Forest Acres City Council meets November 13, 2007
Photos and story by John Dixon

Forest Acres City Manager Mark Williams holds up the hand held light- up fan for Forest Acres City Council members to see.

The November 13, 2007, meeting of the Forest Acres City Council was called to order at 5:20 pm by Mayor Pro Tempore, Curtis Rye, standing in for Mayor Frank Brunson. In attendance were Curtis Rye, Council Woman Ginger Dukes, Councilman Shell Suber, Councilman Charlie Fetner, City Attorney Lee Holloway, and City Manager Mark Williams. Chief Gene Sealy and Bob Massa were also present. Councilman Charlie Fetner led those assembled in the Invocation and pledge.

Mayor's Issues (deferred to Mark Williams)

• City Signs - The large gateway signs for the major arteries (Forest Drive, Beltline Blvd., Trenholm Road and Two Notch Road) have been ordered and should be in place by the first of the year.

• Quinine Hill Park - Council recently met with architects to make final changes in the plans before going out to bid. Williams is waiting for sketch and particulars of the final design plan.

Jordan Anderson Winner of Shoot- out Series

• Jordan Anderson brought council up to date on his racing season and the media exposure he was able to garner for the City of Forest Acres. The Shoot- out series which Anderson won, will be televised sometime this winter. Several articles are planned in the print media for the next several months. Anderson thanked Council for its support of its hometown son and pledged to continue to make it proud.

New business

• Catherine Horne of Edventure addressed Council requesting funds for the upcoming "Airplay" exhibition. The $40,000 includes not only "Airplay" but also a long term portable interactive exhibit that can be used at festivals. Total cost of the project is estimated at $72,000. Council unanimously approved the $40,000 request. Free Forest Acres School admission will be offered in the fall.

• Cynthia Davis of Access Leisure requested $3,500 for Online Calendar of Events for Forest Acres. Davis shared the final printed issue of the hard copy published, periodical Leisure Fun as an example of the kinds of activities and articles that may appear in the online periodical when the transition from print to digital is complete. Council deferred action for a period of one month to allow Council members time to research the concept.

Catherine Horne EdVenture

Old business

• Unanimous second reading approval was given 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 2- 73 of said code providing for terms of members on the planning commission and be further amended by revising section 2- 76 of said code providing for election and terms of chairman and vice- chairman of the planning commission.

• Consideration of Amendments to sign ordinance was deferred pending input from the Planning Commission.

• Unanimous second reading approval was given 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 adding a section providing for the budget for the City of Forest Acres for the fiscal year 2007- 2008.

Cynthia Davis Access Leisure

City Administrator's Report

• Council unanimously approved $8172.90 in Hospitality Tax funds for replacement of two FAPD servers and a laptop computer.

• Action on the School Walkway grants and materials was deferred pending outcome of Mark Williams investigation of the proper grant process. Deadline for the 2007 funding cycle has passed so there is time to thoroughly investigate options for the 2008 funding cycle.

• Williams requested the tree replanting program be slated to begin January 1, 2008, and it be piloted as an incentive program rather than being written immediately into an ordinance to allow the program to be tested and more easily refined.

Community forum

Carroll McIntyre requested Council look into changing the name of Blythe Glenn to honor someone who does or has done good work for the city. Both Charles Fetner and Shell Suber declined the honor and suggested naming the road after the recently deceased, Luther Stafford who dedicated much of his time and effort to the service of the City and citizens of Forest Acres. Williams will investigate possibilities and report back to Council.

Carol Kososki shared information about Arbor Day activities in Forest Acres and the City of Columbia. Council is receiving an invitation to a Liberty Tree dedication planned for the State House Grounds on Friday, December 7, and there will be a Forest Acres Arbor Day Tree Planting at Satchel Ford Elementary School at 12:40 pm on Tuesday, December 6, followed by an assembly to hear Tim Womack speak.

Kososki urged citizens of Forest Acres to attend the next Richland County Council meeting on November 20 to oppose the Planning Commission's Fill in the Flood Plain program in favor of the plan originally presented to the commission by planning commission staff. The original plan was much more ecologically sound and was in keeping with the FEMA position.

Mike McIntosh revisited the issue of where city vehicles are purchased and why. Mayor Pro Tempore Curtis Rye and City Manager Mark Williams clarified the answer given by Mayor Brunson last meeting by stating the vendor in Augusta, Georgia, matched state bid prices, delivered vehicles with all special equipment already installed, and working properly for the life of the vehicle; where as, there had been problems with some of the other vendors in the past.

Council will meet again December 11, 2007.