Richland County Council meets April 15, 2008
By Mike Cox MWC423@bellsouth.net
Roll call

Chairman Joe McEachern, Joyce Dickerson, Norman Jackson, Damon Jeter, Paul Livingston, Bill Malinowski, Mike Montgomery, Greg Pearce, Bernice Scott, and Kit Smith were present. Vice Chair Val Hutchinson was absent.

Presentations

Elliott Powell, chairman of the Gills Creek Watershed Association, gave the council an update on the group's plans for improving the water quality of the system. Gills Creek is South Carolina's largest impaired urban watershed with over 70 miles of streams. It covers over 47,000 acres of land and eight council districts.

The association finally has all the players together to accomplish revitalization of the various streams involved. Columbia, Richland County, Forest Acres, Arcadia Lakes, DHEC, and many other private and community groups are working toward improving the entire watershed. Reduction of silt and debris cleanup are the immediate initiatives.

Patr icia Dennis was recognized by the council for her long and energetic work in the Lower Richland area helping to get people signed up and informed about area sewer and water projects. Dennis said she found out people aren't different, and "We all need help, and we all need love."

Parliamentary procedure

While the council was trying to approve the minutes from the last meeting, Joyce Dickerson asked for a proposal from the last meeting to be reconsidered. As it turned out, the proposal was deferred so there was nothing to reconsider. Undaunted, Dickerson requested her reconsideration for the deferred proposal be withdrawn. (Henry Robert, who is credited with establishing the most common parliamentary rules, must be spinning in his grave.)

Administrator's report

The Legendary Audrey Shifflett gave the council a report on the recent rewarding of Brownfield grants. These grants are used to identify and assess sites in need of petroleum or hazardous chemical cleanup. The grant allows $400,000 for specific cleanup projects.

Brenda Carter told the council about a project to improve accuracy of county addresses for census purposes. The project is 90 percent complete, and the group has corrected around 20,000 addresses county wide.

Regular business

A public hearing and resolution to issue bonds for an Economic Development Authority project for about $200 million was deferred, as was a zoning proposal for a wash shed on Longtown Road.

A business license ordinance and a sexually oriented business license ordinance were passed through second reading. An amendment only Mike Mont - gomery understood was added to the business license proposal. Bill Malinowski asked the council to consider an amendment to make sure any religious authority figures mentioned in the proposal were legitimate. (The county attorney acted uncomfortable until the amendment was withdrawn).

Richland followed in Lexington County's footsteps and approved the memorandum of understanding for a joint no kill animal shelter for the Midlands. Kevin Reynolds and Talmadge Clemons were appointed animal care officers for the county.

After a lengthy executive and motion period, the council meeting adjourned.