The Augusta Commission’s last meeting of the year was filled with delegations giving orations, moments of personal privilege and most items being added to an already-long consent agenda.
The biggest topic discussed was the redistricting plan that featured one speaker, Maggie Deloach of the Summerville Neighborhood Association urging the Commission to vote against the measure. Two other speakers, Anthony M. Booker Baptist Ministers Conference and James Williams of Help Our People Excel (HOPE) speaking in favor.
As expected, the measure, which splits up the Summerville neighborhoods, passed.
Other delegations spoke about storm water issues, water, sewage and lighting issues in south Augusta and the impact of homicides and drugs on the community.
Most of the agenda items, such as granting an employee mental health day, three new employee incentive programs, new lighting at the Augusta Convention Center and proposed programming in support of affordable housing, financial literacy and access to small business were all consented with no discussion.
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Fans of the Mi Rancho restaurant downtown might take note that the Commission approved an alcohol license for the company to open a second location on Walton Way Extension.
Emergency funding for renovations at the Charles B. Webster Detention center was taken as information because the funding has already been approved by the procurement department, and work on the project has already begun.
Commissioners did receive a preliminary report from City Administrator Odie Donald on the Vax Up Augusta! Program. Donald told commissioners that the program has overseen more than 15,000 vaccinations since September, but that not all of the incentive cards have been given out yet.
Donald asked the Commission to extend the deadline for giving out the remainder of the cards past Dec. 31, which was approved. Donald did not ask for the program itself to be extended, so once the remaining cards are gone, no more will be issued.
According to Donald, the program came in under budget with over $200,000 left over. Donald proposed the money be reallocated to the Augusta Canal Authority and Augusta Museum of History for capital projects that were not added to the Fiscal Year 2022 budget. Commissioners approved the reallocation.
After three votes that ended in a tie, the Commission deadlocked on hiring JBA Engineering Consultants to give an evaluation of an ongoing $25 million contract with the Trane company studying energy conservation measures.
Augusta Mayor Hardie Davis was not present to break the tie, and so the measure failed.
Commissioners also took time to honor Elections Board Director Lynn Bailey and Planning and Zoning Department Director Robert Sherman, both of whom are retiring at year’s end.
Scott Hudson is the Senior Reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach him at scott@theaugustapress.com
