Benjamin: Cities and counties must cooperate on issues

Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin called the meeting as part of his efforts to promote regionalism and collaboration on common issues.

"This is meant to be an ongoing discussion," Benjamin said at the start of the luncheon.

The elected officials heard about regional efforts to control the area's air quality in order to comply with an upcoming federal mandate to lower air pollution.

And, they discussed efforts to keep the Columbia Metropolitan Airport competitive after losing a bidding war to recruit Southwest Airlines. Southwest announced earlier this year that it would begin offering services in Charleston and at the Greenville-Spartanburg Regional Airport.