112524 Study Session Mins AdoptedPage 1 of 2
MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 25, 2024
Briton S. Williams, Mayor
Jenafer F. McCauley, Councilmember – Mayor Pro Tem
David B. Buck, Councilmember
Pat C. Carpenter, Councilmember
David W. McGhee, Councilmember
Kevin W. Toole, Councilmember
ORDER OF BUSINESS
STUDY SESSION
The Study Session of November 25, 2024 for the City Council of the City of North Augusta, having been duly
publicized, was called to order by Mayor Williams at 6:00pm and also streamed online for public viewing at the
City Facebook page: “City of North Augusta – Public Information” and City YouTube page: “City of North Augusta
Public Information.”
Per Section 30-4-80(e) notice of the meetings was sent out by email to the current maintained “Agenda Mailout”
list consisting of news media outlets and individuals or companies requesting notification. Notice of the
meetings was also posted on the outside doors of the Municipal Center, the main bulletin board of the Municipal
Center located on the first floor, and the City of North Augusta website.
Members present were Mayor Williams, Councilmembers Buck, Carpenter, McCauley, McGhee, and Toole.
Also in attendance were James S. Clifford, City Administrator; J.D. McCauley, Assistant Administrator; Kelly F.
Zier, City Attorney; Chief Junior Johnson, Director of Public Safety; Thomas C. Zeaser, Director of Engineering
and Public Works; Tommy Paradise, Director of Planning & Development; Greg Shaffer, Superintendent of Water
Production; Karl Waldhauer, Tourism Manager; Jeremy Jiunnies, Parks and Recreation Supervisor of Facilities &
Programs; Tara Boulware, Finance Manager; Jamie Paul, City Clerk; and Larry Elrod, System Support Specialist.
Items on the agenda were discussed out of order, but for the purpose of clarity will remain as listed on the
agenda.
Page 1 of 2
PUBLIC HEARING
Proposed Consolidated Annual Budget for Fiscal Year 2025
December 2, 2024 – 5:30 p.m. - Municipal Center – 100 Georgia Avenue, 3rd Floor - Council Chambers
DRAFT AGENDA: CITY OF NORTH AUGUSTA REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
December 2, 2024 – 6:00 p.m. – Municipal Center – 100 Georgia Avenue, 3rd Floor - Council Chambers
The Public Hearing and Regular City Council meeting will be streamed for public viewing online at:
• “City of North Augusta – Public Information” on www.Facebook.com
• “City of North Augusta Public Information” on www.YouTube.com
CITIZEN COMMENTS: Citizens may speak to Mayor and City Council on each item listed on this agenda. The Mayor will call
for comments prior to Council’s discussion. Speakers shall give their name and address in an audible tone of voice. Speaker
Forms are provided on the credenza at the entrance for speakers desiring that the minutes indicate that they addressed Council
on a specific topic. The form will be included as part of the minutes of the meeting. Citizen comments are limited to five
minutes.
CITIZEN ASSISTANCE: Individuals needing special assistance or sign interpreter to participate in the meeting, please notify the
Administration Department 48 hours prior to the meeting.
