There was an unusual atmosphere in the Augusta-Richmond County chambers this past Tuesday; you could almost call it calm.
It was a pleasure for me personally to see people who we don’t usually see in the chambers. Judges Ashley Wright and John Flythe were there for the swearing-ins, Marshal Ramone Lamkin was there to make a request. Dr. Lori Myles dropped in to say hello and stayed awhile, and local attorney Brandon Dial and his lovely wife Maura were there as well as past Commissioner Sean Frantom.
New commissioner Tina Slendak was sworn into officers and there to give support were her husband Bo and son.
Those of us that know Bo, know him as a gregarious and sociable soul; he is always good humored and full of mischief. He asked Tina if he would have to talk and Tina instructed him that he had one thing to do, hold the Bible. By golly, he did just that.
The re-elected Commissioner Catherine McKnight was accompanied by her husband Will and son Locke. As most know, but not everyone does, Catherine married Will Rice last year. Will supports Catherine in all of her endeavors as she is of him. Going forward Catherine will be using her married name Catherine Rice, and I’m sure Commissioner Rice will continue to perform her duties outstandingly as always.
Commissioner Alvin Mason made his return to chambers after a nearly six month absence. He addressed the public as to his medical issues, and they go deeper than any of us knew. Mason is nowhere near completely healed but the determination to return is remarkable.
I talked with Mason about going forward; he fully understands and stated that if he will not be able to perform his elected duties, he will know and make that hard decision. I believe he will do just that as I have known him to be a man of his word.
Get strong Alvin. You are needed in that seat.
It is only a rumor and not a verified fact, but word has it that Commissioner Brandon Garrett will make his return to chambers in February in less than a month. Let’s hope this is a fact and not just a rumor.
Commissioner Wayne Guilfoyle was elected mayor pro tem and will serve in that position for two years. If Mayor Garnett Johnson holds true to form, Guilfoyle really won’t have to handle or preside over any meetings. A mayor who is intent on actually doing “the people’s business,” he is always there in his chair where he is supposed to be.
There is a troublesome issue that has been an off and on topic since I was District 10 commissioner: a forensic audit. I could never get the backing from any other sitting commissioner except Commissioner Catherine McKnight (Rice).
No one on the commission wanted an audit or felt it was necessary. Some even balked because they thought it bordered on calling some city employees dishonest. They were not really understanding all what a forensic audit would accomplish; or, maybe they did and it scared them. Commissioner Rice, however, has continued to call for the audit, and I expect to see that back on the table this year.
At the end of last year, Rice was finally able to get some traction when other commissioners gave into performing an audit of the Parks and Recreation Department.
If you recall, the audit was approved and then immediately everything went south, so to speak, when the procurement director produced an entirely different firm that came into the office late. The late-arriving bid was half the price for half the audit coverage of the first and the now approved firm would not even be in Augusta, but would audit everything via internet communications.
The fish market doesn’t smell as fishy as that whole mess did. The audit was canceled and was to be brought up again after the first of the year and this past week it did.
Again, Rice renewed the quest in getting an audit on the Parks and Recreation Department and she did receive a second.
Before a vote was taken, Commissioner Jordon Johnson tapped in to speak. The entirety of the people in the chambers just dropped their chins and must have thought, “Here we go again.” But when Commissioner Johnson spoke, it was as if a doppelganger had taken his place.
Johnson actually gave valid reasons for a COMPLETE government forensic audit. The gasp that was taken by everyone in the room, including the mayor and commissioners, sucked the air out of the chambers for a brief moment. At the top of her lungs Commissioner Rice exclaimed. ” I’ll second that.” Ah, but it was not to happen so quickly.
Enter Commissioner Stacy Pulliam.
Pulliam must have become the replacement of Bobby Williams by default as she began giving reasons why it should not take place, claiming the city needs a policy procedure audit first.
In the end, the audit for Parks and Recreation was approved with the caveat that each department would receive a forensic audit in turn. Finally the majority of the commission is on board, so let us see where this takes us.
If anyone has any doubt about what I have been saying for a few years about the Augusta Engineering Department and the director over the Landfill and Stromwater program as well, erase your doubts. Please go to WRDW channel 12 news and watch and listen to Liz Owens as she interviews the city engineer Dr. Hameed Malik for the Jan. 9 news.
A $20 million surplus was asked about and the answer that was given tells exactly how this government has operated without impunity. It’s only money on paper and it does not actually exist.
WOW! How deep does it go?
The city Finance Department has stated time and again that a complete city audit will take years and millions of dollars and possibly shut down some departments while they are being audited. All of this is true only if you choose to believe it.
Citizens should be demanding that a full forensic audit be performed. Let it lead to where it leads. The citizens and taxpayers of Augusta-Richmond County deserve to know the true answers.
Folks, as always, you just can’t make this stuff up.
