Richland County Council Meeting * May 2, 2006 * 6 pmBy Mike Cox

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.

Presentations

Donald Tomlin , president of Tomlin and Co, Inc, gave the council an update on the USC/Columbia Incubator program, which is a joint business venture involving Columbia, Richland and Lexington Counties, and USC. The program is designed to establish and keep jobs in the area.

Tomlin said his motivation was simple. He has three daughters and wants them to find jobs and husbands with jobs in the Midlands, so he won't have to travel all over the country to visit grandchildren.

Local governments and private businesses have raised $1,400,000 so far to fund the program. Richland County has provided $100,000 of that total. The program is designed to provide the "right help at the right time" for new business. One local IT consulting company has grown to 40 jobs in three years and has an average salary of $93,000.

While not all new companies are that successful, the program has a survival rate of 40 out of 44 businesses. Tomlin was at the council meeting to ask for an annual increase from $25,000 to $75,000.

Larry Jordan of the Capital Senior Center gave the council an update on the status of senior citizens. Currently, 19% of the people in the area are over 55, and that number should increase to 25% over the next decade.

A nursing home bed costs an average of $66,000 per year, and the average stay is 2.5 years. Jordan pointed out programs being funded to keep seniors active help reduce the cost of nursing home stays. Taxpayers fund nearly 75% of those costs.

Reports

Richland County entered a contest called All American cities a few months ago and announced tonight it was one of 34 finalists for the award. Winners will be announced in San Diego in June.

The Agenda

An ordinance detailing when a developer can build in a flood zone had to be amended before third reading since the intention of the council and the action were a little different. After some discussion about exact wording and grousing about getting information just before the meeting, the ordinance was approved.

An ordinance was also approved restricting inoperable vehicles and trailers from being parked in residential areas for more than 30 days. Rural areas are exempted, so hang on to your concrete blocks.

Another ordinance prohibiting driving carelessly and driving across property to avoid a traffic signal was also passed. (If they decide to enforce driving carelessly, a new detention center will be needed.)

William Bailey Kauric was appointed to the Building Codes Board of Adjustments and Appeals, and Anthony Christiano was named to the Employee Grievance Committee. Other vacancies not filled will be re- advertised.

The meeting was adjourned on an odd note. There was no executive session. I guess there was something on TV everyone wanted to see.