City of Columbia Municipal Election Precincts

Tuesday, November 2, 2021

The City of Columbia Municipal Election Commission in coordination with Richland County Voter Registration and Elections announce the following precinct changes for the Tuesday, November 2, 2021 municipal election.

Ward 1formerly located at the Lourie Senior Center is now combined with Ward 33 at Martin Luther King Park, 2300 Greene Street

Ward 2 formerly located at the Marion Street Apartments is now located at Main Street United Methodist Church, 1830 Main Street

Ward 31 remains at Hyatt Park Elementary in the Gym, 4200 N. Main Street

Harbison 2 formerly located at New Heights Baptist Church is now combined with Harbison 1 at Harbison Community Center, 106 Hillpine Road

Riverside formerly located at Virginia Wingard Methodist Church is now combined with St. Andrews at St. Andrews Middle, 1231 Bluefied Drive

South Beltline precinct formerly located at Sherwood Forest Presbyterian Church is now located at Midlands Technical College Student Center at 316 S. Beltline Blvd.

In-person absentee voting is available until Monday, November 1, 2021 (8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) at the following locations:

Richland County residents can vote in-person absentee at 2011 Hampton Street or 2020 Hampton Street, Columbia, SC 29204.

Lexington County residents can vote in-person absentee at 605 W. Main Street, Lexington, SC 29072.

Verify your voter registration at www.scvotes.org or call the Richland County Elections and Voter Registration Office at (803)576-2240. For additional information, please contact the Office of the City Clerk at (803)545.3045, cityclerk@columbiasc.gov, or visit www.columbiasc.net/elections.

Payment and Customer Care Center Moves to New Location

The City of Columbia Payment and Customer Care Center's first official opening day was held on October 12, 2021 at their new location: 3000 Harden Street, Columbia, South Carolina.

Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday 8:30am – 5:00pm.

Drive Thru windows are available during hours of operation.

The Payment Center will allow you to pay bills for: water and sewer, solid waste for commercial customers and parking tickets.

In addition to the Payment Center staff, representatives from the Customer Care Center will be available on site to assist customers as needed. However, the Customer Care call center will operate in a separate location during their normal business hours.

The Customer Care Center will allow you to pay bills for: water and sewer, establish new services, disconnect service, reconnect service, bill/account inquiry and assistance, report maintenance related concerns.

The City of Columbia Hosts First Navy Week

During the week of October 18- October 24, the City of Columbia hosted its first-ever Navy Week.

Navy Weeks are a series of outreach events coordinated by the Navy Office of Community Outreach designed to give Americans an opportunity to learn about the Navy, its people, and its importance to national security and prosperity. Since 2005, the Navy Week program has served as the Navy's flagship outreach effort into areas of the country without a significant Navy presence, providing the public a firsthand look at why the Navy matters to Columbia. The program reaches more than 140 million people each year -- about half the U.S. population.

One of 13 Navy Weeks held nationally in 2021, Columbia Navy Week brought a variety of assets, equipment, and personnel to the city for a weeklong series of engagements designed to bring America's Navy closer to the communities it serves.

The City of Columbia Public Relations, Media and Marketing Department met with Navy officials in August to discuss the activities that took place during Columbia Navy Week. These activities included live demonstrations, such as an Enlistment Ceremony on the State House steps, concert performances from Naval fleet bands in various locations around the City, and engagements throughout the week. All activities included sailors and personnel assigned to:

USS James E Williams, Fleet Forces Band, Naval Hospital Beaufort, Navy Stewards of the Sea, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group TWO, Naval STEM, Naval Office of Small Business Programs, University of South Carolina NROTC, Ceremonial Guard Drill Team and others.

Rear Adm. Jeffrey Scheidt, senior advisor for Cyber Policy to the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, served as the senior Navy representative of Navy Week. Scheidt attended community engagements, including the City Council Meeting on October 19, and met with local and state leadership in Columbia.

"It is an honor to represent the Navy to the citizens of Columbia,” said Scheidt. “Columbia is home to so many who currently and have served, and that dedication to service connects the citizens of the area and our Navy. I look forward to helping strengthen those connections.”

