30-04-2025
Augusta leaders work on improving city appearance
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – Interest in getting Augusta looking better is picking up.'All of us are with it. We got to clean up our city. I mean, that's what everyone expects and that's what we're going to do,' said Commissioner Don Clark.
A commission committee is recommending a plan called Operation City Clean Up. This will focus litter cleanup in high traffic areas using those sentenced to community service.
'Many charged who have been charged with maybe shoplifting, for example, in state court and you have probably heard I say from the bench, 'if you can pick up something that doesn't belong to you, you can pick up trash off the street',' said Kellie McIntyre State Court Chief Judge.
Overgrown grass is another issue, which has the mayor pushing consolidating all grass city cutting under a new Public Works department.
'We hear so many people complain about the Garden City not looking like the Garden City. Let's put the money where it needs to go, I'm with the mayor,' said Commissioner Catherine Smith Rice.
But some commissioners point out the Central Services Department was created to handle city maintenance.
'So if we open up this Public Works, we need to do away with Central Services instead of creating another department which actually creates a bigger government,' said Mayor Pro-Tem Wayne Guilfoyle.
'Would that be a concern it could cost money?'
'It's going to be a realignment. I don't necessarily think it's going to cost us more money. I think it's just going to be a shifting,' said Commissioner Clark.
A commission committee is recommending the litter program, but putting off the discussion on a new public works department until next month.
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