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. ROLL CALL
4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
• Regular City Council Meeting minutes of November 18, 2024
• Study Session minutes of November 25, 2024
5. PERSONNEL:
a. Employee of the Quarter – October, November, and December 2024 – TBD
b. Tanya Strickland, Retirement – Recognition of Service to the City of North Augusta
ATTACHMENT #1
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NEW BUSINESS
6. FINANCE: Ordinance No. 2024-27 Adopting a Budget for Fiscal Year 2025 Containing Estimates of
Proposed Revenues and Expenditures by the City of North Augusta, South Carolina, for the Budget Year
Beginning January 1, 2025, and Declaring that Same Shall Constitute the Budget of the City of North
Augusta for Such Budget Year – First Reading
7. FINANCE: Ordinance No. 2024-28 Levying the Annual Tax on Property in the City of North Augusta, South
Carolina, for the Fiscal Year Beginning January 1, 2025, and Ending December 31, 2025 – First Reading
8. PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT: Ordinance No. 2024-29 To Approve the General Development Plan for the
24.14 ± Acre Bentley Place Planned Development Located Generally on the North Side of Walnut Lane
Approximately 800 Feet West of US 25 – First Reading
9. PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT: Ordinance No. 2024-30 To Change the Corporate Limits of the City of North
Augusta by Accepting the Petition Requesting Annexation by the Landowners and Annexing ± 18.57 Acres
of Property Located at Edgefield Road/Hwy 25 & Ascauga Lake Road Tax Parcel Number 011-07-01-010
Owned by Summers Family LLLP – First Reading
10. ADMINISTRATION: Ordinance No. 2024-31 Amending Section 2-21(B) of the City Code for the City of
North Augusta Establishing a Specific Time in the Council Meeting for Newly Elected Officers to Take
Office – First Reading
11. ENGINEERING & PUBLIC WORKS: Resolution No. 2024-55 Accepting an Emergency Watershed Protection
Program Grant from the Natural Resources Conservation Service to Perform Repairs to Waterways
Damaged by Hurricane Helene
12. ADMINISTRATION: Resolution No. 2024-56 Authorizing Funding Allocation Recommendations of the
Accommodations Tax Advisory Committee for the Disbursement of Revenues from the Accommodations
Tax Year 2023-2024
13. BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS: Appointments – Recommendations by Mayor
14. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS
a. Update on Hurricane Helene Recovery Efforts
15. PRESENTATIONS/COMMUNICATIONS/RECOGNITION OF VISITORS:
A. Citizen Comments: At this time, citizens may speak to Mayor and City Council regarding matters not
listed on the agenda. Speakers shall give their name and address for the records. Speaker Forms are
provided on the credenza for speakers desiring that the minutes indicate that they addressed Council
on a specific topic. The form will be included as part of the minutes of the meeting. Citizen comments
are limited to five minutes.
B. Council Comments
16. ADJOURNMENT
ATTACHMENT #1
North Augusta
Council Study Session –25 November
2024
ATTACHMENT #1 - Administrative Update Page 1 of 2
Administrative Reports
ARPA Impacts on Budget:
◦Moving one vehicle from FY2025 Budget to ARPA allows for the following:
◦Salaries for 3 x COPS Grant Public Safety Officers for a 1 July 2025 start date
◦Conversion of Public Safety sidearms from .45 to 9 mm (to include holsters, ammunition, and optics)
◦Additional $10,000 to veterinarian services in animal control
New Public Safety Headquarters
◦CID will move into the facility starting 2 December
◦Courts operational goal is first week of January 2025
◦Remainder of personnel tied to 911 circuit installation
◦Ribbon Cutting dates to follow after full building occupation
ATTACHMENT #1 - Administrative Update Page 2 of 2
FINANCE:
• Cycle 1 Due Date – December 2
• Cycle 2 Disconnect – December 3 & 4
PUBLIC SERVICES:
• Clay Street Pump Station Upgrade - Over the past few weeks Republic Contracting has
completed the following:
• Installed the generator pad
• Installed the generator retaining wall
• Installed the generator
• Installed the electrical duct bank
• Relocated the overflow piping and splash pads for the ground storage tank
• Utilities Water Meter Upgrade - The Utilities division is currently working with the IT GIS
Department to map out areas of the distribution system that would benefit the most from
automated water meter upgrades. With the available funding, the City will be able to upgrade
approximately 1700 meters. The new meters are expected to arrive around April or May of 2025
PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT:
• BZA will meet December 3
• Planning Commission & BZA will have a joint training session on December 4 from 6 pm to 9 pm
to received 3 hours of in-service training. The training will be provided by Spencer Wetmore, a
land use attorney and former city manager for Folly Beach.
• Georgia Ave. Traffic Calming traffic counts at the intersection of Georgia, Jackson, & Carolina are
scheduled for Wednesday 12/4 and Sunday 12/8. May be extended because of construction in
Augusta.
o Was previously re-scheduled because of Ironman, Hurricane Helene, and JOJ
PUBLIC SAFETY:
• Public Safety had 6 employees that completed their course work through the South Carolina Fire
Academy last week.
