The Augusta Land Bank Authority, at its April 3 meeting, officially created a personnel board to oversee the Authority’s two full time employees.
According to the Authority’s chair, Tax Commissioner Chris Johnson, the board, has long existed, but had not been officially recognized by the full authority.
“The personnel board handles salary requests and other personnel matters,” Johnson said.
Members include Johnson, member-at-large Lauren Dallas and the Augusta Richmond County Board of Assessors Chief Appraiser Scott Rountree.
According to Johnson, the personnel board does not have disciplinary powers and can only make recommendations to the full authority.
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Land Bank Executive Director Shawn Edwards has come under scrutiny over the past several years for lavish spending on food and entertainment, making inappropriate racial statements in texts and attempting to push through questionable projects, such as an adult entertainment venue using city land.
So far, the Land Bank Authority has taken no disciplinary action against Edwards or publicly revealed an investigation; however, some of Edward’s behavior, including spending over $700 on one meal, has caught the attention of the Augusta Commission.
At the April 2 full Augusta Commission meeting, a motion to request a work session with the Augusta Land Bank Authority to discuss their duties, responsibilities and benefits of having a Land Bank Authority passed with the Commission tasking Interim City Administrator Takiyah Douse, who also sits on the Land Bank Authority, to bring forward a presentation to the body within 60 to 90 days.
In the past, members of the Augusta Commission have questioned the need for a city-funded land bank with a board composed of a majority of city employees and elected officials and no oversight from the commission.
Land Bank Authority members briefly discussed Douse’s proposal of bringing in a senior fellow from the Center for Community Progress or contacting Atlanta Land Bank Chris Norman, who produces a “Land Bank 101” seminar.
“I don’t know if we need to watch the full seminar, but I do think we need to bring in a third party,” Douse said.
Scott Hudson is the Senior Investigative Reporter and Editorial Page Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach him at scott@theaugustapress.com
