Richland County Month in Review: July

COLUMBIA, SC – The following are highlights from Richland County Government in July:

• Richland County’s latest tool to save taxpayer dollars and aid efforts to attract industry are two commercial-grade unmanned aerial system units that snap photographs from 400 feet off the ground. With a price tag of less than $2,500 each, the units cost far less than the million-dollar systems used by the military or major companies. The County is currently in the process of getting the necessary federal certifications to use the units for various purposes.

• Richland County Councilwoman Julie-Ann Dixon and Sheriff Leon Lott organized a free Community Festival with fun, food, music and family entertainment for residents, while also offering information about the many services provided by Richland County Government and the Sheriff’s Department.

• The Government Finance Officers Association presented Richland County’s Finance Department with the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for its comprehensive annual financial report. The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting.

• Richland County recently purchased 4 acres on Lake Murray, a move that will provide public access to the lake’s northeastern shore and may increase opportunities for tourists and residents alike.
• The Center for Digital Government and the National Association of Counties ranked Richland County sixth out of the 10 top counties in the nation with populations of 250,000-499,999 for its innovative use of technology in its day-to-day operations.

• The Richland County Transportation Penny Program is paving the way for more public access to green spaces and the conservation of hundreds of acres of wetlands and other natural habitats. The County recently purchased a tract of property in Lower Richland to maintain the ecological balance and character of its “rich land” as momentum builds under the penny program.

• Richland County Councilmen Kelvin Washington and Norman Jackson, along with The COMET planning team, hosted a series of public meetings to review the current and proposed changes to the Lower Richland bus route.

• Richland County Administrator Tony McDonald appeared as a guest panelist on the Carolina Business Review, a weekly news broadcast that focuses on business and public policy issues in North and South Carolina.

• Richland County Government has been named Cigna’s Well-Being Award winner for the Carolinas market for its commitment to building a culture of health, including strong leadership support and visibility, tailored and easily accessible programs for employees and strong incentives to motivate individuals to make lifestyle behavior changes.