Navy Fleet Forces Band performs outside of Russell House on the University of South Carolina's campus

Rear Adm. Jeffery Scheidt along with Navy officials and sailors outside of the City Council Meeting

Photos of the Navy Enlistment Ceremony at the South Carolina State House

City Manager Teresa Wilson Honored with 2021-2022 South Carolina Honors College Distinguished Alumni Award

On October 15, the University of South Carolina Honors College honored City manager Teresa Wilson as the 2021-2022 Distinguished Alumni Award winner.

The South Carolina Honors College Distinguished Alumni Award is the highest honor given to the college’s graduates. Each year, the award recognizes an alumnus or alumna who has made distinguished and outstanding contributions to his or her profession or field of interest and, over the course of a lifetime, brought benefit to his or her community, humanity and honor to the university by embodying the values and spirit of the South Carolina Honors College.

The South Carolina Honors College chose Ms. Wilson as this year’s winner due to her continued involvement and devotion to the college and UofSC community, as well as her outstanding leadership and accomplishments she has made in her career.

City Manager Teresa Wilson and Steve Lynn, Dean of the South Carolina Honors College

Over 500 Register for Virtual Mayor’s Walk Against Domestic Violence

The City of Columbia held its annual Mayor’s Walk Against Domestic virtually on Saturday, October 9. There were over 500 participants who joined in to show their support by going for a walk in their own neighborhoods, local parks, and other outdoor areas throughout the Columbia.

Each participant who registered for the 2021 Mayor’s Walk Against Domestic Violence received a free domestic violence awareness month kit. Each kit included a Mayor’s Walk Against Domestic ribbon, water bottle, sanitizer pen, rally towel, and educational materials from Sistercare, SCCADVASA, the Fifth Judicial Circuit Solicitor's Office, and the Office of the Attorney General Department of Crime Victim Compensation to increase the awareness in our community.

City of Columbia’s 43^rd Annual Veterans Day Parade

The City of Columbia’s 43^rd Annual Veterans Day Parade will be held, Thursday, November 11, the Columbia Parks & Recreation Department announced.

The Veterans Day Parade, known as one of the Southeast’s largest Veterans Day parades, will begin at 11 a.m. from the intersection of Sumter and Laurel streets, and travel southbound on Sumter Street ending at Pendleton Street near the State House.

This year’s grand marshals will be representatives from the South Carolina National Guard.

The Veterans Day Parade is sponsored by the City of Columbia and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Carolina, WIS, USC and Cocky, Chamber of Commerce, Fort Jackson, Year of the Veteran Truck and USO.

For more information, call the Parks and Recreation Department at 803-545-3100.

CRFD Engine Crew Honored for Swift Work Delivering Baby

Four firefighters with the Columbia-Richland Fire Department were recognized for the quick and decisive action they took to safely bring a baby into the world in early October.

Fire Chief Aubrey D. Jenkins presented the crew of Engine 11-1^st Shift with the department’s Stork Award during a brief ceremony at CRFD Headquarters on Tuesday, October 26, 2021. Among guests in attendance at the ceremony was the Dempsey family of Columbia.

On Friday October 8 firefighters on Engine 11 responded to the Dempsey home after getting reports from 9-1-1 that a woman was in labor. The crew arrived on scene and delivered the baby girl, who came in weighing 7 pounds, 8 ounces.

Michael Dempsey and his wife Katelyn would name their new daughter Ellie. She was also in attendance as Engine 11 was formally recognized for their work.

“This crew did a fantastic job in carrying out their duties on this call,” Chief Jenkins said, “They had just cleared from another medical call on October 8 when they were asked to respond to this critical scene at the Dempsey home. Seeing this newborn child doing so well is a true testament to their work that day. Our entire department applauds them.”

Congratulations to the members of CRFD Engine 11 – 1^st Shift.

(Left to right:) Firefighter David Palevich, Fire Captain David Cooper, Firefighter Shannon Peters, and Engineer Devon Ash holding baby Ellie.

City’s Parks and Recreation Department Celebrated the Grand Opening Ceremony of T.S. Martin Playground

On Wednesday, October 27, Mayor Steve Benjamin, City Council members and City’s Parks and Recreation officials celebrated the grand opening of the T.S. Martin Neighborhood Park Playground Project.

The new playground includes an asphalt basketball court, Miracle Recreation playground equipment, a shade shelter and more!

Mayor Steve Benjamin brings welcome and thanks everyone for joining us at T.S. Martin Park Grand Opening.

"A city is a collection of great neighborhoods and neighborhoods are a collection are great people. That is what drives this city."

