[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6185065,"mediaKeyId","5083610-0e30faf5632c1472157eabb878cbbf4c","parentId",5083610,"title","Engineering outlines $171 million-plus SPLOST asks, highlights stormwater, road paving and Rocky Creek flood work","audioSeconds",3017,"startMs",1936000,"endMs",4953000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5083610-0e30faf5632c1472157eabb878cbbf4c&start=1936&end=4953","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5083610-0e30faf5632c1472157eabb878cbbf4c/thumbnail_1936000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6185065/Augusta-City/Richmond-County/Georgia/Engineering-outlines-171-million-plus-SPLOST-asks-highlights-stormwater-road-paving-and-Rocky-Creek-flood-work","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6185065-ea0bbc043f93e0af7c0508d877c82a9e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771167906&Signature=BMRTwqCuGEB0tlYIJmjiZc1KnThjKrA0mzluHDL9KTjDLa5UhTlFIBz0HM7y2IqO0CMQp4mw8HdRTxysTLC2A671Cf7nrIdWl8Uwgn~SnetNh2KraqNclKSLJJiftH~4SmswNsSuWaMgxi75Yssg5OLpYgD5mJRxORDvORuUWO4IrchZRA9zlgZ7ouNg47tRl049I1HLEp0WVSAICv86kDzBo2k~OCX4IXNNRM8adcfD0a5NUeM06kIrRX4Q0gd5uaWMjfazhrdgbgFZ~DanOGQ4bcSyeLWXgAV-HT3McZqFVrMkIzOkVwftuq~8wYrLqsfS-WsoqfGyP1nVbsBa0g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-06-27T04:40:03Z","article","Dr. Malik, director of engineering, presented the commission with an itemized set of engineering and maintenance requests the department would like considered for SPLOST 9. He said the department compiled roughly 30 separate items and that staff trimmed the original list but the total remains substantial — he and the administrator described a working total of about $171,000,000 across department requests.

Stormwater and drainage: Dr. Malik said $25 million is included in the request for grading and drainage work and that the amount is intended to fund a capital program for repair and replacement of aging stormwater infrastructure. He described routine problems the department manages — collapsed metal pipes, sinkholes and bank erosion — and showed photos of failed pipes and undermined yards. He said much of the city’s older drainage infrastructure was constructed with metal pipe that is now failing and that the stormwater utility fee provides ongoing funds but that the capital need exceeds current receipts.

Road paving and maintenance: Dr. Malik summarized the road-paving backlog and said current annual pavement funding is roughly $6.5 million; he presented city estimates that about $12.8 million per year would be needed to maintain the current road condition and about $17.6 million per year would be required to control the backlog. He said the department’s long-term modeling shows larger investments are needed to stop growth of the backlog.

Specific projects and timelines: Dr. Malik reviewed projects already in design or under way, including East Augusta drainage phases (multiple phases, some under construction), Wilson Garden (in design and with federal funds for initial segments), and the Rocky Creek flood-reduction study and plan. He said the Rocky Creek plan has been under development for many years (beginning around 2002), that the Corps of Engineers provided initial design work but that Corps criteria did not fully address low-level storm events residents experience, and that the city is pursuing local project elements while awaiting Corps permits. He said the Rocky Creek work aims to construct holding facilities and control structures to capture flow upstream and release it gradually to reduce downstream flood peaks and that the goal is to begin construction in 2026 if permits are obtained.

FEMA and storm damage: Commissioners asked about FEMA money for sidewalks and storm damage. Dr. Malik said the city submitted assessments and that FEMA’s initial review listed about $5,000,000 in sidewalk-related damages; FEMA had returned to reinspect and is inputting final data. He said FEMA does not cover creek cleanup and said FEMA processes are ongoing.

Other items: Dr. Malik also described right-of-way and multiuse-trail projects such as Farmer Road (design and right-of-way activity with federal funding for design and partial construction funding), bridge rehabilitation needs driven by routine inspections, traffic safety and intersection improvements, ADA sidewalk compliance work, tree management in public rights-of-way, on-call emergency design services, and equipment replacement to sustain operations.

Commissioner questions: Commissioners pressed on prioritization: how hotspots and repeatedly flooded addresses are tracked and how long-standing projects should be sequenced. Dr. Malik said staff maintain a capital-planning list, Cityworks requests are tracked, and the department is sequencing projects to ensure a subset can be completed rather than starting many projects without finishing them.

Next steps: engineering will provide additional detail and cost breakdowns to staff preparing the consolidated SPLOST 9 list. The administrator reminded the commission of SPLOST schedule constraints and that staff aim to provide a recommended list for potential commission action in mid- to late July so the elections office can meet deadlines for the November ballot.

