In the past few months, the Augusta commissioners have acted as a menagerie of people bent on giving the taxpayers and voters as much misguidance as possible.
It has become an effort to try and get all 10 elected commissioners in their elected seats at the same time. Some are continually missing meetings. In fact, one commissioner has missed so many meetings that it’s a shock that his picture hasn’t shown up on the back on a milk carton.
However, as long as the pay and benefits continue, why press yourself to show up. Even if commissioners are indicted, like Sias, they still receive pay until convicted or found innocent.
The latest in the freewheeling and spending is the $25,000 amount given out to teach and educate the citizens how to say NO to the panhandlers. This, too, will prove to be an object lesson in wasteful spending. Much like the millions the government spent to tell us to “just say no” when it came to drugs. We all see how that worked out.
The interim administrator and department heads continue to squabble as to which department is going to be responsible for the grass cutting duties. They really don’t care which department cuts grass as long as their departmental budget isn’t cut. Meanwhile, the grass grows ever higher.
During this past Tuesday’s committee meeting in a conversation occurred between the commissioners who were still present and a person presumed to be connected to 311 services. It was stated that operators still have to handle calls and take the complaints because most people can’t navigate the web site. Well, if you think citizens are too incompetent, then change the program so that all can navigate.
Of course, with the panhandlers came the same rhetoric about poverty and housing.
Commissioner Jordan Johnson says he has an ambitious idea for curing poverty in Augusta, much like his tiny houses program that has been talked about for the past three years. How many houses have been built?
A program was presented once to the commission that suggested the cost of a tiny home was around $250,000. That’s a high price for the taxpayers to pay to have a house built for someone else.
When some commissioners went out to Kansas City, Mo., Commissioner Catherine McKnight and I took a bus tour out to a tiny house community for veterans. It was actually amazing, and it was built and maintained without any tax dollars or government oversight.
The village was unique in that it has 49 tiny homes with the average size being 240 square feet. Each house had a fully functional kitchen, bathroom, sleeping area, dining area and living room area. Each house was fully furnished.
The Village has a dog run, a pavilion to cook and gather for fellowship. There is a community center that serves as base where the residents can receive medical, dental and veterinarian services.
They receive help with their personal issues to get them back into their previous lives. They must have and keep a job and are allowed to stay in the village for 12 months. At that time, they are helped with getting their own house or apartment. They get to keep all the furnishings from their tiny house.
The house is refurnished and ready for the next resident. All of this being built, maintained and operated by a nonprofit. It is supported by private and corporate donations.
At this time the project operates six villages in five states. McKnight and I could not get any interest from the other commissioners concerning trying to get the group to consider looking at Augusta. I guess it was because it wouldn’t be commission-controlled.
And speaking of commission, it’s getting near the time for candidates to declare to run for the seats in the upcoming election in May.
The seats up for election or reelection are as follows: District 1 Jordan Johnson (re-election), District 3 Catherine McKnight (re-election), District 5 Bobby Williams (re-election), District 7 Sean Frantom (termed out-open seat) and District 9, Francine Scott (re-election)
Now the rumors are flying high and loud in some districts and quieter in others. However, seems that all seats will have more than one candidate.
So far only one candidate has declared. That would be Tina Slendak for District 7. Although there is another candidate waiting until first of the year to declare.
This seems to be the pattern this year. Waiting until the first of year to declare. This is a waiting game some play to see who else will declare.
On the May ballot will also be the issue of voting to give Augusta’s mayor a vote on the commission. The mayor’s vote will count just as the commission vote counts. No more, no less. It will allow for less game playing when it comes to passing of failing agenda items.
Chime in and let us know what and how you feel about the mayor’s vote and upcoming elections. Please keep it respectful.
Folks, as I always say, you can’t make this stuff up.
