A group of Richland County residents began meeting this month to assist County officials with a comprehensive plan for flood recovery efforts following the October 2015 flood event.

The Blue Ribbon Committee will make recommendations to County Council on prioritizing recovery projects to help guide how best to use anticipated flood relief funds. The group’s first meeting was held this month, with four additional meetings planned through April.

“The charge of the Committee is to help ... ensure that as many stakeholder groups and interests are include in the planning process,” County Council Chairman Torrey Rush stated in a letter sent to members of the group.

The committee is one of several efforts the County is undertaking to get a full picture of the damages caused by the October flood and the efforts needed to move the County forward. Last month, a series of community meetings were held to get input from residents. In addition, County department heads are meeting to strategize on next steps for intermediate and long-term recovery operations.

Rush said the Blue Ribbon Committee is a critical component to the County’s overall efforts. Members of the committee include representatives from neighborhood associations, environmental groups, developers and non-profit organizations.

Additional meetings are scheduled 2 p.m.-4 p.m. Feb. 18, March 10, March 24 and April 4 in the Fourth Floor Conference Room of the Richland County Administration Building, 2020 Hampton St. After April 4, the group will meet as needed.

The meetings are open to the public, but seating space is extremely limited.

For more information, call 803-576-2050.