Some Richland County offices now open by appointment

Listen to this article

Several Richland County offices, shuttered since last spring because of pandemic-related health concerns, are now open by appointment.

County residents can sign up for in-person appointments at the county assessor’s and auditor’s office, business service center, register of deeds and treasurer’s office, among other services now open at the County Administration Building at 2020 Hampton St.

Online appointment sign-up is available at www.richlandcountysc.gov, as is a full list of offices where appointments are available.

The administration building is accessible through the rear entrance at Harden and Lady Streets, where visitors will check in.

“We recognize that South Carolina is seeing some positive trends in the decline of percent positive rates associated with COVID-19,” Richland County Administrator Leonardo Brown said in a news release. “We want to make sure that as we look to allow citizens to have limited access to county facilities that we maintain a certain level of awareness that COVID-19 has not gone away. We’re just keeping it more in check.”

Meeting to address flood-prone properties

Richland County residents in the Timberlane Drive area will be able to ask questions about flood-prone properties during a Zoom meeting Thursday.

Area residents responded to a survey in February seeking the best uses of vacant properties damaged in the October 2015 flood. Richland County Community Planning and Development staff will answer questions about that survey in an online meeting from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Access the meeting at https://zoom.us/j/94616512526. Use meeting ID: 946 1651 2526.

Many homes in the area are considered at risk of future flooding because of the proximity of Gills Creek, according to a news release. The county has bought dozens of affected properties with the goal of returning the land to a natural state.

Options for the properties include trails, parks, a naturalized area, a parking lot and a stormwater project.

Survey results will be discussed during an April 14 meeting.

Questions can be directed to county sustainability planner Meghan Sullivan at sullivan.meghan@richlandcountysc.gov.