Metro Spirit 11.13.2003 by Metro Spirit

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have done differently,” Boyles said. “Like all of us, I have said, over and over, we get frustrated with the inability to get some things done for our constituents. ... I think if he (Kolb) were to insist that his department heads be more responsive and get some immediate answers or at least contact concerned citizens to tell them that we are looking into your problem, that would be much better.” Boyles has also noticed that Kolb sometimes has public arguments with commissioners. “I’ve noticed that with several of the commissioners, and it may go both ways, but he gets into a combative role,” Boyles said. “I’m not a combative person, so I have not had that problem. But that leads to some ugly fights on the commission floor that everybody sees. That doesn’t do much for our image.” But Boyles said a raise for Kolb should still be an option. “I’m not opposed to a raise, but I think before we do it, we need to look at what our employees are getting, too,” Boyles said. “He should get the same raise that our other employees get, and our other employees haven’t gotten a raise in two years now.” Augusta Commissioner Bobby Hankerson wasn’t quite as enthusiastic in his opinion of Kolb’s performance, primarily because Kolb has not shown any signs of improvement from 2002. “This year’s evaluation really mirrors last year’s evaluation,” Hankerson said. “Now, when you see that, that means there has been no improvement on those things.” Hankerson said he used to work for the state of Georgia, and if he had received a 70-percent rating last year like Kolb, he would have worked extra hard this year to improve his score.

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“I used to be evaluated all the time and when I saw negative things about me, it really hurt me,” Hankerson said. “So, I really tried hard to change that and to reach for the highest mark possible. “But to still do the same things – I don’t know. Someone has to get your attention.” When asked if he thinks Kolb now understands some of the commissioners’ concerns, Hankerson said he believes the administrator has the full picture. “I’m quite sure that we have his attention,” Hankerson said. “I spoke out honestly in the (legal) meeting. I don’t have a hidden agenda. I just told him, ‘I’m going to be straight up with you and I want you to be straight up with me.’” Some of the concerns Hankerson said he had with Kolb dealt with the budget and his handling of suggestions from commissioners. “If you are working for the government and I bring you something, I understand you have the expertise and I know you are smart, even brilliant, but I want some consideration,” Hankerson said. One such consideration, Hankerson said, was his proposal to use inmate labor on certain projects around the county. “Don’t tell me that it costs more to work inmates than it does to pay employees to do the work,” Hankerson said. “Now, I’m not buying that. I may be a preacher but I’m not stupid. ... So, those sort of things bothered me.” Hankerson, who has attended every budget meeting this year held by the administrator, also said that he has been concerned about the progress of those meetings. “Last year I decided I really wanted to learn this budget process,” Hankerson said. “But I come every day and it gets more confusing as we go. And we spend a lot of time in these

budget workshops wasting time. I say, let’s get down to the numbers because in the end that’s what we are going to be battling it out over. “But instead people (department heads) are being told to come in here showboating. Telling us all this overview stuff about their departments. I don’t want to hear that. We are just wasting time.” Augusta Commissioner Marion Williams, Kolb’s harshest critic, couldn’t agree more with Hankerson. “George is a knowledgeable guy, but George does not respect authority and he does not respect commissioners,” Williams said. “We ask him to do things, and nothing happens.” Despite what the media says, Williams said he doesn’t have anything personally against Kolb. “This is not personal; this is the city’s business,” Williams said. “We need an administrator. We don’t need a manager like he wants to be. George does what he wants to

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do, when he wants to do it. “The thing he doesn’t get is, I’m elected by the people, and whether he likes me or not, I represent a lot of constituents that have a lot of concerns. So, he has to listen to what we, as commissioners, say.” Williams said it’s ridiculous that some commissioners are even considering giving Kolb a raise. “I like George as a person, but do you know anybody who is making more than $125,000 a year, not doing their job and gets a 66 percent on an evaluation and then gets a raise?” Williams asked. “Let’s get serious now.” When asked whether he thought Kolb’s contract would be renewed next year, Williams said that was a tough call. “I think a lot of commissioners are fed up,” Williams said. “He had a year to improve and did not show any improvement. Now, it’s show time and I think it’s too late.”

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