Just when you think there can’t be anymore surprises with the Augusta government, wow, you can be sure that one will indeed come along.
This past Tuesday, Commissioner Branden Garrett of the District 8 seat announced that he was not stepping down, but away for a brief period of time. In the meantime, Commissioner Wayne Guilfoyle, Super District 10 Commissioner, will be handling any issues the citizens of District 8 may have.
I will not endeavor to go into details as to why Commissioner Garrett has had to take this step. I will only say that if he feels that it is best for him and his family at this time to do so, then he has made the right decision. Augusta needs our full body of commissioners in the best health as can be, both mental as well as physical.
With both Alvin Mason and Branden Garrett out of action for the foreseeable future, who will be the next to succumb to the pressures of a seat in Augusta’s over the top style of governing?
In the meantime, the voting on issues will be quite interesting. As it may appear to some, the Gang of Five are back with the strong hand. Not so. Five votes doesn’t get anything passed. So, if they do get a sixth vote, it will be on every day business. What makes not having a full body of commissioners dangerous is the fact that the SPLOST 9 package is being worked on and has to be approved. Also remember that a 2025 budget has to be approved.
Maybe, just maybe, with Tameka Allen as Augusta’s new full time administrator and Garnett Johnson as mayor, we can get a fully funded and workable budget for less than the billion dollar plus one that Long Gone Odie Donald hoodwinked the commission into approving. Oh, by the way, I voted no to that one as a commissioner.
The golden parachutes seem to continue regardless of any logic. The giving of extra years towards retirement is not a new thing. It has been done in the past. Doesn’t mean it’s the correct thing to do, but when it’s not your money you’re spending, the sky is the limit. Only good news to say about this is the grandfathered employees are running out. But there are still a few to go. Rest assured, after the first of the year, I do believe there will be more changes in the department directors.
Someone that I have high regard and respect for asked if, in all of the accolades I was giving to the city workers and various people, I had inadvertently over looked Augusta’s high paid city engineer? The answer is NO. If he can tell us exactly how, where and what he spends the money on, it would be a good start toward credibility.
Since he oversees the Engineering Department, Stormwater and Landfill, and outwardly no real progress seems to be taking place, some real explaining needs to be done. All of the funds can’t be going to fill the potholes he seems to point to with great delight. This is where a real forensic audit would be of service.
It was announced that until further notice, the recycling program would not be taking place. Just announced? It should have been announced two years ago when it wasn’t happening. Yes, the blue lid containers were being picked up, but most were dumped into the regular garbage.
Giving this employee an accolade, in my opinion, would be like saying “excellent job” to a professional chauffeur whose driver’s license just got revoked.
On the other hand, another accolade does need to be given. The Usry family of Fat Man’s fame provided 10,000 meals to the Georgia Power and visiting out of town linemen. This is not the first time, and most likely will not be the last time, the Usry family will show their love and devotion to Augusta and her citizens.
There is still much clean up to be done here in the CSRA. The agencies are performing beyond their expectations. Even though the damage and carnage was done in a very short span of time, the clean up will take much longer.
No, the piles of tree trunks and limbs will not take up permanent residence at Eisenhower Park or the Lake Olmstead Stadium. Those locations are for a temporary fix, so the streets and highways can be cleared as quickly as possible.
The Augusta National Golf Club received much more damage than at first thought. So, of course, thoughts turn to the Masters Tournament. Will they be ready? Will the tournament be canceled or rescheduled? Now if anything has been shown in the past, it’s that you never doubt the good folks at the National. So my guess would be that the Masters will take place as scheduled, just maybe a few changes.
I would like to wish my dear friend Scott Hudson a full and speedy recovery from the heartbreaking diagnosis of cancer. As most of you know, Scott is a reporter, special features writer and an editor for The Augusta Press. Prayers are with him and his family as they go through this ordeal.
I sincerely hope that each of you are safe and recovering from Helene. It seemed to have brought many here in Augusta together. Let us all continue to strive together.
Folks, as always, you just can’t make this stuff up.
