Augusta council waives fees for Ignite Augusta’s horse-and-carriage rides during holiday light show

The Augusta City Council voted on Dec. 1 to waive permit fees for Ignite Augusta’s proposed horse-and-carriage rides during the downtown Christmas light show.

Mister Shaw, speaking on behalf of Ignite Augusta, told the council the group had located a company that operates horse-and-carriage rides elsewhere and asked the council to waive fees set by an ordinance passed about seven or eight years ago. The ordinance prescribes a $100 application fee per carriage plus a $15 per-driver fee. Shaw said the nonprofit intends the rides as a short-term fundraising activity, probably one or a few days during the light show, and that insurance information is still being finalized.

A council member moved to approve the request and the motion was seconded. During brief discussion members said the event would bring tourism and add to the holiday atmosphere. The council voted in favor of waiving the fees.

The city manager’s office or event organizers will still need to provide the required insurance documentation and complete the application process under the existing ordinance before rides can proceed. Shaw said the original ordinance was drafted when a commercial operator considered offering carriage rides downtown; that business ultimately did not continue. Ignite Augusta is asking for a nonprofit exception for this limited, fundraising-driven activity.

The council did not specify conditions such as limits on hours or routes during the meeting; staff did not provide a timeline for final approval beyond confirming insurance must be pinned down. The council’s action at the meeting is limited to waiving the stated fees; any final permit issuance remains subject to compliance with the ordinance’s other requirements.