Roll Call

Bernice Scott, Joan Brady, Susan Brill, Doris Corley, Paul Livingston, Joseph McEachern, Anthony Mizzell, Greg Pearce, Kit Smith, Thelma Tillis, and James Tuten were present.

Getting Started

Chairwoman Bernice Scott called the meeting to order at 6 pm. Four Boy Scouts from Troop Ten led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance. James Tuten gave the Invocation.

Miya Wiley from the Center for Social Inclusion spoke concerning the effect the Richland County Land Development Code will have on poor people of color in the county. According to studies by the New York based group, controlling urban sprawl is healthy for communities, but the LDC will not control sprawl.

Wiley also pointed out how much faster the northeast and northwest areas were growing compared to Lower Richland and the north central area. It’s amazing what they can uncover in these independent studies. When time expired, Scott told Wiley she wanted to talk to her further. Scott said the county wanted solutions to problems, not more problems.

County attorney Larry Smith gave notice of an item concerning the Farmer’s Market which needed to be discussed in executive session. The agenda was adopted after a couple of minor changes, and past minutes were approved.

Staff Reports

County Administrator Cary McSwain mentioned two items in his report. Potential work session dates, and items left to be worked on was first. Greg Pearce asked about the absence of LDC on McSwain’s list. He felt it was more important than any of the items named. Paul Livingston said the council needed to firm up dates. They could prioritize work items later. McEachern suggested moving the work date list to Motion Period.

The second item McSwain mentioned was the requested update on negotiations with Time Warner concerning franchise fees. Tony McDonald gave the council an explanation on negotiations between the county, Time Warner, and Columbia.

Pearce explained his request for an update by stating the county had spent a year in time and over $100,000 in money and didn’t seem to be making progress. McDonald said the majority of the costs were legal fees due because of negotiations for a new franchise fee agreement. He added the audit was progressing, but at a slow pace.

Time Warner has provided 75% of the data needed for the audit and Richland County and Columbia were waiting on the other 25%. Pearce stated his desire to be sure the new contract was worth it. McEachern pointed out the staff was doing what the council directed them to do.

James Tuten asked whether the county had a contract with Time Warner and if we could require them to provide the needed information. Larry Smith said the contract had expired but all parties were working on month to month extensions. McDonald suggested giving Time Warner a little more time to complete the audit, then decide what the next move should be.

The report from the clerk of council mentioned the Jackson Creek station open house. Ms. Finch also asked if the county needed to change dates for the December meetings, which fall in the last two weeks of the year.

Regular Agenda

No public hearing items were on the agenda and all consent items were approved. Most of the crowd seemed to be interested in the second item to be discussed, a request by Fairfield Electric to rezone an area near Blythewood Road. There was no discussion on the item, other than two motions brought to the floor. Tuten made a motion to approve and McEachern made one to deny. The item was approved 6–5. The first agenda item, a zoning change on Monticello Road, was approved 11–0.

The millage ordinance change discussed in a special called meeting just before the regular council meeting was also approved without discussion. An item to clarify allowable church signs was approved, as was a quit claim proposal on Peyton Road and Pepper Street.

Administration and Finance Committee

An item to adopt the 2003 editions of the International Building Code, International Fire Code, International Mechanical Code, International Plumbing Code, and International Energy Conservation Code was approved without the appendices, which will be discussed as they become complete. All other A&F committee items were consent except for two specific to the Sheriff’s Department.

There seems to be a reluctance among some council members to give the sheriff the authority to run his own department. An item to allow the sheriff to collect a $5 fee for special duty contracts was removed from consent status and discussed for a long time.

McEachern said the language in the proposal needed discussion. Livingston said the $5 fee was to be spent on gas. Kit Smith said the original intent of the proposal was to provide the Sheriff’s Department with a way to collect for extra gas being used in special cases and should come from the general fund. Smith said she was worried what other departments would do if the precedent was set allowing this department to collect fees and manage the funds.

Scott pointed out the sheriff had a problem and came to the council with a solution that appeared to work. McEachern said he wanted the language clearer. The proposal should specify gas only. Tuten said he had been to the meeting with the sheriff and had listened intently. The money was for gas. Livingston said he would support the proposal if it was for this year only and would go for gas. Smith asked if the sheriff could legally refrain from collecting from every business under contract.

Chief Harrell was called on to clarify. He explained the Sheriff’s Department had cut expenses by 1% to start the year, but had been hurt by high fuel prices. The proposal as written allowed the department to collect the fees, monitor all employees to be sure the fees were accounted for, then send the money to the general fund.

Smith asked why the Sheriff’s Department was different from other county departments who were funded from the general fund. She also asked if the council could see the contracts for special duty. Harrell said he would be happy to provide those.

McEachern said the council didn’t need to know everything the Sheriff’s Department did, but did want the agreement to specify fuel. Livingston asked what the special escrow account was and why it was needed. Harrell explained it allowed his department to be sure employees were collecting as they should be. Joan Brady asked for clarification:Could the proposal be changed to specify fuel? Pearce said he was worried about the precedent and what other departments would want. He also asked the accounting department if the escrow account would mess up the books.

McSwain asked if the fund could be managed without the escrow account. Scott mentioned legal had okayed the sheriff’s special handling of the funds. Tuten asked if the sheriff and accounting could get together and work out the issues. When told by both parties it could be done, Smith made a substitute motion to approve the item. It passed.

A sheriff’s budget amendment tied to the Victim’s Assistance Program was quickly approved, reconsidered, discussed, explained by Milton Pope, then discussed some more. It was finally approved 7–4 with an amendment after Larry Smith said majority plus one was required rather than two–thirds as Kit Smith claimed.

Rules and Appointments Committee

Notice of vacancies was given for the Airport Commission and Riverbanks Zoo. Spots were filled on three committees. Billie Turner and John C. B. Smith were re–appointed to the Airport Commission. Celestine Parker was appointed to the Community Relations Council, and Geonard Price was appointed to the Employee Grievance Committee

An item to clarify terms of members of the Appearance Commission was next. Members, who are appointed by council members, will serve concurrently with those council members. Items on flag procedures and council protocol were returned to committee.

Executive Session

Another record setting executive session took place as members stayed locked from public view for around an hour. When they reconvened, the motions passed were as informative as the time spent behind closed doors.

After motion period, the meeting was adjourned.