City Manager Charles Austin; Leadership Development at Benedict College; Tameika Isaac Devine, Hamilton Osborne, Sam Davis, Daniel Rickenmann Roll call

City council convened for a regular session at 10 am, Wednesday, June 15, on the third floor of City Hall. Absent were council members E. W. Cromartie, Anne Sinclair, and Mayor Bob Coble. Members present were Tameika Isaac Devine, Hamilton Osborne, Sam Davis, and Daniel Rickenmann.

City’s favorite employee for June

Chief Dean Crisp, Officer Kennith Adams, Hamilton Osborne Master Police Officer Kennith D. Adams was introduced as the city’s Employee of the Month. Officer Adams was cited as an exemplary member of the force for the past 17 years. Most recently, Officer Adams has solved numerous auto theft and break–in cases, preventing many, while managing fellow officers in crime suppression operations at Hancock Motor Co. and other car dealerships.

Street closings

• Lamar Street between Jackson Avenue and Johnson Avenue, beginning Friday, June 24, through Thursday, June 30, from 5 pm until 10 pm.

Catherine Bruce • Park Street between Greene Street and College Street, Friday, July 8, from 1 pm until 10 pm.

• Park Street between Greene Street and Blossom Street; Lincoln Street between College Street and Blossom Street; Gadsden Street between Greene Street and Blossom Street; Greene Street between Park Street and Gadsden Street; Devine Street between Park Street and Gadsden Street; Thursday, June 6, from 8 am until 8 pm.

Consideration of bids and agreements

• $12,300 to paint the exterior of the Eau Claire Town Hall.

• $13,411 to purchase one vehicle for the city manager.

• $21,525 to purchase nine Siemens controllers for updating the traffic system.

• $38,158 for the purchase of recapped tires for city vehicles.

• $40,568 for the purchase of 59 items of rescue equipment, as requested by the fire department.

• $52,523 for a two–year contract for the purchase of safety shoes and boots issued to city employees.

• $70,594 for the purchase of various parking meter parts, software, and smartcards.

Ordinances – second reading

#2005–059, amending the 1998 Code of Ordinances of the City of Columbia, Chapter 2, Administration, Article II, Mayor and Council, Division I, Generally, Sec. 2–31, Salaries of mayor and council members.

#2005–060, authorizing execution of a First Lease Amendment between the City of Columbia and Revenstone Commons–Durham, LLC.

#2005–062, annexing Parcel 1 (4.87 acres) and Parcel 2 (0.53 acres), Broad River Road at Kennerly Road; 1.23 acres, Kennerly Road near Broad River Road and 4.53 acres (Parcel A, Parcel D, and Parcel X), Broad River Road near Kennerly Road.

Consideration of bids, agreements,

& change orders

• $146,839 for testing by Independent Laboratories for Environmental Monitoring Programs required by city, state, and federal regulations, as requested by Engineering Operations.

• $210,791 for the purchase of tires for city vehicles.

• $200 (hourly rate) for professional services for ongoing financial advisory consulting.

Ordinances – first reading

#2005–061, authorizing city manager to execute an agreement with Firetag Concessions of Columbia Inc., for the management and subleasing of Top of Finlay (Laurel St. concession stand at Finlay Park).

Resolutions

#R–2005–027, release and abandonment of portions of the city’s existing 15’ sanitary sewer easements along lots 45 & 46, Willowbrook, Phase III.

Appointments

Council approved the appointment of H. Lee Mashburn Jr. to the City Center Partnership as a replacement for Travis Butler until September 1, 2005, when Mashburn would be eligible to serve a full one–year term.

Other matters

• Council approved a petition for annexation into the Town of Chapin for property identified as the pump station site at Murray Lindler and Old Lexington Highway, as requested by Stanley E. Shealy, Chapin Mayor.

• Council approved the destruction of 357 narcotics to include drug paraphernalia, as requested by the Columbia Police Department’s Evidence Unit.

Eau Claire

Bill Manley reminded council of Saturday’s youth forum at Hyatt Park as part of the Eau Claire Violence Prevention Task Force. Manley expected roughly 200–250 local children to attend between 10 am and 3 pm.

Collaborative for Community Trust

Catherine Bruce, president, asked council for $7,150 to help maintain the Simkins Center, even though last year’s contribution was $25,000 and this year’s request was for another $25,000. Her request for $7,150 was for urgent needs, items calling for immediate attention. Council sympathized and promised to give the request full consideration.

Distinguished visitors

Sundiata Whitaker introduced his group of students attending city council as part of Benedict College’s Leadership Development Program.

Next meeting

Council meets again on June 22, Wednesday, at 9 am for a work session on the third floor of City Hall, corner of Laurel and Main. There is no regular session planned for 10 am, and there are no meetings scheduled for Wednesday, June 29, and Wednesday, July 6.