Augusta, GA

Augusta commission waives $70K in trash haulers performance penalties

Published

2 hours ago

May 21, 2026

Augusta commission waives K in trash haulers performance penalties

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – Coastal Waste and Recycling has been collecting the city’s trash for nine months, and commissioners say service is picking up.

“I’ve been pleased with Coastal. Every time I’ve had a problem, my constituents had a problem, they’re contracted, they’re right there. I think any time you change over totally to a whole city, you’re going to have some hiccups,” said Commissioner Tina Slendak.

But when starting last year, mistakes were made and under the contact, that costs the company money, for things like missed pickups and delays delivering carts

Coastal racked up $144,000 in fines the first three months.

But on the recommendation of the city engineer, commissioners voted to waive all but $70,000 of the fines.

“Work with them and do what we can we should compromise with them I mean for me I used to have a lot of problems and a lot of calls but I’m not getting them,” said Commissioner Catherine Smith Rice.

The vote was 6-5 for the waiver and some commissioners saying it was a bad call because Coastal should not be missing stops

“That’s the due diligence that you do when you bid for a contact and one of those is find out what it all entails and when you’re talking about picking up waste, you need to make sure you know where it’s all at,” said Commissioner Lonnie Wimberly.

Commissioner Jordan Johnson raised an ethics question, since Coastal made a $2,000 dollar campaign contributions to the mayor and other commission candidates.

“I didn’t get any money from them. I mean, they gave to several people, not just people who are currently up there,” said Commissioner Slendak.

As commissioners give $70,000 worth of grace to Coastal’s early mistakes.

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Augusta, GA

Augustans wonder if SPLOST 9 plans will be completed

Published

14 hours ago

May 21, 2026

Press Room

Augustans wonder if SPLOST 9 plans will be completed

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – More than half of voters in Richmond County approved another one-cent sales tax. SPLOST 9 will fund $375 million worth of capital projects over the next five years.

The largest portions of funding went to public safety, infrastructure and quality of life projects.

River residents await dock repairs

Jo Nash has lived on a houseboat at the marina on the Savannah River for four years.

“I love being out here on this water. It’s so relaxing. It’s so chilled. I mean, it makes me settle down and breathe, you know?” Nash said.

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Nash said the marina needs maintenance, including the dock she walks up and down every day.

Commissioners approved $2.8 million for a new boat dock at the marina in January as part of the SPLOST 9 project list.

“I would think that’s a great idea. I mean, I just hope it really happens,” Nash said.

Nash said she has been told projects would be completed before, but has not seen results.

“Just do what you say you’re gonna do,” Nash said.

Olive Road drainage concerns

Jerry Cooper is skeptical about the SPLOST 9 project list.

“And the water, when it’s raining, when it fills up, there’s no way to go,” Cooper said about drainage issues on Olive Road.

Commissioners approved $3.5 million to fix the drainage problem on Olive Road under SPLOST 9 engineering projects.

“I don’t believe a real fix is going to take place anytime soon because of a number of reasons,” Cooper said.

While SPLOST 9 will cover the cost of the projects, it does not cover the cost of the people needed to maintain the projects day to day. The city remains under a hiring freeze.

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Augusta, GA

New Augusta commissioner and ‘Yes’ to tax questions were big winners in the primary

Published

1 day ago

May 20, 2026

Press Room

New Augusta commissioner and ‘Yes’ to tax questions were big winners in the primary

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – This business owner is taking care of business, after winning a seat on the Augusta commission.

“So thankful and grateful to the voters and supporters of District 6, they trusted me and believed in me and given this opportunity to serve the community,” said Commissioner-Elect Tamika Bean

Tamika Bean, the former assistant to Mayor Garnett Johnson, surprised many by her upset victory over incumbent commissioner Tony Lewis getting nearly 60 percent of the vote.

“I was totally humbled and surprised by it,” said Bean.

Bean, the newcomer, joins a commission full of familiar faces, as incumbents Stacey Pulliam, Lonnie Wimberly, and Wayne Guilfoyle all won re-election.

And despite organized opposition to axe the tax, Guilfoyle was happy to see approval of the SPLOST and especially the new FLOST, the half-cent sales tax for property tax relief.

“It directly impacts every property owner in Augusta, it benefits us. The government doesn’t receive any thing out of it,” said Guilfoyle.

Following the election, some want to see more out of the city’s registered voters, where turnout was less than 30 percent.

