This Week In Landrum…..
This Week in Landrum
From the City Administrator’s Office • Monday, July 6, 2026
A Note from the Administrator
The Fourth of July weekend is behind us. As it often does, it put on display both the ideal we were celebrating and the everyday reality that makes it possible. Independence Day is a story about self-government. It is also, especially at the local level, a story about interdependence. Landrum coordinated with neighboring jurisdictions on parades, fireworks, and community events throughout the weekend. Our first responders leaned on regional partners and mutual aid agreements. Utility crews watched each other’s systems. The neighboring towns that share our corner of the map are not competitors; they are collaborators, and the holiday made that obvious. “Small town” and “self-reliant” are not the same thing and never were. What makes a place like Landrum work is that it stands on its own AND stands with its neighbors.
That interdependence was on full display Sunday afternoon, when a vehicle wreck on East Rutherford Street knocked power out for roughly half the city. On behalf of the city, thank you to Landrum Police Department, Landrum Fire and Rescue District, and our utility partners for the fast, coordinated response in extreme heat, on a holiday weekend, at the end of a long stretch. That is public service at its most visible: people you know by name, doing hard work quietly and well so the rest of us can get on with our lives. Please thank them when you see them this week.
One more note on the heat, because it is not letting up: please keep taking care of each other. Check on elderly neighbors. Hydrate. Actually hydrate, not just plan to. Move outdoor work to the early morning or late evening where you can. Watch pets and livestock. Small habits like a phone call to a neighbor, a jug of water on a jobsite, or a check on the animals save lives in weather like this.
As I noted last week, we are inside an intentional transition. Deputy City Administrator April Williams will be sharing, and then taking over, authorship of This Week in Landrum in the coming weeks, and you will start to hear from her directly in this letter. This week, I am glad to hand the next section over to April. As a reminder, I am serving in this interim role part-time while continuing my law practice in Tryon and instructing at a North Carolina fire academy from time to time. I am generally in the office at City Hall on weekday mornings.
A Note from the Deputy City Administrator
I am a firm believer in being placed in the right place at the right time, especially when the reasons are right. Being able to start in Landrum in April and work under JJ is one of those moments. I am a lifelong learner and have had the opportunity to learn so much from the amazing people that work at City Hall. During her last month, I was trained by Camille Corn and absorbed as much from her as I could. She left such a strong foundation for me that it was easy to continue her work and have a seamless transition. Camille is still missed greatly here, but we are happy that retirement is treating her so well. I also spent a good bit of time with Rita before she went out leave. I was a sponge and soaked up as much institutional knowledge as I could from her. While I wasn’t able to learn everything in that short period, I am hopeful that she will be able to come back and resume her duties with little to no catch-up time. Revie and Scott have taken me around the city, and I have a great understanding of the work they do and the need for equipment to better do their jobs. Because of this, JJ and I were able to advocate for them during the budget process and get funds for what they need. They work so hard and the new equipment will allow them to do so with a little more ease. Tricia, Jessica and Jamie, as well as every member of the police department, have helped support me during my introductory period and I can’t thank them enough. Finally, being able to work under JJ has been such a blessing to me. It is very important to find a mentor and actively use them. JJ’s experience far exceeds mine and I am glad to have been placed here under his tutelage.
A little about me, I was born and raised in Inman, SC but my mom and her siblings, as well as my grandparents and earlier generations were from the Holsten Creek area. My father’s family was from a small town in rural Georgia, and I spent my summers down there with my grandmother. Small towns are what I know and what I love. Growing up just down the road, I spent my fair share of time in Landrum. I went to church and had friends that went to Landrum High School, and I always thought it was a beautiful place. Now, each morning, as I drive to work, I am thankful for the drive and the breathtaking view of the mountains. This area is in my blood, and I am so glad to serve this City. I have spent over a decade in local government. I started as a Paralegal for Spartanburg County. I worked under both attorneys there and fell in love with local government. After six years there, I took a position in Inman as their Planning Director/Main Street Director. I then spent two years commuting to Lancaster County, SC. That last one taught me that municipal, small-town government is where my passion lies and I didn’t want to be far from home.
