Laurens County Council has set in motion a mechanism for getting advice and vision from a group of citizens interested in agriculture.
An ordinance establishing the Agriculture Advisory Board, with 9 members, received the first of three reading-approvals during the March 10 meeting. Each of the seven council members will make an appointment, and two at-large appointments will be made. The ordinance says membership from these groups will be sought: Laurens County Beekeepers’ Association, Fruit and Vegetable Growers (Clemson Extension), Laurens County SC Cattlemens’ Association, SC Farm Bureau, and the Laurens County Water and Sewer Commission or designee. Ex-officio members can come from Clemson Extension, Farm Bureau, or the Laurens County Planning Commission.
Appointees will serve 4-year staggered terms, without salary, meeting monthly. The ordinance specifies that “to the extent possible all appointed board members should have a demonstrated background, experience and interest in agriculture.”
The Council or the County Administrator will appoint a staff liaison to the board.
Removal from the board can be after missing 3 consecutive meetings or missing at least 65% of the regularly scheduled meetings, at-will of the appointing council member, or if a board member moves.
Council Member Brown Patterson said that, previously, the council had discussed having this board serve as the policy governing board for the new Agriculture & Business Center being constructed in Laurens. This is one of the Capital Projects Sales Tax projects approved by Laurens County voters in the November, 2020, general election.
Council was told that a provision to make this happen can be added prior to second reading (similar to how the airport commission manages the Laurens County Airport).
The draft ordinance says that this board will serve in an advisory capacity to the county council to ensure that the diverse ag interests in the county are supported and developed, will seek ways to bolster agri-business, agri-tourism and agriculture in general, and recommend policies through the Planning Commission related to ag land use.
Policy development with other agencies, and education and public awareness forums for agriculture-related topics also are in the board’s duties.
The ordinance indicates that Laurens County considers the preservation and growth of agriculture within the county as a matter of vital concern.
Council Chairman Jeff Carroll said a background in agriculture would be a benefit for these appointees, but they also can be people who understand business.
Also, council approved a set of rules for its operations that came as a recommendation of a committee of the whole (all council members making up a committee).
Council made appointments to boards and commissions: healthcare, airport, library, and parks and recreation; approved resolutions for Fair Housing and Disabilities Awareness Month; and started Project Wolf on its way to an economic development incentive —- this new building will be in the Woodfields Industrial Park with a $9.75M investment creating 22 jobs. In an adjacent matter, the county’s average wage right now is $21.93/hour, said Jon Coleman, executive director of the Laurens County Development Corporation.
County Administrator Thomas Higgs reported that debris pickup from Hurricane Helene is unchanged, with the SC Department of Transportation shifting, but continuing, their operation. When they finish, county crews will take up the operation.
He reported that 3 county firefighters, a fire truck, and a tanker were dispatched to the Grand Strand in mutual aid assistance to fight wildfires; and he said the next county budget is on track for an April 14 possible first reading, a May 14 workshop with Fire and EMS, and a May 19 second reading.
Public comments included a report on the Cross Hill Volunteer Fire Department, a concern about county people being left behind in spite of the county’s economic growth, a concern about volunteer firefighters’ training and expenses, the lack of fire hydrants on Apple Orchard Road near Clinton, encouragement for regulated growth in the county, and 4 people supporting a fireworks-specific ordinance to protect livestock.
Council members said they were encouraged to see another capacity crowd and to hear citizens’ feedback.
Council Member Shirley Clark commended Disabilities Awareness Month and pointed out International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, and mentioned the recent dedication of a new airport terminal building to retired Airport Commission Chairman Sammy Wham.
Patterson said the county employees placed by disabilities agencies are “some of the best workers we have.”
He encouraged Higgs to contact the Laurens County Water and Sewer Commission related to the need for fire hydrants on Apple Orchard Road.
Council Member Arthur Philson Jr. said a representative of the Walmart Distribution Center told him that the facility has 38 truckloads of clothes and shoes that cannot be sold but can be distributed to people in need - if it’s not distributed here, it goes to North Carolina.
He said, “All they need is a warehouse to store it, so it can be distributed.”
