Here are the minutes from the August 10, 2010 SFNA General Meeting

Minutes
Sherwood Forest Neighborhood Association
August 10, 2010
6:30 p.m., Sherwood Forest Presbyterian Church

Welcome
Larry Hembree welcomed everyone.

Notation of Attendance
Larry noted the attendance and everyone introduced themselves. Special guests were District 75 House Representative Jim Harrison and City District Three Councilperson Belinda Gergel and her husband, Richard Gergel, who was just named a federal judge. Also present was our city of Columbia Community Liaison Gerry Lynn Hall. Representative Harrison provided his cell phone number to anyone who needed to speak with him (331-7751.)

Introduction of Officer Timothy R. Baire
Larry introduced five city of Columbia police officers including Interim Chief of Police Burke, the newest commanding officer for our region Captain Derrick Thornton, and our Community resource Officer Timothy R. Baire. Captain Derrick Thornton posted two phone numbers where he could be reached. They are office- 737-5882 and cell 315-6013.

Old Business:

CC1 zoning overly status
Lewis Kirk announced that the second reading of the CC1 zoning overlay and public hearing will be September 15 at 10 a.m. in City Council chambers, 3rd floor City Hall.

Welcome packet
Lewis Kirk shared a welcome packet that he had created to be given to new residents when they move into the neighborhood.

New Business:

Kalmia paving update
Lewis Kirk announced the new date for paving Kalmia Drive has not been set. He said the original date in August was changed after the asphalt plant couldn’t provide the asphalt due to a plant malfunction.

Donation to Sherwood Forest ARP church
Larry Hembree suggested we make a donation in the amount of 100.00 to Sherwood Forest Presbyterian Church for allowing us to use their facility for our meetings for many years. Vote was unanimous that we do this.

Discussion on possible use of city grant money
Larry Hembree suggested that we write a mini-grant to get funding to buy more yard signs to publicize our meetings, copy the welcome packets, and pay for some static cling Sherwood Forest decals to display on our cars. We can apply for up to 1000.00 without having to match it. Vote was unanimous to proceed.

Potential nominees for SFNA Vice President
Larry Hembree asked Kalmia resident Glenn Matthews to serve as SFNA Vice President and he accepted. Larry will meet with him to discuss what the position entails.

SCE&G Gillscreek Substation
Larry announced that there is a SCE&G substation planned across Rosewood Drive near Hardees, across from where Kalmia intersects Rosewood and the Rosewood Neighborhood Association is involved in discussion about it. Larry will present more details at the next meeting.

Arboretum update
Henry Nechemias reported for Valerie Marcel that the Belser Arboretum and Pat Decoursey were featured on a recent episode of Hidden Columbia on ABC Columbia and you can still find it online on their website. He also reported that the Arboretum was still open every Wednesday.

CPD brief on recent crime issues in SFNA area
Officer Baire and the other police officers at the meeting held a discussion on recent crime activity in the neighborhood. Officer Baire posted his cell phone number as 252-2911.

They reported that that there had been an auto break in at 408 Kalmia last night.

They informed us that working with neighborhoods only works if it is a partnership between police and neighbors. Neighbors must give the police the information as they see it and when pertinent information is collected, that allows them to deal with the issues. They said that all information helps them identify a timeline. And after a call is made to report something, it is important to email Officer Baire to let him know the call was made. They also said to please remember to leave nothing in your car so that there is no reason to break into it. Bloomwood resident John Hudson said his car had recently been broken into and the glove compartment opened but nothing was there to take. He suspected that someone was looking for a GPS device.

There was a discussion about rental property and we were told that SFNA can lay out ground rules for people who owned rental property and those who also were renters and this could be incorporated into a document that was given out to renters. Eric Norton said he would research this and have a document at the next meeting for the neighbors to look over.

Other New Business

There was no other new business.

The meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m.
Minutes respectfully submitted by Larry Hembree, Secretary