Willie Law and Keith Brown are staying on the Augusta-Richmond County Coliseum Authority after all, at least for now.
Mayor Pro Tem Alvin Mason and Commissioner Corey Johnson had planned to appoint replacements at Wednesday's commission meeting. But both commissioners withdrew their nominees' names, not wanting their first picks to be short-timers because of stipulations in a restructuring bill likely to pass in Atlanta this week.
Mr. Mason wanted to appoint Charles E. Harris, an Army retiree and a food manager at East Augusta Middle School. Mr. Johnson chose Bonita Jenkins, Augusta Technical College's marketing director.
Mr. Mason had vowed to boot Mr. Law when his term ended Tuesday, saying he didn't want predecessor Bernard Harper's appointment doing any more damage to the authority's public image.
A bill that passed in the state House on Monday, which is likely to clear the Senate by week's end, calls for a new seven-member board starting July 1. Any commission appointees serving then would have to sit out a year.
Mr. Mason said he doesn't like the idea of Mr. Law staying on the board three more months and he might recruit a temporary replacement. He said he'll make a decision before the next commission meeting.
"One thing's for sure. He's there for the next three weeks," Mr. Mason said. "Now I've got to play the hand that I've been dealt, and I'm not a happy camper behind it."
Mr. Johnson said he'll leave Mr. Brown in place.
"They can tolerate him for a few more months; let's put it that way," Mr. Johnson said.
Under the restructuring bill, the five commissioners from each of the two super districts will appoint three coliseum authority members each. The seventh member will be a chairman, appointed by the legislative delegation, who only votes to break a tie.
Also on Wednesday, representatives of Global Spectrum, the company hired by the current coliseum authority last year to manage the James Brown Arena and Bell Auditorium, made a presentation to the commission on an invitation from Commissioner Joe Bowles.
Augusta civic center complex General Manager Monty Jones touted the company's success in filling seats and raising revenues, and Global Spectrum Regional Vice President Douglas Higgons said the company hopes to have a minor league franchise -- from what sport he doesn't know -- based in the James Brown Arena by the company's second or third year.
Mr. Bowles said he wanted to open a line of communication between Global Spectrum and the commission, which will be deciding how to redistribute the coliseum authority's hotel/motel and beer tax funds -- currently about $2.3 million a year -- after a bond is paid off in February.
"I definitely think (Mr. Jones) will play an integral part in the discussion of how much they need to fund their operation," Mr. Bowles said.
Reach Johnny Edwards at (706) 823-3225 or johnny.edwards@augustachronicle.com.
Other action from Wednesday night's meeting
- Honored Joseph Connor and his uncles Stanley and Charles Connor for pulling a family from a burning house in the 3200 block of Kevin Drive on March 6. Six-year-old Shakira Rouse survived, but her mother, Yolanda Hankerson, 36; sister Laquisha Rouse, 9; and cousin Zyon Nelson, 4, died.
- Instructed City Administrator Fred Russell to try to resolve a complaint from Gail Stebbins, who says the city arbitrarily cut down a healthy long-leaf pine tree at her home on Peachtree Road on March 19. Commissioner Joe Bowles told Mr. Russell to also find out why the Maintenance Division apparently didn't follow proper procedures.
- Approved a six-month probationary Sunday alcohol sales license for Alli Katz Bar & Grill on Walton Way, the fourth bar to be given the opportunity since the commission set a precedent with Limelite Cafe in January.
- Accepted a three-wheel electric truck donated by GoGreen Zero Emission Vehicles. The truck will be used by the Recreation and Parks Department.
- Approved a resolution proposed by Commissioner Jerry Brigham asking the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame to take its statues of famous golfers out of storage and display them around Augusta in time for Masters Week.
- Approved cost-of-living raises for retirees on the City 1949 Pension Plan, City Employees Pension (City 1945) Plan and Richmond County 1945 Pension Plan. Retirees making less than $20,000 a year in benefits will get 3 percent increases; those making $20,000 to $25,000 will get 2 percent increases; and those making more than $25,000 but less than $30,000 will get 1 percent increases.
- Ratified a contract with Sentinel Offender Services, a private probation company that handles minor criminal offenders.
- Met in closed session for about an hour and 20 minutes.
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And why would the seats of Law and Brown have to be filled? If the authority can deal with them for a couple of months, why not have them deal with empty seats instead? Something doesn't smell right.
Get RID of them!!! NOW!!!!
At least this shows who two of the idiots were.
I was wondering the same thing as Patricia. Mason and Johnson could tell Law and Brown that their terms have expired, thank them for their service to the city, and tell them their services are no longer needed. Then after the new law takes effect in July Mason and Johnson could announce their new appointments with much fanfare and hope for a new dawning of enlightment for Augusta.
Oh yeah............Let's bring a big name act into this circus of a town. Heck, just put all these morons on a stage and sell tickets to watch the show. Set up a boxing ring on one side.....Hmmmmm
I think Mason and Johnson would have probably had to replace Law and Brown, and then replace the replacements in three months when the law takes effect. How much of an impact could two good people have in only 3 months? It takes longer than that for people in Augusta to stop finding fault with those who are selected! Anyone appointed now would not have a chance to get anything done anyway. They would only try to make sure everything continued to run "As-is" until their 3 months were up. Why would you all expect so much from what would only amount to an interim appointtee? The best thing to do is to just ride it out until better people are chosen to fill the positions for an entire term instead of a mere 3 months.
But KingJames, why couldn't the positions just become vacant for the next three months? The Coliseum Authority could still meet and vote with ten trustees instead of twelve.
Most people would resign knowing the commissioner wants to and plans to replace them, but that would be a normal person with some idea of decorum.
I thought about that, LL. Nothing would really be accomplished in that short amount of time anyway. Three months may seem like a long time, but it really isn't. The CA only meets once a month. Why should it change, just to be changed again? I'm not sure of the regulations behind appointing CA members, but if one is removed, shouldn't there also be a replacement? The old regulations say that there must be 12 members. The new law will change that, but the situation can't be changed now just because certain members of the CA really need to go. I hate mentioning past politicians, but it's sort of like waiting for Marion Williams' term to expire. Everyone anticipates it, but trying to speed up the process is probably more time consuming than just waiting it out.
Getalife, your statement is correct. Some people would just remain because they don't want to feel forced out.
I have know Mr. Law for a long time and he is a good personal and a very smart man. Ask your self a question have Mr. Law said anything bad about anyone on the board or off the board.(NO he haven't) the only thing that went wrong was that lawsuit and he won that, and know one said anything about that. (No they didn't) He was one of the one that wanted Global Spectrum. So why don't Mr. Mason like him.
There is probably language in the appointment law that says some about a term expiring in XX years (or months), or until a replacement is appointed. Hoping to avoid an empty seat while the potential new appointee is vetted. However, the current seat holders often use that as a reason to stay beyond their expired time limit.
thank god for the masters its the only thing this town has thats worth a crap!
Alvin Mason looks like a Pimp in that photo.
Remember, if the members are replaced now, they could be reappointed to the new authority. But if they are in place at the time the law goes into effect, then they are not re-appointable for 1 year. The key is not always who is sitting on this board, but where the money is coming from.