This Week in Landrum
This Week in Landrum
From the City Administrator’s Office — Monday, June 15, 2026
A Note from the Administrator
I owe you all an apology, and I want to start there. We missed the June 8 edition of This Week in Landrum — the first issue we have missed since starting this letter. Communications Director Tricia Taber was in Greenwood for the South Carolina Main Street training, and the rest of us were heads-down preparing for the Tuesday, June 9 Council work session and Business Meeting, including the FY27 budget presentation. None of that is an excuse; it is just the honest reason. The newsletter is a commitment, and we will keep it going forward.
I have been thinking a lot lately about Ted Lasso. (Yes, really.) Set aside that the show is about an American football coach who ends up a soccer coach in an English football club — what Ted Lasso is actually about is how we treat each other when the work is hard, how a team gets built out of people who are not sure they want to be on one, and how we keep showing up when the score is not in our favor. Those questions sit at the heart of what makes any community work — not just the one at City Hall, but the larger one we are all part of in Landrum. A few Ted-isms have stuck with me, and I think they speak directly to the kind of town we are trying to be together.
“Be curious, not judgmental.” This is a discipline that pays off everywhere — at the counter in City Hall, at the lectern during public comment, at a kitchen table where neighbors disagree about noise or parking or a sign ordinance. Frustration almost always has a real cause underneath it, on either side of a counter, and a town that asks one more honest question before sharpening the argument ages well. Curiosity is harder than it sounds — in every direction — and worth practicing.
“Be a goldfish.” A goldfish, the show says, has a ten-second memory, which makes it the happiest animal on earth — it cannot dwell on its mistakes. We will all make mistakes, in City Hall and out of it. This missed edition is mine to own. A short-tempered voicemail, a strongly worded post, a meeting that went sideways — those happen in any community of people who actually care. The trick is owning what we got wrong, fixing what we can, and moving forward together instead of carrying yesterday into today.
“I believe in believe.” It is easy to slide into low expectations — of an institution, a colleague, of a neighbor, or of a town. Belief is a leadership choice, but it is also a team’s choice, and a citizen’s choice — and Landrum has a long history of choosing it. I believe in this community. I believe in the small business owners who keep our downtown alive, the volunteers who run the market and the car show, the residents who show up to public meetings, the Council that gives its time, and the team at City Hall that keeps the lights on and the water running. None of us are perfect. All of us are trying.
And then there is accountability. The show is clear about something we sometimes forget: being kind is not the same as being soft. Ted is endlessly generous with people, but he never lowers the standard. The same principle holds in a town. We can be a community that treats each other well AND a community that holds each other to a real standard — for how we engage in public meetings, for how we follow through on commitments, for how we treat the person behind the counter or in front of the microphone. High expectations, paired with high regard. Holding each other accountable while also having each other’s backs is not a contradiction — it is the only way a town actually gets better, and the only way any of us do.
Speaking of accountability and of teams that got better this week — Tuesday night, June 9, was a meaningful night for the city. The Council took up the FY27 Budget, new elementary school property rezoning, and the noise ordinance. More on both below.
As a reminder, I am serving in this interim role part-time while continuing my law practice. I am generally in the office at City Hall on weekday mornings.
What Happened This Week
The FY27 Budget passed first reading at the Tuesday, June 9 Council meeting. Thank you to our staff, department heads, and Council for the hard work that produced a budget we can stand behind. The second reading and adoption, along with a public hearing, is set for Wednesday, June 24 at 6:00 p.m. Residents and business owners are strongly encouraged to attend or review the materials in advance.
The Noise Ordinance passed first reading on June 9, with several motions made and discussed during deliberation including changing the cutoff from 9:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and removing amplified music permitting. Second reading on the Noise Ordinance is also set for Tuesday, July 14 at 6:00 p.m. We want to hear from you before second reading.
Communications Director Tricia Taber attended the South Carolina Main Street training this week — an important step in our continuing work to bring Main Street resources and recognition to our downtown. Tricia returns with new tools, new contacts, and renewed energy for what we are building here.
Continued one-on-one outreach with business owners working through this year’s business licensing process, and continued progress on collecting overdue business licenses.
PD, Admin, and Codes enjoyed some bear wrangling downtown on Thursday. As a reminder, we live in a rural community, and black bears are out and about. Just keep your distance and refer the SCDNR page for further information about black bears and wildlife in the area.
Continued staff coordination on the Saluda Grade Trail, with focus on what Landrum will need at the trailhead and along the corridor for safety, parking, and visitor experience.
Revie and Scottie continued right-of-way clearing, mowing, and weed eating across the City — a constant battle this time of year with all the growth the rain has brought us.
What We’re Working on Now
Final preparations for the June 24 Council meeting, including the budget public hearing, the new elementary school property zoning public hearing, second readings, and adoption. The packet will be published a week in advance, consistent with our agenda-publication standard.
Final preparations for A Taste of the Market on Saturday, June 27 — which is SOLD OUT. Thank you to everyone who jumped on tickets; expect a wonderful evening showcasing our market vendors and partners.
Implementation planning for the new municipal court system, which must be in place by December 31, 2026, per state requirements. Continuing to work ahead of the deadline.
A new IT service provider contract has been awarded, and we hope to have our new IT system transitioned in by the end of July.
Council is in ongoing discussions of how they want to proceed with appointing a permanent City Administrator position.
Continued internal work on next steps from the Classification and Compensation Study Report, including practical phasing now that first reading is complete.
Ongoing improvements and maintenance at Brookwood Park.
Continued coordination with School District One staff, architects, and engineers on the proposed site plans for the new school coming to our area.
Standing by to assist the Northside (Simmons St.) Park property owners as they work to clear title through the probate courts so a new lease and park improvements can move forward.
Continued evaluation of existing and needed ordinance updates and additions with the City Attorney.
Continued internal improvements to workflows and processes — including, yes, the discipline of getting this newsletter out every Monday.
Looking Ahead
Tuesday, June 16, 2026 @ 11:00am-OPEN HOUSE @ ANNE REGAN AGING WELL CENTER
Wednesday, June 24 @ 6:00 p.m. — Public Hearings for the FY27 Budget and the New Elementary School Property Rezoning, followed by Second Readings and Adoption. This is the night to make your voice heard.
Saturday, June 27 — A Taste of the Market (SOLD OUT).
Coffee with the City Dates scheduled: Wednesday, June 17, 2026-Bojangles Landrum, Thursday, July 9, 2026-Cardinal Coffee & Bistro
Continued follow-up engagement on the Saluda Grade Trail. More information at saludagradetrail.org.
Every Saturday: Landrum Farmers Market 8:00am-12:00pm— come out 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
Tricia Taber, PR/Marketing Director