Augusta facilities have had a lot of emergencies lately. At least, according to interim Central Services Director Ron Lampkin.
Lampkin presented eight emergency procurements to a commission committee last week that go before the full commission Tuesday without a recommendation. While most of the work has already been done, none had the needed approval by either the administrator, procurement director or an elected official.
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The purchases included:
- $120,793 for emergency roof replacement at the Charles B. Webster Detention Center by Hixon Roofing
- $35,000 for the electrical system at the Augusta Common
- $191,850 for Horizon Construction for emergency deck, ramp, staircase and railings at the Diamond Lakes Regional Park tennis courts
- $216,752 for emergency assessment of the marble panels at Augusta Municipal Building by Kuhlke Construction
- A $25,000 change order for the marble panels for Johnson, Laschober and Associates
- $43,000 for the emergency replacement of the Central Services Construction shop roof by Crosby Roofing
- $36,500 for a fire alarm software update and device replacement at Webster by Southeastern System Technologies
- $53,500 for an emergency replacement of the Bernie Ward Community Center roof by Crosby Roofing
- $94,325 for the emergency replacement of the roof at Carrie Mays Community Center by Crosby Roofing
Questioned about the number and timing of the emergency procurements, Lampkin said at least one – the Diamond Lakes tennis repairs – came about via the Augusta Recreation and Park capital improvements consultant, Infrastructure Systems Management.
“This assessment was done by ISM after they were contacted by MACH Academy,” Lampkin said.
The tennis and after-school program MACH Academy has high-schoolers who play at Diamond Lakes. ISM principals include former Engineering Director Abie Ladson and Steve Cassell. Cassell, the former city traffic engineer, was Lampkin’s boss when Lampkin was a city traffic manager.
Procurement Director Geri Sams said Lampkin hadn’t obtained approval for the emergency procurements.
“Unfortunately, most of the procurements you have in front of you came to me in the spirit they have come to you today,” Sams said.
Lampkin said he was using the same process used by Interim Administrator Takiyah Douse when she was Central Services Director, although those procurements appeared to have Sams’ approval.
Commissioner Sean Frantom motioned to send the procurements to the full commission Tuesday without a recommendation. He was seconded by Commissioner Francine Scott.
