Richland County Council meeting + October 17, 2006

Ballet

Teresa McWilliams , of the Columbia City Ballet, informed the county council of an offer by Blue Cross to match any funds received by the ballet. McWilliams asked for $5000. She reminded the council the city ballet provides five times the entertainment, training, and income of the Koger Center, while receiving an equal amount of funding from Richland County.

Animal Care

County Administrator Milton Pope introduced Mary Denis Cauthen , of the Citizens' Advisory Council on Animal Care, for a report. Cauthen told the council her committee was excited at the prospect of a county owned animal care facility being built. She said the current arrangement was adequate, but not a permanent fix. Cauthen said a county owned facility not only would provide better and more humane care, it would give the county control over expenses.

Paving Roads

The public hearing about changes in the road paving ordinance brought several citizens out on a messy Tuesday night. Eugene Duval pleaded with the council to pave Sara Matthews Road, which he said was approved for paving in 1976.

James and Lucy Watson and Jesse Jacobs asked for Lassiter-Jacobs Road to be paved. Ms. Watson said the road made everything in her home dusty, and she was too old to clean it up any more. William Janie Sims Circle had the most supporters; seven people asked for it to be paved. Three more people asked for Mendenhal Road to be paved.

After the public hearing was closed, Bernice Scott addressed the crowd and told them to please get all the facts about the existing paving ordinance and any rumors they might have heard about certain roads getting moved up the list. Scott said she had been investigated by the Ethics Committee and cleared, and she would live on an unpaved road for the rest of her life.

The Agenda

A zoning change for property on Peace Haven Road passed after amendments were added to insure better screening of the road and restrictions on the size of vehicles allowed in the proposed business.

Joyce Dickerson rivaled Mike Montgomery in her speech to explain why she was supporting a zoning change for Bluegrass Villages in Blythewood. Dickerson evoked Solomon, and proved she was listening in politics 101 by explaining in detail every step she took. Her ordinance was approved.

Kit Smith moved to approve second reading of the Broad River Waste Water rate adjustment but wanted another work session. Smith said the specifics of the project had changed since the last work session.

Fireworks were on display when the council discussed approval of the MOU for funding of the Bethel Cultural Arts Center. Several council members wanted assurances Columbia would provide funding as promised. This seemed to irritate other members. Scott gave one of her periodic lectures to the rest of the council members about working together. Tempers flared. Damon Jeter even briefly played the "race card." In the end, a wording change suggested by Smith eased all concerns, and the MOU passed unanimously.