Augusta, GA
Augusta leaders question change in plans for Parks and Rec audit
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Augusta Commission members sounded off this week about an ongoing debate over an internal audit of the Parks and Recreation Department.
During Tuesday’s meeting of commissioners at the committee level, questions and concerns were thrown toward the procurement department’s director, Geri Sams, about how UHY Advisors Mid Atlantic was recommended by her department for the audit.
Back on May 14, commissioners gathered in the chamber to discuss whether to approve an audit of the Parks and Rec Department using the firm Marcum LLP.
There was an addendum to the agenda to approve engaging UHY instead.
Commissioners say that was the first time they were notified about this change in recommendations.
The Finance Committee ultimately approved going with UHY Advisors Mid Atlantic to conduct the audit, and it was sent to the full commission.
On Tuesday, commissioners voted to send it back to the finance committee to answer questions about the process of how UHY Advisors Mid Atlanta was chosen.
Commissioners Wayne Guilfoyle, Brandon Garrett and Sean Frantom all led the line of questioning at Tuesday’s finance committee meeting.
“It doesn’t smell right, to be frank with you,” Frantom said.
The price tag for Marcum LLP was around $141,000. The cost of UHY Advisors Mid Atlantic is around $71,644.
Only two original bids were submitted to the procurement department to take on the audit. After those two bids were evaluated, it was discovered that a third bid should’ve been evaluated.
A letter from the procurement director states the bid by UHY Advisors Mid Atlantic was delivered on May 7 at 8:02 a.m. by UPS prior to normal department office hours.
The procurement director said she was out of town doing training that day. Commissioners questioned the timestamps of when the bid by UHY Advisors Mid Atlantic was received.
The evaluation committee reconvened and ultimately recommended UHY Advisors Mid Atlantic.
At Tuesday’s committee meeting, commissioners ended the conversation, sending this issue to the commission with no recommendation.
Frantom said he will not support UHY Advisors Mid Atlantic after this.
This process all started when commissioners voted April 2 to move forward on an audit into nine different areas within the department, going back three years.
The list of areas to check includes:
- Lake Olmstead details on expenditures and ledger codes.
- All community centers, list of user groups and the dollar amount taken in with each group.
- Riverwalk expenditures from all areas including the additional $150,000 for the Eighth Street bulkhead.
- All vendor expenditures and the jobs they performed, including consultants, lawn services, etc.
- All park expenditures broken down by the park with the ledger codes, including Fleming Park.
- All hotel stays with locations by all employees in the department.
- Candle Light Jazz money totals for each date and how the money was collected and used.
- Information technology department review of any deleted files for the department that are personnel- or financial-related.
- Review all contracts of $25,000 or less for the department head’s signature on the document. Plus, bring back recommendations of what can be automated vs. paper.
When Maurice McDowell resigned as parks and recreation director, Augusta leaders said they wanted to check every corner of a department riddled with internal and external investigations before the next director stepped in.
“I think it’s worth the money,” Frantom said. “I mean, we have commissioners that are not with us anymore, in prison, because of this situation in this department.”
Sams said, “Well that’s going to be very expensive because you’re asking for a lot of detailed information.”
The vote came in with a slim 6 to 4 approval, but commissioners are saying this time around, it’s worth it.
Commissioner Catherine Smith McKnight said: “I think we need to pay whatever it is for this audit to be done. It’s long overdue.”
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Two Augusta-area Walmarts are among 13 Georgia locations that the retail giant plans to remodel and modernize in 2026.
In the past five years, the company said it has spent $961.5 million to upgrade its stores statewide.
Now, the company plans to change store layouts and services in its Augusta and Grovetown locations to make shopping faster and more convenient.
The locations are the Augusta Walmart Supercenter at 3338 Wrightsboro Road, near Augusta Mall, and the Grovetown Walmart Neighborhood Market at 5303-A Wrightsboro Road, where Wrightsboro and Harlem-Grovetown roads meet.
The Augusta location has been undergoing renovations since last fall.
The stores, when completely renovated, will include updated pharmacies offering vaccines, free delivery and clinical services such as basic health screenings and same-day testing for strep, the flu and COVID-19. Vision Centers also will be redesigned for improved privacy.
Also, computer apps will help customers better navigate stores, scan products’ prices and find exclusive app-only shopping deals.
Augusta, GA – Entered into rest Sunday, April 19, 2026. Mr. James Byron Duncan, 80, was the loving husband of Estelle Mulherin Duncan as well as devoted father, doting grandfather, and lifelong friend to many.
