West Columbia council advances zoning changes, OKs mutual aid agreement and appoints fire marshal

The City of West Columbia council unanimously approved second readings and other procedural actions on several items and moved into an executive session to discuss legal and economic-development matters.

On unfinished business the council approved second reading of a text amendment to Zoning Ordinance section 706.1 to add "finance and insurance" and "pet care services" as permitted uses in the restricted commercial C3 district. A motion and second were made and the chair called for a vote; the council "unanimously gave second reading." This action advances the ordinance to the process' next step.

The council also gave second reading consideration to rezoning approximately 12.57 acres at 2305 Plat Springs Road (Tax map 005738-05-014) from residential R3 to general commercial C2. The motion and second carried and the council "unanimously gave second reading consideration." The council record lists the parcel address and tax map number but does not specify conditions attached to the rezoning in the transcript.

During new business the council took up a first reading of an ordinance adding section 8-2-12 to the city code to regulate golf carts under South Carolina Code Annotated §56-2-90. One council member said the instructions were to produce "the most libertarian possible golf cart ordinance," and another agreed, calling it "about as expansive as we could possibly be." The council voted unanimously to give the draft ordinance its first reading.

The council approved entering into a mutual-aid agreement with the South Carolina Department of Social Services; members noted this required only a single reading and a motion carried unanimously.

On appointment business the council moved to appoint Fire Marshal Adam Harmon as municipal code enforcement officer with authority to enforce municipal ordinances under South Carolina Code §5-7-32. A council member asked whether Harmon would be leaving his fire-marshal duties; the council was told "absolutely not," and members said the appointment would give him additional ability "to compel compliance with some things." The motion passed unanimously and the council thanked Harmon for his service.

Before adjourning the council voted to move into executive session to discuss legal and contractual matters related to bulk-water customers, economic development in the river district and potential public–private partnerships, citing South Carolina Code Annotated §30-4-70(A)(2). The council adjourned into executive session by unanimous vote.

Votes at a glance: 6.1 (Zoning Ordinance text amendment to Section 706.1) — second reading advanced, outcome: approved (unanimous); 6.2 (Rezoning of ~12.57 acres, 2305 Plat Springs Road, Tax map 005738-05-014) — second reading advanced, outcome: approved (unanimous); 7.1 (Ordinance adding code section 8-2-12, golf-cart regulation per S.C. Code §56-2-90) — first reading advanced, outcome: approved for first reading (unanimous); 7.2 (Mutual-aid agreement with S.C. Department of Social Services) — approved (single reading, unanimous); 7.3 (Appointment of Adam Harmon as municipal code enforcement officer, S.C. Code §5-7-32) — approved (unanimous).

The transcript does not record individual roll-call vote tallies or names associated with each yes vote; actions are recorded as "unanimous." The council did not state effective dates or conditions for the zoning actions on the record in the provided transcript. The meeting then moved into executive session; no further public action was recorded in the supplied transcript.