AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Tuesday could also mean a big change in the Augusta government.

Voters will decide on a change to the charter by voting either yes or no to giving the mayor a vote at the commission.

The charter was created when the county and city 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 EMS provider last year.

Clerk: Mr. Bobby Williams?

Williams: Abstain.

In 2024, there was a standstill over naming an administrator this year.

“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.

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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.

Commissioner Tony Lewis: “Is it a reflection that you are not doing your job, or your department is not doing their job, or things are getting by your department? I mean help me out.”

Donna Williams, finance director, said: “I will certainly take ownership over anything I have control over.”

Meaning commissioners only answer to commissioners.

Commissioner Brandon Garrett said: “I’m just trying to understand we as elected officials are personally able to make changes to building projects that are taking place in our district.”

Commissioner Sean Frantom said: “I think it’s important the citizens support a charter review and I’m convinced, or someone will bring it up in the next few months because it needs to be reviewed.”

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.

A Newman Tennis Center spokesperson said, “The neglect of Newman hurt our local players but cost Richmond County millions.”

It wasn’t the conditions or the loss of a tournament, it was an EEO complaint that cost the parks and rec director his job.

Earlier this month, another resignation — the city attorney.

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

Frantom said: “I truly believe we need to be more of a city manager form of government. I believe the manager ought to have the ability to do the hiring and firing of the 16-17 department heads that we hire.”

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 Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson.

The best players will tell you the only way to win a game is by serving.

We asked Mayor Johnson what’s his first priority if voters vote yes on Tuesday.

He said it’s to make a motion to partner with the Carl Vinson Institute of Government for a charter review.

Carl Vinson Institute of Government, part of the University of Georgia, creates policies and charters for local governments in Georgia.

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A modern American diner named for its proximity to legendary Carnegie Hall makes its first foray outside of the New York tri-state area next month.

Carnegie Diner & Cafe (501 Maple Avenue W., Vienna, Virginia) will debut on June 5 in the 3,200-square-foot space that housed short-lived Yellow Diner. The original Carnegie Diner & Cafe opened off Central Park near Carnegie Hall in 2019, followed by another large Midtown Manhattan location and a third in Secaucus, N.J. The fledgling diner has no affiliation with NYC’s famed pastrami house Carnegie Deli.

Its newest 92-seat edition brings all-day breakfast and its popular 24-layer chocolate cakes down I-95. Its Greek owner and executive chef Stathis Antonakopoulos has ties to D.C., having served as director of operations at Kellari on K Street NW.

Breakfast served from opening to close (7 a.m. to 10 p.m.) includes lobster-topped eggs Benedict, avocado toast, a BLT quinoa bowl, steak and eggs, a dozen types of pancakes, decadent waffles, and French toast. Lunch and dinner brings rib-eye steak, burgers, salads, Atlantic salmon, fish n’ chips, shrimp spaghetti, and spaghetti carbonara to the table. The menu also swings from sugary sweets (pies, cupcakes, and over-the-top milkshakes) to a full page of healthy entrees like a souvlaki platter and Impossible vegan burger.

Nearby neighbor Vienna Roastery will fuel the diner’s bottomless coffee component and espresso bar. Anytime-brunch drinks like mimosas, bellinis, and bloody marys join wine, beer and cocktails at the bar.

To honor its NYC roots, the space will showcase supersized photos of Carnegie Hall’s iconic concert stage and portraits of past musicians performing at the centuries-old landmark venue.

Yellow Diner at the Village Green shopping center opened only two months ago in a former Suntrust Bank branch, and its owners from Nostos Restaurant opted to close and hand the diner off to Carnegie.

Antonakopoulos’ Carnegie Hospitality also owns and operates Italian Piazza and Carnegie Catering, as well as delivery ghost kitchens like Organic Burger House, NYC Pancake House and NYC Pastrami House.

Carnegie Diner is the latest Manhattan eatery to make moves into the D.C. area. Cafe Fiorello, the Italian fixture across from Lincoln Center since 1974, will open later this year in the old Tadich Grill space along Pennsylvania Avenue NW.

HOUSTON – Austin Energy crews were up early Monday morning working to restore power in Houston after recent severe weather.

It’s a tough job with a lot of challenges, according to team supervisor Landry Bertsch.

“Traffic’s bad. The weather is hot. It’s humid. There are mosquitoes. We’re running into a lot of property line work. A lot of damaging wind came through here and tore up the system pretty bad,” said Bertsch.

The Austin Energy crews are currently assigned to the Katy area. The focus is on repairing what’s described as the backbone of the local power grid, which is supplied by CenterPoint Energy.

“The customers are eager to get their lights on. They’ve been out of power now for a few days, and they’re getting, they’re getting kind of antsy,” said Bertsch.

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The storm hit the Houston area Thursday with 100 mph winds.

“It blew through here, something scary, very scary. Like in my adult life, it’s about as scared as I’ve been,” said Houston resident Jose Flores.

Flores took a break from clearing the damage at his house to thank the utility crew working down the street.

“I’m grateful for all the help. I know that sometimes, you see, you know, disasters like this and other municipalities come in. Oh, no. Greatly appreciate you. Love you guys. Thank you,” said Flores.

It is a slow and methodical process, according to Paul Vasquez, director of Electric System Field Ops with Austin Energy. Twenty-one line workers rolled out of Austin early Saturday as part of a mutual aid deployment. By that afternoon, they were already restoring power.

“The first day, that partial day, they were able to restore 700 customers. The second day there were 1,500 customers. And then, I spoke with the employee in charge over there, and he told me that they’re starting to get on some of the bigger project work,” said Vasquez.

The Austin Energy team is assigned to work only during daylight hours.

“So CenterPoint has their staff working 24 hours around the clock. They’re more familiar with it. So at night, they know where to go, what to patrol. And then what they find is our crews will come in the morning, and they’ll work during the daylight hours, and they’ll work from sunup to sundown,” said Vasquez.

The team is prepared to be in Houston for the remainder of the week.

“The mood with Austin Energy guys is incredible. Everybody’s eager. Everybody wants to help. Everybody’s excited. They’re glad they’re here,” said Bertsch.