West Columbia City Council meeting

By Kristin Lavender

kblavender@gmail.com

Feb. 6, 2007

Presentations

Wayne Shuler, chief planner for Central Midlands COG, presented to the Council the City of West Columbia Comprehensive Plan. The plan outlined the economic base and population of West Columbia with revisions having begun in 2005. The best population estimate provided was for the year 2011 with an increase of 970, culminating in a total estimated population of 14,034. The focus of the presentation was "preserving residential areas while focusing on commercial growth."

The Council introduced the possibility of coordinating a study of the benefits of providing a fire district such as the one in Irmo, complete with a substation to enhance response time to medical emergencies.

Business

The first order of business was to approve the first reading consideration of an ordinance pertaining to the City of West Columbia Building Code regarding certain dwellings and/or buildings unfit for human habitation. Mayor Bobby Horton identified this decree as being one that "puts city ordinances in synch with the state." This requires that unfit edifices be brought up to code or condemned in compliance with existing state codes. Councilman L. Dale Harley made a motion to accept. The Council then raised the question as to how the city would inspect the dwellings and insure that every building is in accordance with both state and city codes.

The Council was asked to consider approving the 2007 Jury List for the City of West Columbia Municipal Court. In 2006, 7,823 city residents were on the list. The 2007 list shows 8,038, an increase of 215. The list does not omit residents over the age of 65. If individuals over 65 are called to serve, they can choose to be exempt of the duty.

Request for Appearance

Katherine Bruce from The Collaborative for Community Trust requested appearance in front of the Council to discuss the creation of a Three Cities Corridor to include the city of West Columbia. The corridor would begin at the existing corridor from the airport at Platt Springs Road, through Springdale, down Jarvis Klapman Boulevard and down to Hampton Street. This provides a way to promote three cities at once. The chosen route was selected because no other entrance to Columbia provides a skyline comparable to West Columbia's.

US Airways will feature an "invitation to Columbia" in one of its upcoming publications. This will provide an opportunity to introduce the Three Cities Corridor and bring to fruition the benefits and beautification of West Columbia

This project creates the potential to market many promotional aspects of the city. Senator Nikki Setzler is already involved with aiding in the beautification of the Jarvis Kaplan entrance to Columbia, an endeavor which has been in the planning stages for about six months.

The Council suggested a number of potential partners for the project. Contributions provided by such partners would offer the greatest sources of funding.