Public safety committee forwards revised Ordinance 897 on sheriff staffing to County Board

The Richland County Public Safety Standing Committee voted Nov. 1 to forward a revised draft of Ordinance 897, which would codify staffing categories and hiring procedures for the sheriff’s department, to the County Board.

The committee approved language changes requested during the meeting: adding a “jail administrator lieutenant” to the list of position types and replacing the phrase “rcso clerk typus” with “Administrative Assistant.” The committee chair moved the draft, a member seconded it, and members voted by voice to send the corrected ordinance to the County Board for placement into county code as chapter 16.

Committee members discussed how hiring procedures will be separated: the ordinance text will define the ordinance framework while detailed hiring procedures will be kept in county policy rather than the ordinance itself, according to staff and counsel. County attorney Wendell and the sheriff reviewed the italicized procedural provisions during the meeting and confirmed the split.

The motion to forward the ordinance carried on a voice vote; the transcript does not record a roll‑call tally. The committee chair said the item will be included in the County Board package for final action.

The committee also noted the long process of drafting the ordinance and thanked staff and counsel for work on the revisions. The County Board will receive the corrected draft for formal consideration at a future meeting.