Richland County Council meets January 22, 2008
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, Greg Pearce, Bernice Scott, and Kit Smith were present.

A Night of Presentations

During the South Carolina- Clemson football game this past year, a man suffered a cardiac arrest and stopped breathing. Four Richland County EMTs were summoned to the scene and by using CPR and a defibrillator, were able to save him. Richland County council issued a proclamation honoring the four, and as Greg Pearce put it, "all emergency service workers everywhere".

After reviving the victim, the four were awarded with a standing ovation at the football game. After the proclamation Tuesday night, Kyle Buck, Patrick Harley, Curtis Nolff, and Robin Haselden received another one.

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), led by Paige Greene, gave their annual outstanding presentation thanking Richland County for funding the organization. This year, members of CASA, along with the Blythewood High football team, and anyone else available, unfurled 1,328 sheets of pink and blue paper; representing each child helped by the organization in 2007. The sheets were tied together to make a chain and spread around the auditorium as Greene thanked the council.

Joyce Dickerson congratulated the Blythewood High Bengals for overcoming adversity this season and completing an undefeated season. The team was forbidden from participating in the playoffs because of a misunderstanding about practice but stayed positive and completed the undefeated season.

The Richland County Budget group was recognized nationally once again for their work on the annual budget. The GFOA awards any group who meets several criteria when measured against other groups across the nation. The Agenda

The night's agenda was approved without changes. Not surprising since very little business is going on so soon after the new calendar takes affect. No one signed up to speak about the three public hearing items, and the four consent items on the agenda were left alone and approved.

Rhondra Willis was appointed to the Business Service Center Appeals Board. Four vacancies to three other committees were not filled because no one applied. There are over 30 civic committees in Richland County that oversee many different county functions. Anyone with a civic minded attitude and a few qualifications is urged to send a resume. Information on the available openings and what each committee entails is available on the county website.

Residential Care

An application to locate a residential care facility was approved after some discussion. The property is located in Norman Jackson's district. He wasn't real keen on the idea since the facility would not be used by the owner.

After some legal consultation, the application was approved. If it had been denied, the county would be required to find an alternate location.

After motion period and no executive session, the meeting was adjourned.