AUGUSTA, Ga. — Augusta commissioners pushed city staff on Thursday to say how much it would cost to cut grass more often, as the consolidated government gets ready to stand up a new grounds management department by Jan. 1.
Deputy Administrator Charles Jackson walked the commission through the transition plan at a workshop. Overgrown lots and neglected roadsides are the top complaint city leaders hear, and city figures shown at the session put close to 40% of requests for roadside, ditch and pond upkeep in Districts 1 and 2.
Several commissioners said folding the work into one department fixes who is responsible but does nothing about how often crews show up. Jackson agreed that cutting contracted areas more frequently would take more money, and he said vacant lot mowing will stay with Environmental Services rather than move to the new department.
The proposed budget comes to $7.4 million, with contracts making up nearly 70% and city employees about 30%. Mowing shifts to the new department, while stormwater structures stay with engineering and equipment upkeep stays with fleet management.
Jail Warden James McMillan said civilian leaders must finish security training before they can oversee inmate details, and each can supervise three minimum-security inmates. The plan calls for roughly 12 to 15 floating crews that can be sent to trouble spots, and staff hope to add five more civilian crews.
Contracts run through December 2027, and new staff are to be trained before mowing season opens in March 2027. The department director started work Monday.
The commission that will weigh the plan is made up of the mayor and ten commissioners, elected from eight single-member districts and two at-large super-districts.
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