Roll Call

Members present were Anthony Mizzell, Doris Corley, Joyce Dickerson, Valerie Hutchinson, Damon Jeter, Paul Livingston, Joseph McEachern, Michael Montgomery, Greg Pearce, Bernice Scott, and Kit Smith.

Getting Started

Chairman Anthony Mizzell called the meeting to order shortly after 6 pm. Greg Pearce read an original poem for the Invocation, then led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Presentation

Pearce and Joyce Dickerson presented Richard T. Laughridge and James H. Sudduth with plaques honoring each one’s long service on the Board for Richland Memorial Hospital. Both men recently retired from the hospital’s board after more than a decade of service.

The Agenda

An item allowing someone to donate land to Richland County was added to the night’s agenda, as was an A&F item to determine how to search for a new county administrator. A quit claim procedure to settle a land dispute at the county landfill was also added to the agenda, which was approved as amended.

No one signed to speak during citizen’s input and the minutes from the last meeting were approved. The county attorney had four items on his list for executive session, but said only two of those were on the night’s agenda. He planned to discuss the Innovista Garage bond issue and legal settlement for the Burdell Fuller road dispute. He offered to discuss the other items if anyone wished.

Getting Started

The county administrator had Stephanie Snowden give the council an update on the dates and locations available for the upcoming retreat. After some discussion, Panapolis on January 12–14 was decided on.

The clerk of council told the council members when the group picture for next year would be taken and informed anyone interested that new individual glam shots would be taken the same day if anyone wanted them.

The chairman’s report consisted of Mizzell thanking the council and staff for their help last year, and informing those same folks he intended to run for chairman again.

The Agenda

The only public hearing item with someone signed to speak was the Lower Richland Neighborhood Plan. Evelyn Bush spoke against the ordinance. Bush said she was refused the opportunity to speak during the November ninth meeting and this refusal “skewered things.” Bush asked for the item to be tabled or deferred until someone could review the minutes from that meeting and determine if she was correct.

No one else asked to speak, so public hearings were closed. Next, consent items were approved, including the one Bush wanted deferred. So much for that.

Pearce asked for the language in the Land Development Code to be changed before approval. Legal staff felt parking being addressed in the amendment was unnecessary, since parking was addressed in the document already. His motion was approved.

The JEDA bond issue was approved without a no vote. The A&F search document was introduced by Mizzell, who said this gave the staff some guidance in their search for a new administrator. After a couple of questions, the item was approved.

The item introduced to the agenda by Scott, which allowed the present owner of the Franklin Park sewer lagoon to donate that property to Richland County was next. Scott told everyone the county had no intention of leaving the sewer lagoon as such; there were plans for a new facility. The present location will be drained and reclaimed, per DHEC specifications, and sold or developed.

Ashley Bloom served as staff spokesperson and answered questions from the council. Joe McEachern wondered how the draining would be done. Bloom told him no toxic waste was evident at present and the county would follow DHEC procedures. Bloom also said the cost would be around $250,000 to reclaim the land, but the appraised value of the property is $450,000.

Kit Smith said the county needed to proceed with caution and make sure legal and financial experts were consulted before anything was done. Mike Montgomery had some concerns about the county’s current liability as the temporary operator of the sewer system. Livingston said nothing could be done about what had already been decided and suggested the council move on and decide what to do about the land.

Smith wondered if the only reason for making a quick decision on this item was to give the land owner a tax break for 2005. Scott agreed more discussion was needed and withdrew her motion until the staff can obtain more information.

Citizen’s Input

Nancy Mason , who originally interrupted the council meeting to ask about an issue and was admonished by Mizzell, was allowed to speak during citizen’s input. Mason owns the property in question on the Burdell Fuller Road condemnation action. She said she understood a solution had previously been reached and now the item was being re-addressed. Mason said the original condemnation would split her property in two separate pieces and asked for an alterative route around the outskirts of her property.

Executive session was back on its normal timetable tonight. One hour and fifteen minutes to discuss the ramifications of a bond issue for the Innovista Garage Technology project, and to give lawyers in the Burdell Fuller Road an opportunity to work things out.

After regular session re–convened, Scott made a motion to approve the Innovista item. Her motion was approved with Montgomery voting no. He said he refused to vote yes on anything until he saw the entire proposal in writing. The Burdell Fuller action was tabled until the lawyers divide the spoils. Pearce reluctantly asked to re–address the LDC amendment; there were more phrases needing deletion. After he corrected his previous mistake, the item was, once again, passed. No other action was on the agenda or came from motion period. The meeting was adjourned amid holiday greetings.