Four- hour sorry display of politics

Roll call

Chairman Joe McEachern, Vice Chair Val Hutchinson, Joyce Dickerson, Norman Jackson, Damon Jeter, Paul Livingston, Bill Malinowski, Mike Montgomery, Greg Pearce, and Bernice Scott were present at the Richland County Council special called meeting July 22, 2008. Kit Smith was absent.

Presentation

The Recreation Commission took a 14 minute video on their good works in the county and reduced it to five. This was the only thing all night where time and restraint were considered.

Recreational bond public hearing

The usual suspects came from Blythewood to encourage the council to fund the baseball piece of the recreation bond issue. The fields are worn out and kids might be turned away. This will cause self- esteem and quality of life problems later on.

Regular agenda

The sales tax referendum had everything a good reality TV show needs. Damon Jeter asked for a funding breakdown by district. He pointed out his district was getting shortchanged. Mike Montgomery agreed with Jeter about shortchanging, adding himself and Greg Pearce as council districts not getting much consideration. Montgomery considered this a good thing because it showed the Transportation Commission wasn't playing politics but trying to do the right thing for Richland County.

Montgomery then introduced a couple of amendments to sooth the concerns of some of his peers: A plan to exempt unprepared food taxes and a larger amount to fund road improvements. To make up for the lost revenue from exempt tax, Montgomery proposed adding two years to the tax. This would also increase bus service for those extra years, something that will have to be done eventually, and add money to the road repair budget.

Joyce Dickerson showed her excellent knowledge of county business by asking what they were voting on. She also said she hadn't had time to study the Montgomery amendments, even though he gave each council member a copy of them last week.

Norman Jackson said he wasn't voting for the ordinance unless his district got more road improvements. He also used the word concern six times in one sentence. Montgomery said the Jackson request violated DOT rules. Jackson retorted, "No it doesn't."

Dickerson went on a tirade about not having enough time to understand issues. (I don't think there is enough time available for her to understand some of the issues.) Bernice Scott went on her own tirade wondering why the council doesn't just approve the referendum and allow the voters to decide the issue.

This went on for much too long. The only thing evident was how much blatant politics decided this issue. In the end the council voted 5- 5, which defeated the referendum proposal. The council then showed enough grace to allow those folks from the transportation commission, who wasted the last 18 months of their lives, to leave the premises.

A proposal over funding in the lower Richland area caused a childish na- - na- na- na type exchange between Jackson and Scott and nearly caused a throw down between Scott and Dickerson.

The meeting was a sorry display and took well over four hours. At least the council is taking August off. The county will be infinitely better off while they are.