Augusta, GA
Augusta Commission to hear about flooding, biomass facility
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – After another week off this summer, Augusta Commission members are meeting again to move forward on new projects, as well as looking ahead to next year’s finances.
Before any votes take place Tuesday, commissioners will hear from a dozen people during the delegation portion of the meeting, mainly regarding flooding and petitioning a biomass facility.
Attorney Jack Long is speaking on behalf of Spirit Creek Baptist Church, claiming the rezoning and building of Renovatio Solutions LLC’s new facility next to their church would impact their long-standing culture as an African American church founded in 1800.
At Tuesday’s meeting, more than 44 churchgoers came out to show opposition to the biomass facility.
The facility would utilize an “anaerobic digestion” technology to convert municipal organic solid waste and woody waste into natural gas and soil additives.
The attorney for Renovatio says he’s coming next week to Augusta Commission members’ committee meeting to clarify the use of the facility, saying it would help the environment.
Savannah River Keeper Tonya Bonitatibus is also speaking against the biomass facility, advocating for an environmental justice ordinance in Augusta-Richmond County.
Four people are also set to go before the commission to speak about flooding damage that took place back in late June.
There are two items to discuss Richmond County’s millage rate. One portion will be hearing from Chief Tax Appraiser Scott Rountree about setting a millage rollback rate to offset the recent rise in property assessments. Another vote will look to set the adoption date of those millage rates on Aug. 29.
Commissioners are being presented with a couple of projects that will be put to a vote today regarding Augusta’s beautification. One is the continuation of engineering TIA projects, specifically aimed at Broad Street improvements in the amount of $60 million. Engineering also has an item up today to discuss hiring Pond Maintenance of Augusta for a four-year, $400,000 annual contract, as a way to consolidate the city’s grass-cutting efforts.
AT THE MEETING:
Early on in Tuesday’s meeting, the Augusta Commission:
- Accepted the retirement of Chief Deputy Patrick Clayton, effective, Dec. 31.
- Approved a funding request for installation of a road within the Twiggs Street Corridor identified as Ace Alley, part of the Laney Walker/Bethlehem Revitalization Project.
- Approved $60.6 million for Broad Street improvements project, subject to receipt of signed contract and proper bond.
- Approved agreement with the Georgia Department of Corrections to administer paper-based testing to inmates.
As we enter August, the commission is also entering its fourth month of talks in setting the 2024 fiscal year budget, aiming to prioritize homeless aid and community development.
Commissioners will also be presented again with a vote to support the Augusta Rowing Club with a new storage facility after the Boat House became infected with mold earlier this year. In previous meetings, Interim Central Services Director, Ron Lampkin, stated that the new facility would cost between $500,000 – $600,000 to make.
DEVELOPING STORY:
- Craig Allison is at today’s Augusta Commission meeting, and he’ll have updates here on WRDW.com and all day on News 12.
And Mayor Garnett Johnson is expected to give a presentation labeled, “Opioid Overview.”
All items move forward following a commission majority vote, stick with News 12 as we provide updates throughout today’s meeting.
Copyright 2023 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Augusta, GA
WATCH: Gun comes out during fight at Butler High, video shows
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A weapon was seized by school administrators after the apparent gun fell to the floor during a fight between students Tuesday at Butler High School.
Parents were told of the incident in a letter.
“Two students engaged in a fight in a classroom today during a class,” the letter stated. “During the altercation, students saw a weapon drop to the floor.”
The Richmond County School System didn’t address what kind of weapon it was, but a video on Facebook showed what appeared to be a gun.
Administrators and Richmond County School System police responded immediately and secured the school for about 45 minutes while police investigated, parents were told.
The student was taken into custody and the incident was addressed following the Code of Student Conduct and Discipline.
Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Augusta, GA
Police arrest suspect in Grovetown apartment complex shooting
GROVETOWN, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A suspect has been arrested in connection to an apartment complex shooting in Grovetown, officials announced Wednesday morning.
