Augusta, GA

I-TEAM UPDATE: Concerns continue about use of Augusta’s stormwater fees

Published

6 months ago

July 12, 2024

I-TEAM UPDATE: Concerns continue about use of Augusta’s stormwater fees

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – City leaders say in a matter of weeks, they will replace a pipe causing sinkholes around an Augusta woman’s yard.

The homeowner has been fighting for years to get the city to fix the problem like many others paying a stormwater fee.

This is one of more than a dozen projects the city lists on its website under stormwater fees.

If you are a downtown commuter like most, then you’ve probably been caught up in stalled traffic at the some intersections.

Outside of downtown, homeowners are frustrated by years’ worth of stalled projects impacting their property.

The sinkhole grows larger, and patience grows shorter.

MORE STORMWATER PROBLEMS:

“It expanded two inches towards the shop,” said Chelsea Thurmond. “I finally started going out there and measuring now.”

News 12 met Thurmond a month ago — four years into her battle with the city of Augusta.

“The trench is what I now call it,” said Thurmond.

A war trench of sorts in the middle of no man’s land.

A city drainage pipe runs from the street through her property, straight to the sinkhole.

“We were told we would get answers but never heard from anybody. As taxpayers, I don’t feel like we need to harass the city to get something done,” she said.

But after years of patchwork jobs, there are still no real answers.

“I’ve tried calling and I haven’t heard from anybody,” said Thurmond.

The same week we first told you her story, engineering sent a crew to her house.

“They came and dug around a few places sprayed some red paint on the ground over there and dug right into our water line and busted that,” she said.

In an email, the director of engineering says he transitioned the project to a small capital project and his construction staff is “getting a fee proposal from our on-call contractor in the next few weeks they will schedule work.”

A work order from 2020 was also approved as a capital project, but city workers handled it, not a contractor. By handling, they filled in the sinkhole at the time, not replacing the storm pipe.

The director of engineering says the storm system is aging and there are multiple failures across the county. At that time in 2020, he had members of his team leave for other jobs.

“If the outdated infrastructure is any indication, I am almost positive I am not the only person with the same infrastructure issue around the city,” said Thurmond.

MORE FROM THE I-TEAM:

“Every time it rains, we end up with a hole in the yard. The more it rains, the bigger it gets,” she said.

Years of complaints and findings from an auditor in February do not add up.

Emails the I-TEAM received on Friday show the on-call contractor quote to fix the sinkhole at $170,000.

“I highly doubt it would have been that expensive. Instead of doing it all at one time when the issue arose so many years ago, they could have easily done that instead of choosing to waste taxpayers’ money by putting dirt in the hole. I could have put dirt in a hole,” said Thurmond.

Commissioners are working on a list of projects to dedicate $300 million in SPLOST funds next year, which is a separate fund from the stormwater fee.

The administrator wants the focus of the funds to go to infrastructure, but some elected officials are considering spending the money on a water park.

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Augusta, GA

Wayfair Outlet store opens at the Augusta Exchange

Published

3 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

11 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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Augusta, GA

WATCH LIVE: How Augusta is preparing for icy winter blast

Published

19 hours ago

January 9, 2025

Press Room

WATCH LIVE: How Augusta is preparing for icy winter blast

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Preparations are underway in Augusta for winter weather that’s expected to begin Friday morning.

Augusta Fire/EMA says they are working closely with county departments and preparing for the weather forecast to impact North and Central Georgia from 7 a.m. Friday to 7 a.m. Saturday.

“The system is expected to bring a mix of rain, freezing rain, sleet, and snow, beginning Friday morning and continuing through the evening, with hazardous travel and power outages likely,” the city said in a statement.

On Thursday, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp declared a statewide State of Emergency, effective immediately through Tuesday, Jan. 14.

“The Georgia Department of Transportation, along with the Department of Public Safety, began treating roads early this morning to prepare for the approaching winter storm, and I’m asking all Georgians to help them do their jobs by limiting travel as much as possible in the coming days,” said Kemp. “Hazardous conditions, including ice and snow, can develop quickly and make travel very dangerous. Plan ahead and stay tuned to updates from state and local officials to ensure you and your loved ones remain safe while our first responders continue to work tirelessly throughout this weather event.”

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Ice accumulation is anticipated north of I-20, creating dangerous road conditions and the potential for widespread power disruptions. Freezing temperatures also increase the risk of hypothermia and frostbite for those exposed to the cold, according to Augusta officials.

The Georgia Department of Transportation began active brine operations overnight which continued Thursday morning across metro Atlanta and north Georgia. They say the application of brine will continue throughout Thursday in areas expected to be the most impacted by snow accumulation, sleet and freezing rain.

Crews are working 12-hour shifts and are prioritizing treating interstates, state routes, bridges and overpasses both north and south of and along I-20, according to the department.

Snowplow and removal crews and additional equipment will arrive Thursday and will respond in support of metro Atlanta crews when snow begins to fall, and active removal begins

City officials say the Emergency Operations Center is at Level 3 monitoring, ensuring all city departments are ready to respond.

The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office will be conducting shelter checks, and the Marshal’s Office is on standby to assist as needed, according to officials. Augusta Utilities is protecting critical systems, issuing notices to help residents safeguard pipes, and preparing generators as well.

Augusta Engineering is pre-treating roads and preparing snow removal equipment, while Parks and Recreation is securing outdoor facilities and readying shelters for potential use.

City officials encourage you to avoid unnecessary travel and drive cautiously if travel is essential.

They also ask that you prepare homes by insulating pipes, securing outdoor items and assembling emergency kits. Check on vulnerable neighbors, and use generators safely to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning as well.

Shelters are available for those in need, including the Salvation Army Center of Hope, Garden City Rescue Mission and Augusta Rescue Mission.

At this time, officials say no ID checks will be required for shelter access.

With the forecast of potential ice accumulation across the region, there is a possibility for fallen trees and downed power lines. If you come across either, the Georgia Department of Transportation asks that you do not cross them and report them to your local authorities or 911.

They say it’s best to turn around and take an alternative route and to not try to clear tree limbs or other debris from roads as live power lines might be tangled in debris and pose a deadly hazard.

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