Augusta, GA

Augusta leaders question change in plans for Parks and Rec audit

Published

8 months ago

May 30, 2024

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.

Local and national politicians gathered at Absolics, Inc. in Covington, GA.

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.”

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Augusta, GA

Winter weather causes crashes across CSRA on slick roads

Published

6 hours ago

January 10, 2025

Press Room

Winter weather causes crashes across CSRA on slick roads

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Multiple cars crashed due to winter weather conditions on I-20 in the CSRA early Friday morning, according to authorities.

On I-20 in Augusta, the road conditions at the Washington Road exit were hazardous, according to our reporter on the interstate.

Our reporter saw another wreck on the Bobby Jones overpass from I-520 to I-20 at 10:35 a.m. We’ve reached out to learn more.

Across the river, on I-20 westbound just before mile marker 4, multiple vehicles were pulled over after a car carrier crash around 10 a.m. in Aiken County.

On I-20 westbound just before mile marker 4, multiple vehicles were pulled over after a car carrier crash around 10 a.m. in Aiken County.

We have reached out to learn more.

Dispatch told us crews were on the scene of a multiple-car crash on I-20 eastbound at the Walton Way extension ramp at 9:25 a.m.

Officials say at least two vehicles were involved, but more were reported, and they are unsure how many exactly.

They did however say more vehicles became involved after sliding on the road from weather conditions.

Dispatch says they are unsure of any injuries or if any lanes were blocked.

Augusta, GA

Wayfair Outlet store opens at the Augusta Exchange

Published

14 hours ago

January 10, 2025

Press Room

Wayfair Outlet store opens at the Augusta Exchange

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The new Wayfair outlet is now open at the Augusta Exchange.

You will be able to find furniture and home décor at the location that used to be a Buy Buy Baby store.

It’s the latest store to open in the Augusta area.

One customer we spoke with says he thinks the store will be here for a while as it brings something different to the area.

“People are here spending money and they are here to make their house look better. I never thought I would be a dude in his 40s in an outlet, me in an outlet. But I did it today and I think it’s good,” said Carlton Ferguson.

It’s welcome news for fans of the Augusta Exchange, which has seen a bevy of closures in the past couple of years, including Subway, Genghis Grill, O’Charley’s, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Buy Buy Baby and Christmas Tree Shops.

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Augusta, GA

Augusta takes step to hire full time EMA Director

Published

23 hours ago

January 9, 2025

Press Room

Augusta takes step to hire full time EMA Director

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – There can be big time disaster emergencies in Augusta, but an emergency management director is not a full-time position for the city.

“I think lessons learned from Hurricane Helene, we desperately need it as we try to recover our city as we try to prepare from the next storm,” said Mayor Garnett Johnson.

The consolidation bill gives the mayor the authority to name an EMA director.

But for the last 20 years, the mayors have called on the fire chief to pull double duty while getting supplement pay.

But at the Mayor Johnson’s request, commissioners have approved beginning the process to hire a full time EMA director.

“You want to make sure that when disasters come, we are 100 percent fully prepared,” said Commissioner Stacy Pulliam.

“A city our size deserves someone who is full time committed to that role that helps with our storm preparedness,” said Mayor Johnson.

But when commissioners approved this year’s budget in November, funding for a new EMA director was not a part of it.

“You talking about cutting budgets but yet you’re talking about increasing personnel. It comes with a cost,” said Commissioner Tony Lewis.

“It will pay for itself as we go through this recovery for Hurricane Helene, as we try to see out grant opportunities and funding opportunities for reimbursement,” said the Mayor.

For sure the city has not seen its last emergency, now the city is seeking a permanent director to manage it.

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