West Columbia City Council approved additions to Carraway Park, accepted a grant and heard from a concerned resident at its latest meeting.

Council unanimously approved a proposal to install sun shades in Carraway Park at the Riverwalk. The shades will reduce the risk of children being scalded by hot playground equipment during the summer, according to Director of Community Development Katherine Call.

Bliss Products and Services, a playground equipment company, will install three shades over the park’s zip glider, swing set and small structure, according to Call. The shades will be year-round permanent structures. Mayor Tim Miles said parents have been concerned about the effects of heat on the playground.

“The only consistent complaint we've gotten since then is that it gets too hot when the sun’s shining in the summertime,” Miles said.

Council did not say when the shades will be installed.

In other news

Council also unanimously approved a $25,000 grant to be used for small-area zoning plans. The grant, called the Problem Solver Grant, comes from the Municipal Association of South Carolina. Call said the grant will allow the council to have a more “specialized focus” on the Triangle City area. The area is where Meeting Street, Charleston Highway, 12th Street and Augusta Road meet near Zesto of West Columbia, not far from the Greater Cayce-West Columbia Chamber of Commerce.

Terri Moseley, a resident of the Westover Acres neighborhood, spoke to the council, saying there are problems caused by the installation of stop signs in the neighborhood. Moseley said one of the stop signs was installed too close to a driveway, potentially making it unsafe for a resident to exit.

The signs were installed to mitigate speeding in the neighborhood, according to Miles.

Councilman Jimmy Brooks suggested that the council invite the South Carolina Department of Transportation to review the situation or install a bike lane on the road to slow drivers. The council did not take action on Moseley’s request.

Moseley also asked the council to consider a policy against short-term rentals. She said three short-term renters recklessly drove through the neighborhood late at night. Miles said one of the council’s goals is to adopt a similar policy.

The council unanimously proclaimed Oct. 15 as Latino/Hispanic Business Day. West Columbia is home to 39 Latino/Hispanic businesses, according to Anna Huffman, director of public affairs and community engagement.

The council also recognized Anna Harpe Bedell, a level-four gymnastics national champion, and Bruce Cook, a 100-year-old World War II veteran, for their achievements.