At the Richland County Council meeting on July 27, Greg Pearce asked the council for unanimous approval to move the Lower Richland sewer proposal to the first meeting in September. Unanimous approval is required to move an item to the agenda in such a way. Pearce explained he was just trying to get a long discussed item on the road to action.

Kit Smith said she was sorry but couldn’t agree to make the move because the information needed from Palmetto Utilities hasn’t been gathered yet. Smith said the council is at fault for taking so long getting sewer service to the Lower Richland area, but the information request sent to Palmetto wasn’t completed and seemed almost an afterthought. She suggested sending the proposal to committee for further research, and the council could act on it from there.

Kelvin Washington said his main concern was whether the existing residents in the area would be given financial assistance to help pay tap fees. He also offered a substitute motion to send the item to the Economic Development committee. Pearce said that would result in no work being done on the item until October.

Norman Jackson explained, once again, that the original idea was to find funding for a water and sewer project in the Lower Richland area to assist in development of 3,500 new homes. The original project didn’t involve existing residents. Palmetto Utilities offered to do that at no cost to the county.

Val Hutchinson said the original idea was for development to be even in the entire county, and the sewer project would assist new home development in that area. She said the council needed to do its due diligence, but the public private partnership appeared to be the best way.

Smith explained that she wasn’t trying to drag her feet and wasn’t against partnering with Palmetto Utilities, but there were still many unanswered questions.

Joyce Dickerson agreed, asking whether the county would be liable, if there were expenses associated with the proposal, and how much the residents would pay for tap fees.

Washington established that the county requires citizens with failed septic systems who live within connection distance to connect to that system. He also established that around 60 septic systems had failed, according to DHEC.

Jackson tried to make clear that any tap fees would be paid by residents, and no county initiative had been offered to help pay tap fees. He also stated that tap fees would be significantly cheaper than replacing a failed septic system.

In the end the proposal was sent to committee with an understanding the administrative staff would gather information during the August recess.

A proposal by Dickerson to save the county money was voted down because it seemed to circumvent the paving plan now in effect. Dickerson wanted to pave Overlook Drive because it is near an existing paving job and would be next in line anyway. Her suggestion did not pass.

Irmo council member Hardy King asked during citizens’ input for Sease Road to finally be paved. Several years ago a proposal was made to move Sease Road from 71 on the paving list to number one, so it could be paved and extended to provided traffic flow assistance from New Friarsgate. A former council member asked for the proposal and offered all of that district’s paving funds to do it.

Gwen Kennedy proposed to void that proposal voted years back and move the road back to the place it held back in 2003. Her request was approved.

The council did approve two construction projects. Phase III for Lake Elizabeth and Lake Cary were both given the go ahead for construction to improve water quality. The Lake Cary project is the first construction associated with the Gills Creek watershed cleanup.

County Attorney Larry Smith offered the council members a do and don’t list for ethics guidelines concerning referendums when county employees and council members are on the clock. Among the accepted practices: explaining the county’s planning process and rationale for a referendum, answering questions about the impact of success or failure, providing polling place information, and encouraging citizens to vote.

Things considered a violation include promoting the support or opposition of a measure, collecting funds to support a vote

yes or vote no campaign, wearing tee shirts or buttons that advocate one side over the other, and organizing rallies. Copying, emailing, or mailing information while working is also considered a violation.

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

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