Richland County Council meeting + Jan. 9, 2007 + 6 pm
Joe McEachern elected chair; Val Hutchinson, vice chair

By Mike Cox

MWC423@bellsouth.net

Roll call

Joe McEachern, Val Hutchinson, Joyce Dickerson, Norman Jackson, Damon Jeter, Paul Livingston, Bill Malinowski, Mike Montgomery, Greg Pearce, Bernice Scott, and Kit Smith were present.

New officers and picking seats

The first meeting of the year began, as always, with the election of a new chair and vice chair. Before allowing the vote to proceed, acting chairman Greg Pearce recognized Damon Jeter for being selected one of the area's Twenty under Forty; a distinction by local media for up and coming community leaders.

Paul Livingston was nominated for chairman by Joyce Dickerson. Joe McEachern was nominated by newcomer Norman Jackson. In the closest election in recent years, McEachern won the chair by one vote.

Mike Montgomery nominated Val Hutchinson for vice chair. Joyce Dickerson was nominated by Livingston. In another close vote, Hutchinson was elected. Pearce won Miss Congeniality. Next, the council was able to sit still and quiet for long enough to get the 2007 group picture taken.

In the highlight of the evening, and an event council watchers greatly anticipate each year, the Richland County Council next chose where they would sit for the coming year. Seniority governs in this process, followed by alphabetic order in case of ties.

The Seat Selection went quickly; Dickerson was the only council member who put much thought in where she would sit. When the dust cleared, Pearce and Montgomery ended up on the flanks, Bernice Scott and Kit Smith stayed where they were last year, and the new guys, Jackson and Bill Malinowski, sat where they were told.

The agenda

Chairman McEachern moved quickly through the agenda, approval of minutes, and citizen's input. Attorney Larry Smith notified the council of several executive session items needing discussion. The Mercer Group, a firm in charge of finding a new administrator, had some news. Carolina Care also was to be discussed behind closed doors. No one wanted to speak for or against any of the four public hearing items.

County Administrator Report

Acting Administrator Milton Pope, mentioned several things. He gave the council an update on this weekend's retreat and informed the council of a temporary fix for the rowing facility problem. Georgetown University is in town, 70 of them, rowing up and down Broad River during the day and spending money at night.

Animal care is improving; the number of animals being held has been reduced and Richland County is running the shelter formerly known as Critter Cabin. The new Farmer's Market is also moving closer to completion.

New Committee Members

The Board of Zoning Adjustments and Appeals, Building Code Board of Adjustments and Appeals, and the Planning Commission all have vacancies. The council voted to advertise these openings.

Joe Cronin was appointed to the Midlands Workforce Development Board and Richland Memorial Hospital Board filled four vacancies with Virginia Leaman Crocker, Richard A. Schwab, F. Xavier Starks, and James E. (Rick) Wheeler.

After a rather short executive session, and no information to the public, the first meeting of the year was adjourned.