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Columbia City Council meeting + October 25, 2006 + 9 am + City Hall
City council convened around 9 am for its regular meeting on Wednesday, October 25, in City Hall. Council member E.W. Cromartie was absent, and all others were present: Daniel Rickenmann, Sam Davis, Mayor Bob Coble, Anne Sinclair, Tameika Isaac Devine, and Kirkman Finlay.
Charley Caroline Bennett, author of the book Charley's Columbia Backyard, was recognized by council for her contribution to the community and to the literary world.
Wine Earl Brown, chair of the Columbia Action Council, and Judy Stringer, director, disclosed details of their upcoming wine tasting. The wine tasting will be at the Keenan House, near Monticello Road, this Sunday, October 29, from 1-5:30 pm. Entrance is free, but for the wine tasting, single tickets are $25, and couples are $45. At the door, the cost is $30 per person. Also, there will be German beer and food.
God willing and if the creek don't rise Rocky Branch Creek, the flood drain for Five Points, was recognized by council as deserving of a study to determine what's necessary to get the floodwaters from Five Points to the Congaree River in the shortest period of time and through the fewest number of impediments. In other words, after years of study and about $35,000,000 in flood-control improvements in Five Points' current construction nightmare, the city has seen too many Five Points floods and has read too many Five Points floods stories in The Columbia Star. It's time, finally, to look into the problem, find the culprits/culverts and eliminate or expand same, all at outrageous costs. As Columbia City Manager Charles Austin put it in his memo, again after tens of millions of dollars and years of floods, "The city has experienced major flooding events in the Rocky Branch Creek sub-drainage basin. The subject study will provide for hydraulic analyses necessary to determine alternatives and conceptual cost estimates to improve deficiencies along the creek. The study will also provide for stakeholder involvement in identifying deficiencies and developing solutions associated with the flooding of the creek." The study contract for $217,732 was awarded to Parsons, Brinckerhoff, Quade and Douglas of Columbia. Five Points began flooding soon after the swamp was drained, and the stores were built almost a century ago.
Homelessness discovered Council approved $85,848.82 for emergency renovations/repairs to the Senate Street (old fire station) and Taylor Street (3 Rivers Concerts) buildings for the emergency homeless accommodation for this winter season only. The city was first laid out in 1786, and this week after 230 years the city is getting serious on an emergency basis about managing their new-found problem. Next: public transit. Next: outdoor sign controls. Next: balanced budget. Next: riverfront access. Next: municipal government structure. Next: corrected campaign contributions controls. Next: even-handed school/child funding. Next: Main Street retail. And so it goes.
Next meeting Council meets again Wednesday afternoon, November 1, at 4:00 for a work session and at 6:00 for a regular meeting.
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