Multi-agency collaboration aids in thwarting violent criminal activity in central S.C. By W. Thomas Smith Jr. For the past several years, the multi-agency Midlands Gang Task Force (MGTF) in central South Carolina has been aggressively and successfully disrupting and dismantling illegal gangs operating throughout the capital city of Columbia andContinue Reading
For Chanda Cooper, conservation education analyst with the Richland Soil and Water Conservation District (RSWCD), a career path in the environmental field proved to be a natural fit. Cooper was recently recognized by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for being among the first class of Ernest F. HollingsContinue Reading
A series of in-person events beginning this week will help inform Richland County residents about newly rewritten land development regulations before the new rules are finalized. The rules make up the County’s revised Land Development Code (LDC), a draft of which is available for public review at weplantogether.org. The upcomingContinue Reading
Bill Davis, director of Richland County Utilities, was recently selected to represent South Carolina within a worldwide organization of water industry professionals. Davis will serve as a junior delegate on the Water Environment Federation’s (WEF) House of Delegates (HOD). Following his one-year term, Davis will step into the role ofContinue Reading
Richland County’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) reached a milestone this week, approving more than $5 million in assistance requests. The County still has funding available through ERAP, which can aid renters who have been impacted by COVID-19 and need help paying rent and utility bills. Funds do not haveContinue Reading
Richland County Stormwater Management, in partnership with Columbia Water, is asking residents for help marking local storm drains – and beautifying their neighborhoods in the process. The project is part of the County’s “Drains Aren’t Dumps” campaign. The annual effort aims to highlight the harmful effects pet waste, lawn clippingsContinue Reading
A draft of Richland County’s revamped Land Development Code (LDC) is available for public review, and residents will soon have several opportunities to comment on the new policies before the code is finalized. What does the LDC do?The LDC is a set of regulations for land use, growth and developmentContinue Reading
Because of staff shortages for contracted trash haulers, Richland County residents might see delays in curbside pickup of garbage and yard waste. The County contracts with several businesses to provide trash collection, and those businesses service different areas. Because of the continued ripple effect of the COVID-19 health crisis, delaysContinue Reading
Vector Control staff are gearing up for Richland County’s annual mosquito-spraying campaign. As part of efforts to control the adult mosquito population, crews will conduct surveillance for the insects, treat larval breeding sites and spray in densely populated areas of the County. Trucks will spray for adult mosquitoes between midnightContinue Reading
A virtual public hearing May 19 will allow residents to give input on an end-of-year report that details Richland County’s use of federal funding to aid low-to-moderate-income residents. The Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) evaluates the county’s progress toward the goals and objectives of its Consolidated Plan. TheContinue Reading
Richland County recorded its best year for economic development in 2020, as a new annual report released this week illustrates. For 2020, the County recorded $638 million in new capital investment, an amount more than twice as high as the previous best year since consistent records have been kept. ThatContinue Reading