Ending: commissioners thanked engineering staff and asked that project sequencing prioritize repeated-flood hotspots and projects with available matching funds or federal grants where feasible.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","SPLOST 9 - Airport, Utilities, and Engineering","oneSentenceSummary","The engineering director presented a long list of capital and maintenance needs for SPLOST 9, including a $25 million stormwater program, road-paving backlog funding, drainage projects in East Augusta and Rocky Creek flood-mitigation work, and numerous ADA, sidewalk, bridge and equipment items.","taxTitle","Augusta City, Richmond County, Georgia","taxId",3794,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6185070,"Airport seeks SPLOST help for ramp expansion and two hangars to attract business",553,1380000,1933000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5083610-0e30faf5632c1472157eabb878cbbf4c&start=1380&end=1933","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5083610-0e30faf5632c1472157eabb878cbbf4c/thumbnail_1380000.jpg","/articles/6185070/Augusta-City/Richmond-County/Georgia/Airport-seeks-SPLOST-help-for-ramp-expansion-and-two-hangars-to-attract-business","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6185070-9d0b6537eaccb8e9ca5c81686b0c4206/orig.mp4?Expires=1771167906&Signature=SECUx4DGMF6DB9SilnUB8KpuAub5R4PgLwsgjjwIjIRuGI0oEc1i~ZP4Dc40pWxr4mOUs0ivfDes~nfUgfKAUQtMhvoDdk00Oix6zNhGhd4V3o7MaioFtjLO048CU0GXFhNr5wuHD19SCwGMCgnQyATo81XsMXqMLg3skwmirpXqbC3-4fsHBiBMFEL7Nwk1VQ5E8pDQ4RbWHrffX6tyf2ewnNSCLvbQN-mDX2D29uTwC2yI5jXcMDM0NwlzJbjS1WiNlNewO8DwOE-5KyC~MzBwNNGKNg5Az4zsxYwpakievq1-AahCc-1joqxD-wlvWLujmBZAO7yqAn5Nejw1dg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The airport director told the commission the airport is requesting SPLOST support for two priority projects: expansion of pavement in the airport’s southeast business area and the construction of two aircraft hangars.

On the pavement request, the director said the airport is seeking funding for roughly 10,000 square yards of additional ramp pavement in the southeast quadrant. He described the southeast area as roughly 150 acres of “prime land for business development and aeronautical business development,” and said the pavement expansion improves airfield circulation and safety while enabling private investment.

On hangars, the director said the airport currently has three hangars that are full and that adding two more hangars would let the airport base more aircraft locally rather than losing business to nearby airports such as Thompson, Aiken and Columbia. He said the proposed hangars would be roughly 30,000 to 40,000 square feet and could store three or four large aircraft each with adjacent office space.

The director also cited an economic-impact study that put the airport’s annual local economic impact at approximately $300 million and framed the requested SPLOST support as an economic-development investment that could generate fuel sales, ad-valorem taxes and other revenue.

Funding constraints and alternatives: the director said the projects are in the airport master plan but are not eligible for Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grant programs the airport typically uses. He said the airport has explored private-sector partners and that private investors have expressed interest in building hangars as either speculative development or private facilities to house aircraft.

Commissioners asked whether TIA or GDOT funding could be used; the director said the projects are not eligible for FAA grants and that the airport has had better success with private-sector financing for hangars. There were no formal motions or votes during the presentation.

Next steps: airport staff will provide refined cost estimates and site plans to the commission for inclusion in the SPLOST 9 recommended list. The administrator reminded commissioners that staff will compile department requests and present a recommended SPLOST list in July for commission review and possible action to meet the election office’s ballot deadlines.

