Planning Commission meeting is rescheduled

The city of Loris Planning Commission met on Thursday, Feb. 28, at 5:30 p.m. at the Loris Chamber of Commerce conference room. In attendance were Brandon Harrelson, city planning commission chair, city attorney Kenneth Moss and committee members Tommy Brogdon and Ruth Ann Jones. Also present were resident Wendy Baruch and Todd Harrelson, mayor pro tem. Three members appointed by council must be present to continue with a meeting. Flossie Brank was unable to attend the meeting; therefore the meeting was adjourned at 6:15 p.m.

At the Loris City Council meeting held on Monday, March 11, Flossie Brank’s resignation to the planning commission committee was announced. New members, Linda Morrison, Brett Powell and Joseph Flesh, were introduced, approved and appointed to the committee.

Harrelson, Moss and the planning commission committee members will discuss and vote on the annexation of four petitions and one zoning district change.

In the interim of awaiting another committee member to attend the meeting, Harrelson stated there are 24 new homes being built within the city limits of Loris and a few homes are being built behind the hospital. He said this will add to the city in population as well as income through property taxes. Harrelson said, “We’ll see some growth, it will happen and I’m excited about it;” he continued, “Loris is not going to go from 4,000 people to 50,000 overnight, but we’ll see some growth.”

Ruth Ann Jones said she volunteered to be a planning commission committee member years ago. She said, “I didn’t realize there might be a term limit, no one asked if I was going to do this another year. She continued, “So I’m still here.” Harrelson, Moss and Jones discussed the education part of being on the committee, being one requirement to be on the committee and then accepted and appointed by the city council. With a little humor from all, Jones said, “We’re on (the committee) until death do us part.” Brogdon said, “The way it’s supposed to work is town council is supposed to receive applications and they’re supposed to go through the process.” Harrelson said, “I believe people have lost interest in this town for quite some time and believe that is the reason for the lack of participants.” Jones said, “You have to have leadership to bring it all together.”

It was said that the city administration has made progress in the last few years where upon Harrelson said, “I appreciate the compliment. We are on the right path, but we still have a long way to go.”

Moss thanked Harrelson for the invitation and the meeting was adjourned with no discussion of the petitions for rezoning and annexation into the city.

This is a public meeting and anyone can attend. The committee with five committee members will meet at 5:30 p.m. again on Thursday, March 18, at the Loris Chamber of Commerce conference room.