City Announces Plans for Swearing-In Ceremony for City Council Members

WHO: Mayor Daniel Rickenmann, City Council Members, City Manager Teresa Wilson, and City Staff

WHAT: Swearing-In Ceremony for City Council Members

WHEN: Wednesday, January 3, 2024 at 1:00 PM

WHERE: City Hall, Third Floor Council Chambers, 1737 Main Street Columbia, SC 29201

Food Truck Friday

Dominion Energy to Continue Performing Tree Trimming Activities as Scheduled for 2023

Dominion Energy will continue performing tree trimming activities along overhead utility lines in the following neighborhoods this week:

Distribution Line Tree Trimming:

Byrneswood Community Council

Hyatt Park Neighborhood

Ridgewood/Monticello

Ryan Street Action Committee

Seminary Ridge HOA

Yorkshire Neighborhood Assoc.

Hampton Ridge Neighborhood Assoc.

Meadowfield Neighborhood Assoc.

South Meadowfield N. Assoc.

Citizens with specific questions or concerns should contact Forestry and Beautification at 803-545-3860 or Dominion Energy at 1-800-562-9308 to meet and discuss in advance of the work being completed. 

The trimming will be completed by Dominion Energy’s contractors and work will be closely monitored by the City’s Certified Arborists from the Forestry and Beautification Division.

The purpose of the trimming activities is to increase safety and reliability of the electric service. Dominion Energy reports an 89% improvement in reliability in vegetation related outages in areas where trimming is completed compared to a year ago. The trimming guidelines include removing vegetation within 8-12 feet below and beside the power lines and up to 20 feet above the power lines.

Dominion Energy and their contractors trim in accordance with International Society of Arboriculture guidelines, using ANSI A300 pruning methods leaving good cuts that will generate new growth. 

Dominion Energy’s re-conductor work includes pole replacements and new wire in select locations. The goal of re-conductor work is to improve reliability.

For more information about Dominion Energy’s tree trimming efforts, including helpful tips and suggestions regarding the planting of trees and other vegetation, visit www.dominionenergysc.com/treetrimming.

You can also contact Dominion Energy’s 24-hour Customer Service Center toll-free at 1-800-562-9308.

For continued updates from the City of Columbia follow us on Twitter @cityofcolumbia or “like” the City of Columbia on Facebook.

Capital City Fireworks

The City of Columbia held the annual family-friendly “Capital City Fireworks” display to ring in 2024 on Sunday, December 31^st. The fireworks display began right after midnight and brought New Year’s excitement for everyone in attendance.

The family-friendly event was attended by excited citizens and visitors, to view a few of the photos, please click HERE

City of Columbia Solid Waste Leaf Collection Alternate Locations

The City of Columbia Solid Waste Division is adding a new leaf collection option this fall for residents to drop their bagged leaves at designated container locations throughout the City. This newly added service will help keep Columbia beautiful and neighborhoods tidy.

Solid Waste will have containers at the following locations December 29, 2023 until January 4, 2024:

Drew Park - 2101 Walker Solomon Way

Busby St. - 1735 Busby St.

Columbia Tennis Center - 1635 Whaley St.

Owens Field - 1351 Jim Hamilton Blvd.

Woodland Park - 6500 Olde Knight Pkwy.

Notices for the container locations will be disseminated via press release, social media posts, website posts and notifications in the Columbia, SC Solid Waste mobile app.

The free Columbia, SC Solid Waste app can be found on Apple and Android app stores. There is also a collection calendar and other sign up options online at https://publicworks.columbiasc.gov/waste-wizard/.

For more information, please call the Solid Waste Division at 803-545-3800 or visit www.ColumbiaSC.gov.

The City of Columbia to Hold Public Education Forum on Utility Line Tree Trimming

WHO: The City of Columbia Forestry and Beautification Division and Dominion Energy.

WHAT: The City of Columbia and Dominion Energy will hold a public education forum for interested parties to discuss upcoming tree trimming. This forum will provide information regarding tree trimming near utility distribution lines scheduled for 2024. Topics covered will include the Purpose and Guidelines for Utility Pruning, ANSI Standards, Grand Trees, and Columbia’s Aging Tree Canopy. Representatives from the City of Columbia and Dominion Energy will answer questions about proper pruning techniques and upcoming activities.

WHEN: January 11, 2024 from 6:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M.  

WHERE: Eau Claire Print Facility, 3907 Ensor Ave, Columbia, SC 29203

Office of Business Opportunities to Host Two Entrepreneurial Training Programs

The City of Columbia’s Office of Business Opportunities is now accepting applications for the 2024 NxLevel Microentrepreneur and 2024 FastTrac Growth Venture courses from January to March.

The NxLevel Microentrepreneur program is for business owners to learn more about “self-sufficiency through self-employment. In person classes will be held at two locations from January 25 through March 7, March 21 and March 28, 2024 at 6 PM at Busby Street Community Center, 1735 Busby Street and on March 14, 2024 at 6 PM at Earlewood Park Community Center, 1113 Recreation Drive.

The FastTrac Growth Venture program in partnership with Midlands Technical College is a course designed to help businesses reach their true potential through proven frameworks and processes to facilitate sustainable growth and efficient operations. In person classes will held from January 23 through March 26, 2024 from 6 PM to 9 PM at the Midlands Technical College Northeast Campus.

For more information, please contact Kalenna Ginyard at 803-545-3960 or visit https://obo.columbiasc.gov/

Tenants and Landlords Rights and Responsibilities Workshop

Who: City of Columbia Community Development Department and Department of Housing and Urban Development

What: Workshop topics of discussion: reporting issues in subsidized housing/tenant based section 8, code enforcement, housing discrimination, evictions and housing legal information, and uniform relocation act.

To register for this workshop, please click here: https://forms.columbiasc.gov/233125450859963

When: Thursday, January 18, 2024 from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Where: Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, 1101 Lincoln Street, Columbia, SC 29201