Richland County Councilman Seth Rose was one of three honorees from Richland County to recently receive awards for beautification efforts throughout the County.
Keep The Midlands Beautiful, a Richland- and Lexington-based organization that promotes recycling, litter reduction and beautification efforts, presented the awards during at its fourth annual gala on Dec. 11.
Rose, District 5, was presented the 2015 Elected Green Official Award, which is given to an elected official who sets an example of making the Midlands a cleaner, greener place. He was nominated for the award for his instrumental role in the Innovista Greene Street corridor construction, which is a Richland County Transportation Penny project. The redevelopment project includes a plaza with shade trees, pedestrian-friendly sidewalks and a dedicated bikeway. Rose was also lauded for his push to have Richland County Council receive a cost analysis about utilizing buried utility lines and replacing the existing utility lines with shade trees wherever feasible, focusing especially along Bluff and Shop roads.
Randall Castleberry, a worker at Richland County’s C&D Landfill Drop-off Center, was presented the Green Sustainability Leadership Award for his pride and dedication in keeping the drop-off site clean and attractive. When activity slows, he surveys trash containers for items that can be moved into recycling containers, and he has played a key role in the County’s recently implemented carpet and carpet pad recycling program. (His outstanding efforts with this new program also earned him an award from the SC Department of Commerce and the Southeastern Plastic Recovery Company in October.)
Sgt. Kelvin Griffin of the Richland County Sheriff’s Department was also recognized during the gala with the Green Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award for his success with a graffiti abatement program. With his leadership, substantial amounts of graffiti have been removed throughout the County, eliminating eyesores and sending a message that this vandalism and defacement will not be tolerated.
Honorees at the event were presented their awards by Miss South Carolina Daja Dial.
For more information about Keep the Midlands Beautiful, visit www.keepthemidlandsbeautiful.org.