Bernice Scott Roll call

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

Getting Started

Chairwoman Bernice Scott called the meeting to order at 6 pm. James Tuten gave the Invocation and led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance. There were no items to be discussed in executive session. Evidently the Township land purchase is complete.

Joan Brady Greg Pearce asked for personal privilege to bring attention to his pink tie and to National Breast Cancer Awareness month. He says he wore the tie for his sister and for Kit Smith, both are breast cancer survivors.

The agenda was adopted with a couple of minor changes. During citizen’s input, Evelyn Bush spoke against the proposed new guidelines for distributing the meeting agenda to the public before each meeting. Bush admitted she was still a bit computer illiterate and didn’t like the idea of having to try to get the full agenda online. She further stated she didn’t mind paying for a copy but felt the present cost was too high. Bush urged the council to read SC Chief Justice Jean Toal’s column about how the law protects citizens from secret government. She provided a copy with her remarks.

Susan Brill

Proclamations and Presentations

Joan Brady read a plaque proclaiming October 18–24 as SC Environmental Systems Operators week. The proclamation honored all Richland County operators for their professional service. Several were on hand to accept the proclamation.

Paul Livingston

Genevieve Sullivan , local director for the Central chapter of the American Red Cross, spoke about the agency’s response to disasters. Sullivan said the Red Cross responds to all kinds of emergencies, most of which never make the local news. Over 30 responses by the agency this year had nothing to do with hurricanes or floods. She said the Red Cross is projected to spend around $67,000 this fiscal year and needs some help.

After the Red Cross presentation, Anthony Mizzell moved to give the agency an additional $10,000 this year and take it from the general budget surplus. Kit Smith made an alternate motion to send the proposal to the A&F committee.

Joseph McEachern Scott reminded the council the Red Cross was stretched thin due to the number of disasters in the area this year. Joe McEachern asked if the process was being followed correctly since the proposal involved a budget amendment. Joan Brady agreed with Smith and requested the proposal be sent to the A&F committee. Brady also wanted to be sure the funds would be available. Paul Livingston said the proposal should also begin in the A&F committee and made a substitute motion to give first reading approval to the motion, but then send it to the Administrative and Finance committee. His motion was approved 11–0.

Anthony Mizzell

Steve Kemp gave a presentation thanking the council for their support in making the convention center a reality. He presented a limited edition photo of the convention center to the council.

Greg Pearce

Regular Business

Minutes from several past meetings were approved without changes. Milton Pope , subbing ably for Cary McSwain, had nothing to report from the county administrator’s office, other than to tell the council McSwain was attending a city manager’s conference. The clerk of council presented a holiday schedule for consideration. It was approved without changes.

Kit Smith A resolution authorizing an interlocal agreement with Capital Trust was brought up for public hearing. No one signed up to speak. The proposal was then approved. So were all consent items.

Getting Down to Business

The first agenda item discussed was an animal care ordinance. Pearce suggested two amendments to the original proposal. Both amendments were requested by the animal control department. The first amendment removed language requiring the mother of animals younger than eight weeks from being present during transportation outside Richland County. This allows the county to continue to work with Lexington County in pet exchange programs.

Thelma Tillis The second amendment will require placing a microchip in animals picked up by the agency before owners can claim them. Pope said it would cost $20 and would help the agency keep track of animals.

Smith asked who would pay and was told the owner. Smith then asked what would happen if the owner refused. Pope said the adoption guidelines would be followed. Brady asked if the procedure would hurt the animals and was told no. The proposal was approved with both Pearce’s amendments attached.

James Tuten An item concerning the adoption of various construction codes was deferred, but not before Scott and Smith had a heated exchange over whether Smith had the right to ask a question. Both ladies tried to talk above the other in harmony, with Scott’s gavel keeping time. I swear, a pay–for–view match between these two would make millions.

Land Development Code

The only other item discussed was the LDC. Smith introduced several amendments to be voted on and added to the War and Peace sized document. Pearce tried to explain the amendments weren’t Smith’s totally but were items added after much discussion by several council members.

Doris Corley Scott cut him off before he was able to make his point. Smith read through each item and McEachern, Brady, Pearce, and Livingston had questions. McEachern proposed giving the code second reading approval but delaying third reading until November 9. He felt this would give the staff time to put everything together in one document.

Scott reminded everyone the rural landowners would be affected more than anyone and any meeting, discussion, or proposal without their input would not be accepted. Scott pointed out the five council members who had mostly rural areas; Corley, McEachern, Tuten, Mizzell, and herself, would have much to say about the final wording of the code. She said the LDC must be simple so every rural landowner would know what it meant to him. McEachern’s proposal was passed 8–3.

No other item was discussed at any length. No one signed up to speak during citizen’s input and there were no motions during motion period. The meeting was adjourned.