Richland County Council Meeting September 19, 2006 + 6 pm
By Mike Cox

Correction

During last week's council meeting, Tiaa Rutherford was introduced as Richland County's new Neighborhood Planner. This information wasn't included in that council report.

Presentations

Mike Briggs , of the Central SC Alliance, gave the council an update of his group's success. Briggs said the Central SC Alliance was chartered in 1994 and has been responsible for 314 jobs so far in 2006. Thirty percent of the new projects the alliance is working on involve companies new to the Midlands.

James Miller , from the SC Forestry Commission, gave Richland County a check for $12,000 to be used for school funding. After a brief struggle, the check was placed in the proper hands.

Citizen's Input

It became evident how the night would go when confusion reigned over citizen's input. Two people wanted to discuss the bus amendment, and two wanted to discuss the paving ordinance. One has already had a public hearing, and the other is going to. All speakers had to be allowed to speak by council vote.

After getting permission to speak, Carol Jaworski violated council rules by twice naming council members in her speech. She felt some council members were showing favoritism, and all builders should have to pave their own roads.

A Mr. Ross asked the council to raise bus fares and charge fees to employers to fund the bus service. Ross said car owners were already paying too much for gas and shouldn't be helping to pay for bus service they didn't use.

Animal Control

You can always tell when an issue is of concern to many citizens. All the council members want to have their say, even if it has already been said. A recent controversy involving Richland County's handling of stray animals brought the entire program under question.

According to Administrator Milton Pope , the facility being used by the county to house stray animals is minimally humane. When Richland was no longer allowed to share the city facility, a temporary place had to be found. The present location is too small to serve as a permanent location for the county's animal care facility.

Pope informed the council the location wasn't perfect, but was clean, humane, and served as a temporary location until arrangements can be made with Columbia for a partnership facility. Pope also said he felt Richland would be better served to build a separate facility. In addition, there have been no changes in the adoption policy in place.

After much political wrangling, some confusion, and at least one desperate plea, the bus ordinance was deferred until the next meeting.

Citizen's Input II

Mel Jenkins wanted the council to inform him and his neighbors of the exact nature of the Owens Field park facility and what is being done there. He questioned the ecological impact of School District One building a track facility and wondered about the exact nature of the relationship between Columbia and Richland One, and whether it was beneficial to the citizens of the surrounding neighborhoods. He asked the council for a written reply.