Richland County Council meets March 4, 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.

Administrator's report

County administratorMilton Pope told the council the county supports a resolution currently moving through the State House to deed the land formerly designated for the Richland Farmer's Market back to Richland County.

Pope also reported Lexington and Richland are moving forward on the animal care issue. His staff will meet soon to formalize an RFP and set timelines for the project. Public hearings

The night's agenda featured a public hearing on liquor sales on Sunday and an item on sexually explicit businesses, which no one was interested in speaking about. The auditorium was filled to capacity with people wanting to voice their opinion about digital billboards. Three different options are being considered, and the council combined the public hearings into one huge one.

About 30 people spoke. More people were against the idea, but several citizens spoke in favor of the hi tech advertising screens. The major culprits for the cons were safety, energy use, and blight. The pros cited safety issues, helping small businesses, and fighting terrorism. Everyone got their say, and no one was chastised by Chairman McEachern. Enough cons were on hand to cause the council to make the issue go away for a while. The agenda

The ordinance to place the question of Sunday beer and wine sales on a referendum was passed 10- 1. Chairman Joe McEachern, for some reason, doesn't want the county's citizens to be considered in this decision.

The three possible ordinances for regulating digital billboards were tabled. Joyce Dickerson made a motion to table the whole thing. Mike Montgomery made a substitute motion to table the issue until a national highway safety summary is complete. Montgomery's motion was defeated 6- 5. Dickerson's passed by the same total. For some reason, the votes were along racial lines.

Signs signs everywhere signs

Pope wanted the council to be aware the county was about to start ticketing of businesses whose signs don't meet county regulations. Dickerson wanted to see a survey of the type businesses and locations before the county starts writing tickets. It seems some local schools and churches are sporting portable digital signs which are illegal.

Paul Livingston also expressed concern about writing citations before anyone knew who would be affected. Kit Smith wants the offenders to be notified as the county officers are conducting their survey.

The Lower Richland sewer problem caused much consternation. Pope informed council the staff is at an impasse over what to do next. The county doesn't want to give the revenue or control to the city, the developers don't want to guarantee the $700,000 annual debt service on bonds, and Norman Jackson doesn't want to have to go to any more community meetings in Eastover unless the problem gets solved.

The staff will try to find a way to fund the annual debt service on the $8m project and report back soon.

After executive session, the council adjourned.