New Parking Deck Deal Doesn't End Questions And Mistrust

It was an opening to get the parking deck deal done, as Augusta Commissioners voted to transfer the land under the new Reynolds Street Parking Deck to the city's Land Bank Authority, instead of keeping it in the hands of the Augusta Riverfront LLC, because Commissioner Jerry Brigham says the public didn't like the city not having control

“We're trying to make lemonade out of the lemons that we were handed. Once we found some sugar, we just added it to the deal,” said Brigham.

“So you were cleaning up a mess?” we asked Brigham. "Tying to,” he answered.

But, the new agreement approved at Tuesday's Commission meeting had never been discussed in public before it was voted on.

It says Augusta Riverfront LLC will get the contract to operate the Reynolds Street Parking Deck, once the land beneath it is deeded to the Land Bank Authority and is free of all bank liens.

Six Commissioners were in favor of the sudden compromise, but four Commissioners had been left in the dark.

“I wasn't involved in the secret meetings. I was informed just about the time the motion was made,” said Commissioner Bill Lockett.

“There are 10 Commissioners up here that represent this city. To leave four of them out of the loop and not know what was going on is a slap in the face,” said Commissioner Alvin Mason.

Some of the biggest criticisms of the parking deck deal was the lack of knowledge. Commissioners didn’t know the land was not donated, as promised, that the city only had air rights to the top five levels, and there’s a bank lien on the land. But, the new agreement that was passed Tuesday also contained secrets to four Commissioners.

“Did you keep the four Commissioners who didn't approve this in the dark?” we asked Brigham.

“George, the deal came together late yesterday afternoon. I don't think the information was shared with many people at all,” answered Brigham.

“If it's such a good deal, send it back to committee,” we asked.

“I think we were at the point where we had to move forward with this,” said Brigham. 

Questions about the deck deal have swirled for months. Now, what some see as answers to the public’s concerns only raises more questions.

“This seemed to be a rush to judgment?” we asked Mayor Deke Copenhaver. "You know, George, this has been a deal that's been discussed for months on end, I think the key thing was get it done and move forward,” he said.

“This should not have been done last night and especially since the four minority Commissioners were not consulted at all,” said Lockett.