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HIGHLIGHTS:Fiscal Year Report

Wilson Honored by Palmetto Capitol City Classic

Total Solar Eclipse Photo Gallery

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FISCAL YEAR REPORT

The City of Columbia released the Report to the Community for Fiscal Year 2016-17. From public safety to development corporations to utilities, the City’s Public and Media Relations Department has assembled a snapshot of the advances and improvements in all aspects of our city operations between July 1, 2016 and June 30, 2017.

“Each day staff in our city departments are working hard to keep Columbia operating effectively and efficiently. Many of our residents are not aware of all of the projects and programs that the City of Columbia implements within a fiscal year and this is our way or telling our story. This reports reflects some of those highlights and accomplishments,” says City Manager Teresa Wilson.

Public and Media Relations Director Leshia Utsey says, “Each year, this report is created for the community to see the infrastructure improvements, updates in operations and advances in service that may not make headlines but do improve the quality of life for the citizens, business owners and visitors to this city.”

The report is available to be viewed and downloaded at http://www.columbiasc.net/pr/city-publications/report-to-the-community.

Printed copies are available at the following locations:

*City Hall, 1737 Main Street

*Washington Square, 1136 Washington Street

*Lady Street, 1225 Lady Street

*Columbia Fire Department – 1800 Laurel Street

*Columbia Police Department – 1 Justice Square

*Eau Claire Payment Center, 3907 Ensor Avenue

*Drew Wellness Center, 2102 Walker Solomon Way

Public and Media Relations also coordinated a distribution process with the Columbia Council of Neighborhoods (CCN). Copies were provided during the monthly CCN meeting in August in order for neighborhood presidents to have access to the reports for residents in their communities.

We have also produced a Report to the Community Fiscal Year 2016-17 video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOAduax6mwA.

Citizens are encouraged to visit the city’s website at www.columbiasc.net and follow the City of Columbia on various social media platforms including: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat.

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FIRE DEPARTMENT MAKES DONATION TO AREA SCHOOLS

Columbia Fire Department, City of Columbia and Richland County donated decommissioned fire engines to high school firefighter programs.

Fire Chief Aubrey D. Jenkins in partnership with the City of Columbia and Richland County announced the donation of three fire engines to our local school districts as part of a career technical center program. Richland School District One (Lower Richland High School), Richland School District Two (Westwood High School), District Five of Lexington and Richland Counties (The Center for Advanced Technical Studies, CATS) each received a donated fire engine that has previously served in the Columbia Fire Department’s fleet before being retired from emergency service.

Chief Jenkins stated, “The Department is excited to be able to

donate this equipment which will be used to hone the students’ firefighting skills and learning experience by using real world fire apparatus.”

These three firefighter programs along with 35 similar programs throughout the state of South Carolina work to provide the skills and certifications necessary for students to pursue a career in the fire service upon graduation and turning 18 years of age.

The South Carolina State firefighters’ Association, the South Carolina Fire Academy and the South Carolina Department of Education collaborated to develop these frefighter programs for the state’s Career and Technology Centers and High Schools as resources for recruiting and training future firefighters for career and volunteer departments in South Carolina.

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CITY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT HOSTED TWO-PART HOMEBUYER WORKSHOP

The City of Columbia Community Development Department hosted a two-part Homebuyer Workshop on Tuesday, August 8 and Wednesday, August 9, 2017 at the Richland County Library North Main branch, located at 5306 North Main St., from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. The workshop was filled to capacity with nearly 40 participants who were ready to gain knowledge about the home buying process and how to develop the skills needed to tackle money management, barriers to credit and getting a mortgage loan. Opening the workshop were City Community Development staff:Felicia Kilgore, Loan Officer SupervisorTracey Brown, Loan OfficerRachelle Jennings, Loan Officer Each individual gave a short presentation about their roles/duties in the Community Development Department and information about how the homebuyer process works.

“Learn how to purchase a home with ease and save on your housing expenses. Let’s face the desire to become a homeowner head-on and take advantage of the American Dream,” said Felicia Kilgore, City Community Development Loan Officer Supervisor.

