City Notebook

Barry Walker Roll call

City council convened for its work session Wednesday morning around 9:05. All council members were present: Tameika Isaac Devine, Hamilton Osborne, E. W. Cromartie, Mayor Bob Coble, Anne Sinclair, Sam Davis, and Daniel Rickenmann.

Columbia City Ballet

Marvin Chernoff, retired advertising executive, brought council up to date on the Columbia City Ballet and their production of Off the Wall onto the Stage: Dancing the Art of Jonathan Green. William Starrett, director, thanked council for their support and invited them to attend one of his ballet company’s performances of Off the Wall onto the Stage: Dancing the Art of Jonathan Green. The dancers attending the meeting introduced themselves and told council their hometowns.

Matt KennellA few were from Columbia, but most were from out of state, to include New York, California, and Florida. Starrett said their teaching guide is available to every classroom in SC and Florida. The performance will be reviewed by the New York Times, Dance Magazine, Point Magazine, and other publications. Osborne thanked Starrett and his dancers for delivering their “miracle” to Columbia. Starret reminded council his ballet company pays over a million dollars to the Koger Center every eight years.

Mrs. Austin, former Chief Austin, Mayor Coble, and Chief Crisp

Access Leisure Magazine

Libby Gober, city ombudsman, presented council with the convention and visitors’ bureau (CVB) request for $30,000 to publish and distribute Access Leisure Magazine, something to be placed in every hotel/motel room to guide visitors around Columbia and its activity calendar. Council objected to the request on principle that it should have gone through the hospitality tax committee. But in the first year of organization/ disorganization of the hospitality taxes take, council can be tolerant of the CVB’s request for an additional $30,000 on top of the $1 million awarded for the current fiscal year.

Howard Lederfind

Irmo compost

Irmo city council member Barry Walker, owner and operator of Mac’s on Main, asked council for its support in his request to allow Irmo leaves and such to go to Columbia’s compost facility on Shop Road. Melissa Gentry, director of public works, explained the cost of processing a ton of material could run about $25. Walker was not surprised, and council agreed with the Irmo request. Council did, however, insist that no leaves from any other origins pile on with the Irmese. Walker said he had enough faith in his contractor to control origin of leaves.

William Starrett

Business improvement district

Dana Turner, assistant manager for commerce and development, explained the formation of a business improvement district (BID) for the Vista area. Matt Kennell, director of the City Center BID, offered his experience and assistance.

Columbia City Ballet dancers

City reform and restructuring

Coble disclosed his recommendations for 14 of the 15 members for the Commission on Columbia City Government Reform and Restructuring. There was no vote. Coble just wanted to give council the heads up while he searched for the 15th member.

Consideration of bids,

agreements and change orders

• $14,277 for the purchase of City of Columbia promotional items, mostly promoting recycling.

• $32,100 for the purchase of two bar screens at the wastewater treatment plant.

• $52,920 for the purchase of 23 Seimen’s controllers from Temple Inc.

• $166,083 for the purchase of a side loader garbage truck.

Special presentation to the Chief

Charles Austin, city manager, formally and finally retired from the Columbia Police Department where he was city chief of police. Surrounded by city council and members of his (former) department, Austin stood next to Mrs. Austin as he accepted the department’s gratitude and retirement gift.

Ordinances – second reading

#2005–002, granting encroachment to Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority for installation and maintenance of bus stop signs, concrete slabs, benches, and shelters.

Appointments

• Council approved four appointments to the board of the Columbia Development Corporation. Two seats remain unfilled.

• Art Bjontegard was re–appointed to the Columbia Housing Authority Board of Commissioners for a third term.

• Phillip Mills, commercial banker at First Citizens, was appointed to the Board of Assessment.

Hazardous materials

response capability

Howard Lederfind led a presentation on the city’s emergency response capabilities, mostly in light of the Graniteville chlorine gas accident. Council asked about every conceivable catastrophe possibility for the next millennium and beyond, just short of a Lake Murray tsunami or a volcanic eruption on Wheeler Hill. Lederfind handled the questions with admirable respect and dignity.

Executive session

Council adjourned to close the doors as matters of contractual arrangements and property sales were to be discussed and decided upon.

Next meeting

Council meets again at 4 pm, Wednesday, February 2, on the third floor of City Hall, corner of Laurel and Main.