UPDATED: Augusta Commission Conditionally Approves Parking Deck Management Deal

***UPDATED at 6:35 P.M. on FEBRUARY 7th***

The Augusta Commission has approved a deal to manage the new Reynolds Street parking deck, contingent upon the land for the parking deck being deeded to the city land bank and being cleared of all liens.

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***POSTED at 3:30 P.M. on FEBRUARY 7th***

Augusta has its new $12 million parking deck, it needs a new contract with the Marriott Hotel to run it, but that’s run into serious opposition.

“We were told one thing after another. I just don't have confidence in it, right now, I truly don't. It's unfortunate, we have a $12 million building on somebody's else's property,” says Commissioner Corey Johnson.

For some Augusta Commissioners, not only is it unfortunate the deck is on somebody else's property, they want to know whether the deal is legal.

Over the past four months, Commissioners have learned the land beneath the parking deck wasn’t donated, when they thought it would be. They’ve also learned they don’t own the land where the deck sits, and they only have air rights to the upper five levels, and the land has a bank lien on it.

The land is owned by companies that own the Marriott, where the TEE Center is being built.

A forensic audit, that is designed to investigate for criminal activity, has been approved, but some Commissioners feel the city has nothing to lose by approving the parking deck deal before the audit.

“Of course, if it is criminal, it would null and void the contract and we can always condemn the land,” says Commissioner Joe Jackson.

For Commissioner Corey Johnson, the parking deck scandal started in 2009, when he says he was offered a bribe to support it, and the TEE Center, so he supports the forensic audit first.

“There had to be something at stake. I don't know what it was, or what it is, or what's going on, but this audit will hopefully bring this information out,” said Johnson.

But, some Commissioners believe it's time to move forward, even if they didn't know about air rights, liens, and not owning the property.

“I think the questions we have now are why weren’t we notified of this, before. I think all the information is out in front of us, I'm ready to move on,” said Mayor Pro-Tem Joe Bowles

But, Commissioner Wayne Guilfoyle is concerned he hasn't seen the last shoe drop when it comes to the parking deck. “I've got people calling me, left and right, finding out what is going on. I can't give them answers because I don't know the answers,” he said.

Commissioners are scheduled to vote on the parking agreements at Tuesday’s meeting.

If Commissioners divide 5-5, it would be Mayor Deke Copenhaver who would break the tie vote in favor of the parking agreements.