(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of The Augusta Press.)
More issues were dropped in my lap. The bad news is, it’s a little late to do a full dive into this as it relates to the information I received. I have a few more attorneys to call and catch up on for my research. Maybe by next week— if this story pans out to have the level of credibility as the last one—we may have an entire column dedicated to this soap opera.
First, in full transparency, let me say that I am employed by Gold Cross. Now to press on the issue of soap!
I’m referring to Moses Todd and the encumbrance he has been as it relates to Gold Cross. Todd and a few others seem to be pressed or pressured. I will streamline my words as I have a truly vested interest in this conversation as a tax paying citizen of Augusta. I’m trying to ensure that the community is taken care of and not influenced by a political agenda.
The comment or majority of comments, have been related to call times and the back and forth between the commission and the company.
First, a major factor is that the subsidy doesn’t cover the fuel bill for the year. I guess it is suppose to be a, “Well, thanks for taking care of our indigent patients. I know this doesn’t cover what it cost you, but we should be working together as partners…despite what some think.”
Speaking about patients not paying their bills…The majority of the 911 abuse we see comes from those who never plan to pay their bill anyway. Oftentimes, the ambulance service is treated as a taxi by many residents who call 911 for non-medical related calls.
If you think I’m kidding, here is a list of some most recent crazy requests to Gold Cross:
•Need someone to check my thermostat and change the temperature.
•The nail salon cut my cuticle too deep (no blood).
•I’m late for work and soiled myself; I need you to come help me clean my pants.
•I need help putting my dad’s clothes on.
And one of my favorites:
•I don’t really need an ambulance, but I heard I will be seen faster at the ER.”
GUESS WHAT?! You won’t be seen faster and we sit there with you and wait until we can release care.
If you missed Scott Hudson’s article Monday go read it, and definitely check out Sylvia’s column from Sunday. The insight from their point of view is great.
Speaking of elections…
This weekend I heard Augusta became campaign announcement city. Some of those we heard about, or kind of thought would be running, made their intentions known.
Current Commissioner Ben Hasan said publicly that he is planning a run for School Board District 6 – which comes as no surprise.
This seat was vacated by his brother—well not really vacated. He will no longer be in this district since he drew himself out of it during redistricting. Hasan’s tenure is coming to an end on the commission, and for some they are ready.
After speaking to some school board trustees, they say Ben Hassan may be an asset. However, they have made it clear that he will not be able to hang out in the school board building and schools asking questions and walking around like he currently does at the Marble Palace—if he is elected.
That school board race should get interesting because as I have previously stated, there is also a young man running for that seat. Tyrique Robinson is campaigning on fresh ideas, transparency and community involvement—things he feels have been missing over the last several years. Either way, this will add someone else Wayne Frazier can fuss with about how badly the schools are failing.
The tax commissioner’s race got another candidate who was expected, but formally announced this weekend in Veronica Freeman Brown.
From the basic research I was able to gather since Saturday, she is currently employed at the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office. She works within or is in charge of their budget or maintaining it or oversight… something in that regard. From all accounts she came into the meeting where she made the announcement looking like a real candidate.
Now that does not mean you have a clue of what goes on in this office. But let’s be honest. Who actually knows before running, how to be a tax commissioner?
I don’t believe anyone wakes up and says, “Yep, I want to be the tax commissioner when I grow up.”
Unless you run for the seat as a person already working inside, following an outgoing person, you have very little knowledge of what the job entails. So, to that point Chris Johnson would currently be significantly ahead of the pack.
MORE: Michael Meyers: Richmond County commissioners and the Confederate monument stir controversy
The other name that emerged again over the weekend is A.K. Hasan. Which I can’t remember if I mentioned him before or not – however, with him not being able to run for his former school board seat and him losing in the mayor’s race, hey, why not run for tax commisssioner? This will definitely be a sight to see, as I am hearing some of his past major support have already committed to someone else.
Let me jump back into the school board race for a moment and correct something I said before. Christopher Mullins has stated he is running for District 9 School Board. He ran for District 10 school board in 2020.
District 2 School Board will have new representation since Charlie Hannah intends to run for Tax Commissioner. The Right Rev. Larry Fryer—longtime community activist—has stated his intentions on running for that seat. Another name is a Ms. S. Knight who currently owns two day cares in our community.
Qualifying for all of those races will begin August 22 and the election will be held the same time as the General Election on November 8.
I would like to take a moment and congratulate Augusta’s own Gabriel Stovall on being selected as the publisher and editor of the Covington News. I have followed him for quite a while and wish him much success. Let me change that, I know he will be successful up there. They couldn’t have picked a better person for this assignment, and he will bring that area exactly what is needed.
With that said, let me clear the air about Board Trustee Shawnda Griffin-Stovall. She isn’t going anywhere. She is the wife of Gabriel and one of the newly elected school board members. She made sure to let me know without any confusion that she has no intentions on leaving the area and is gearing up for her next run. So, I guess that will keep any confusion down.
Speaking of confusion…there was tons of confusion after the most recent vote about pay increases, bonus checks, cost of living raises … whatever you want to refer to it after the last commission meeting.
I spoke with two different commissioners who gave me six different responses. Which help me realize—none of us know what happened.
I will say this. Many of the employees are a little taken back that they will not be able to get whatever they decided to give—if they decided to give—whatever it is they decided to give. Wait… did you get that? I didn’t….
Now, did I mention that Dennis Williams had the audacity to make a comment about providing receipts, and he is three seats over… here I go getting ahead of myself again.
Michael Meyers is a columnist for The Augusta Press. Reach him at Michael.meyers@theaugustapress.com
