News 12 at 6 o'clock / Friday, Feb. 3, 2012

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Radio personality Austin Rhodes is reaching into his own pocket to challenge the community to hold the city's feet to the fire. It all centers around the TEE Center parking deck controversy.

"Why don't we stop the madness?" asked former mayoral candidate Lori Davis. "Why don't we stop it?"

Davis is outraged after Augusta's finance chairman came out against a forensic audit of the controversial TEE Center parking deck. The $12 million complex was built on land the city doesn't own.

"Thank goodness for computers and Facebook and social networking," Davis said.

She has taken to Facebook and highlighted local reports revealing liens on the property. Lori says a forensic audit must happen.

"It's imperative," Davis said. "If this isn't going to happen, then we will look into legal means to make it happen."

"If you've got a rat problem, you call in the rat people," Rhodes said on his radio show. "I called in the rat people today."

Rhodes says he knows just the attorney to contact.

"Robert Mullins has a track record of taking on this administration and whipping their fannies in court," he said.

He is convinced the group is on to something.

"Definitely, they're on to something," Rhodes said. "If you find out there is property that you don't really have control of and you have been building things on it ... if you did that in the private sector, attorneys would get sued. There would be lawsuits flying back and forth."

Rhodes and Davis say the message is simple: Honor the request for a forensic audit or face a court order.

"I think a crime has been committed and with CSI you call in the forensic team," Rhodes said.

TEE Center operators are equally confident.

"The suggestion that there is something criminal here ... do you take offense?" News 12 asked TEE Center Operator Paul Simon.

"I think they are wrong, and the audit will prove it," he replied.

The TEE Center management agreement vote is next Tuesday.

"My suggestion is come to commission on Tuesday," Davis said. "Let's pack the commission out."

Rhodes has pledged $100 for a legal team. He is challenging other civic minded individuals to do the same. He says we can expect an announcement from Mullins as early as next week.