Since the politicians of Augusta took a Masters Week break and all was quiet, they certainly made up for it this past week. To say that the commission chamber was quiet and peaceful would just not be a true and accurate description of the goings on.
A sensitive topic that has been talked about for several months made it’s way onto the agenda for a vote to approve or disapprove.
That would be the tiny home development community planned to house young adults that have aged out of the foster care system. We are told the young adults will be taught how to adapt to living on their own as well as be schooled in other life lessons to help them achieve success in life.
There were many in attendance at the commission meeting that was for building the community on the 3.08 acres that was once a public park on Merry Street.
Michael Thurman was the lone attendee to speak out in protest of the development. Not the program itself, but the chosen location. He did indeed speak about the unavailability of public transportation as an example of what the program planners stated was needed.
Now while Thurman spoke alone he did have a petition of signed names that was also against the location. The tiny home village was approved unanimously. In reality, the commission had already agreed to approve the village before it came time to vote.
Now, I don’t have any problem with the program. It seems on its surface to be a good program for young adults coming out of foster care. My question is, where are the programs for all of the children that come from homes where one parent is absent and the other is too busy working and doing personal things to teach their children the needed life’s lessons?
A very interesting question was asked of Joe Gambill of Bridge Builder Communities. The question was how much was paid to the Augusta Land Bank for the parks 3.08 acres. Answer, $1.00.
Past Commissioner Moses Todd who represents ” I Love Augusta” was once again before the commission asking for additional money be added to the up coming SPLOST 9 for a water park to be built at Diamond Lakes.
Now it’s unclear who will build or operate such a park. We all know the city can’t do it based on passed and present performance of maintenance. Maybe a public-private venture; but it can be done. Just look at the other cities that have a waterpark, Todd stated.
But Mr. Todd, other cities are not Augusta.
Never-the-less, build it and they will come. If Diamond Lakes gets a waterpark, then hotels, restaurants and shopping malls will spring up. The tourists will be ever so in abundance.
And so will the lawsuits. The taxpayers will continue to pay millions of dollars to settle claims. Just research how many millions have been paid to settle claims against Augusta already.
In fairness to Mr. Todd I did ask him a question. “How would you feel about getting a water park and hotel in one package?” His answer, “If you’re talking about a Wolf’s Lodge I’d love it.”
OK, so look at it this way. Turn the project over to Cal Wray at the Development Authority. Give him the tools needed. Such as the $5 million dollars in SPLOST 8 for seed money. Give Wray a portion of land at Diamond Lakes with which to build on as well as the ability to offer tax incentives for a number of years to be determined. If there’s interest, Cal Wray will get the job done. The lake there can also be an enticement.
With more development, the Augusta Sports Council can bring in larger ball tournaments to Diamond Lakes. Augusta’s Convention and Visitor’s Bureau can advertise it throughout the South as yet another fun destination.
Once built, turn all over to the partner operator. Augusta will no longer be involved with the operation, maintenance or liability. All Augusta will do is collect the taxes.
There’s an old Jim Croce song entitled, “You Don’t Mess Around With Jim,” a lyric tag line goes, ” You don’t tug on Superman’s cape, you don’t spit into the wind, you don’t pull the mask off the old Lone Ranger and you don’t mess around with Jim.”
In Augusta, you don’t mess around with Geri, that’s Geri Sams, As Augusta’s Procurement Director, she can derail a Trane running though Augusta with an engineer named Ron Lampkin, Central Services interim director, at the throttle.
When this item came up a couple of weeks ago, it was so fishy that a one-eyed cat was seen peeking around the chamber’s door like he was peeking into a fish market. The agenda was stopped and sent back to the Geri Sams for a deep dive into the matter.
And a deep dive she did.
Millions of dollars, nearly an additional $14 million, was going to be added to a so called “Phase 2” for audits on buildings that was paid for in the beginning of the original contract. As hard as he tried, Lampkin couldn’t justify the deal.
In fact, there was never a phase 2 in the contract according to all that knew of the original. This was shown to be a true fact. This deal was so riddled with holes and misdirected information an accomplished charlatan would weep from laughing so hard.
Commissioner Bobby Williams asked for Sams to speak to the commissioners and explain what she had found and her recommendation.
Sams presented each commissioner a binder nearly 1/2 inch thick with her findings. I also have a copy of the report. It is indeed alarming. At Muhammad Ali’s best, he could not have pulled off the “rope a dope” that Lampkin was trying to pull.
It was also stated that the Law department, the Finance department, Procurement department nor the interim administrator had ever been informed of any of the dealings regarding this item.
Several of the commissioners had questions that also revealed the questionable dealings.
Commissioner Alvin Mason stated, “We need to tighten up our ship.”
Commissioner Jordan Johnson asked, “Who’s idea was this?” Lampkin answered that it was his.
Sams suggestion that the proposed deal be stopped, ended and go no farther. The commissioners took her advice and the deal is dead.
Department heads try every which way possible to get around Sams and her office and she routinely has to intervene as a doorstop to prevent financial shenanigans from occurring.
After the meeting, I asked Commissioner Bobby Williams if he fully agreed with Sams suggestion. Williams responded: “I certainly do. That’s why I asked her to address the commission and get her expertise.”
Now a question should be asked about what to do with Ron Lampkin?
Folks, as always, you just can’t make this stuff up.
