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Augusta Commission authorizes $16,730 payment, agreement with Palmetto Story LLC to restore Wheeler Road gateway
Summary
The Augusta City Commission on March 4 authorized the mayor to sign an Augusta Beautification Program agreement with Palmetto Story LLC and directed a $16,730 payment to the Garden City Improvement Fund to remove stumps, refill medians and install interim landscaping along Wheeler Road following storm damage.
The Augusta City Commission voted to authorize the mayor to execute an Augusta Beautification Program agreement with Palmetto Story LLC and to pay the Garden City Improvement Fund $16,730 for removal and interim landscaping along the Wheeler Road corridor.
The funding and agreement cover stump removal, hole backfill and temporary sodding for the medians damaged by Hurricane Helene; the motion, introduced as a substitute, directs Palmetto Story LLC to carry out the work while the Garden City Improvement Fund will receive the city payment to administer the check disbursement.
Mayor Garnett L. Johnson said community partner Barry Storey and volunteers have spent substantial sums maintaining multiple Augusta gateways and moved quickly after the storm to clear damaged trees. Commissioner Don Clark, who asked for more detail before the vote, said Storey had removed damaged trees and stumps and offered to restore the corridor’s appearance.
Attorney Plunkett explained staff did not find an existing agreement for this specific stretch, and recommended paying the $16,730 to the Garden City Improvement Fund — a fund managed by the CSRA Community Foundation and administered through Destination Augusta/CVB — while completing an Augusta Beautification Program agreement with Palmetto Story LLC for ongoing maintenance.
Commissioner Catherine Smith Rice offered the substitute motion that authorized the mayor to execute the agreement and to direct the payment; Commissioner Wayne Guilfoyle seconded. The clerk announced the vote as unanimous.
The commission asked the engineering office to provide later cost estimates for replacing the missing trees; Dr. Malik of the engineering staff said he would check pricing for replanting and report back. Commissioner Jordan Johnson asked whether the payment would comply with procurement rules; Attorney Plunkett said the recommendation conforms with procurement requirements and that the payment would come from contingency funds.
Mayor Johnson said the commission intends to invite Mr. Storey and his organization before the commission to acknowledge their community work.
Notes: the motion authorizes temporary remediation (stump removal, soil, sod) and execution of an Augusta Beautification Program agreement; future replanting costs were discussed but not funded in this motion.
