Council approves property option for brewery, industrial park expansion, water-line transfer and other actions

Richland County Council on March 18 approved multiple ordinance and property actions during its regular meeting, including an option to transfer county-owned land to Mark Anthony Brewing Inc., an expansion of the I‑77 Corridor Regional Industrial Park, and a transfer of water lines at Columbia Mall.

The council voted to authorize the grant of an option to acquire certain county property to Mark Anthony Brewing Incorporated and to permit the transfer when the option conditions are satisfied. The motion passed on third reading with a unanimous roll call: Councilmembers Jason Branham, Derek Pew, Tyra Little, Paul Livingston, Allison Teratio, Don Weaver, Gretchen Baron, Tish Dozier Aileen, Jessica Mackey, Shaquis Newton and Cheryl English voted yes.

Council also approved expanding the boundaries of the I‑77 Corridor Regional Industrial Park jointly developed with Fairfield County to include property located in Richland County, and authorized execution of a public infrastructure credit agreement to provide public infrastructure credits to Killian Woods Development LLC. That ordinance passed on third reading with a unanimous roll call.

The council approved an ordinance authorizing the City of Columbia to install water lines at Columbia Mall (TMS number 17001‑04‑02). The ordinance passed on third reading with a unanimous roll call.

Earlier in the meeting council approved a motion in open session to adopt “Marketing option 1, with the changes as discussed in executive session.” The marketing option passed with one no vote by Councilmember Don Weaver; other members voted yes.

Under the administrator’s report council voted to authorize issuance of a letter of support for Columbia International University’s request for congressionally directed funding for science equipment to expand nursing and STEM programs. That motion passed on a recorded vote.

After two executive sessions, council approved an amended motion authorizing the county attorney to engage in discussions with potential counsel about food-safety litigation and to return to full council with more information before formal retention. The amended motion passed on a recorded roll call.

Votes at a glance (selected): - Option/transfer to Mark Anthony Brewing Inc. — approved (unanimous roll call). - I‑77 Corridor Regional Industrial Park boundary expansion and infrastructure credit agreement — approved (unanimous roll call). - City of Columbia water-line ordinance (Columbia Mall, TMS 17001‑04‑02) — approved (unanimous roll call). - Marketing option 1 (as discussed in executive session) — approved; yes: 10; no: 1 (Don Weaver). - Letter of support for Columbia International University congressional funding request — approved (recorded vote). - Authorization for county attorney to engage in potential food-safety litigation discussions (to return with further information) — approved (recorded vote).

The meeting record shows roll calls and recorded votes for each action; the council took no vote on the Conservation Commission’s annual report, which was presented as an informational item.