Columbus City Council voted 3-2 Tuesday night to appoint former mayor Robert Smith to the Columbus Light and Water Board.
Smith was one of six candidates vying to replace Jabari Edwards, whose most recent five-year term expired June 19. The others were Charlotte Braxton-Verdell, Brenda Lathan, Donald Pope, Sidney Runnels and Maurice Webber.
Ward 3 Councilman Rusty Greene moved, with a second from Ward 6 Councilwoman Jacqueline DiCicco, to appoint Lathan, who is the former Golden Triangle Development LINK vice president. However, Ward 1 Councilwoman Ethel Stewart made a substitute motion, with a second by Vice Mayor and Ward 2 Councilman Joseph Mickens, to appoint Smith.
Stewart’s motion passed 3-2, with Stewart, Mickens and Ward 4 Councilman Pierre Beard voting yes and Greene and DiCicco voting no.
Ward 5 Councilman Stephen Jones abstained because his sister works at Columbus Light and Water.
Smith was not present at Tuesday’s meeting. He did not return a Dispatch phone call seeking comment by press time.
Smith, who served as mayor from 2006-21, also sits on the Golden Triangle Regional Waste Management Authority Board and the Columbus Municipal School Board.
Edwards was appointed to the CLW board in June 2018, replacing Tiffany Turner, who did not seek reappointment. He had previously served on that board from 2004-12 and had served as Smith’s campaign manager in 2013. Shortly after Smith’s reelection for that term, the city hired Edwards’ firm, J5, to work as its project manager.
Edwards and J5 President Antwann Richardson were indicted in June 2022 for allegedly misusing more than $2 million in Paycheck Protection Plan and Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program funding.
They allegedly fraudulently applied for coronavirus relief funds through North Atlantic Security, which Edwards owned at the time but later sold, and Edwards Enterprises, a company listing Edwards as its sole member.
The two are jointly charged with 17 criminal counts, including multiple charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud and money laundering.
Garbage proposals tabled
The council unanimously voted to table garbage collection proposals, citing grumbling from constituents over a possible reduction to once per week pickup.
The city put out a request for proposals for residential garbage pickup earlier this year and received four responses. The two lowest were Arrow Disposal Service at $11.97 per customer per month for one pickup a week, with a city-provided bin; and the city’s current vendor, Golden Triangle Waste Services, for $11.95 per customer per month for one pickup without the bin.
The city now pays GTWS $10.50 per customer per month for twice weekly pickup.
Jones said he was concerned about reducing pickup to once a week.
“I think most people want two,” Jones said. “But before we can vote on it, we need to determine what the actual cost is going to be. We need to determine what the actual increase is going to be.”
In addition to the vendor’s charge to pick up trash, the city adds a fee that covers landfill costs, as well as other expenses. The amount is $7 now, but it hasn’t been determined yet if it will stay the same.
Brigham told Jones the cost to go to twice a week pickup would be “significant,” estimating that twice a week pickup with bins provided would cost customers around $27 a month, compared to $17.50 now.
Beard said he wanted Brigham to go back and get prices for twice weekly pickup without bins.
Beard moved, with a second by Stewart, to continue to negotiate with the vendors. It passed unanimously.
The vendors asked for 90 days notice before they start service to buy equipment and hire employees, and the existing contract expires in September.
Bigelow, Turner appointed to Historic Preservation Commission
Barbara Bigelow and Tiffany Turner were appointed to two-year terms on the Historic Preservation Commission in separate votes.
Beard moved, with a second from Jones, to reappoint Bigelow, whose term expired June 2. The motion passed unanimously.
Amber Brislin also applied to be reappointed, and DiCicco moved, with a second from Greene, to put her back on the board. However, Beard made a substitute motion, seconded by Jones, to appoint Turner. That motion passed 4-2, with Stewart, Mickens, Beard and Jones voting yes and Greene and DiCicco voting no.
Brian Jones is the local government reporter for Columbus and Lowndes County.
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