Augusta Commission Appoints Aaron G. Penick as Procurement Director

News Summary

The Augusta Commission has named Aaron G. Penick as the sole finalist for procurement director amidst leadership changes. His appointment follows the resignation of Geri Sams and stirred mixed reactions among commissioners. The meeting addressed ongoing initiatives, including a townhome development and local support for parking issues. A public meeting is planned to discuss downtown parking concerns, while the Commission has approved a significant service agreement to improve city infrastructure. Additionally, the community acknowledges the contributions of former members with a moment of silence.

Augusta, Georgia – The Augusta Commission has appointed Aaron G. Penick as the sole finalist for the position of procurement director following significant leadership changes within the city administration. Penick’s appointment comes after the previous procurement director, Geri Sams, was requested to resign on September 24, a day that also saw Tameka Allen named as the city’s new administrator.

In the interim, Darrell White has been acting as the procurement director since Sams’ departure. The vote for Penick’s appointment reportedly drew mixed reactions among the commissioners, with several opposing his candidacy. Commissioners Tony Lewis, Francine Scott, Stacy Pulliam, and Jordan Johnson voted against the appointment, while Commissioner Alvin Mason chose to abstain. All other commissioners, including Wayne Guilfoyle, were in favor. Notably, Guilfoyle arrived late for the voting but was able to participate.

Aside from personnel changes, the Augusta Commission addressed various ongoing initiatives and issues at their recent meeting. An update on the demolition process for the James Brown Arena highlighted the city’s ongoing development interests. Discussions included plans to introduce pickleball at the Henry Brigham Center, with Commissioner Don Clark and Parks and Recreation Director Tameka Williams actively promoting the initiative. The local pickleball club, known as Diamond Dinkers, recently recognized Williams, Lewis, and Scott with honorary membership T-shirts for their support and contributions.

The meeting also addressed a proposed townhome development plan. The Commission returned several items related to the project to the Planning Commission due to modifications made by the developer. This proposal involves a 41.5-acre development located at Gibson Road, Winn Drive, and Tate Road, which attracted the attention of approximately 15 neighboring residents who attended the meeting to express their views.

A growing concern in downtown Augusta was also presented, as a petition spearheaded by local businesses to safeguard parking spaces has gained over 1,500 signatures. To further engage with the community on this issue, the Commission has scheduled a public meeting for neighbors at the Henry Brigham Center on Thursday at 5:30 p.m., inviting residents to participate in discussions about the downtown area’s parking situation.

Additionally, the Commission approved a $580,670.97 service agreement with Trane Co. to update building automation and mechanical services, targeting the replacement of aging equipment throughout the city facilities. This initiative underscores the Commission’s commitment to enhancing infrastructure and operational efficiency in city buildings.

As the city prepares for upcoming events, there are expectations of record-breaking travel this Memorial Day weekend due to the lowest gas prices seen in several years, which could lead to an influx of visitors to the Augusta area.

At the conclusion of the meeting, commissioners held a moment of silence in honor of two former members, Richard Colclough and Bernard E. Harper, both of whom passed away the previous week, serving as a respectful acknowledgment of their contributions to the commission and the community.

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Additional Resources

• WRDW: Pickleball, Procurement Job to Get Spotlight at Augusta Commission Meeting
• WJBF: Augusta Commission Forces Out Interim Administrator, Finance and Procurement Directors
• The Augusta Press: Commission OKs Procurement Hire, Trane Maintenance Deal
• Augusta Chronicle: Who Are Augusta’s Highest Paid Employees and What Do They Do?
• WFXG: Augusta Commission Cleans House; Interim Administrator and 2 Department Heads Resign
• Wikipedia: Augusta, Georgia
• Google Search: Augusta Commission
• Google Scholar: Augusta Georgia government
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Augusta, Georgia
• Google News: Augusta Georgia