News 12 at 11 o'clock / Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- The multi-million dollar TEE Center project may be officially on hold. Commissioners rejected a more than $800,000 change order Tuesday.

"I don't care how mad you get," declared Commissioner J.R. Hatney. "It doesn't bother me at all."

The TEE Center is months away from completion, and there are discussions the building may need major upgrades.

"I don't want to get something a year down the road," said Commissioner Grady Smith."[And hear] oh by the way."

That "oh by the way" comes at a cost of more than $800,000.

The money would bring the project up up to Marriott international standards when it comes to air circulation. It would also tackle fire code concerns.

"You should know this on the front end when you are going into a project," Smith said.

Despite a few jabs and dire warnings, Smith cast the deciding vote against the changes.

"I think it's a short-sighted decision if we don't move forward on this," said Mayor Deke Copenhaver.

"If you don't want to do so," said City Administrator Fred Russell. "And that's obvious ... then in this particular case, we have sort of stopped the project."

Commissioner Smith doesn't buy it.

"All of a sudden today killed everything?" Smith questioned. "I don't think so. I will be the first one to stand up and say I approve of it. Just give me all of the facts and the numbers."

The Marriott's response?

"No comment," replied Paul Simon.

News 12 asked Simon how serious this decision is.

"No problem for me," Simon said.

Commissioners voted to return the issue to committees, but those meetings are at least two weeks away. Russell says the project has now officially been delayed by at least a month.