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West Columbia council: votes at a glance — rezoning, bonds, appointments, proclamations and more
Summary
At its May 6 meeting the City of West Columbia City Council approved multiple items including water and sewer rate ordinances, revenue bonds, rezoning and annexations, several proclamations, appointments, and contracts. All listed motions were approved unanimously as recorded in the meeting.
The City of West Columbia City Council on May 6 approved a slate of routine and substantive agenda items, including ordinances on water and sewer rates, issuance of revenue bonds, multiple rezoning and annexation matters, proclamations, board appointments, professional services selections and other administrative actions. The motions recorded in the meeting were approved unanimously.
Why it matters: The approved bond and rate actions underpin the city’s water and sewer capital program; rezoning and annexations alter local land-use designations; appointments and professional-services selections affect city operations and program delivery.
Votes at a glance:
- Water and sewer rates ordinance — second reading approved (item 8.1). Council approved second reading consideration of an ordinance authorizing and confirming implementation of water and sewer rates and charges; vote recorded as unanimous.
- Water and sewer system improvement revenue bonds — second reading approved (item 8.2). Council approved issuance and sale of water and sewer system improvement revenue bonds in a principal amount not to exceed $35,000,000; second reading approved unanimously.
- Rezoning approvals — second reading approved (items 8.3 and 8.4). Council approved planning commission recommendations to rezone parcels at 720 Buff Street (0.21 acres) and 900 North Lucas Street (1.98 acres) to Light Manufacturing (LM); both motions carried unanimously.
- Annexation — second reading approved (item 8.5). Council approved annexation of 0.48 acres at 1083 Harbor Drive; motion approved unanimously.
- Strategic plan resolution — approved (item 9.1). Council adopted goals and priorities as the city’s strategic plan for the fiscal year; unanimous approval.
- Appointment of municipal code compliance inspector — approved (item 9.2). Jared Epperson was appointed as a municipal code compliance inspector with authority to enforce municipal ordinances pursuant to South Carolina Code Annotated section 5-7-32; motion approved unanimously.
- Appointment to West Columbia Beautification Foundation — approved (item 9.3). Chuck Underhill was appointed; unanimous.
- Riverwalk repair contract authorization — approved (item 9.4). Council approved Crescent Industries LLC as the lowest responsive responsible bidder in the amount of $201,095 and authorized the city administrator to enter contract negotiations (see separate article for details). Motion approved unanimously.
- Eval Group selection — approved (item 9.5). Council approved Eval Group as the top-ranked firm for strategic planning services related to the South Carolina Opioid Recovery Fund and authorized contract negotiations; unanimous.
- AECOM selection — approved (item 9.6). Council approved AECOM as the top-ranked firm for engineering and planning services to develop the City of West Columbia Safe Streets and Roads for All action plan and authorized contract negotiations; unanimous.
- Transportation facilities ordinance — first reading approved (item 9.7). Council approved first reading consideration of an ordinance to amend Title 7, Chapter 8 relating to transportation facilities (see separate article for details). Motion approved unanimously.
- Text amendment (nursing and residential care facilities in C-3) — first reading approved (item 9.8). Council took up first reading to accept a planning commission recommendation for a text amendment regarding nursing and residential care facilities in the C-3 district; motion approved unanimously.
- Annexation (3214 Leapart Road) — first reading approved (item 9.9). Council approved first reading to annex 1.0 acre at 3214 Leapart Road; unanimous.
- Minutes approvals — approved (items 7.1, 7.2, 7.3). Council approved minutes for a Feb. 10 work session, April 1 public hearing and April 1 regular meeting; unanimous.
- Proclamations — approved (items 6.1–6.4). Council unanimously proclaimed May 27, 2025 as Asian American and Pacific Islander Business Day; May 11–17, 2025 as Police Week (with flags at half-staff on May 15 for Peace Officers Memorial Day); May 18–24, 2025 as National Public Works Week; and May 2025 as Building Safety Month.
- Executive session motion — approved. Council approved a motion to move into executive session to discuss personnel matters related to board of appeals appointments pursuant to South Carolina Code Annotated section 30-4-70(a)(1); unanimous.
Many motions were moved and seconded from the floor and recorded as approved. The meeting recorded unanimous approvals on the items above; staff noted several items (notably the transportation ordinance and the Riverwalk contract) will require follow-up work including legal review, boundary verification and federal (FEMA) review of contract terms.