Daughter of T.S. Martin, Tommye McMillan gave brief comments on behalf of T.S. Martin’s family.

“This is a vision of a dream come true, something that my father always wanted.” McMillan said.

Mayor Steve Benjamin, City Council members and City’s Parks and Recreation officials, officially announce and celebrate the grand opening of the T.S. Martin Neighborhood Park Playground Project.

City Kicks Off Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Honor the Dream Food Drive Virtually and In-Person

The City of Columbia, Richland School District One and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Foundation have kicked off the annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Honor the Dream Food Drive both in person and virtually benefiting Harvest Hope Food Bank. Please join the City of Columbia as we help fight hunger in the Greater Columbia area. The food drive is held each year to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy of community service. To donate, please click.

Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive Supports Harvest Hope Food Bank Fundraising Campaign for Harvest Hope Food Bank

The in person food drive ends December 10, 2021. The virtual food drive ends Monday, January 17.

The food drive is held each year to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy of community service. Some requested items include canned fruit and vegetables, dry goods and canned meats.

The public can drop off donations at the following locations:

· City Hall, 1737 Main Street

· Columbia Art Center, 1227 Taylor St. Ste. C

· Columbia Tennis Center, 1635 Whaley Street

· Charles R. Drew Wellness Center, 2101 Walker Solomon Way

· Earlewood Park, 1111 Parkside Drive

· Emily Douglas Park, 2500 Wheat Street

· Greenview Park, 6700 David Street

· Hampton Park, 117 Brandon Avenue

· Heathwood Park, 800 Abelia Road

· Hyatt Park, 950 Jackson Avenue

· Katheryn M. Bellfield Booker Washington Heights Cultural Arts Center, 2611 Grant Street

· Lorick Park, 1600 Lorick Avenue

· Martin Luther King, Jr. Park, 2300 Greene Street

· Melrose Park, 1500 Fairvew Road

· Pinehurst Park, 2300 Pinehurst Road

· St. Anna’s Park, 1315 Liberty Hill Avenue

· Sims Park, 3500 Duncan Street

· Woodland Park, 6500 Olde Knight Parkway

· City Human Resources, Office of Business Opportunities, 1401 Main Street (4^th Floor)

· Columbia Fire Department Headquarters, 1800 Laurel Street

· Columbia Police Department Headquarters, 1 Justice Square

· City of Columbia Satellite Payment Center, 3905 Ensor Avenue

· Public Works, 2910 Colonial Drive

· Washington Square Payment Center, 1136 Washington Street

For more information, contact the Columbia Parks and Recreation Department at 803-545-3100.

City of Columbia Accepting Nominations for the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dream Keeper Scholarship Awards

The City of Columbia is accepting nominations for the 2022 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dream Keeper Scholarship Awards.

The Dream Keeper Scholarship Awards program recognizes exemplary displays of committed service to the tenets of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The ideals of social responsibility, political empowerment, diversity, racial harmony, nonviolence, and unselfish service must be demonstrated voluntarily by the nominee in support of his or her community and fellow citizens.

The nominee must be age 18 or younger and enrolled in an elementary, middle or high school with a minimum 2.0 grade point average.

Applications are available online for download or at the City of Columbia Parks and Recreation Department, 1111 Recreation Drive, Columbia, SC 29201.

Applications must be returned by the following methods:

By mail to the City of Columbia Parks and Recreation Department, Attn: Kevin Crawford II, 1111 Recreation Drive, Columbia, SC 29201.

Applications must be postmarked by Friday, Dec. 3, 2021.

Submit completed application as a PDF file to parksinfo@columbiasc.gov

For more information, contact Kevin B. Crawford II at 803-545-0041 or Kevin.Crawford@columbiasc.gov or visit www.columbiasc.gov/parks-recreation.

Design/Development Review Commission Subcommittee Hearing | Wednesday, November 3, 2021

On Wednesday, November 3, 2021, a subcommittee meeting hosted by the Design/Development Review Commission will take place at 3:00 p.m. at the Eau Claire Print Building, 3907 Ensor Avenue.

This subcommittee meeting is to review the new construction project at 3012 Longleaf Road. This is a working session only and no vote or action will be taken.

While the meeting is open to the public, there will not be a public comment period. Please note that masks and social distancing protocols will be required for all attendees.

For more information about the DDRC subcommittee hearing, please call the City of Columbia’s Planning Division (803) 545-3222.