AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – In May, voters decided to to change the charter by voting yes to giving the mayor a vote on the Augusta commission.

Monday is the first day the vote takes effect.

In May’s election, 74% of voters said yes to the referendum question, compared to 26% who said no.

Up until the election, the mayor was only able to vote to break a tie. But frustrated with political maneuvers that avoided a tie and kept him from voting, Mayor Garnett Johnson proposed a change giving him a full vote.

How did we get to this point?

The charter was created when Richmond County and the city of Augusta became one government nearly three decades ago.

Think of it as the game rules for the Augusta government — game rules are very different than any other consolidated government in the state of Georgia.

Politics is like tennis.

It’s your play when the ball is in your court. But Augusta-Richmond County consolidated government rules of the game are like no other in Georgia.

Players can skip a match to delay the game.

In January 2023, Commissioner Bobby Williams chose not to vote.

Voting no would have given an even split, giving the mayor the tie-breaking vote. A yes vote would have approved the contract but since he abstained, he stopped dead in the water.

In 2023, a standstill over naming an ambulance provider last year.

In 2024, there was a standstill over naming a city administrator.

“We went through the process of hiring an administrator through the process that’s in the charter, and we followed it to a T,” said Commissioner Sean Frantom.

The charter: A legal playbook of power born from a marriage between city and county 27 years ago.

In a May commission meeting, Commissioner Bobby Williams said: “You had basically five white districts and five Black districts, and to get the sixth vote, someone had to work across the aisle.”

Augusta-Richmond County is one of eight consolidated governments in Georgia — one of the four with a mayor.

The balance of power varies.

The mayors of Athens-Clark and Macon-Bibb have veto powers over the commission.

Mayors of Augusta-Richmond and Columbus-Muscogee have limited power, but Columbus has a county manager responsible for the hiring, firing and management of department heads.

That power falls on our commissioners, meaning each department head answers to ten bosses.

Meaning commissioners only answer to commissioners.

For more than two years, an interim administrator has led the city. For more than two years, an interim director has led Central Services in her absence.

The longer time goes by, the longer the line of dominoes.

In the beginning of May, another resignation — the city attorney.

Four of the city’s top leadership positions are now empty, left to commissioners to fill.

The Carl Vinson Institute of Government presented information to commissioners about changing the role of administrator to county manager in the charter.

A year later, there’s been no movement by commissioners.

Now, there’s a new idea and a new game rule.

“This allows the voters of Richmond County to decide what’s best for their government, not the Commission,” said Mayor Johnson.

Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Shepeard Community Blood Center is kicking off its 2nd Annual Botox for Blood event starting on Monday.

Anyone who gives blood at any Shepeard Blood Drive during the event until July 3, will earn a free Botox treatment from Southern Dermatology.

“Blood usage typically increases around the July 4th holiday,” says Shepeard CEO Benjamin Prijatel. “Botox for Blood ensures that local doctors and nurses have the lifesaving tools they need to respond to emergencies.”

Participating donors will receive a $150 gift certificate that can be used for Botox or a similar treatment at Southern Dermatology in Augusta or Aiken.

The certificates are non-transferable and limited to one per person. Donors must meet donor and patient eligibility requirements to qualify for the free Botox treatment.

The event would not be possible without the owners of Southern Dermatology, Mike and Dr. Briana Brown. All Botox treatments are generously donated to Shepeard by Southern Dermatology free of charge.

The inaugural Botox for Blood event in 2023 was very popular, and Shepeard expects even more people to participate this year.

Appointments are strongly encouraged.

A complete list of donation locations can be found at https://shepeardblood.org/botox-for-blood/.

Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.

Appling, GA – Entered into rest on June 27, 2024, Mr. Ellis “Nick” Young III, husband of 54 years to Patricia Walls Young. He is also survived by his son: Matthew Ellis Young (Summer); daughter: Amy Nicole Baisden (Bob); grandchildren: Banks Ellis Young, Justice Ann Pennington, Nicholas Patrick Pennington, William Matthew Young and Jacob Robert Baisden. Other family members include Jean and the late Danny Posey, Frank Bennett and Family, Ron and Lisa Wheatley, Chelsea and Ben. 

Nick was a native and lifelong resident of the Augusta area. He attended Houghton Elementary School, Tubman Middle School and the Academy of Richmond County. At the age of 16, he began working in the family roofing business, Young’s Roofing, with his father and later with his son Matt. He loved his family and friends with all of his heart, and they loved him. His smile would light up a room and his laughter was infectious. 

Nick was co-owner of Neptune Dive and Ski. He was an avid scuba diver into his old age and skier in his younger days. He traveled everywhere in the world Scuba Diving, seeing everything from shipwrecks to huge sea turtles and feeding sharks. Nick helped teach and oversaw countless beginner divers; both training them in the pool and caravanning them to West Palm Beach and other places for their first dive in “open water”. He was a patient assistant instructor and a great diver himself. To know him underwater, people could not believe his agility and laughed about his ability to sleep and chew tobacco 100 feet under the water. Sharing his love of the ocean and adventure brought him the most joy. Scuba diving with his three oldest grandchildren was one of his proudest moments. Chances are that he and his close friend Danny Posey are diving in the depths of the ocean that they could never dive here on earth.

The funeral service will be Monday, July 1, 2024, at 2:00 PM in the chapel of Thomas Poteet and Son Funeral Directors with Rev. Greg Hatfield officiating. Burial will follow at Bellevue Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends Sunday, June 30, 2024, from 3:00 until 6:00 PM at the funeral home. 

Pallbearers will be Richard Bradshaw, Frank Bennett, Keith Anderson, Banks Young, Nick Pennington, Bob Baisden, Dan Posey and Ron Wheatley. Memorial contributions may be made to the Florida Hawksbill Project: 4419 West Tradewinds Avenue, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33308.

Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors, 214 Davis Rd., Augusta, GA 30907 (706) 364-8484. Please sign the guestbook at www.thomaspoteet.com.