By Mike CoxMWC423@bellsouth.net

Roll call

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

Presentation

The first two presentations of the night were to the youngest and oldest registered voters in Richland County. Denise Sharp is the youngest registered voter in the county. She isn't eligible to vote yet but registered early so she could vote in the next election. She will turn 18 later this month.

Ida Williams is Richland County's oldest registered voter. She is still kicking at 104 and voted for Harry Truman in her first trip to the polls in 1944. The recognition of oldest and youngest voters is a part of a national voter's registrars program.

Jonathon Marcy , of the Chamber of Commerce, made a presentation on behalf of the Columbia Richland County Development Steering Committee. Marcy asked the council to endorse the committee and support it.

Citizens Input

Virginia Sanders asked the council to extend the moratorium on flood plain development because she is against any flood plain development. Sanders said anytime man competes with nature, nature wins.

Killian Road Wal Mart

The Killian Road I-77 development was given third reading approval after Val Hutchinson and Joe McEachern expressed their disapproval. Hutchinson said the diamond interchange was a bad design. McEachern said the council was missing a good chance to develop in a smart way. Bernice Scott abstained.

Saving The Bus

During a work session just before the council meeting, three Transit Authority proposals were offered for discussion during the meeting. In the end, a Mike Montgomery proposal to add $20 for private vehicles and $30 for each commercial vehicle in road use fees to raise money for the RTA was the lone survivor.

Montgomery wants to temporarily fund the transit authority with road use funds and develop a public transportation plan for the future. Kit Smith offered an amendment to establish a citizens' task force to determine how to develop such a plan. The Montgomery motion with the Smith amendment was approved unanimously.

Parking in the Front Yard

A D&S committee item to prohibit parking cars in the front yards of subdivisions was brought to full council without recommendation. The council passed the ordinance primarily to give the public an opportunity to let the Richland Council know how they feel. Several council members expressed concern since citizens are divided on what should be done, if anything.

During Citizens Input, several members of the Columbia Rowing Club, including club president Jeannie Weingarth , spoke about the closing of the entrance to the rowing and boating dock behind the old Riverside golf property, which is closed.

Members pointed out the importance of rowing to many in the community and mentioned that Georgetown, Bryn Mawr, and Old Dominion come south to train their teams. The item was discussed in executive session, but nothing was decided.