Roll call

Chairman Joe McEachern, Vice Chair Val Hutchinson, Joyce Dickerson, Norman Jackson, Damon Jeter, Paul Livingston, Bill Malinowski, Mike Montgomery, Greg Pearce, Bernice Scott, and Kit Smith were present.

Presentations

Norman Jackson and Bernice Scott read the proclamation honoring the Lower Richland High School girl's basketball team for its third consecutive AAAA state championship. The overachieving young ladies finished 26- 0 for the season.

Debbie Francis, executive director of Lexington Richland Alcohol and Drug Abuse Center, LRADAC, gave the council an update. The center has treated 16% more people than the 2006- 2007 budget year, primarily due to more people being aware of the resources available and the partnership with local school districts and law enforcement agencies.

More men are involved than women, the primary age group affected are those 21- 44; mostly DUIs, 30% of the referrals are from personal or family contacts. LRADAC is breaking ground on their new facility in October.

Dr. Caroline Whitson gave the council the final report from the transportation study commissions. After 72 meetings, nine public hearings, and much work, the group presented the Richland Council with a proposal for transportation in the county for the future.

The commission recommended hiring a director of Transportation to oversee the plan, begin to implement transient oriented development, to better plan neighborhoods so commuting is considered in the process, and install effective and technologically sound ways to improve traffic flow, like commuting lanes and synchronized stoplights.

The initial plan is to use a local option sales tax to fund the first eight years then see if changes need to be made to the 25 year plan. The all- encompassing plan calls for increasing transit availability, improving service to the existing buses and stops, and partnering with local businesses, government, and USC to make mass transit viable.

Bikeways, greenways, and roadways are also a major part of the improvement: adding 120 miles of bike trails, 27 miles of greenways, and 40 miles of sidewalks. The plan also calls for resurfacing or paving existing prioritized roads and target 26 roadway improvements.

Whitson then told the council there were three choices. They could refuse to do anything, let politics decide which parts of the plan are approved, or approve the plan and begin the process of improving mass transit in Richland County.

Regular business

All the ordinances concerning license changes or regulating smoking or sex or both were deferred at the suggestion of the county attorney. The only issue discussed was the request for approval of an auditor deferred from last meeting.

Elliott Davis received the highest appraisal score from the staff and was recommended by the A&F committee at the last meeting. Chairman McEachern had a problem with them for some reason, and the issue was forwarded to tonight's meeting. After much discussion, it was decided there was no reason to do anything other than allow Davis to do the auditing for the county.

After executive session, the meeting was adjourned.