Commission bill is still in works

ATLANTA - With a stalemate and racial division hampering the Augusta Commission, state Sen. J.B. Powell, D-Blythe, said he plans to introduce his bill proposing changes to Augusta-Richmond County's consolidated government before the end of January.

But he said he hopes to reach a consensus with other Democratic members of Richmond County's legislative delegation about the proposals before introducing the local bill.

Mr. Powell said Tuesday that he remains optimistic about finding middle ground to push the measure forward this year.

Other Augusta lawmakers have said they oppose some of the changes Mr. Powell has suggested, including giving the mayor veto power and moving to a simple majority vote on the 10-member commission so that items no longer have to get six votes to pass. Commissioners are sometimes able to thwart legislation by abstaining to prevent a measure from getting the needed six votes.

"I have not backed off anything," Mr. Powell said. "We're going to have some dialogue about it. We do have some points that we agree on. We'll haggle over the parts that we don't."

Mr. Powell said he realized that he might have to amend his legislation to get more support from the rest of the county's team, particularly on the House side.

His bill would also make county commissioners' abstentions count as "no" votes, require a simple majority of the commission to pass ordinances and drop the commission's two super districts.

The changes would have to go before voters in a referendum.

Sen. Ed Tarver, D-Augusta, met with Mr. Powell on Tuesday to discuss the bill.

Mr. Tarver said he received a number of phone calls Monday from his district after another contentious meeting involving commissioners.

On Monday, the commission was forced to delay making committee appointments because it has been unable to elect a mayor pro tem.

"The situation appears to be getting worse," Mr. Tarver said.

The county's legislative delegation is scheduled to have its first meeting this morning.