Augusta commission authorizes depot testing access, zipline laydown license and interim finance director after closed session

The Augusta-Richmond County Commission returned from an extended executive session on Aug. 27 and approved several legal and administrative actions including authorization for depot-site testing access, a construction laydown-yard license tied to a planned zipline project, an estoppel certificate related to a lease at 3461 Peach Orchard Road, and an interim finance director extension.

The actions followed a closed meeting called to discuss pending and threatened litigation, real estate and personnel matters. Attorney Turner Plunkett presented four motions after the executive session concluded and the commission voted on each in open session.

The most detailed motion asked the commission to authorize the mayor and clerk to execute an access and exclusivity agreement to permit testing at the Depot site once a letter of intent is executed between the Development Authority of Augusta, Georgia and a potential developer related to development of the depot site. Commissioner Wayne Guilfoyle moved the motion and Commissioner Don Clark seconded it. The commission voted to approve the authorization.

The commission also authorized the mayor and clerk to execute a construction laydown yard license agreement among the City of Augusta, the Development Authority of Augusta, Discovery Plaza LLC and Forge Management LLC for the temporary use of the Depot parking lot in connection with construction of a proposed zipline project. The motion was moved and seconded in open session and approved by the commission.

In a separate action, the commission moved to authorize the mayor and clerk to execute an estoppel certificate in connection with the lease of 3461 Peach Orchard Road. That vote was initially recorded 9 to 1 with the mayor mistakenly recorded as voting no; the mayor immediately corrected his vote on the record, stating he meant to vote yes.

Finally the commission approved a motion to continue Tim Schreier as interim finance director for up to six months. That motion passed unanimously.

All actions announced at the open meeting were presented by city legal staff as outcomes of the executive session; the minutes indicated no additional public directions were given beyond the approvals reported in open session.

The legal and operational documents authorized — the access and exclusivity agreement, the construction laydown yard license agreement, and the estoppel certificate — will be executed by the mayor and clerk, and the interim finance director appointment will remain in place while the city completes a permanent staffing process for the finance department.

The commission did not provide additional substantive public detail about the contents of the closed-session discussions beyond the motions and votes recorded in open session.

What comes next: staff and legal counsel will prepare the formal agreements for signature and return to the commission if material changes are required. The continuing interim finance director appointment is limited to a six‑month term, as recorded in the motion.