• Public Safety had one employee that graduated the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy on
Nov. 15 and another will be graduating on Dec. 6.
PARKS AND RECREATION:
• Clean up around the boat ramp was moved forward on our list this week. The site needs to be
cleared to stage the contractors project materials. Public Safety Fire is assisting with some of the
washing of the ramp.
• Greeneway Contract work is Near the Hammond Hills Suburban Club and will be pushing forward
towards the Martintown bridge. There are no entry points in that stretch of the path, so the next
update will be EOD Wednesday.
• Regular maintenance to include blowing and trash clean up on the section from the Activities
Center to the Municipal Building including the Riverfront loop has restarted.
• Staff will be assisting Tourism with Tree lighting set up and production. Planning Meeting Monday
afternoon. Last of the decorations and displays are being set up around town. Additional garland
for poles downtown to Ga Ave Bridge will be ordered.
• The Activities Center is the hub for community activity. Pickleball, wrestling, Jujitsu, dance,
basketball. We hosted the visiting May River Cheer team Saturday after our football team put
theirs out of the playoffs. We hosted Paine, Augusta University, Fox Creek and St Mary's school
teams.
• 690 kids are currently participating in our youth basketball program and will have their first game
December 14th. Sign-ups are still open, and the number grows every day.
DEPARTMENT DETAILS
for November 25, 2024
ATTACHMENT #2 Page 1 of 4
TOURISM:
• Christmas Tree Lighting will be held at Calhoun Park starting at 5:00pm on Tuesday, December
3rd. The event will feature performances from local schools, smores station by local Boy Scouts,
a hot chocolate/coffee vendor, letters to Santa activity and a Christmas message from Mayor
Williams. The lighting of the tree will be broadcast live on WRDW (Channel 12).
• Some other notable upcoming events for the holiday season include:
o Saturday, November 30: Small Business Saturday & Tinseltown Forest
o Tuesday, December 3: Cocoa & Cookie Crawl
o Sunday, December 8: Lions Club Christmas Parade
ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC WORKS:
• Sidewalk repair/replacement in Hammonds Ferry
• Center Street Electric Improvements
• Tanya Strickland Retirement
HUMAN RESOURCES:
• See the following page for the Employment Opportunities list
• Annual Employee Luncheon – December 12 from 12pm – 1pm (See Attachment)
ATTACHMENT #2 Page 2 of 4
To apply and to see full job descriptions please visit www.northaugustasc.gov/jobs. You may also contact Human Resources
for more information at 803-442-5710 or kferguson@northaugustasc.gov.
The City of North Augusta is an Equal Opportunity Employer
EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITIES
Communications Technician I – Public Safety
Grade: 10
Salary/Pay Rate: $19.65 - $23.58
Closing Date: Until Filled
Environmental Coordinator – Stormwater
Grade: 15
Salary/Pay Rate: $24.50 - $29.40/hour
Closing Date: Until Filled
Firefighter – Public Safety
Grade: 4
Salary/Pay Rate: $13.31 - $15.97/hour
Closing Date: Until Filled
Grounds Worker III – Property Maintenance
Grade: 7
Salary/Pay Rate: $16.75 – $20.10/hour
Closing Date: Until Filled
Heavy Equipment Mechanic – Sanitation
Grade: 9
Salary/Pay Rate: $18.68 - $22.42/hour
Closing Date: Until Filled
Maintenance Technician – Parks and Recreation
Grade: 12
Salary/Pay Rate: $21.59 - $25.91/hour
Closing Date: Until Filled
Public Safety Officer – Public Safety
Grade: 16
Salary/Pay Rate: $23.83 - $28.59/hour
Closing Date: Until Filled
Utility Technician – Public Utilities
Grade: 9
Salary/Pay Rate: $18.68 - $22.42/hour
Closing Date: Until Filled
ATTACHMENT #2 Page 3 of 4
ATTACHMENT #2 Page 4 of 4
City of North Augusta
Hurricane Helene
Recovery Update
(Day 60)
25 November 2024
