Augusta, GA
More money approved for Diamond Lakes, boat house repairs
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Getting the long-troubled restrooms up and running at Diamond Lakes Regional Park was a rocky journey.
Even rockier than we knew.
Almost $155,000 was approved Tuesday by the Augusta Commission to pay for more work than was originally planned for the restroom and concession building at the park.
The work was needed to correct a few problems uncovered after the last round of repairs and improvements.
The problems included vandalism and graffiti, ceiling tiles, pressure washing, painting and a plumbing issue with some drain lines.
The city asked the contractor to go ahead and make the fixes back before the improvements debuted in September. The additional money was approved Tuesday to pay the contractor for that extra work.
A week after the sudden and immediate resignation of Parks and Recreation Director Maurice McDowell – along with his request for three months of “severance” pay – parks and recreation facilities were prominent on Tuesday’s agenda of the commission.
Among them were plans for the troubled Augusta Boat House.
After water pipes broke during a freeze, water gushed out and created damage and a mold infestation that’s brought months of discussion over whether to salvage the building or demolish it and start fresh.
The commission on Tuesday approved $400,000 to help fix the Augusta Rowing Club’s space and start to renovate parts of the building that need help.
The commission also received options on what the two entryway gates of the Riverwalk may look like with Ed McIntyre’s name on it. The commission recently voted to name the Riverwalk for the former mayor.
Ultimately the commission approved this design Tuesday:
Meanwhile the city’s interim administrator, Takiyah Douse, addressed a mass email sent out by the operator of the Fifth Street Marina.
The marina operator claims the city had the water and power service shut off to the docks, forcing many boat owners to relocate.
She said a lot of conversation still needs to be had before service is completely shut off. But if that must happen, there would be considerable notice.
She also negated the marina operator’s claim of lack of maintenance.
At Diamond Lakes
The Diamond Lakes repairs and improvements have been welcome to many.
The building has been plagued for years by faulty plumbing, repair delays and vandalism.
The city says the facilities have been an issue for Diamond Lakes going back to when they opened in 2012. Back then, it was just water leakage, but since 2019 leading up to the beginning of 2023, more than $900,000 had already gone into fixing up these buildings that keep on having issues.
Last February, the Augusta Commission approved another $850,000 in SPLOST 7 and 8 funds as a final fix, bringing that final price tag fix to around $1.75 million.
City officials said from there, the facilities would initially be completed by spring but continued to see delays into the summer. On top of construction delays and piping issues, there was vandalism.
The restrooms opened just in time for the USSSA Military Worlds softball tournament which brought in thousands of veterans from across the country and overseas.
Copyright 2023 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
TikToker cleans father’s hoarded house – and goes viral
Madison Lovelle posts videos online while going through and cleaning her childhood home after her father died.
Housing costs are often the biggest Georgians deal with every month, so it’s important to try and save money where possible.
Last week, WalletHub released its ranking of the most affordable cities to buy a home. It analyzed 300 cities based on 10 metrics, with the biggest weight going to housing affordability and cost per square foot.
Best city to buy a home in Georgia?
Augusta ranked the highest among Georgia cities, ranking 8th overall and 3rd best in the midsized cities list.
Augusta real estate prices
According to Zillow, as of March, the median list price for a house in Georgia is $205,000 with a median sale price of $187,283. About 57% of sales are under the list price.
The average rent, as of April, is $1,365 per month.
Augusta cost of living
The MIT Living Wage Calculator reports the hourly pay needed to support yourself and/or your family, assuming full-time employment. For Richmond County (Augusta), it’s $20.31 for one adult, $28.16 for a two-adult household with one working, and $14.08 for a two-adult household with both working.
Children obviously increase the wage needed. Depending on how many adults are working, the necessary pay figures may increase by up to $13 for just one child, with more needed for additional children.
Worst city to buy a home in Georgia?
The Georgia city with the lowest ranking on the list overall was Sandy Springs. However, with 300 cities, landing at No. 151 doesn’t make it nearly the worst in the nation. Sandy Springs was No. 56 on the small cities list.
What are the best cities to buy a home in US?
- Flint, MI
- Detroit, MI
- Surprise, AZ
- Yuma, AZ
- Akron, OH
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Memphis, TN
- Augusta, GA
- Indianapolis, IN
- Cleveland, OH
Miguel Legoas is a Deep South Connect Team Reporter for USA Today. Find him on Instagram @miguelegoas and email at mlegoas@gannett.com.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – Senate candidate Derek Dooley made several visits to the area on Friday.
Dooley had stops in both Lincolnton and Augusta on May 29 and was joined by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp for his “Georgia First” tour. He spoke about one of the issues he finds in politics.
“But the other piece of it is the corruption. People sit on these committees. They have access to information that none of us have. And then you look up 2 or 3 years down the road and their wealth is just skyrocketing,” Dooley said. “You’re outperforming every investor out there. And I think it’s shameful. I think it erodes trust. It’s something that I will never do.”
“Politicians were out there getting paid. They were coming back home. They’re raising money and campaigning while the government shut down,” Kemp said. “What Derek’s saying, if he’s up there, we’re not going to allow legislators to get paid. We’re going to take away their benefits. That way, you won’t ever have another shutdown again.”
Dooley is facing Congressman Mike Collins in a runoff for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate.
The winner of the Republican nomination will face incumbent Sen. Jon Ossoff in November.
Photojournalist credit: Regynal McKie
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A man has been arrested after he was accused of hitting two women at Piedmont Hospital in Augusta.
The incident happened on May 14 around 12 a.m.
According to arrest warrants, Bruce Bland struck one victim with a closed hand several times in the face. Bland also threw a garbage can at the victim, hitting her in the head.
The warrant states the victim suffered a bruise on her face.
Bland also hit another victim with a closed hand on her mouth, according to the warrants. She suffered swelling and a bruise on her mouth.
Bland is charged with battery and simple battery, according to the warrants. Both charges are misdemeanors.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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