Richland County Month in Review: June

The following are highlights from Richland County Government in June:

• To encourage recycling and the proper disposal of hazardous waste and other household materials, Richland County released two videos produced in-house and featuring County employees. A Solid Waste employee is the main human character in one of the videos. He sings and interacts with several pieces of trash, roll carts and an old recycling bin. The second video features a tough “trash constable” determined to keep hazardous waste out of landfills and storm drains. The videos began airing in early June on the County’s government access channel and YouTube channel, where they received more than 14,000 views by the end of June. The Talking Trash concept was used in a previous County public service announcement to inform residents about new recycling roll carts. That PSA recently received a merit award from the National Association of County Information Officers. 

• Rhythmlink International, a medical device manufacturing company, announced it is expanding its Richland County facility in the Columbia Industrial Park. The expansion includes a $1.4 million investment expected to create 50 new jobs and a world-class automated packaging line.

• Richland County joined a local coalition, including Columbia and Lexington County, to seek state aid for a bundle of transportation projects that are collectively designed to stimulate economic development and improve traffic flow in the region. Richland County Council Chair Norman Jackson and other leaders officially cemented the unprecedented partnership at a ceremony where they signed a joint resolution to submit an application to the state infrastructure bank for a $336 million grant. 

• Richland County is renovating a former mall to house the County’s Central Court and other offices. In June, a mock courtroom with furnishings made of unfinished plywood was set up to allow court staff the opportunity to give feedback to designers and architects on plans. In addition to the Central Court, the building also will house a new Richland County Sheriff’s Department regional headquarters, some County administrative offices and a community room. 

• Richland County was among those recognized for efforts to preserve the Woodrow Wilson Family Home. The County, which owns the historic house in downtown Columbia, provided nearly $3 million to restore the building. After years of renovations, the house reopened to the public in February. Governor Nikki Haley presented Richland County, Historic Columbia and John Milner Associates with the 2014 Historic Preservation Honor Award during a ceremony at the South Carolina Statehouse in June. The Woodrow Wilson Family Home is South Carolina’s only presidential site. 

• The Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center (ASGDC) received national accreditation by the American Correctional Association (ACA) following a review of its jail operations for 2013. ASGDC met 100 percent of the 69 mandatory standards required by the ACA and 96.3 percent of the 300 non-mandatory standards. (To receive accreditation, 100 percent of all mandatory standards and 90 percent of non-mandatory standards had to be met.) ACA standards are the national benchmark for effective operation of correctional systems and help to ensure correctional facilities are operated professionally. 

• Richland County Council selected a team of businesses, including ICA Engineering, Brownstone Construction Group and M.B. Kahn Construction Co., to oversee the County’s $1 billion transportation penny program. Voters approved a one-cent retail sales tax rate increase in November 2012 to fund the program for 22 years. The tax increase went into effect in May 2013. County staff will begin contractual negotiations with the program development team to move forward with projects that include road widenings, intersection improvements, greenways, sidewalks and bikeways.