell White as interim procurement director. An employee since 2008, White replaces Geri Sams, whom the commission removed last week. He earned about $84,000 in 2022.
For each vote, commissioners Tony Lewis, Alvin Mason, Stacy Pulliam and Bobby Williams were absent. Lewis, Pulliam and Williams have opposed most recent commission actions stemming from last week’s removal of interim Administrator Takiyah Douse.
