Commission approves 30‑day waiver of initial penalties for new waste contractor after split vote

The Augusta–Richmond County Commission on May 21 approved a motion to waive performance-damage assessments for the city’s residential waste contractor covering an initial 30‑day transition period, a measure supporters said would close out startup problems and opponents said risked setting a precedent without stronger accountability.

Commissioner Don Clark, who led the committee recommendation, said the waiver covers challenges tied to supply-chain delays and the contractor’s onboarding across the city’s three zones. Engineering staff told commissioners performance failures were concentrated in early weeks and punitive charges have since dropped to a small amount per month.

“Since then, the amount of punitive charges that have come after this have greatly dwindled,” Clark said, describing the 30‑day waiver as a way to finalize the transition while the contractor and city improve communication and operations.

Opposition centered on accountability and the city’s message to vendors. Commissioner Lonnie Wimbley urged the body not to simply forgive roughly $70,000 without a public benefit or enforcement conditions; he proposed asking the contractor to make voluntary charitable contributions to local nonprofits if the commission was going to show grace.

“I’m not interested in being punitive for the sake of punishment, but I do believe there must be accountability,” Wimbley said. “Rather than simply forgive the 70,000‑plus dollar, I will ask that Coastal … show willingness to make a voluntary charitable contribution to one or more worthy local nonprofit organizations.”

City Attorney Jim Plunkett cautioned that conditioning a waiver on a payment would be legally problematic; he said a voluntary contribution could be offered but likely could not be made a requirement of relief from contractual damages.

The commission conducted a roll-call vote. The motion to approve the waiver carried 6–5: yes votes from Commissioners Don Clark, Brandon Garrett, Wayne Guilfoyle (mayor pro tem), Mayor Garnett L. Johnson, Catherine Smith Rice and Tina Slindek; no votes from Jordan Johnson, Tony Lewis, Stacy Pulliam, Francine Scott and Lonnie Wimbley.

Engineering staff (identified in the meeting as Dr. Malik) said the city and contractor had placed equipment orders and that many initial misses were tied to delivery timing; staff said many of the earlier fees related to missed cart deliveries and that the city is installing a new platform and procedures to reduce similar problems going forward.

The commission did not adopt additional, binding conditions tying the waiver to charitable payments; several commissioners said they intend to continue oversight and, if needed, bring the issue back with the contractor present.

Next steps: the item remains a standing topic for oversight. Commissioners asked staff to ensure clearer procurement and delivery communications and to have the contractor appear at the next committee meeting if further follow-up is required.