Committee on Committees recommends appointment of Randy Schoonover to executive finance and campus reconfiguration panels

The Richland County Committee on Committees voted to recommend the appointment of newly seated county board member Randy Schoonover to the Executive and Finance standing committee and to the Campus Reconfiguration committee.

The recommendation followed discussion of several vacancies on standing committees after Supervisor Woodhouse’s resignation. Committee members said Executive and Finance should be filled promptly because budget season is approaching and that Executive and Finance is composed of committee chairs plus three at-large members.

Committee members reviewed a posted list of committee vacancies and confirmed that openings appear highlighted in the packet provided to members. Randy Schoonover told committee members he prefers Executive and Finance as his first choice, Natural Resources as his second choice and Public Safety as his third, and said he is “happy to serve anywhere else” if needed. Committee members moved and seconded a recommendation to appoint Schoonover to Executive and Finance and to Campus Reconfiguration; the committee chair called the vote and members signaled approval.

Members discussed how to handle remaining vacancies as two additional new county board members are scheduled to take seats in August and September. The committee noted District 11 (vacated by Michelle Horowitz) will be filled in August, a warehouse appointment is scheduled for September 15, and that the board will have further opportunities to place new members on committees as they are seated.

The committee also reviewed a proposed survey of the county’s committee structure intended to solicit boardmember feedback before the next term and possible reorganization. Staff said the survey will be emailed to board members and paper copies will be available at the next meeting; members asked that the survey include room for written comments and that a deadline be set for responses.

On scheduling, members agreed to hold a follow-up Committee on Committees meeting after the county board’s August appointments. They discussed meeting on either Wednesday or Thursday the week after the board meeting and targeted an evening start around 5:00 p.m.; staff said they would confirm the exact date and post it.

Other items resolved during the meeting included approving the minutes from April 15 with a correction noted in the roll-call entry and removing agenda item 9 by motion earlier in the meeting. The committee adjourned after completing its business.