Forest Acres City Council meets September 11, 2007
By John Dixon TheColumbiaStar.com

Forest Acres City Council met at 5:15 pm Tuesday, September 11, 2007. The flag was flying at half- mast at city hall in honor of the 29,074 people who perished in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

Those assembled were led in invocation by Charles Fetner and in the pledge by scouts Troy Shelton and Porter Rivers from Troop 4 of St. Martin in the Fields.

Lee Holloway, Ginger Dukes, Frank Brunson, Charles Fetner, Shell Suber, and Mark Williams were present.

Council considered appointments to the Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals. Council deferred.

Minutes from the August 14, 2007 meeting were read and approved.

Mayor's Issues

• The matter of city signs was discussed. The appearance commission added a third and smaller sign for use in the neighborhoods and post size of all signs has been decreased leading to a possible price drop. Williams reports that all things are in order to receive bids.

Work continues on the Quinine Hill Park project, and design plans are now 70 percent complete. New Business

• Council unanimously approved FARMA's request for $30,000 in Hospitality Tax funds for Taste of Forest Acres/Rooftop Rhythms. FARMA is proposing a Saturday, October 6 event, which starts with a Taste of Forest Acres from 2- 6 pm and a rooftop concert from 6- 9 pm. Bands include the Tams, the Root Doctors, and Danielle Howell.

• Council deferred, until October, a Hospitality Tax funds request for $5,950 to advertise city events Access Leisure.

• Council unanimously approved a $33,900 Hospitality Tax funds request from the A.C. Flora High School Booster Club for the 2008 Forest Acres Classic. Plans are to add a backstop possibly with the Forest Acres logo.

• Consideration of amendments to sign ordinance regarding digital billboards was discussed. Attorney Holloway provided several items for council's consideration. The issue was carried over to the October meeting for discussion.

Old Business

Council gave First Reading to an ordinance for the City of Forest Acres, state of South Carolina, providing the code of ordinances, City of Forest Acres be amended by revising SECTION 21.4.2 (ZONING MAP) of said code; providing for a change in the district boundaries of the city zoning map. (Ordinance to rezone parcels R14005-03-14, 15 & 16, otherwise known as 3869, 3867 and 3731 Forest Drive from R- 1 Residential to C- 1 Commercial). Based on overwhelming public opposition at last month's public hearing, council denied the request by a three to one margin with Shell Suber as the lone dissenting vote.

City Administrator's Report

A tree planting program is now written to be considered by council for next month's meeting

Firefighter William Anderson has proposed addressing a project to assist with delivery of 911 services. The project proposes to number all houses visibly with luminescent numbers on the curbs and roads for a $10 fee per home and asks the city to help pay for those who cannot pay themselves. The proposal was accepted as information for later discussion.

The city must replace a garbage truck because its engine burned up on the collection route. Williams located a company with an unclaimed order for a similar vehicle and can have a truck back in service within several weeks. Council unanimously approved funds to supplement insurance pay off for the replacement of the truck.

Due to the generosity and cooperation of Margaret Anne Ashburn the city's new web address, www.forestacres.net, recently launched.

Jordan Anderson reports that in addition to winning the Summer Shootout at Lowe's Speedway, he has won 10 out of his last 12 races. His car, complete with Forest ARcarceins gl o6g0o0, appears on the front cover of magazine. Anderson currently stands three points from the lead in the current Championship points standing. (See page one.)

Community Forum

• A concerned citizen asked council to investigate the change of Blythe Glen back to its original name of Nelson Street. Mark Williams will investigate and report back to Council.

• Brenda Ramage thanked Council for denying the zoning request change and keeping Forest Acres green.

• Betty Hilliard asked if Council had been informed the Forest Drive Baptist church is being sold and if they know what plans are for the property. Council has received no formal notice of any sort regarding this property.

• Rett Kibler asked about the rezoning request just denied at this meeting.He received confirmation the issue has been dropped because it was defeated and cannot be revisited for the period of one year.

Council meets again Tuesday, October 9, 2007.