Call to order

Mayor Bobby E. Horton called the special council meeting to order at 6 pm. Members present included Mayor Bobby E. Horton, Mayor Pro- Tem Tommy G. Parler, Eric L. Fowler, Jack L. Harmon, Boyd J. Jones and Marsha J. Moore. Council members included L. Dale Harley, Cathy Shannon, and B.J. Unthank.

Old business

Following announcements by the mayor, council unanimously approved an ordinance to annex .52 acres of property at 657 N. Brown Street (659, 661 and 663 N. Brown Street).

New business

City Treasurer Richard K. Hodge spoke briefly on a resolution to authorize an identity theft protection program for the city of West Columbia. Hodge emphasized the process for compiling the program's guidelines is ongoing, and council should bring him any suggestions they have. Council agreed the measure was extremely important and approved the resolution unanimously.

City Administrator Jennifer T. Cunningham informed council they had directed her to ask Lexington County Council for $15,000 annually to protect a portion of the city from fires, including the Laurel Crest retirement community. Cunningham noted that Lexington County Council had agreed with the request.

Adjournment of Special Council Meeting and Call to Order of Work Session

Mayor Horton adjourned the special council meeting following Cunningham's remarks and called the work session to order at 6:15pm.

Fundraiser lunches

A spaghetti lunch to benefit Officer Wade of West Columbia is scheduled for Thursday, October 23, 2008. The cost of the lunch is $5. The recent hot dog luncheon for two city of West Columbia employees raised $2,300.

Smoking ordinance

Mayor Horton reminded council of its ongoing discussion of the proposed smoking ordinance. Mayor Horton emphasized that when the vote is taken at the next city council meeting, the public will not be allowed to speak extensively on the measure, as the public discussion on it has already taken place. Councilman Harmon emphasized to the mayor that he needed to let council members speak on the ordinance, and the mayor agreed, but pointed out again that the public discussion had already occurred.

Polluted sites in West Columbia and adjournment

Cunningham announced to council that Fred Delk, executive director of the Columbia Development Corporation, had invited the city to join a United States Environmental Protection Agency grant that would allow the city to study polluted sites in West Columbia. The study would allow the city of West Columbia to make use of those properties. Marsha Moore agreed this was a good idea. Cunningham said she already had sites in mind for the project.

Having no further business, Mayor Horton adjourned the work session at 6:25pm.