Ending: the director thanked the commission; commissioners voiced support for pursuing private-sector partners if SPLOST funding cannot cover the full project costs.","The airport director requested SPLOST 9 funding for about 10,000 square yards of ramp pavement in the southeast airport area and for construction of two aircraft hangars, arguing the investments would support aeronautical business development and produce long-term revenue.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6185075,"Augusta utilities ask SPLOST for $24 million to repair Augusta Canal gates and fund water/sewer relocations",1107,270000,1377000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5083610-0e30faf5632c1472157eabb878cbbf4c&start=270&end=1377","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5083610-0e30faf5632c1472157eabb878cbbf4c/thumbnail_270000.jpg","/articles/6185075/Augusta-City/Richmond-County/Georgia/Augusta-utilities-ask-SPLOST-for-24-million-to-repair-Augusta-Canal-gates-and-fund-watersewer-relocations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6185075-3883c742f2a0bdf85169ef8d436bef15/orig.mp4?Expires=1771167906&Signature=BReI6AHt~pS5ccRN2L3vwWVICL2Hq6pM9incj8X1FBvgWy8tBPlQVo-O7X~krJvLtzOWCVg4ytAMr-rVqURCSNvjKMkTS7vKDw0B~SbxoiPvOW3VpbnEnHqiN8zoBoZFhoSK3EzG~LskHfNFDGTaeQgfOkHvCqpoLUabORRatUQzVRTwEOESYjhPJ7rwsSy5WCIdOb7EfnN3n6jH6-Bti08ZfIcc4m8WGoRJzCSAgy8~KywUZROXxQ6o75QZExSlFsm-oNDviy-S3uWdA2lr-lD4BxOhiWKLb1xnEAD9pwwN5R-j0QdBDvgRcZ2Ze57Vvb-MU3pgazM1atXztJFsnw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Utilities Director West Bynes told the Augusta City Commission that the utilities department is asking the commission to include two projects in the proposed SPLOST 9 package: $12 million for canal drainage-control improvements and $12 million for ongoing engineering support for water and sewer line relocations.

Bynes said the canal work is focused on the bulkhead gate complex near Lake Olmstead — a concrete gate structure that, he said, was “built in 1939 by the Army Corps of Engineers” and serves as the head of the levee system protecting downtown Augusta. He said the steel gates there are original to the structure and show corrosion and concrete spalling that must be addressed to meet the city’s pending Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) license requirements.

Why it matters: the gates control flows from the canal into the downtown river corridor and reduce flood risk to areas including the hospital district. Bynes described operations during storms as labor intensive: crews lower and raise gates in a process that can take four to six hours and requires trucks, generators and a five-person team. He said that in order to replace the gates the canal must be dewatered and that the most efficient strategy would be a single dewatering event; his target for completing the gate replacement in one dewatering is about “30 to 45 days.”

Bynes said previous bids for gate repairs came in over budget, some work was put into bonds but not enough to cover the entire structure, and the current construction estimate includes a 15 percent contingency. He also warned that crane work necessary to replace gates will likely require removal of some trees at the Lake Olmstead trailhead, but said crews are attempting to limit tree loss.

On the second request, Bynes asked for a rolling SPLOST allocation of about $2.5 million per year (a total $12 million over the SPLOST term) to offset costs the utilities department incurs when Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) or Transportation Improvement Act (TIA) projects require water or sewer relocations. He said GDOT and TIA typically do not pay for water or sewer infrastructure and that contractors hand the relocation work to the city during roadway projects.

Commissioners pressed staff for detail and local context. Commissioner William asked how the utilities department is tracking recurring neighborhood flooding and where individual repair projects would be recorded; Bynes said service requests are logged in Cityworks, projects are put on a capital planning list, and the department will identify and prioritize hotspots for inflow/infiltration reduction informed by upcoming flow-monitoring work by a vendor called ADS.

Commissioner Schlandak asked how long the canal gate repair would take; Bynes reiterated the 30–45 day target if the work can be performed in a single dewatering window and said the city is trying to coordinate embankment repairs to coincide with dewatering in the fall.

Implementation and constraints: Bynes noted that work on the bulkhead is constrained by the city’s pending FERC license and that the canal’s hydraulic response is slow — changes at the upstream gates can take four to six hours to reach downtown — which complicates operational decisions during storms. He said the city has previously engineered the repairs, rebid when costs were high, and will re-bid as soon as it can because the work is “mission critical.”

Next steps: the SPLOST 9 process continues; the county administrator said staff will present a recommended SPLOST list to the finance committee and provide documentation to commissioners before a vote in July so the final list can be submitted in time for the November ballot.

Ending: Bynes thanked the commission for hearing the request and said the utilities department will continue to gather information and follow up with the commissioners on specific neighborhood repair schedules.","The city’s utilities director asked the Augusta City Commission to include two items in the SPLOST 9 request: $12 million for canal drainage-control improvements, including replacement and repair of aging bulkhead gates, and $12 million as rolling engineering support for water and sewer relocations tied to roadway projects.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Engineering outlines $171 million-plus SPLOST asks, highlights stormwater, road paving and Rocky Creek flood work

Airport seeks SPLOST help for ramp expansion and two hangars to attract business

Augusta utilities ask SPLOST for $24 million to repair Augusta Canal gates and fund water/sewer relocations