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Council approves conservation contribution, budget change, conveyance and multiple economic-development items
Summary
At its Nov. 18 meeting, Richland County Council approved a $75,000 conservation-commission contribution to acquire 71.66 acres adjacent to Harbison State Forest, amended the FY2026 budget to add one public-defender position, approved a quitclaim conveyance to Prisma Health and multiple fee-in-lieu economic-development items; several routine land-sale and project items also passed.
Richland County Council approved a series of motions on Nov. 18, 2025, including land-conservation support, a small budget amendment, and several economic-development authorizations.
Conservation contribution: Council approved a recommendation to contribute $75,000 from the Conservation Commission’s acquisition funds, in partnership with the Congaree Land Trust, toward the $1,413,000 purchase of 71.66 acres adjacent to Harbison State Forest (the "Lost Creek" property). County staff confirmed the funds are budgeted for acquisition and that the county will not own the parcel, limiting long-term county maintenance costs.
Budget amendment: Council approved Ordinance No. 037-25HR to amend the FY2026 special revenue fund budget to add one full-time equivalent position in the Public Defender’s Office.
Real estate and conveyance: The council approved a quitclaim conveyance of certain rights associated with a right-of-way relocation plat to Prisma Health Midlands (formerly Continental Health Alliance). The council also approved an ordinance authorizing the sale of 0.267 acres on W/S Ferrell Road (TMS R17600-01-33) to the South Carolina Department of Transportation for intersection improvements.
Economic development and fee-in-lieu items: The economic-development committee’s recommendations to negotiate fee-in-lieu of ad valorem tax agreements and to approve certain first-reading items for Project Clinch and Project Rocky (and related infrastructure-credit agreements) were approved on the floor. Council also approved a request to expand the I-77 Corridor Regional Industrial Park for infrastructure credits to Columbia Multifamily Investments, LLC.
Appointments and consent items: The council approved the rules-and-appointments recommendation to appoint Mike Bashford to the Richland County First Steps Partnership Board and approved a slate of consent items (items 18 a–t) without separate discussion.
Procedural notes: Several motions to reconsider particular items were moved but failed on roll-call votes; no further actions were recorded during executive session other than authorizations described elsewhere.
