A lot of things have changed in the Augusta area since last year’s Masters Golf Tournament, and a lot of things haven’t.
The most positive change in local government is that Augusta has a new mayor, Garnett Johnson, and is finally rid of the charlatan, aka Mayor Hardie Davis, who wanted to hang onto his mayoral perks until March and draw vacation pay and sick leave to which he was not entitled.
Opinion
Johnson, who has resuscitated the Mayor’s Masters Reception that suffered from Covid in 2020 and 2021, and fell flat last year from lack of care from Davis.
Johnson resurrected the tradition begun by former Mayor Bob Young in 1999 of honoring a Masters Tournament champion, and added two more famous sports figures and as well as regional elected officials. The mayor also will honor former longtime Masters Tournament Senior Director Walton L. “Buzzy” Johnson.
The reception will be from 5-9 p.m. Sunday at the Augusta Common and will end with a bang! – fireworks sponsored by Windsor Jewelers.
No charge to come, listen to the music and have a good time.
Buildings, a Bridge and No Strippers at the Discotheque
The skyline of Augusta has changed the past year with new apartment buildings going up. New restaurants, bars and shops have opened their doors. The Discotheque nudie bar is now just a bar because the city went to court to stop the nude dancing and alcohol sales going on together and won. Then Augusta commissioners turned right around and changed the adult entertainment ordinance to allow for both in industrial zones. So just wait ‘til next year and there’ll be non-stop bumping and grinding from one side of Augusta to the other during Masters week.
The Fifth Street Bridge, long marked as the Jefferson Davis Bridge, was opened in September as a pedestrian bridge after an $11 million-plus makeover. In October, Augusta commissioners voted to change the name to Freedom Bridge. But to some it will always be the Fifth Street Bridge. So, you might say the name both changed and remained the same.
The IRS is after the city for as much as $10 million, possibly more, for not filing employee forms related to the Affordable Care Act for several years.
What could become a monumental change to Augusta’s government began in the Georgia General Assembly this year with the passage of Senate Bill 231, which calls for a referendum on giving Augusta’s mayor a vote on all commission decisions. The measure will appear on next year’s general primary ballot where voters will have the final say.
The 1996 consolidation law calls for the mayor to vote only in case of a tie, and commissioners who don’t want him to vote abstain to prevent a tie.
The bill passed the House along party lines 99-70, with Augusta’s four Democratic House members – Gloria Frazier, Lynn Gladney, Karlton Howard and Brian Prince – voting no.
Well, the usual resistance of Augusta’s Democratic lawmakers to changing the city charter has not changed and probably never will because…
Some Things Never Change in the Garden City
The grass still doesn’t get cut except for Masters week. City buildings are still falling apart. Street lights are still out. Some city department directors are still incompetent. And it still floods downtown and in east Augusta when it rains. But what can we expect? It was built on a river swamp.
Augusta commissioners are still divided over ambulance service. And some are angry that after a month, Central EMS, the new provider, hasn’t told them how much subsidy they want. The president of Central told the state the company would provide eight ambulances daily and six more during peak hours, plus three quick response vehicles. Now he’s saying Augusta must decide what level of service and response times it wants. And that’s after getting Augusta to do the dispatching and house their ambulances in Augusta’s fire stations.
And of course, we still don’t talk about crime in Augusta during Masters week although the Phinizy Road jail is about maxed out with 1,100 or so inmates.
And something you paid $15 dollars for last week now costs $25.
The Augusta National keeps buying property up and down Washington Road. So far, they haven’t bought far enough west to get the homeless people out from under the I-20 bridge, but it’s only a matter of time.
And most importantly the azaleas still bloom on command at the Augusta National Golf Course. They spray green dye on bald spots. Everybody loves the greens, especially the ones that go into their cash registers. And we expect some sportswriter to do another piece on how tacky Washington Road is and then go home to Detroit or Cleveland.
Did We Get Our Money’s Worth?
Senate Bill 231, shepherded through the Legislature by Sen. Max Burns, R-Sylvania, and Rep. Mark Newton, R-Augusta, was the only local bill that received much attention this session, other than Sen. Harold Jones’ marijuana bill. Here are a few other measures introduced by local lawmakers this year:
The Senators
Sen. Harold Jones, D-Augusta: Authored two Senate bills and two Senate resolutions.
SB 30 would provide that possession of certain quantities of marijuana constitutes a misdemeanor. It was read in the Senate and referred to committee.
SB 177 “Food Insecurity Eradication Act” was withdrawn and recommitted.
SR 323 would create a Senate Study Committee on improving Family Caregiver Services.
Jones also co-sponsored 30 Senate bills and 35 resolutions.
Sen. Max Burns: Authored 15 Senate bills and seven resolutions. SB 231 on giving the Augusta mayor a vote was previously mentioned.
SB 5 would provide for the appointment of an additional judge for Superior Court of Augusta Judicial Circuit by the governor. It was read in the Senate and referred to the Judiciary Committee.
SB 108 removes term limits for McDuffie County Board of Education members. It was passed and adopted.
SR 177 recognized the Greater Augusta Interfaith Coalition.
Burns co-sponsored 17 Senate bills and 24 resolutions.
Sen. Lee Anderson, R-Grovetown: Authored four Senate bills and five resolutions.
SB 121 would prohibit counties and municipalities; local governments from denying the drilling, servicing or repair of new or existing water wells on single-family, residential and farm properties. Senate agreed; House amend or substitute.
SB 142 would revise the definition of dangerous dog. Read in Senate and referred to committee.
Anderson co-sponsored 37 Senate bills and 25 resolutions.
The Representatives
Rep. Gloria Frazier, D-Hephzibah: Authored eight resolutions that were adopted.
HR 260 was condolences for the Rev. Terence Alton Dicks.
Frazier co-sponsored 15 bills.
Rep. Karlton Howard, D-Augusta: Authored no bills but co-sponsored HR 724 to recognize the retirement of Dr. Kenneth B. Martin, pastor of Antioch Baptist Church in Augusta.
Rep. Lynn Gladney, D-Augusta: Authored two bills and two resolutions. HB 733 revised provisions for Richmond County letting contracts and opening bids. It was passed in the Senate and adopted.
HR 327 commended Dr. Mallory Millender in honor of Black History Month.
Gladney also co-sponsored 11 House resolutions.
Rep. Jodi Lott, R-Evans: Authored HB 730 revised provisions for nominating certain potential members to the Columbia County Board of Elections. The bill was passed and adopted.
Lott also co-sponsored nine House bills, including HB 46, authored by Rep. Mark Newton that would expand enhanced punishment for aggravated assault and battery of healthcare workers which was read in the House twice.
Rep. Brian Prince, D-Augusta: Authored three House resolutions, including HR 246 to commend the Thomas Jefferson Jaguars and HR 727 recognizing the Rev. Alvin Lewis Jr. for 42 years as pastor of Mays Grove Baptist Church,
Prince co-sponsored 11 bills and 14 resolutions
Rep. Mark Newton, R-Augusta: Authored six bills and one resolution. HB 203 revised provisions of restriction on the sale and dispensing of contact lenses with respect to physicians. It was passed in the Senate and adopted.
HR 376 recognized Brain Awareness Week in Georgia as March 13-19.
Newton co-sponsored 30 house bills and 14 resolutions.
