Augusta, GA

I-TEAM: Augusta homeowner questions stormwater fees spending

Published

2 months ago

June 11, 2024

I-TEAM: Augusta homeowner questions stormwater fees spending

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Augusta-Richmond County collected more than $15 million in stormwater fees last year.

The fee was supposed to go toward updating the city’s aging infrastructure which has caused drainage problems, sinkholes and flooding.

But some homeowners are wondering if the stormwater fee they pay is lost in a sinkhole itself.

I-TEAM dug into the problem.

Commissioners will be talking about how to spend your tax dollars next year, which will include SPLOST money.

MORE FROM THE I-TEAM:

The interim administrator wants to prioritize infrastructure, but at the same time, the director of engineering says he is short-staffed and needs resources to get the job done.

Tucked away from the hustle and bustle, is a little slice of paradise off Richmond Hill Road.

Liz: “And you got a steal for it?”

Chelsea Thurmond: “Yeah, it’s like under two point five acres.”

At least, for a Carolina country girl.

“I love the city. I do miss home and this is a taste of home,” she said.

Chelsea Thurmond bought the home two years ago knowing she would have to continue the previous owner’s fight with the city.

“I said I don’t care, I will deal with the city not knowing the city would be this stressful and frustrating to deal with,” said Thurmond.

Frustrating because her country paradise is transforming into a sinking island.

“That’s where my partner was cutting grass and literally on the riding lawn mower and next thing you know he is halfway down in the hole,” she said.

A giant sinkhole is swallowing up Thurmond’s yard. And after every heavy rainfall, it gets longer and wider.

The I-TEAM pulled documents from the superior court that show the sinkhole sits in a county easement and drainage pipe.

SEE THE WORK ORDERS:

Thurmond: “It stems from the drain from the main road. That’s where it stems from.”

Liz: “How long have you been here now?”

Thurmond: “Two years.”

Liz: “How long have you been working with the city trying to get something done?”

Thurmond: “Since I bought the place, and the previous homeowners were working with the city as well.”

The previous homeowner emailed the city in 2022 writing: “Have a sinkhole in my front yard. For approximately 14 months, the cause has been a stormwater culvert that spans from Richmond Road across the entire width of the property. The culvert is metal and has rusted out of the bottom. I feel this is a dangerous situation.”

A city worker responded three weeks later writing in the work order: “Unable to locate the box that has the pipe traveling the direction of the sinkhole. The crawler will not go through the pipe due to holes throughout the metal pipe.”

The city writes in another work order five months later: “There is a box located at 158 feet with a cross pipe going towards Richmond Hill Road after 46 feet it turns into metal again and the pipe is ok condition.”

The city patched the pipe with cement the next day.

ANOTHER I-TEAM INVESTIGATION:

“It’s literally one long thing that starts at the road and goes under the driveway and goes over there,” said Thurmond.

Thurmond sent pictures to engineering in June 2023.

“We have another serious issue. The drain was backed up and completely washed out our driveway,” she said.

But the city closed out the work order two days later, writing “Don’t see nothing with the driveway.”

“As you can see it’s getting closer to my shop, and every heavy rain creates a longer part of the trench or spreads outward, and it’s dangerously close to the shop,” she said.

The most recent work order is dated January of this year.

Liz: “Have they closed out work orders? Do you know?”

Thurmond: “Nobody talks to me.”

We checked. The work order is still open six months later.

“It’s terrible. We pay to live here. Why isn’t appropriate action being taken?” asked Thurmond.

Not only does she pay her property taxes, but also stormwater fees that go to capitol projects like replacing and repairing storm pipes.

A work order from December 2020 shows the city used capital funds to replace the pipe, but they only filled in the sinkhole they did not replace the pipe.

The same year, the city spent more than $800,000 on capital projects collected from stormwater fees.

“It’s past frustration. I’m like how you can neglect taxpayers like this because this is clearly not our problem,” said Thurmond.

Our I-TEAM reached out to the director of engineering but have not heard back.

