Laurens City Council Meeting Cut Short Due to Lack of Quorum; Mayor’s Youth Council Recognized
February 18, 2026
The Laurens City Council meeting on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, opened on a positive note as Mayor Nathan Senn recognized members of the Mayor’s Youth Council before the meeting was ultimately adjourned due to a lack of quorum.
However, following the recognition, the meeting could not proceed because too few council members were present to conduct official business. Under South Carolina law, a quorum — the minimum number of members required to be present — is necessary for a public body to take formal action.
Council Members Alicia Sullivan, Cassandra Campbell, Marian Miller, and Calvin Whitmire were absent, leaving only Council Members Jonnie Bolt and Martin Lowry in attendance alongside the mayor.
According to Mayor Senn, he learned shortly before the meeting that the four council members would not attend. In a phone call with a Laurens County Buzz reporter, the mayor said he was notified by Council Member Marian Miller that the group planned to be absent due to not receiving the minutes from the December 31 called meeting in a timely manner.
“They could have just come to the meeting and refrain from voting to approve the minutes,” Senn said. “This was embarrassing to me and our city — a city that we want to encourage investment in and show respect to our citizens.”
With no quorum present, no official business could be conducted, and the meeting was effectively limited to the ceremonial recognition before adjournment.
City officials are expected to address pending agenda items at a future meeting once a quorum can be achieved.
