Newly elected Richland County Councilmembers are attending a weeklong orientation in advance of this month’s annual Council retreat, which will focus on strategic planning and goals.

The orientation sessions, which began Monday, are designed to help the new members prepare for taking office by learning the ins-and-outs of County government. The members will receive presentations on the roles and functions of various staffs, as well as the many services and programs the County provides to residents.

“These sessions will allow new members to see firsthand how County government works in order to help them better understand the challenges we’re facing and the issues they will be voting on in the months ahead,” County Administrator Gerald Seals said.  “In addition, the sessions will be an opportunity for the new members to meet some of the dedicated employees who keep the organization running.”

Calvin “Chip” Jackson and Yvonne McBride will be the new faces on Council beginning this week. They join Gwen Kennedy, who previously served on Council, and Dalhi Myers, who won a special election this past summer to fill an unexpired term and then was elected in November to a full term.

The orientation precedes the annual Council retreat scheduled Jan. 26-27 in Charleston. The retreat will focus on strategic planning with staff presentations on economic development, public outreach, budgeting, planning and employee relations. These key areas present specific opportunities for the County in the coming year.

Last year, Councilmembers also attended a two-day priority setting session, in which they identified challenges facing the County and opportunities to build upon. The priority setting session helped to lay the foundation for the retreat topics.

“It’s vital the County’s leaders are prepared to lead,” Seals said. “It is staff’s responsibility to ensure Councilmembers have all the tools they need to govern, set policy and work in the best interest of our citizens.”

In addition to the orientation and retreat, the new Councilmembers also will attend workshops on a restructuring plan to reorganize County government. The plan is scheduled to go before Council for final approval in February. The restructuring plan is an effort to streamline government to make it run more effectively and efficiently.

As part of the orientation, the new Councilmembers also will get instruction on the rules and procedures of County Council. The new Councilmembers, along with two incumbent members re-elected in November – Joyce Dickerson and Jim Manning – will be sworn in during a ceremony Tuesday. After the ceremony, Council will hold its first meeting with the new members on board to elect a new Chair and Vice Chair for 2017.