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Columbia Animal Services would like to send a heartfelt thank you to our community for the support of the Clear the Shelter Adoption event held on Saturday, August 19, 2017. “We knew it would be a busy day, but we were still amazed and thrilled with the turnout”, said Marli Drum, Superintendent.

When the front doors opened that morning, dozens were waiting in line to adopt a new pet. By closing at 4:00 that afternoon, 104 (53 cats/kitten and 51 dogs/puppies) pets had found new homes. It was a very happy and successful day. “We truly are grateful to our community that wants to be a part of the solution and provide homes for these awesome pets”, says Drum.

104 PET ADOPTIONS DURING CLEAR THE SHELTERS

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Top Photo: City Manager Teresa Wilson is accepting her award. Bottom Photo (from left to right): Edna Reese Langley, Megan Telencio, Judge DeAndrea Gist Benjamin, Victoria Bartley, Dr. Jennifer Clyburn Reed and Teresa Wilson.

Columbia City Manager Teresa Wilson and Columbia’s First Lady DeAndrea Benjamin were among six honorees for the 1st I’m Every Woman Persons of the Year Award. The awards were presented on Monday, August 28 during the Palmetto Capital City Classic Annual Sponsors and Media Luncheon.

WILSON HONORED BY PALMETTO CAPITAL CITY CLASSIC

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#LOVECOLUMBIA PHOTO CHALLENGE

The #LoveColumbia Photo Challenge is a City initiative that encourages citizens of Columbia to submit photos via social media of the images they love in the city. The City of Columbia Photo Challenge, #LoveColumbia, began in 2014 as a way to increase community engagement, expand public knowledge of the City’s social media sites and increase the use of technology to interact with citizens. To enter the contest, you must tag the City of Columbia on the social media platform and use #LoveColumbia Photo Challenge to identify a contest entry.

WHO: City of Columbia

WHAT: Citizens are tasked with submitting images, which includes landscapes, structures, buildings or historical monuments to enter the contest. The photos MUST include images that are within the city limits. The winning photo will

be based on the total number of “likes, favorites, retweets, etc.” that are received by September 16, 2017. To enter the contest, social media users must tag the City of Columbia on the social media platform and use #LoveColumbia Photo Challenge to identify a contest entry.

There will be three photos chosen and they will include one photo from Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The winner will be decided by followers on each of the social media platforms.

WHEN: The #LoveColumbia Photo Challenge will held on the City’s Facebook,Instagram and Twitter media platforms August 16, 2017 – September 16, 2017.

WHERE: City Limits of Columbia, South Carolina

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PROTECTIVE MEASURES AGAINST MOSQUITOES

The City of Columbia’s Code Enforcement Division continues to work closely with Richland County Vector Control to track mosquito activity and take preventative measures to reduce the mosquito population.

We are actively spraying and working to reduce breeding sites. Please help us by taking the precautions below:

• Apply insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR 3535 according to label instructions. Repellents help keep mosquitoes from biting.

• Wear clothing that reduces the risk of skin exposure. Wear long sleeves and long pants if you’re going to be outside for an extended period of time.

• Exposure to mosquitoes is most common at night and during the early morning. Some species bite during the day, especially in wooded or other shaded areas. Avoid exposure during these times and in these areas.

• Make sure that your doors and windows have tight-fitting screens to keep out mosquitoes.

• Eliminate all sources of standing water on your property, including flowerpots, gutters, buckets, pool covers, birdbaths, old car tires, rain gutters and pet bowls.

For more information, visit our webpage https://www.columbiasc.net/news/081520171328-protective-measures-against-mosquitoes

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TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE PHOTO GALLERY

Stephanie Hopta, Dillon Hartley, Hayley Ellis, Alexandria Ungrady - UNC Charlotte Students

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#CITYHALLSELFIE DAY PHOTO GALLERY

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Teresa Wilson is the City Manager for the City of Columbia, SC. For more details on the City Manager, visit Co-lumbiaSC.net/City-Manager. For more information about the City of Colum-bia, visit ColumbiaSC.net.

ABOUT TERESA WILSON