Isaiah Bautista, 20, of Augusta, was located near Windsor Spring Road and Meadowbrook Drive, still riding in the suspect vehicle that was observed fleeing the scene of the earlier shooting, Grovetown Police Department says.
Bautista had a firearm at the time of his arrest and had multiple outstanding felony warrants through both Richmond County and Reidsville, Ga., police say.
Bautista was transported to the Charles B. Webster Detention Center on the outstanding warrants. Additional warrants will be secured by Grovetown Investigators for his charges regarding tonight’s shooting.
This investigation continues as investigators are working to identify the second suspect.
The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office assisted in apprehending Bautista.
The Grovetown Police Department says they received a 911 call Tuesday at 5:02 p.m. about a shooting at the 1000 block of Joiner Circle in Joiner Crossing Apartments in Grovetown.
Police Chief Jamey Kitchens told us he was on the scene around 5:34 p.m.
When officers arrived they discovered a male victim suffering from a gunshot wound to the upper chest.
Officials say the victim was conscious when they arrived and is in a local hospital in surgery. He does not appear to have life-threatening injuries.
He tells us two unknown males entered the apartment, and one of the suspects fired several rounds hitting the victim once.
Officials used local cameras and doorbell cameras to capture the suspects fleeing on foot to a nearby vehicle and exiting the complex.
One of the suspects was wearing a mask and both were wearing dark-colored hoodies.
Multiple people were in the home at the time, including an infant who was within a few feet of the victim when he was shot. No other parties were injured.
They have a loose vehicle description and several leads are being pursued, according to Kitchens.
The victim was not a resident of the home where the incident occurred.
Kitchens wants the community to know that there is no danger to the community and that this appears to be a targeted attack.
A witness said she saw 17 police cars on the scene around 6 p.m. and that it appeared officers were searching up and down some nearby railroad tracks.
Police were clustered around one apartment in particular. The door was open and crime scene tape hung outside the entry.
Around 6:30 p.m., police brought out a child car seat and a diaper bag. The significance of those items wasn’t clear.
The incident comes amid an outbreak of violent crime that’s claimed about 200 lives in nearly three years across the CSRA.
The crime outbreak has affected communities large and small, but as the biggest city in the region, Augusta has been hit especially hard.
Authorities have blamed much of the problem on gangs.
We are working to learn more information about the incident.
Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Augusta, GA
Police respond to shooting at Grovetown apartment complex
GROVETOWN, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Law enforcement officials are on the scene of a shooting incident at an apartment complex, according to the Grovetown Police Department.
No one was killed, and the victim was a male, according to authorities.
Officials say they responded Tuesday afternoon to Joiner Crossing Apartments in Grovetown.
Police Chief Jamey Kitchens told us he was on the scene around 5:34 p.m.
Kitchens says it appears the victim was upstairs on the balcony of the apartment and went inside after he was shot.
Several other people were inside the apartment – including an infant, according to Kitchens.
He tells us two unknown males entered the apartment, went upstairs and began shooting.
Through the use of local cameras and doorbell cameras, officials say they were able to see that the suspects left in a vehicle.
They have a loose vehicle description and are trying to run down leads, according to Kitchens.
Officials say the victim is in a local hospital in surgery and does not appear to have life-threatening injuries.
Kitchens wants the community to know that there is no danger to the community and this appears to be a targeted attack.
A witness said she saw 17 police cars on the scene around 6 p.m. and that it appeared officers were searching up and down some nearby railroad tracks.
Police were clustered around one apartment in particular. The door was open and crime scene tape hung outside the entry.
Around 6:30 p.m., police brought out a child car seat and a diaper bag. The significance of those items wasn’t clear.
The incident comes amid an outbreak of violent crime that’s claimed about 200 lives in nearly three years across the CSRA.
The crime outbreak has affected communities large and small, but as the biggest city in the region, Augusta has been hit especially hard.
Authorities have blamed much of the problem on gangs.
We are working to learn more information about the incident.
Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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