Laurens County Council Recap: Honoring Service, Approving Budgets, and Addressing Development Concerns

At its June 9, 2025 meeting, the Laurens County Council addressed a range of items, from honoring public servants to voting on budgets and land use regulations.

Honoring Judge McGowan and Waste Industry Workers

Council began the evening with a moment of recognition for the late Honorable Joseph “Joe” McGowan III, a respected retired family court judge who served in the Eighth Judicial Circuit, which includes Laurens County. Judge McGowan was remembered for his dedicated service and the deep respect he earned throughout the community.

Council also recognized National Waste & Recycling Workers Week, observed annually during the third full week of June—this year from June 16 to 20. The week is set aside to recognize the hard work and essential service of sanitation, recycling, and landfill workers. Council highlighted the importance of these often-unsung roles in keeping communities clean, safe, and sustainable.

The goals of the week include:

• Appreciation: Acknowledging the vital contributions of waste industry professionals.

• Awareness: Promoting education on proper recycling and waste management.

• Safety Focus: Addressing safety in one of the most dangerous occupations in the country.

• Community Engagement: Encouraging local participation and expressions of gratitude.

Budget Approvals and Bond Discussion

Council held public hearings on three items—the General Operating Budget, the fire budget, and the issuance and sale of up to $4 million in General Obligation Bonds. No one came forward during the public comment portion for any of these hearings.

Both the General Operating Budget and the fire budget were approved unanimously.

The proposed bond issue drew discussion with Councilman Brown Patterson voicing concerns about the cost increase.

“I will be voting against this ordinance,” said Patterson early in the discussion. “I expressed concern of the initial launch of this number, and due to multiple reasons we’ve watched it grow to a 47% increase over the course of 3 months. We have seen our vendors conveniently seem to up their bids.”

However, after additional explanation from the bond attorney, council voted unanimously in favor of the bond issuance.

Development Moratorium

Council discussed a recommendation by the planning commission to place a six-month moratorium on new Open Space Developments (OSDs) unless already in the final stages of approval.

Open Space Development is a land use strategy designed to preserve green space while allowing for thoughtful growth. One hallmark of OSD is cluster development, where buildings are grouped together on a portion of the property to allow for shared open areas.

The planning commission raised concerns about developers exploiting the concept to maximize the number of houses while technically meeting open space requirements. The commission urged council to issue a moratorium by ordinance to close these loopholes and ensure development aligns with the original vision.

Council approved moving forward with a moratorium, with Councilman Brown Patterson casting the lone dissenting vote. The process will require drafting of the ordinance and three readings of the same with a scheduled public hearing.