AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – City leaders knew that the Garden City hasn’t been living up to its name recently, so something needed to change.“This is a huge step forward for the City of Augusta in our ability to maintain our vegetative beds, to maintain our grass, most importantly, pick up the litter, as you know, an important part of maintaining our city is maintaining this beautification,” said Mayor Garnett Johnson.With beautification in mind, commissioners voted to create a new stand-alone vegetation and landscaping department, instead of having those duties spread out over four different departments and 41 workers. “Take those employees who have been doing the work in each department and bringing them together and consolidate them and do one department,” said Commissioner Catherine Smith Rice.
Commissioners first approved having the administrator bring back the transition plan before giving the new department the green light. In the meantime, the workers will continue in their current departments before making the change.“It’s an open and shut thing for me. We need to make some changes so we can really ensure that, that service output is provided without fail,” said Commissioner Don Clark.
A new director will be needed and a building located for staff and equipment. This will likely mean the new department won’t hit the streets until after the growing season starts, but that wasn’t seen as a reason not to get started…