The Augusta Commission tapped the brakes on approving new garbage hauling contracts Tuesday, and on approving the 2025 budget.
Going for approval were contracts with Georgia Waste System LLC, a division of Waste Management, and with Coastal Waste Recycling Inc., to pick up garbage, yard waste and bulky waste for a decade. The plan kept garbage pickup mandatory for all residential customers but left recycling up to the hauler, to make separate arrangements for with homeowners.
Hameed Malik, director of Engineering and Environmental Services, said the contracts will cost Augusta $22.5 million annually. Beyond that, any excess billed to homeowners – he proposed a $440 annual fee – has been going to “auxiliary services” such as clearing vacant lots, demolitions, litter pickup, mosquito control and street sweeping.
Commissioners questioned whether to raise the collection fee, which is currently $320.50, and Administrator Tameka Allen said she could present more information to the city’s Administrative Services committee next week, so the item was postponed.
After a brief closed-door session, the commission then voted for the following:
- To approve a cyber security project with Charles River Associates, one of the firms hired last year to assist with a ransomware attack
- The purchase of 809, 811, 819 and 825 Laney Walker Blvd. for $800,000
- To hire a chief building official at salary of $105,000
- To hire Karen Sessoms as deputy Human Resources director at a salary of $125,000
- To lease Augusta Municipal Golf Course for 50 years to the Augusta, Georgia Land Bank Authority, part of long term plans for the “Patch” involving Augusta Technical College and Augusta National Golf Club
- To hire Tameka Williams as director of Augusta Parks and Recreation
- To continue discussion of the 2025 budget at a Tuesday meeting
