Richland County Council meets September 18, 2007
By Mike Cox MWC423@bellsouth.net

Joe McEachern, Joyce Dickerson, Val Hutchinson, Norman Jackson, Damon Jeter, Paul Livingston, Bill Malinowski, Mike Montgomery, Greg Pearce, Bernice Scott, and Kit Smith were present at the Richland County Council meeting September 18, 2007.

Presentations

James Miller from the Forestry Commission presented the council with a check for $12,074. The money is the county's share of user fees from Harbison State Forest. The state pays a percentage of revenues to each county with a state park.

Ken Simmons gave the council a vague update on the plans for the new recreation complex. The planners are working with the county staff to consider size, cost, diversity, and flexibility. Simmons had no specific plans to show the council since the complex is still in the planning stage.

Mitzi Javers gave the council members an update on CMRTA. Although talks with Lexington County continue, the belief is Lexington will not fund additional bus service and will only use the minimal routes and service now operating. Javers also reported that ridership has remained steady through all the fee adjustments and service changes.

Cynthia Hardy, from Richland One Middle College, told council she was not bearing gifts and wasn't asking for anything. Middle College is a high school located on a college campus; in this case, Midlands Tech. The award winning program features guaranteed success, which is a program for students involving laptops, mentors, and work study programs. The school's graduation rate is 97 percent.

Agenda

The first item on the night's agenda was third reading for a proposal to place a funeral home on Hardscrabble Road.

Val Hutchinson repeated her concerns from last meeting about the already crowded conditions on the road and how a funeral home will increase the traffic.

Paul Livingston said the funeral home wouldn't add more traffic than another kind of business, and Joyce Dickerson said the area needed someplace for dead folks to go. The motion passed 7- 4.

The long awaited Victim's Assistance budget amendment is finally being addressed. Administrator Milton Pope gave the council the numbers and explained how the revenue and budget could handle the shortfall from this year and give adequate protection in future years. Pope emphasized to the council all entities were aware there was a cap on services and funds, and unless the state follows through with promised legislation, any shortfall on speeding ticket revenue might result in less funding for needed services.

Bill Malinowski reminded everyone how wrong the local media had been in reporting this issue by calling this a cutback in services by the county.

Greg Pearce told how the basic idea turned into an unfounded mandate by state government when ticket revenues began to drop. Pearce explained how the committee had studied possible revenue streams and whether the Victim's Assistance program is efficient with their funding. The proposal was approved

The new county auditor asked the council for additional funds and people. The council wasn't too receptive but did approve the proposal through first reading and assigned the request to committee.

John Grego asked the council to support a bill in Congress to purchase additional land for the Congaree National Park. After the ever- present executive session, the meeting was adjourned.