This Week In Landrum……
This Week in Landrum
From the City Administrator’s Office — Monday, June 1, 2026
A Note from the Administrator
I wear a few hats. In addition to serving as Landrum’s Interim City Administrator and maintaining my law practice in Tryon, I also spent part of this past week back in the classroom and on the training grounds— helping teach fire control at a fire academy in North Carolina. It is one of the most rewarding things I do. It is also one of the clearest reminders I get about how the work of public service functions, and I want to share why.
A fire does not negotiate. It does not care whether you are tired, whether you got the right shift, or whether the radio is working the way it should. When the alarm rings, the question is not whether you will rise to the occasion — the question is whether you have trained for it long enough that the right moves are already in your hands. The truth every instructor drill into a new class is the same: very little of the work that saves a life happens at the fire. The work happens in the bay, on the drill ground, in the equipment check, in the mutual aid agreement, in the quiet hours when nothing is on fire and the temptation is to coast. The boring work is the work.
Local government runs on the same principle. The budget cycle, like a fire, is coming whether we are ready for it or not. The Budget Presentation, and First Reading are next Tuesday, June 9. By the time we get to the dais that night, the meaningful work is already done — department-by-department reviews, revenue forecasts, capital priorities, narrative drafting, packet preparation. If we have done our job, the public hearing will not be a scramble; it will be a conversation residents and business owners can actually follow. That is what good preparation buys you: a calmer, clearer night when the lights come on.
The same logic explains why so much of what we have been writing about this spring has focused on the unglamorous interior of City Hall — agendas published a week ahead, the Classification and Compensation Study, the business license overhaul, clearer ordinance language, the clerk’s office transition. Each of those is a drill. Each of those is a reason that, when something hard hits — and something always does — Landrum is in a better position to meet it. As a reminder, I am serving in this interim role part-time through September while continuing my law practice. I am generally in the office at City Hall on weekday mornings.
What Happened This Week:
• The Dark Corner Classic Car Show rolled through downtown this weekend with over 250 cars, over 2,000 spectators, and our businesses were packed. A huge thank you to the organizers, sponsors, volunteers, every shop, and restaurant that opened their doors to welcome the crowds. This is exactly the kind of weekend that reminds us why investing in our downtown matters.
• Welcome to Trevor’s Ice Cream Boutique, which celebrated its Grand Opening on N. Trade Avenue, Sunday, May 31. Please go say hello, order a scoop, and help us welcome a new small business to the community.
• The Landrum Farmers Market drew more than 1,400 attendees this weekend. A remarkable turnout that speaks to the strength of our vendors, our volunteers, and the community that shows up week after week.
• Hats off to Revie and Scottie, who handled setup and breakdown for the car show on top of their regular workload. After a well-earned recovery, they are back in the field on right-of-way clearing, mowing, and weed eating — keeping up with all the growth the recent rains have brought us.
• Continued one-on-one outreach with business owners working through this year’s business licensing process. The conversations remain productive, and we continue to track and refine the customer experience.
• WSPA 7NEWS was downtown interviewing the Mayor and residents this week for another great segment featuring our amazing city that will air on July 10, 2026!
• 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.
What We’re Working on Now:
• Final preparations for the Budget Presentation, Public Hearing, and First Reading on Tuesday, June 9, including finalizing the proposed budget document, supporting schedules, and the narrative that walks residents through it. The packet will be released in advance, consistent with our new one-week agenda standard.
• PR/Marketing Communications Director Tricia Taber will be attending Main Street South Carolina next week from June 9-11, 2026, continuing our work toward bringing the Main Street program and its resources to our downtown.
• Implementation planning for the new municipal court system, which must be in place by December 31, 2026 per state requirements. This is a significant lift, and we are getting ahead of it rather than waiting on the deadline.
• Active work on collecting overdue business licenses. Compliance is a question of fairness as much as revenue — the businesses who do the right thing and pay on time should not be carrying the load for those who don’t. We will continue to engage directly and respectfully with any business that has fallen behind.
• Staff are deep in preparation for A Taste of the Market on Satruday, June 27 — and we are already SOLD OUT! Thank you to everyone who jumped on tickets. Expect a wonderful evening showcasing our market vendors and partners.
• Final evaluation of IT service providers, with a recommendation targeted for the June agenda.
• June 9 Executive Session discussion on filling the permanent City Administrator position.
• Continued internal work on next steps from the Classification and Compensation Study Report, including phasing and budget impact.
• Ongoing improvements at Brookwood Park, with the new ADA-compliant swing now installed and continued work on the large play unit steps and barrier.
• 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, including noise ordinance follow-through.
• Continued internal improvements to workflows and processes to ensure we are being accountable, transparent, and adopting recognized municipal best practices.
Looking Ahead
• Thursday, June 4 @ 9:00 a.m. — Coffee with the City at Third Space Coffee & Bakery. Stop by, say hello, and bring your questions.
• Tuesday, June 9 — Budget Presentation and First Reading. Residents and business owners are strongly encouraged to attend or review the materials in advance.
• Tuesday, June 9 – Thursday, June 11 — Tricia attends Main Street South Carolina in Greenwood, SC.
• Wednesday, June 24 — Second Reading and Final Budget Adoption.
• Saturday, June 27 — A Taste of the Market (SOLD OUT).
• Continued follow-up engagement on the Saluda Grade Trail. More information at saludagradetrail.org.
• Every Saturday: Landrum Farmers Market — 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