Augusta Commissioners Stall Parking Deck Deal Over Lien

When it comes to the new 12 million dollar Reynolds Street Parking Deck downtown some Augusta Commissioners are asking what the heck is going on.

“Maybe you knew about it but I certainly didn't know about it,” said Commissioner Alvin Mason to attorney Jim Plunkett who is handling the city’s negotiations at a contentious commission committee meeting Monday.

Some commissioners are looking for answers as to why they did not know the 12 million dollar parking deck was built, not only on land the city does not own, but also has a bank lien on it.

And some are giving Plunkett the devil for not having that detail.

“I need to know those details because generally the devil is in the details and my job is to take the devil out,” said Mason.

Plunkett went before commissioners to explain the city is not at any risk of losing the parking deck or its air rights because of the lien, but after he was accused of hiding information City Administrator Fred Russell came to Plunkett's defense prompting and angry exchange.

“You can't just take a swing at people and not give them a chance to respond,” said Russell.

“I'm not swinging at you I understand though I very well could,” said Mason.

 “Ok I’ve had enough between the both of you,” roared Commissioner Jerry Brigham who was chairing the Finance Committee meeting.

Russell and the Marriott Hotel owners were looking for the committee to recommend approval of the new parking deck agreement between the city and the hotel.

 The new agreement leaves in place much of the original proposal city leaders rejected seven weeks ago, however does give the city the potential of some additional parking revenues at the city owned parking lot at the hotel.

The agreement calls for the city to pay the Marriott 25 thousand dollars to manage the Reynolds Street Deck, and the Marriott paying the city 50 thousand dollars to lease the city deck at the hotel.

Under the new proposal the city would split parking revenues at the hotel deck with the Marriott 50/50 after expenses.  

But no action was taken, and because of the controversy a full four months after the new Reynolds Street deck opened there's still no agreement in place with Augusta Riverfront LLC on the parking garages.

“We're supposed to be in a partnership but I've never seen partners treated as we've been treated in these issues accusing people of doing things wrong we don't operate like that,” said Paul Simon who’s company Augusta Riverfront LLC owns the Marriott.

The full commission will take up the issue next week.