Richland County Council Meeting - October 20, 2026

Richland County Council’s regular session on October 20, 2026, included several economic-development incentive agreements and a wetland mitigation credit purchase. Council approved a $110,000 request from Blythewood Three LLC to purchase 5.5 wetland credits at $20,000 each for impacts associated with the Turkey Farm Road site; a motion to reconsider failed. At third reading, council approved fee-in-lieu-of-tax agreements for Steel Fab Inc. and other projects, including agreements involving CPL Land Development LLC, Arrowrock V Hub 77 LLC, Brose-Sytec Columbia Inc., and Westinghouse Electric Company LLC; one member recused from a project vote. Council also approved an extension to Westinghouse’s investor period, an assignment of rights under certain tax agreements to N.M. Wright LLC, an amendment to the Scout Motors multi-county park revenue distribution method, and creation of a multi-county park with Fairfield County for Westinghouse. The latter park measure passed despite opposition from one member. Following executive session, council authorized the county administrator to execute a sublease amendment. No competitive bids or RFPs were discussed.

The administrator reported that the Richland Soil and Water Conservation District operates on an approximately $69,000 annual budget, including county in-kind support for 2.5 staff positions; this was an informational presentation, not a new funding vote. Public comments raised concerns about solar development on agricultural land, and council referred a motion directing staff to analyze the viability of a 10-mile solar-panel moratorium around Eastover to the Development and Services Committee. Council also approved an ordinance adding vape shops to the county code. Other discussion included requests to revive the Animal Advisory Committee and concerns about rural development transparency.