Byron was born and raised in Augusta, GA, the son of W.B. and Kathleen Duncan. After graduating from Butler High School in 1965, Byron’s kind heart called him into Social Work. He earned his Bachelor of Sociology from Augusta College in 1969. After 34 years of dedicated service to the State of Georgia, Byron retired in 2003 as Director of Jefferson County Family and Children Services. He devoted his life wholeheartedly to both service to others and dedication to his family, working in the tough field of social work while remaining a fiercely loving, spirited and unwaveringly passionate man.
His deepest commitments were to his wife, children, granddaughters, siblings, church, the Knights of Columbus and the Georgia Bulldogs.
Byron was deeply rooted in his faith and community. He was an active member of St. Mary on the Hill Catholic Church, where he had served as an usher, Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, and finance committee member. He was also a proud member of the Knights of Columbus, Patrick Walsh Council 677 and Assembly 174, the Irish American Heritage Society and the Rotary Club of Louisville, GA. A true Georgia Bulldog at heart, Byron never missed an opportunity to cheer for his Dawgs, whether they were playing football, basketball, baseball or any other sport. He loved the simple joys of life – days at the beach, Jimmy Buffett, beach music and shagging, and a house full of family and friends. For many years, Byron delighted young and old alike by donning the red suit and playing Santa Claus at various events as well as visiting the classrooms at St. Mary on the Hill Catholic School as St. Nicholas.
Byron possessed the gift of gab! He never met a stranger and could often be observed enthusiastically carrying on a deep conversation with old friends or a stranger he just met on the street. No conversation with him was brief!
Family meant everything to him. He is survived by his beloved wife of 40 years, Estelle Mulherin Duncan; his children Sean M. Duncan (Jennifer), Matthew M. Duncan and Megan E. Duncan; his bonus daughter, Allison Crow (Joe), and his treasured grandchildren Riley, Emma and Harper Duncan, who brought him endless joy. He is also survived by his brother Keith Duncan; sisters Sheryl Werrick and Marcia Golden; brothers-in-law Dr. Joe Mulherin, Robert Gibson and Tom King; sister-in-law Janet M. Gibson; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, April 24, 2026, at 1:00 P.M. at St. Mary on the Hill Catholic Church with Fr. Mark Ross as celebrant. Interment will follow at Westover Memorial Park. A Rosary service will be held Thursday evening at 6:00 P.M., followed by visitation from 6:30 until 8:00 P.M. at Thomas Poteet & Son.
Memorial contributions may be made to Aquinas High School, 1920 Highland Ave., Augusta, GA 30904 or St. Mary on the Hill Catholic Church, 1420 Monte Sano Ave., Augusta, GA 30904 for the Our Faith Our Future Capital Campaign.
Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors, 214 Davis Road, Augusta, GA 30907, (706) 364-8484. Please sign the guestbook at thomaspoteet.com
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – Georgia Gubernational candidate Geoff Duncan made another appearance in Augusta on Monday, speaking at the IBEW Local 1579 on Reynolds Street.
Duncan is one of the three candidates vying for the Democratic nomination. Duncan said when he served as lieutenant governor of the state, he fought to expand access to health care in rural communities. He said if he’s elected, he’ll focus on lowering costs in other areas.
Duncan stopped by NewsChannel 6 ahead of the campaign stop to speak about his plans.
“Look, 90% of Georgians know what they’re talking about when they want to pass commonsense gun legislation like universal background checks, red flag laws, and in-home safe storage laws. As governor, I want to lead the charge, and I want to give political cover to those Republicans that want to do the right thing, build those consensus around those bills,” Duncan said. “I hope to get some of them the cosign that legislation. Because it meets people where they’re at. It’s common sense. Look, I don’t want anybody to ever walk by a television screen and make another excuse for a mass shooting when it could have been stopped. With just common sense laws that are on the books.”
Photojournalist credit: Regynal McKie
-
New York1 hour agoTrump’s Immigration Crackdown Pervades Long Island Suburbs
-
Detroit, MI2 hours agoChris Simms projects Detroit Lions first-round NFL draft pick
-
San Francisco, CA2 hours agoSan Francisco sets $3.4B price tag for public takeover of PG&E
-
Dallas, TX2 hours agoGame Day Guide: Stars at Wild | Dallas Stars
-
Miami, FL2 hours agoMay a steadying presence as Cards hold off Marlins in Miami
-
Boston, MA2 hours agoTyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe flex in Boston: Takeaways from Celtics-76ers Game 2
-
Denver, CO2 hours agoMotorcyclist seriously injured in Denver hit-and-run crash – AOL
-
Seattle, WA3 hours agoBrock: 2 drafts fits at edge rusher for Seattle Seahawks