Editorial: Woodruff Times Publisher Calls for More Information Before the Industrial Zoning Hearing

This is a summary of an opinion piece. The Woodruff Times published an editorial titled "More Information, Not Less" by publisher Tracy Sanders on August 7, 2026, ahead of the city's public hearing on its Industrial District zoning ordinance.

What the editorial says: Sanders wrote that she asked the City of Woodruff for the current Industrial District section, the proposed replacement and any existing comparison or marked-up draft, so readers would know what was changing before the hearing. She wrote that the city declined to provide a comparison, saying that was not its responsibility, and pointed her to a FOIA request for the current ordinance and to City Hall to review the proposed one. The city's position is reported here only as the editorial describes it.

The argument: Sanders argued that public information should not have to be fought for and that press or citizen questions should not be treated as attacks. She also wrote that citizens have responsibilities: to read the material, ask fair questions and not spread claims they cannot back up. Her conclusion was that when distrust exists, the answer is more information, not less.

The hearing: The paper listed the public hearing for Tuesday, August 25, 2026 at 5:25 p.m. in the council chambers at City Hall, 231 East Hayne Street, to consider repealing Article V, Section VIII (IN, Industrial District) of the zoning ordinance and adopting a revised section. Council later approved a zoning ordinance barring data centers and crypto mining, which we covered separately.

This is our own summary of an editorial by Tracy Sanders for The Woodruff Times. The views are the author's. Read the full piece at the source link.