What Augusta needs is a really good concessions vendor. One that can supply peanuts, popcorn and cotton candy to the legitimate taxpayers of Augusta and any visitors to the circus known as Augusta city-county government.
Since the Gang of Five is so fond of changing the name of anything they don’t like or that doesn’t have one of their cronies’ name on it, maybe they will change the Marble Palace to the Big Top.
This past week was certainly a three-ring circus at its best. The ring announcer, better known as the “Mystic of Mayhem,” had his acts lined up, and what a performance they gave.
As I got off the elevator on the infamous second floor, I could hear the shouting coming from the closed doors of the legal session. The television reporters had their cameras all set up in the hallway near the room and the print press had note tablets and pencils in hand at the ready.
The ruckus was all caused by a couple of things that Mayor Garnett Johnson had done that did not meet with the approval of nearly all of the commissioners. The mayor had the audacity to do the lawful, correct and transparent thing by releasing the names of the three finalists for the city administrator’s position.
The second thing the mayor had done wrong in the eyes of many commissioners was that their favorite for the job, Takiyah Douse, was not on that list of finalists.
Commissioner Jordan Johnson maintained that the release of the names could possibly bring about legal actions. From who? The state? The candidates?
Both Commissioners Brandon Garrett and Wayne Guilfoyle also did not like the fact that the mayor released the names to the public.
Most all agreed that the commission had agreed to keep the names, for lack of a better term, secret from the public.
The two commissioners who showed the most decorum were Sean Frantom and Catherine McKnight. Frantom said that the vote for hire should be done in public. McKnight stated that she thought that the mayor did the right thing and was being transparent.
Commissioners Francine Scott and Stacy Pulliam remained quiet, while Commissioner Tony Lewis went completely off script and stated something about how he was assured as a fact that Douse’s name would be on the final list.
I have to admit that I have heard Commissioner Bully Williams shout, “SHUT UP” on plenty of occasions when things didn’t go his way. I have never heard it through closed doors as I did this past Monday.
The “SHUT UP” was supposedly directed toward Garrett. Ouch, very bad move Commissioner Williams. Garrett is in much better shape, much taller and much faster.
The closed door meeting must have been so overwhelming for both Commissioners Garrett and Mason that they did not stay for their assigned committee duties.
One applicant, Robert Sivick, withdrew his name from consideration. Smart move on his part. Just my opinion, but he must have taken a good long look and decided this was not a good career move for him.
Now just on my part, I believe a rock can see that the fix is in for Douse to be given the permanent administrator position, regardless of her qualifications. Johnson stated for all to hear that Douse’s name should be placed on the list, so we don’t have to wonder who he wants as city administrator.
Also in a “see me, see how much I care” move, Johnson all of a sudden wants the commissioners, administrator, department directors, members of the Land Bank Authority and anyone else to get on the bus and take a tour.
The tour would consist of riding around Augusta to show everyone the blighted and burned out properties, how the slumlords don’t take care of their properties and to see how many “economically disadvantaged” Augustans have to live.
First of all, if commissioners are doing what they are elected to do, then each one knows of the conditions of the properties in their districts.
If code enforcement would actually enforce the obvious code violations that would be a good start. Code enforcement could actually use the millions of dollars that were designated for the demolition of blighted properties and use the blight ordinance that was created by the commission.
How’s that tool loan program with vouchers for people to cut their lawn on the taxpayer’s dime working out? I haven’t heard a peep about that lately.
It would also be a useful tool to have a live person who is a permanent resident of Augusta attached as a contact for any absentee owner of any Augusta property.
It being an election year, it’s time for the commissioners to tout their hard work and accomplishments. What are they?
On second thought, maybe the bus ride would be a novel idea. When the bus stops, all the commissioners and department directors could come out of the bus just like all the clowns from the tiny car at the circus. Peanuts, popcorn, cotton candy anyone? Where’s that vendor ?
Folks, as always, you just can’t make this stuff up.
