Resident tells Augusta commission to move meetings to 6 p.m., accuses leaders of broken promises

A longtime resident told the Augusta-Richmond County Commission on March 31 that holding regular commission meetings at 2 p.m. shuts out working people and younger families and urged the governing body to adopt a 6 p.m. schedule.

"The bare minimum is that the people paying for this government can be in the room," Deborah Eastep told the commission, noting that neighboring jurisdictions hold evening meetings and that many residents are unaware of 2 p.m. meeting times. Eastep also criticized local leaders for what she described as unmet promises regarding the Regency Mall redevelopment and a rushed charter rewrite, and raised concerns about poor living conditions at Powell Apartments after Hurricane Helen.

Commissioners responded with practical concerns: Commissioner Katherine Smith Rice said evening meetings had been tried in the past and produced heavy staff overtime and late-night meetings; others emphasized that online streaming and commissioner contact information are available for citizens who cannot attend daytime sessions.

Why it matters: Eastep framed the request as an access and accountability issue ahead of a May 19 election with multiple commission seats on the ballot. Commissioners acknowledged the trade-offs—greater public presence versus additional staff cost and possible late adjournments—and said the item deserves further consideration.

Next steps: Commissioners directed staff to note the request and discussed alternatives such as publicizing meeting times more widely and using existing online access options. No formal vote to change meeting times was taken.