Gayla Keesee of the league of Women Voters says those registered need to understand the importance getting out with the run-offs coming in June.

Whose mayor or who’s District 8 Commissioner and those are final elections those are the ones the league is trying to get Richmond County voters to understand.

Voters decide elections, something commissioner-elect Tamika Bean totally understands.

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Augusta, GA

Georgia primary election day brings out diverse voters

Published

2 days ago

May 20, 2026

Press Room

Georgia primary election day brings out diverse voters

Primary Election Day was Tuesday in Georgia, and several notable races took place in the Augusta area.

Three Columbia County seats on the Board of Commissioners were challenged by Democrats. According to election records dating to at least 2010, Columbia County commission candidates have been overwhelmingly Republican, often running unopposed by Democrats. On election day, Democrats were running for the chairmanship and the seats in Districts 1 and 4.

An Augusta mayoral race was likely headed to a June 16 runoff. Incumbent Garnett L. Johnson was running against three nonpartisan challengers with their own platforms on how to move the city forward.

The only Augusta Commission race without an incumbent was in District 8, with Brandon Garrett stepping back. Three candidates from the Hephzibah were eyeing the seat.

‘In and out,’ says voter at Columbia County poll

At Abilene Baptist Church on Washington Road in Martinez, Georgia, Columbia County elections poll manager Molly Boyleston said there had been 45 voters between 7 and 9 a.m.

“It’s been steady, similar to other primaries. We know the people here,” said Boyleston, who has been a poll manager for that precinct for 12 years.

Mike Materna of Martinez voted at Abilene Baptist Church on Tuesday morning.

“I was in and out. They were there to help me out; some of the questions were confusing,” he said of the ballot without elaborating.

For this primary, three seats on the Columbia County Board of Commissioners are challenged by Democrats. According to election records dating to at least 2010, Columbia County commission candidates have been overwhelmingly Republican, often running unopposed by Democrats. For this election, Democrats are running for the chairmanship and the seats in Districts 1 and 4.

Immigrant casts first vote as an American

Carol Richards was giddy with excitement when she entered Julian Smith Casino in Augusta, Georgia, on Tuesday afternoon to vote for the first time.

“I just became an American citizen,” she told Cecilia Wright, a poll worker stationed at the front desk. About 20 minutes later, she returned, still excited about her first vote as an American.

How did it feel? “I feel good. I really feel good,” she said. “After 40 years, I got citizenship.”

Richards, 66, was born in Jamaica, grew up in London, and later moved to New York. Her mother lived in Augusta, and she moved here after she died. Her citizenship was official in September 2024.

Carter Center: Braves hats, flowers and peanuts left as tributes

Outside the Carter Center, Braves hats and boiled peanuts are left in honor of President Carter in Atlanta.

Augusta voter has ties to state Supreme Court, Carter administration

Susan Jordan, 82, stopped to talk after voting at Julian Smith Casino in Augusta, Georgia, on Tuesday.

“I could have voted absentee, but I wanted to get the vibe” of voting in person, she said. “It’s a privilege, and everyone should vote.”

Also, she had a special vote to cast: Her daughter-in-law, Jen Jordan, was on the ballot for Georgia Supreme Court. And politics has long been a part of her family. Her brother-in-law, the late Hamilton Jordan, was the chief of staff for President Jimmy Carter in 1979-1980.

Augusta voter seeks lower taxes, more help for homeless

Chad Mallard, 46, of Augusta, Georgia, was voting for just the second time on Tuesday.

He said he used to think that his one vote didn’t matter, but he realized that it was the way to make changes in the community. He said he voted for incumbent Mayor Garnett Johnson and to re-elect Ashley Wright to the Georgia Superior Court.

Mallard, who voted at the Kroc Center, identifies as a Democrat, but “I used to say neither way.” He wants to see some important changes for the community, and politics is the way to do that.

In particular, he wants to see lower property taxes and more help for the growing homeless community.

Augusta wife gets her husband to vote

Ryan and Tiffany Amerhein brought their 3-year-old son Dorian with them to vote at the Kroc Center on Broad Street. Tiffany, 33, said she has always been a regular voter, but her husband wasn’t.

“I was able to educate him,” said she.

Tiffany said she got Ryan, 35, more involved in government issues, especially the Richmond County School Board, since they have a child. They attended a forum where they got to see candidates in person and hear directly from them.

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