Augusta Commissioners will vote Tuesday, Sept. 7 on a replacement for suspended District 4 Commissioner Sammie Sias, among other issues.
Several people have been named as possible interim replacements including Betty Reese, Alvin Mason and L.C. Myles, according to sources within the county government.
MORE: Augusta Commission to Vote on Sias Replacement
Sias has not resigned his office, nor has he been removed from office by the governor. He has been suspended from carrying out his official duties.
Sias is awaiting trial for two counts involving lying to the FBI and destroying documents pertaining to his time as director of the Jamestown Community Center. Sias is accused by a former lover of siphoning off SPLOST funds for his own personal use.
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While Sias is technically barred from participating in commission meetings or voting on public business, he still receives a paycheck and remains the elected representative of the fourth district.
Another hot topic to be discussed is whether to allow cigar bars to operate in Augusta. The issue has bounced from the full commission to committee and back to the full commission with no recommendations.
A coalition of local and national public health organizations, including the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, sent a letter urging commissioners to oppose the measure.
Some commissioners fear that altering the smoking ordinance might create loopholes for other establishments to allow smoking on their premises. Those in favor of amending the ordinance say that only people who want to smoke cigars would patronize such a business and that it is a matter of personal freedom.
District 10 Commissioner John Clarke, who supports the measure, said other cities, such as North Augusta, allow cigar bars to operate and the provision to allow them has not watered down the smoking ordinances on the books across the river.
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“We allow hookah bars to operate. I really don’t see the difference,” Clarke said.
If passed, the cigar bars must have a sign posted at the door warning that cigar smoking is allowed inside, and the businesses must prove periodically to the licensing department that cigar sales account for at least 20% of their overall sales.
The removal of Confederate monuments on Broad and Greene Streets will also be up for discussion and a possible vote.
MORE: Cigar Bars May Be Coming to Augusta
A final report submitted by the Mayor’s Task Force recommends the monuments be moved from their current locations to a city-owned cemetery. At the committee meeting on Aug. 31, City Administrator Odie Donald told commissioners that if the decision is made to move the monuments, he can find the $5 million dollars the removal project is estimated to cost.
However, even if there are six votes on the commission to move the monuments, such a proposal is currently not legal under state law, which specifically bans the removal of such monuments.
The 76-foot tall monument on Broad Street has stood there since 1878.
Scott Hudson is the Senior Reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach him at scott@theaugustapress.com.
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