By Natasha DerrickNatasha@TheColumbiaStar.com

Getting started

Cayce Mayor Avery B. Wilkerson Jr. called the meeting to order at 7:09 pm. He then led the invocation and the Pledge. All members of council, Mayor Wilkerson, Mayor Pro-tem Richard Myers, James Jenkins, Kenneth Jumper, and Robert Malpass, were present.

Approval of minutes

The minutes from the June 6, special meeting; June 6, public hearing; June 19, special meeting; and the June 22, special meeting were approved.

Whole Sole Award

James Denny , Cayce City employee, was awarded the Whole Sole Award for dedication to the city. On June 16, it was discovered that several blocks in the City of Cayce had not received trash pickup. Realizing the mistake, Denny returned to work and collected the garbage himself, for no pay. For this he was awarded a shoe pin and a check.

Granby Education Center

David Loadholt presented council with an update on the status of the new education center. Minor renovations have been completed in anticipation of the upcoming school year. Granby Education Center will be a school for alternative students ages K3-12. Adult education classes will also be offered and playing fields for local high school teams to use.

Melissa Craft of the Department of Health briefed council on the continuation of a three year grant given by the Department of Public Safety to fund programs at Lake View School, which will now be merged with Granby. These funds will be used to hire a mental health professional, on site school social worker, violence prevention initiatives, and character education.

Gone to the dogs

Bill Davenport of Broad Acres neighborhood approached council with a problem that has plagued his neighborhood for several years. According to Davenport several of his neighbors have been keeping upwards of 10 dogs in a residential area creating not only sanitary but also safety problems. Unlike West Columbia and the City of Columbia, Cayce has no ordinance dictating how many dogs a citizen is allowed to have. Davenport wants such an ordinance and also clearer standards as to how an animal is determined to be "dangerous."

He asserts that his neighbors are basically running a kennel since they keep more than five dogs, breed dogs, and sell dogs. He recommends they be licensed as a business. "If they are a business how can they be in a neighborhood?" he said. Wilkerson requested City Manager John Sharpe explore this situation further and dispatch someone to investigate the situation by next week.

Tattoos and body piercing

The approval of zoning ordinance amendment regarding tattoo facilities and body piercing facilities was approved after first reading.

Sale of city property

The approval of zoning ordinance authorizing the sale of city owned property at 1114 State Street was approved on second reading. Myers suggested that the listing be offered to Jim Boland of Russell & Jeffcoat. Council agreed.

Joint water & sewer

commission questioned

The approval to designate the Lexington County Joint Water & Sewer Commission as the management agency for the 208 Water Quality Plan brought major concern from Myers. He thought the wording of the document gave the commission too much authority over the City of Cayce's future water and sewer plans. Council agreed that City Attorney Danny Crowe should review the contract and report back to council in August.

(Meeting report continued on www.TheColumbiaStar.com)