Mayor's Office - Augusta News

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Mayor's Office

Augusta News

The Mayor's Great News to share about Augusta!!!

Friends,

Although our meeting got a bit heated in the closing minutes yesterday, I wanted to share with you some of the tremendous progress that was made in the meeting through the approval of the agenda items attached below. Agenda item #27 closes out SPLOST I and allows us to, among other things, address much needed improvements to our City Center (sidewalks, fountains, Riverwalk, the Amphitheater, etc.). The approval of agenda item #52 has the potential, based on market conditions at the time the transaction is executed, to make the City $1 million while saving the City, and our taxpayers I might add, $13 million over the life of the bonds while moving us out of the often risky derivatives market. These two items are huge for the current and future progress of Augusta, but somehow they were overshadowed by the actions of a few individuals. I also received word yesterday of a major economic development deal that should be made public in the not too distant future and got a call from a big time manufacturing company that is interested in locating to our fair city! All in all, not a bad day's work!

I so often tell people that I wish people could see what I see on a daily basis. I was telling someone the other day that our government could be of more help with regards to economic development in that certain actions do not help in luring in new businesses. However, I also reminded them that the key to recruiting businesses is the bottom line and, as Augusta is proving time and again to be a good investment, the government ultimately cannot stand in the way of progress! I also reminded them that many of our departments (Water, IT and Parks and Recreation to name just a few) have received both statewide and national recognition for their efforts. Basically, we are making a tremendous amount of progress under somewhat difficult circumstances and I know that the best is yet to come!!

Thanks,

Deke

27. Motion to reprogram $1.2 million dollars in unexpended SPLOST I for the following list of capital improvements: • Renovations to the Fulcher Property $ 92,000 • General Upgrades to Riverwalk $ 60,000 • Amphitheater Upgrades $ 50,000 • Downtown Fountains $ 50,000 • Health Department – North Leg $ 200,000 • Additional dense pack shelving - Records Retention $ 185,000 • Pendleton King Park $ 50,000 • Maintenance Storage and Warehouse $ 100,000 • Sidewalk improvements – Downtown $ 200,000 • Ezekiel Harris House $ 35,000 • Decommissioned Fire Stations $ 20,000 • Lumpkin Road Tag Office $ 10,000 • License and Inspection Roof $ 20,000 • Christmas lights $ 75,000 • ANIC Building Conversion to Tag Office $ 25,000 • Additional Security Equipment for LEC $ 28,000 TOTAL $1,200,000 (Approved by Finance Committee May 29, 2007)

52. Motion to approve the recommendations of the Financial Advisor relative to bond refunding and swap terminations. (No recommendation from Finance Committee May 29, 2007

Web Posted: June 6, 2007