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Augusta, GA

Augusta program provides resources to parents, students

Published

2 hours ago

July 27, 2024

Press Room

Augusta program provides resources to parents, students

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – We are less than 10 days away from another school year in Richmond and Columbia counties, and parents getting prepared.

But it can be hard on your wallet.

On Friday, “Living in Purpose” helped with more than just school supplies.

Hundreds of families had a good time while stocking up on school supplies over at the purpose center. Organizers say they went through all 100 of their backpacks within an hour.

But many families and incoming students say Friday today was more than just a handout.

Families took advantage of free backpacks, haircuts and shoe raffles ahead of the new school year.

Event leaders say Friday really shows the growing need for families when it comes to school supplies.

“I mean, the way that it’s looking right now, I probably needed 200 book bags. The goal is for us to target the kids’ right hand to direct the community. But we have kids coming from all over the community because there is such a great need,” said Kamilah Freeman, executive administrator for “Living in Purpose”.

Organizers say it’s really about the resources they’re trying to bring to the at-risk youth in the community.

“We are targeting youth to prevent them from going through things in life teaching them about integrity, purpose character, helping them to know that they have a purpose in life and to be all that they can be,” said Freeman.

School supplies needed at Murphy-Harpst Evolve Initiative

Along with free supplies, they’re offering mentorship and after-school programs to families for their kids to get involved in.

Joshua Hawthorne says he’s a product of that, and it’s motivating him to reach for places he never dreamed of before.

“I got between sort of three choices right now that I want to go to. Kelsey, JSU or Talladega,” he said.

It’s a community effort to remind the next generation what they’re capable of.

Freeman said: “It is so rewarding to me because I see them when they come in and I see them as they’re progressing. I see their heads going from down to being lifted up I see their chest coming up. I see smiles on their face and they are gaining hope and I love it”

With the start of the new school year for Richmond County, “Living in Purpose” will resume its after-school programs for kids to get assistance with homework and other essential needs.

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Augusta, GA

Cold case solved: Suspect arrested in 2019 Augusta slaying

Published

9 hours ago

July 26, 2024

Press Room

Cold case solved: Suspect arrested in 2019 Augusta slaying

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a suspect in connection with a 2019 murder.

On Dec. 30, 2019, at 4:47 am., the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office responded to 2106 Bayvale Road to investigate the murder of Dwayne Lane, 52.

The case had remained in a cold case status until Friday.

The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division was able to find and interview original witnesses as well as new witnesses.

As a result, investigators were able to arrest Willie Ferrell, 42, in connection with the killing.

Ferrell was booked into the Charles B. Webster Detention Center.

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Augusta, GA

Complete this survey to create a more climate resilient Augusta

Published

16 hours ago

July 26, 2024

Press Room

Complete this survey to create a more climate resilient Augusta

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The University of Georgia is seeking the public’s help in creating more climate resilience in Augusta.

The project aims to address the impacts of climate change in vulnerable and underserved communities in Georgia.

The team consists of a group of climate scientists from UGA, who are partnering with the Georgia Climate Project (GCP), Greater Augusta’s Interfaith Coalition (GAIC) and Black Voters Matter (BVM).

“We noticed there is a lot of resilience work going on around Atlanta and the coast, but there is this big swath in the middle of Georgia that is not getting a lot of attention,” said Dr. Patricia Yager. “A lot of folks are being impacted but not getting resources. So, UGA and the Georgia Climate Project asked around to see who was interested and we got a lot of enthusiasm from the Augusta community. This is hoping to be a model effort for other communities across the state.”

The team will help provide climate risk information to underserved communities in Augusta.

The project will also offer guidance and resources for making good decisions to respond to extreme weather.

Resilient solutions include:

Designing infrastructure to direct water to planted areas can reduce flooding.
Electric public transportation can reduce emissions that worsen air quality.
Increasing green spaces in the city, like installing green roofs, can reduce urban heat.

The project team says their goal is to “listen to Augusta residents, interpret Augusta-specific climate science data and identify solutions to help Augusta residents cope with extreme weather.”

To complete the survey, visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe7PTfE8WIx1O-NRBrCjn2ujh_KhmW66_Rhn7dEg9FuOEggNQ/viewform.

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