ATTACHMENT #3Ai Page 1 of 17
LOE 1 Critical Infrastructure / Basic Human Needs -Completed
LOE 2 Open road networks / route clearance
•Improve road access to two –four lanes as able
LOE 3 Public Safety / Maintain Law & Order
•Assist power crews & tree crews with lane closures
LOE 4 Communicate
•Demand signal to County, State, Federal, Utilities, and Non-Governmental Organizations
•Establish communications with critical command nodes across government
•Conduct Key Leader engagements (KLEs) –with strategic intent and specific asks
•Establish communications channel with Citizens (City of North Augusta –Public Information Page)
LOE 5 Debris Removal –Main Effort
City Lines of Effort (LOEs)ATTACHMENT #3Ai Page 2 of 17
•State Roads –SCDOT Contract
•County Roads –Aiken County Contract
•City Roads –Aiken County Contract option
•Signed Cooperative Purchasing Agreement & Notice to Proceed with Tetratech (monitoring)
•Working contract documents with SDR –will start with three crews and build from there
•SC Department of Environmental Services has approved multiple sites for debris removal
storage
•City Roads –City crews
•First pass; contract crews will likely have to come behind our initial work
•City Property/Parks –City crews & Contract crews
•City Parks –mixture of City crews & contracted crews
•Greeneway –no volunteers allowed for cleanup based on liability
•Greeneway –plan is for contracted option to cut trees & remove debris
•Resident debris self-removal options
•C&D Landfill
•City trees overhanging/fallen on private property
LOE 5 Debris RemovalATTACHMENT #3Ai Page 3 of 17
Capabilities
City Yard Debris Truck Contracted Debris Truck
VS
ATTACHMENT #3Ai Page 4 of 17
•City Limits only (Belvedere covered by Aiken County)
•Suspend normal yard debris routes for at least 90 days
•Dedicate two full crews to debris removal mission on City streets
•Voluntary overtime for city debris crews
•Err on side of caution for use of City trucks-don’t risk vehicle
breakdowns in an attempt to pick up large/heavy debris
•Roads are a priority over the Greeneway
•We will only pull trucks off assigned missions for Life/Health/Safety
•Goal is to achieve as close to 100% FEMA reimbursement as possible
Staff GuidanceATTACHMENT #3Ai Page 5 of 17
Multiple Road OwnersATTACHMENT #3Ai Page 6 of 17
City Road & SCDOT Road exampleATTACHMENT #3Ai Page 7 of 17
City & County Road ExampleATTACHMENT #3Ai Page 8 of 17
Contracted Plan for City RoadsATTACHMENT #3Ai Page 9 of 17
Contracted Plan for City RoadsATTACHMENT #3Ai Page 10 of 17
City Crew Priorities
(11/25 –11/30)
ATTACHMENT #3Ai Page 11 of 17
Thanksgiving Week Schedule
ATTACHMENT #3Ai Page 12 of 17
City & County Road ExampleATTACHMENT #3Ai Page 13 of 17
Resident Debris Self-RemovalATTACHMENT #3Ai Page 14 of 17
•City Tree damages your personal property
•Homeowners Insurance claim
•City will not be removing tree(s)
•City Tree lands in your yard, but no damage
•City will not be removing tree(s)
•City tree is leaning over your property
•Report leaning tree to City Clerk: 803-441-4202
•City Arborist will evaluate the tree
•City will make a determination about removal
•Your tree falls onto City property
•City will remove tree from the City property only
•City tree falls in your yard, damaging City property
•City will remove tree from City property and repair City property
Tree Liability
“Act of God”
ATTACHMENT #3Ai Page 15 of 17
•Enable power restoration to 100% of our citizens
•Road hazards fully identified and removed
•Road debris cleared, all roads to pre-Hurricane status
•Recreational Facilities & City Parks opened to the extent possible
•Plan to repair city facilities presented to Council
•City of North Augusta has the highest level of local government insurance claims in the SC
•Greeneway passable from end to end
Operation End State:ATTACHMENT #3Ai Page 16 of 17
Questions?
ATTACHMENT #3Ai Page 17 of 17