My educational career is a diverse tract. I hold an associate’s degree from Greenville Technical College in Paralegal Studies, a bachelor’s degree from USC-Upstate in Criminal Justice and a master’s degree from Western Carolina University. I have also taken several leadership courses, such as the Grassroots Leadership Development Institute and classes from the UNC School of Government. Every degree, class or learning opportunity that I have taken has prepared me for leadership in a local government organization. I look forward to working in Landrum and getting to know even more of the community and business owners and I am confident that I can be of service to this City.
What Happened This Week
• Independence Day weekend across the region. Thank you to every resident, business, and volunteer who made downtown feel like Landrum this weekend, and to the neighboring jurisdictions we coordinated with on holiday events, safety, and traffic. These weekends work because so many people quietly cooperate behind the scenes.
• Sunday, July 5: a wreck on East Rutherford Street caused a power outage that affected roughly half the city. Thank you to Landrum Police, Landrum Fire, and our utility partners for the fast, professional response in extreme heat and holiday conditions. Service was restored and the community responded with patience and care for one another.
• Congratulations to Jessica Ward on passing her International Code Council (ICC) Codes Enforcement certification! This is a significant professional milestone that immediately strengthens the City’s ability to enforce nationally recognized standards for property maintenance, life safety, and neighborhood quality. Please help us congratulate Jessica the next time you see her.
• Ongoing monitoring and communication around the extreme heat, including internal coordination on employee safety for staff working outdoors and continuing outreach to check on vulnerable residents.
• Continued transition planning between the Interim City Administrator and Deputy City Administrator April Williams, including handoff of this letter.
• Continued staff coordination on the Saluda Grade Trail.
• Continued one-on-one outreach with business owners working through this year’s business licensing process, and continued progress on collecting overdue business licenses.
What We’re Working on Now
• Preparation for the Tuesday, July 14 Council work session and Business Meeting. The full agendas and packets will be posted a week in advance consistent with our publication standard.
• Stand-up of a focused effort on International Property Maintenance Code enforcement, which will be a priority in the coming months. With Jessica Ward’s ICC certification in hand, the City is better positioned to apply consistent, nationally recognized standards for property upkeep, life safety, and neighborhood quality. We will be communicating clearly with residents and property owners about what to expect, how the process works, and how to come into compliance.
• Continued planning and zoning inventory and assessment, in coordination with Deputy City Administrator April Williams and the City Attorney.
• Continued implementation planning for the new municipal court system, which must be in place by December 31, 2026.
• IT service switchover is ongoing.
• Ongoing maintenance and improvement discussions with Spartanburg County Parks and Recreation District.
• Continued coordination with School District One staff, architects, and engineers on the proposed site plans for the new school.
• Continued engagement with the South Carolina Main Street Program and the Municipal Association of South Carolina.
• Standing by to assist the Northside (Simmons St.) Park property owners as they work to clear title through the probate courts.
• Continued evaluation of existing and needed ordinance updates and additions with the City Attorney.
• Continued internal improvements to workflows and processes, including a one-week-in-advance agenda publication standard.
• Continued work with Partners regarding the annexation and zoning of the “Frolich” property and the combined announcement of the future of the land.
Looking Ahead
• Thursday, July 9 @ 9:00 a.m.: Coffee with the City at Cardinal Coffee & Bistro. Stop by, say hello, and bring your questions.
• Friday, July 10: WSPA 7 News in Landrum to film the ZIP TRIP series at the Cunningham Market Pavilion. Come out and represent Landrum.
• Tuesday, July 14: Council work session and Business Meeting; the full agendas and packets will be posted a week in advance.
• Continued follow-up engagement on the Saluda Grade Trail. More information at saludagradetrail.org.
• Every Saturday, 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.: Landrum Farmers Market. Come out, hydrate, and enjoy the season!
Questions or concerns? Reach us at 864.457.3000 or requests@cityoflandrumsc.com. We always want to hear from you.
Respectfully,
J.J. Sauve, Interim City Administrator
April Williams, Deputy City Administrator
Tricia Taber, Communications Director