Senn outlines vision, challenges for City of Laurens

Laurens, South Carolina – Laurens Mayor Nathan Senn presented his third State of the City address in The Capitol Theater Tuesday evening, April 8, thanking the city staff and the Commission of Public Works for their daily work to provide city services, and acknowledging their work in dangerous situations to keep city residents safe following Hurricane Helene.

Volunteer of the Year, Harold Ligon. Photo-Judith Brown

Senn explained the purpose of the State of the City address is to honor specific people within and outside the city limits who make a positive contribution to the city on a regular basis.

Those recognized included Harold Ligon – Volunteer of the Year Award; Big Air Laurens, Jake Cooper – Corporate Citizen Award; Van Tumblin – Servant Leader Award, and co-winners Michael Buhrmaster and Suellen and Joey Holmes – Community Spirit Award.

Joey and Suellen Holmes; Community Spirit Award. Photo-Judith Brown.

Senn said the annual event also continues the city’s culture of transparency by explaining publicly some of the upcoming projects that will be important to the downtown and the city as a whole.
Senn referred to a 2017 Downtown Master Plan that was created with input from residents and adopted by the former administration, which suggested using the large vacant lot just off the public square behind the United Community Bank as an amphitheater.

When Senn was elected in 2019, his goal was to implement some of those recommendations. Now funding through an appropriation will allow the city to create that amphitheater.

Michael Buhrmaster- Community Spirit Award. Photo-Judith Brown.

“It is my pleasure to announce tonight that we have secured funding through the State of South Carolina Parks and Recreation Department to move forward with this project,” Senn said. “After years of collaboration and discussion with United Community Bank, the City of Laurens has signed a letter of intent to acquire the property and proceed with design and construction.”

It’s an important step, Senn said, since the Little River Amphitheater, constructed for the TLC’s Town Haul reality show in 2005, lacked many code and safety features and is now considered unsafe for large-scale public use.
The result will be “a permanent venue for large-scale live performances and public gatherings in our historic downtown, complete with a water feature and a farmers market,” he said, “and it can become the cultural anchor of our city.”

These projects don’t require tax dollars, Senn said, and can become a great addition to the musical and visual arts already represented here, with the nonprofit Artist’s Coop, Homegrown Festival, and now an option to use the Capitol Theater for an inaugural Film Festival planned for later this year.

Regarding the city’s economic impact, Senn said the city is establishing initiatives to assist independent businesses within each of the city’s unique neighborhoods.

Servant Leader Award to Van Tumblin, Straight Street Director. Photo-Judith Brown

“We are launching new small business resources through a re-envisioned partnership with the Laurens County Chamber of Commerce,” Senn said. “We must offer real support for our local businesses beyond ribbon-cutting ceremonies. This will include guidance on licensing, assistance with site selection, help in pursuing incentives for façade improvements, data to guide marketing efforts.”

Senn said the city wants to help provide businesses with resources for retail and online support, including graphic design, signage, marketing and more.

Corporate Citizen Award to Jake Cooper of Big Air. Photo-Judith Brown

“We will work together to fill vacant storefronts – not just on the Square – but in neighborhood commercial hubs across our city,” Senn said. “And I encourage every resident of the city to understand that shopping locally and supporting local businesses really does matter.”

Senn acknowledged there are still serious concerns, such as the need to upgrade infrastructure.

“Most city residents may not be aware that the City is responsible for maintaining 18 detention ponds, most of which are located outside the city limits,” Senn said.

The detention ponds were established under the leadership of Mayor Bob Dominick, which prevented low-lying areas in the city from flooding as they did in the 1970s.

Under an agreement in the 1980s, the city was obligated to maintain them with no end date for this responsibility.

“At that time, there was no Parks & Recreation Department, nor many of the other responsibilities that have since been added to the demands on city staff and financial resources, so we need a new model,” Senn said. “So tonight, I ask for assistance from our partners in government – county, state, and federal – to find a way to better manage this challenge, which is larger than the City of Laurens can handle alone and would be disastrous to many more families and businesses beyond the city limits if these dams were to fail.”

Senn said determining answers to such questions are needed, yet the city’s future continues to look bright.

“I want to thank every city employee,” Senn said. “Your work matters. We appreciate your tireless efforts, and your sacrifices to serve the public do not go unnoticed. I want to thank our City Council for their leadership and collaboration. Laurens has benefited from your stable leadership and the spirit of unity that exists among our Council.”

This story originally ran on Page 1 of the Wednesday, April 9 issue of The Laurens County Advertiser. See more on the Laurens County Advertiser Instagram and Facebook.