Meeting on Spears Creek

Richland County, S.C. – Richland County Councilwoman Julie-Ann Dixon of District Nine is hosting a town hall meeting to discuss a request from Palmetto Utilities to discharge 6 million gallons/day of treated wastewater into Spears Creek.

The meeting will be held Thursday, October 1, 2015 at 6 p.m. at the North Springs Community Center, located at 1320 Clemson Road, Columbia, S.C.

Palmetto Utilities operates the Spears Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant in Kershaw County that accepts waste from Richland Northeast customers. It is treated and sent into a basin designed to infiltrate wastewater into groundwater, not surface water.

Palmetto Utilities also has a permit to discharge into the Wateree River but has never built the pipeline. They are now requesting permission from Richland County Council and the Central Midlands Council of Governments to amend the 208 Water Quality Plan to allow a new discharge of 6 million gallons/day into Spears Creek just inside the county line.

The meeting will provide information on the implications of the request.

For more information, contact the Office of Richland County Council at (803) 576-2060 or email rccoco@rcgov.us.

Fall Decor Ideas

Rustic, vintage, natural - all words to describe today's trends in home decor. The good news? This design trend lends itself easily to DIY projects and low cost supplies. Here are some ways to decorate your home for Fall using pallets or other found resources.

Pallet Pumpkins

Planters

Wooden Scarecrow

Autumn Signage

The Benefits of Mulch

With cooler temperatures getting more of us outdoors and working on our yards, it's important to understand some of the unsung heroes of lawn care. This week our spotlight is on mulch. Besides being aesthetically pleasing - mulch provides many other benefits for your yard. Read on!

Benefits of Mulch

• Mulch can help control weeds. Mulch as a ground cover blocks the sunlight and prevents weeds from growing.
• Mulch helps to keep your soil from drying out - a major benefit to surrounding plants.
• A layer of mulch prevents soil erosion by keeping the soil in place during rain storms.
• Mulch warms the soil in the winter and keeps it cool in the summer - leading to more even soil temperatures for your landscaping.
• Decaying mulch adds nutrients back into the soil.

Types of Mulch

There are two major types of mulch - organic and inorganic. Organic mulch comes from natural sources such as tree bark, wood chips or pine straw.

Inorganic mulch includes rocks, pebbles, landscape fabrics and gravel.

Mulch comes in a variety of colors and textures. It helps you define your yard as well as keep it healthy. So what are you waiting for? Get mulching!

Are You Ready for Some Football?

Football season is back!  Are you ready?  

Don't miss a minute - we've got your schedules ready!

What to Plant this Fall

Did you know that Fall is actually a great time to plant some new flowers, trees and shrubs? The soil is warm and will stay that way up until the first big freeze. In the South, this creates an extended planting season. Fertilizing is not recommended and cuts down on the amount of work it takes to establish new plants.

Trees and shrubs with a large root ball will have plenty of time to get established before Winter and won't have to deal with many of the pests that thrive in the Spring and Summer.  Nurseries and garden centers often have sales in the Fall, allowing you to get a good deal on those Spring Bulbs you've been wanting to plant.

Wondering what to plant?

Perennials such as Peonies, Hostas and Irisis

Pansies


Trees such as the "October Glory" Red Maple

Pitcher Plants (bonus, they trap and eat insects!)

This Labor Day weekend - enjoy the day off and spend some time outdoors getting your yard ready for Fall!