Richland County Council meets November 6, 2007
By Mike Cox MWC423@bellsouth.net
Roll call Chairman Joe McEachern, Vice Chair Val Hutchinson, Joyce Dickerson, Norman Jackson, Damon Jeter, Paul Livingston, Bill Malinowski, Mike Montgomery, Bernice Scott, and Kit Smith were present. Greg Pearce was absent.

Richland 101 The current class of Richland 101 graduated this week and was recognized at the council meeting. There were 25 concerned citizens who gave their time to learn more about how county government works and meet some of the people who help make Richland County a well- oiled machine most of the time.

Boys and Girls Clubs Carter Clark spoke on behalf of the area Boys and Girls Clubs. He said the organization recently formed its 20th branch in the area, 16 in Richland County. The organization works with 13 area elementary schools and five middle schools and serves around 2,000 boys and girls each week.

Winning The Telly The Richland Public Information Office comprised of Stephany Snowden, Jennifer Dowden, and Tamara King, was presented a prestigious Telly Award, honoring the department for outstanding work in televised communication. This award has been around since 1979 and is coveted by PIO departments nationwide.

Reconsideration Before the minutes from last meeting were approved, Val Hutchinson asked for an item from the minutes to be reconsidered. The motion changed the language of the existing solid waste ordinance. Evidently, the county will try to work something out with Northeast Landfill and the proposal was the first step. The motion was defeated, but a second motion to form a committee to negotiate was approved.

Mike Montgomery pointed out, and was backed up by countyattorney Larry Smith, the reconsideration was wasted effort. The ordinance can be reintroduced at any time, in any form, by any council member. But minds were made up. Several pointed out it was legal to reconsider the proposal, and it didn't hurt anything to bring it up. After much pontificating and very little compromise or understanding, Hutchinson withdrew her request for reconsideration.

(The Richland 101 grads and the Boy Scouts had to be very impressed with this edition of Richland County Council, which finds distrust with every argument and seldom sees anything in terms other than political.)

Administrative and Finance Committee An ordinance to require the council to go through three steps and get a majority vote in order to give away Hospitality Tax money was soundly defeated after being approved in the A&F committee. An amendment was added to another Hospitality Tax ordinance making it appear the council is trying to save the Hospitality Tax money they are giving away by the handful.

A Victim's Assistance proposal was tabled until the whole mess is cleared up with the state over funding for Victim's Assistance. A proposal to give $2,000 to a military funding request for orphans and widows was passed, along with a suggestion by Norman Jackson for each council member to give $250 from their personal budget to increase the fund. (I don't know about you, but I would be more impressed if they took $250 from their wallet instead of ours.)

After motion period the meeting was adjourned.