Concerned citizens packed the chambers at the Richland County Council meeting May 4 to hear what the council had in mind for a proposed high stakes bingo parlor on Decker Blvd. Included in the crowd were three former council members; Mike Montgomery, Susan Brill, and Bernice Scott.

At the last meeting, Jim Manning had proposed a study to determine if bingo was a viable business for the area’s revitalization efforts. At the start of this meeting, Manning asked for reconsideration of his previous proposal during the approval of the minutes from the last meeting.

After the item was back before the council, Manning asked for and received permission to end discussion on high stakes bingo to the applause of those in attendance. Bingo has operated in the current location for a while now, and the Catawba Indians wanted to take over management of the facility and up the stakes. Gambling is already legal in the form of the state lottery, but bingo with really big cash prizes is now unlikely.

Later in the meeting, Joyce Dickerson presented the transportation committee’s proposal for ending the area’s public transit funding issue. A proposal very similar to the one proposed four years ago was suggested. A 22% reduction in bus service coupled with enhanced greenways, bike trails, and walkways.

The discussion quickly became an argument over whether the rural areas are represented as fully as the urban areas. This is the same discussion that killed the last proposal. Some guidelines were approved to give the county’s staff an opportunity to build some specific project plans and offer some cost estimates. A proposal to impose a one percent sales and use tax to fund the project was also approved with a referendum to allow Richland County voters to ultimately decide the issue.

During citizen’s input, John White told the council he was arrested at his place of employment and charged with contempt of court for refusing to answer a faxed jury summons. White told the council that he was embarrassed by the court’s actions and had to pay $100 in fines. He says the state statute doesn’t allow for notification by facsimile, and he wants something done to correct the problem. White said he didn’t get the original notification, receiving only a fax confirmation that he took to be some type of scam or joke.

County Auditor Paul Brawley spoke during citizen’s input and informed the council that the Richland School District Two budget will be 3.5 million dollars short this year because of the council’s decision to use the numbers calculated by the district, rather than Brawley’s original projection.

Kit Smith replied to Brawley, which is unusual for a council member, and reminded Brawley it was the council’s job to decide what calculations

should be used. Smith accused Brawley of playing politics by bringing

up the issue again.

Brawley is currently running a campaign to remain the county auditor. The issue over the District Two budget has been a bitter fight between Brawley and the council, and at one point the state attorney general got involved. The county ultimately decided Brawley’s calculations were flawed.

During the Administrator’s report, Milton Pope reminded everyone that next week is National Public Works week. Representatives of several Richland Public Works departments were recognized and various events are scheduled for next week.

Public Affairs manager Stephany Snowden announced the Richland Savvy Seniors Day, which will take place May 21 at Richland Mall from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Many events are scheduled and county employees will be on hand to educate seniors on what the county’s ombudsman can do to help seniors get the most out of living in the Midlands.

Chair Paul Livingston, Vice Chair Damon Jeter, Joyce Dickerson, Val Hutchinson, Norman Jackson, Gwen Kennedy, Bill Malinowski, Jim Manning, Greg Pearce, and Kit Smith were present.

More detailed information as well as complete agendas and meeting minutes from past meetings can be found at the Richland County website: richlandonline.com