Call to Order

Mayor Bobby E. Horton called the regularly scheduled meeting of the West Columbia City Council to order at 6:05 pm Tuesday, February 2, 2010. All members of Council, except Council Member Boyd J. Jones, were present: Mayor Bobby E. Horton, Mayor Pro–Tem Tommy G. Parler, L. Dale Haley, Eric L. Fowler, Marsha Moore, Jack L. Harmon, B.J. Unthank, and Cathy Shannon.

Announcements by Mayor

Mayor Bobby E. Horton recognized the following West Columbia city employees for their years of service:

Five years: B.J. Unthank, mayor and council, Rober t P. McIntye Jr., police; Joshua Fullwood, fire; Robert Birchmore, sanitation; James Scot t Bel l, Water Plant 1; Darrel McKinney, Water Plant 2; and Richard Stanley, Water Plant 2.

Ten Years: Nitin Chauhan, Water Plant 1; Williams Long, Water Plant 1; Joel Gerber, Water Plant 2; Mark Samples, Water Plant 2.

Fifteen Years: Colleen Belk, police; Nathaniel Harper, fire; Willie McCoy, sanitation; Boyd Jacobs, Water Plant 2; and Legrand Baker, sewer collection.

Twenty Years: Wilhelmenia Frazier, court administration and Richard Hulon, fire

Twenty Five Years: Sue Meisner, administration, and Garner Wilkins, fire

Thirty Years: John Holladay, water billing

Request for appearance

Michael Mayo of Palmetto Outdoors presented a report on its 2009 activities. Palmetto Outdoors, a West Columbia business, offers kayack, tube, and raft rentals; and trips along the Saluda, Broad and Congaree Rivers.

Dr. Joseph Alber t of Bridgepointe Condos presented a request to resume city sanitation services to their property. The Council unanimously approved to offer 40 individual trash receptacles for the residents of Bridgepointe or suggested that Bridgepointe Condos choose to purchase commercial services from a private provider.

New business

First reading unanimous approval was given to the Planning Commission’s recommendation to establish the zoning classification for recently annexed property Located at 1911 and 1917 Sunset Boulevard (TMS # 004666-01-001) as C-2 (General Commercial).

Council Member L. Dale Harley presented a report of the progress made on the development of the Beautification Foundation of West Columbia since its beginnings four years ago.

Counci l Member Har ley also requested that $2,000 be placed in the West Columbia city budget for 2010–2011 fiscal year to send 18 young people from West Columbia to participate in the Girls State and Boys State program held in South Carolina every year. He asked that this donation be made in honor of the three American Legion Posts in West Columbia: Post 79, Post 90, and Post 130.

Mayor Horton announced that City Hall will be closed on February 15, 2010 in recognition of the President’s Day holiday and that the City Council Special Working Committee meeting will be postponed to Tuesday, February16, 2010 at 6 pm.

Mayor Horton also announced that the the Mayor’s Round Table Meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. prior to the Council Work Session, which is the third Monday of each month at 6. This change will begin in March 2010.

Mayor Horton concluded the meeting by announcing that a Memorial Service for Lieutenant George LaMott will be held Thursday, February 11, 2010 at 10 am at Elmwood Cemetery. Lieutenant George LaMott was the first and only West Columbia firefighter to die in the line of duty. Members of the West Columbia Fire Department will place a wreath and a grave marker on Lt. LaMott’s grave to signify he was a firefighter. Lt. LaMott was survived by a daughter, Denise Welch of Swansea, who was 11 years old at the time of the accident. Welch will be presented with an encased American Flag. Pumper trucks from the West Columbia Fire Department and the City of Columbia will be present at the ceremony.

Lt. LaMott, aged 43, was killed on September 1, 1967 at a boat landing on Lake Murray while assisting with the recovery of a speed boat race driver who had drowned during a Labor Day race. Lt. LaMott was standing next to a crane that began to roll into the lake. When he attempted to stop the crane, he went into the water along with the machine and drowned. The crane operator was able to escape and swim to safety.

The West Columbia Fire Department wanted to ensure that Lt. LaMott was honored as a fallen hero and has contacted the South Carolina Firefighters Association to have Lt. LaMott’s name placed on the wall of fallen firefighters at the SC Fire Academy to show that he gave his life helping others.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 7:15 p.m.