Forest Acres City Council meets Feb. 13
By John Dixon
Cub@TheColumbiaStar.com

Roll call

Forest Acres City Council met at 5:15 pm, Feb. 13, 2007. Present were Councilmen Charles Fetner and Shel Suber and Councilwoman Ginger Dukes, Mayor Frank Brunson, Mayor Pro Tempore Curtis Rye, City Attorney Lee Holloway, and Business Manager Bob Massa who stood in for City Administrator Mark Williams who was away on family business.

All minutes of the January meeting and two special sessions were approved without changes.

Councilman Charles Fetner led those assembled in the invocation and Pledge of Allegiance.

Mayor's issues

Both the city signs and the issue of Quinine Hill Park deferred until City Administrator Mark Williams could be present to participate in discussion.

New Business

The Rotary Club's request for Hospitality Tax funds for the 2007 Forest Acres Festival was approved for $25,000. This year's Festival is to be held at A.C. Flora High School May 12, 2007. Rotary recently received a State Tourism Grant, which will subsidize the rides at this year's festival.

The Forest Acres Restaurant and Merchants Association made two funding requests from council for Hospitality Tax funds to support the association's activities. Council approved the request for funds to support a Spring Repeat of the successful Roof Top Rhythms Concert Series with the stipulation that rigorous efforts be made to advertise the event to surrounding areas outside of Forest Acres in an effort to bolster attendance. The spring concert series is to be held from 6- 9 pm on four consecutive Thursday nights in April on the roof-top of Midtown at Forest Acres.

Council asked Eddie Wales , FARMA president to provide more budget information of the association's request for support of their newsletter production and distribution. The funding request was tabled pending receipt of the desired information by the next council meeting.

Council gave first reading approval to an amendment to the city code of ordinances related to council voting requirements.

Old Business

Proposed tree planting plan financing plan is being refined.

At the request of Council, Bob Massa investigated the interest being earned on the Exxon Settlement money and reported that at current rates Council could expect the money to draw approximately $20,000 a year interest, which in turn would total approximately $40,000 seed money for the tree replanting program by the time reimbursement would be scheduled to begin. Council accepted the report as information.

City Administrators Report

Bob Massa rendered the city administrator's report due to the absence of Mark Williams. Massa reported the City Administrator has put out a call for bids on the rehabilitation of the city recycling center, and a report will be forthcoming when all bids are in. The city is investigating options for taking the city payroll to a direct deposit system, and the business office has issued a request of proposal to the financial institutions operating within the city limits in order to determine the best option for the direct deposit system.

The city is also investigating vehicle maintenance options for the care and repair of the city's sanitation equipment and vehicles. The current arrangement is very expensive and the plans currently under study could result in substantial savings to the city.

Community Forum

There were complaints from the residents of the Brenthaven Road area about tractor trailer parking in the unincorporated parts of Richland County adjacent to their properties obstructing the roadway and being generally unsightly.

There was a request for dollar figures of funding requests to be printed on the agendas for public information. Council agreed this was a good idea and moved to comply with the request. Residents complained of yard sale signs being posted on telephone poles and left for extended periods of time after the sale was over.

Council Items

Charles Fetner thanks everyone for their cards, calls, and well wishes while he was out recovering from medical issues. Council adjourned at 6 pm for an executive review session on a personnel matter and returned shortly to formally adjourn the meeting with no further action taken.