Blame for public works problems is shuffled around

"Double, double, toil and trouble; fire burn and cauldron bubble."

Augusta Administrator Fred Russell wasted 15 minutes of life's precious breath last week recounting the benefits of splitting the city's Public Works department into three divisions - solid waste, maintenance and engineering - and relegating current Director Teresa Smith to director of engineering.

Likewise, Jimmy Smith, chairman of the engineering subcommittee appointed last year to study ways of improving the department, wasted his breath when he reminded his colleagues that the subcommittee was formed because of letters of complaint about the department and Mrs. Smith.

The letters came from Planning Commission Director George Patty; developer Oliver W. Owens, principal of Southern Specialty Development Co.; A. Zachary Everitt, attorney for Georgia Vitrified Brick & Clay Co.; David R. Darby, president of Kuhlke Construction Co.; James G. Swift Associates; Mark Graham, president of Southern Partners Inc.; Nathan Youngblood Jr., CEO of Nordahl Homes Inc.; and J. Davis Trotter, president of the Builders Association of Metro Augusta.

The complaints center around the length of time it takes to get their plans reviewed and the department's business-unfriendly attitude.

No sooner had Mr. Smith made his opening comments than Mayor Pro Tem Marion Williams began accusing him and Commissioner Don Grantham of being on a witch hunt.

Mr. Smith's and Mr. Grantham's denials didn't make a dent.

Finally, Mr. Smith asked Mr. Williams if he thought the material the subcommittee put together was false information.

"Yes sir, y'all ain't showed me nothing," Mr. Williams said.

He said evidence was not the same as documentation.

Mr. Williams' and Commissioner Willie Mays' complaints about the situation included:

 •  A deal floated last year by Mr. Grantham and others to fire former Administrator George Kolb in exchange for firing Mrs. Smith

 •  Meetings between Mrs. Smith's subordinates, commissioners and developers concerning design plans about which she was not apprised

 •  Criticism from developers who have done faulty work in the past that Mr. Mays says the city is now paying millions to remedy

 •  The special Richmond County grand jury that severely criticized black officials, including former Fire Chief Ronnie Few, Purchasing Director Geri Sams, and now-deceased Commissioners Lee Beard and Henry Brigham. No criminal charges were filed against anyone. The black officials resent the fact that no apologies or further explanation has been given.

Mr. Few was investigated by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the case was turned over to a Savannah district attorney who kept it for a year and then said there would be no indictment. Mr. Few said no one except the newspaper has ever called or written to inform him the case had ended.

Privately, and not so privately, black officials say Mrs. Smith has been targeted because she is black and won't go along with the "good-old-boy system." Privately, white commissioners say black commissioners are defending her because she is black even though they know full well the problems in public works are serious.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Smith said if by chance there is a witch hunt, there's no question who the witch would be.

WHO'S DYSFUNCTIONAL? Because of conflicting House committee meetings, Rep. Sue Burmeister has missed recent Augusta delegation meetings to hear discussions about reforming the local government. Now that the other members appear to be shutting the door on pursuing those changes in favor of focusing solely on the city's economic problems, Mrs. Burmeister said she remains optimistic but still doubtful a bill can move forward.

As for the argument that changing the local government process would have no bearing on business, she says the city has gotten a bad reputation around the state to the point that when she tells others she's from Augusta she often hears back: "Oh, I'm sorry."

"Well, I'm not sorry," she said. "I hear it, so I don't know why they (the other legislators) are not hearing it, and I know that has an impact on bringing in new businesses. The biggest economic reform we could do for Augusta is make it so the perception is not that there's a dysfunctional government."

CAN I GET A SECOND OPINION? Rep. Henry Howard said last week he wants more input from Augusta officials on city Administrator Fred Russell's request that the local delegation look at abolishing the elected marshal's position now held by Steve Smith and folding the department into the sheriff's office. Mr. Russell said the move would save $495,000 a year, but Mr. Howard is not convinced.

What he wants is a resolution from Augusta commissioners calling for the change, but the commission didn't create the elected position. Legislators at the behest of former Rep. Robin Williams did, and word is there won't be a resolution.

"I put that on the back burner for now," Mr. Howard said.

HERE'S WHAT THEY DO BEST: A committee of Richmond County's seven legislators will meet soon to discuss pay raises for local office holders. Rep. Pete Warren, who is heading the four-member study committee, said he is gathering current paycheck information about county officials, such as judges, commissioners, sheriff and the mayor and how much local officials make elsewhere in Georgia, as well as whether Augusta's officials work harder than their counterparts elsewhere.

WHITEHEAD FIGHTS THE ESTABLISHMENT: Sen. Jim Whitehead, a Republican from Evans, was one of seven senators to vote against a statewide smoking ban and the only member of the upper chamber to speak in opposition to the measure Thursday before it passed. In arguing for the preservation of veterans' rights to light up cigarettes if they want, Mr. Whitehead invoked the question that would make any Georgia conservative shudder: Do we really want to be like San Francisco? It seems the home of the hippie counterculture recently becoming the first major city in the country to outlaw smoking in outdoor parks and recreation centers, receiving some criticism for acting like a "nanny state."

HE RESEMBLED THOSE REMARKS: Citizens Action Committee legal counsel David Fry said state Sen. Charles Walker's comments in City Ink last week about Mr. Fry getting his facts wrong in his presentation before the legislative delegation were wrong.

Mr. Walker was quoted as saying if Richmond County went to at-large voting, it would be the only county in America with at-large voting.

"In Florida alone, there are 37 counties with at-large voting, and more are changing back to at-large voting," Mr. Fry said.

Mr. Walker was also wrong when he said the state House and Senate have tie votes.

"As a practical matter, if the vote is a tie, the bill is defeated," Mr. Fry said.

"OK," Mr. Walker said last week. "I guess whatever he says, goes."

City Ink thanks Morris News Service Staff Writer Vicky Eckenrode for her contribution to this week's column.

Reach Sylvia Cooper at (706) 823-3228 or sylvia.cooper@augustachronicle.com.