Lowcountry Council of Governments Elects Walterboro Mayor as Chairman of the Board
Walterboro, S.C. — Bill Young, mayor of the City of Walterboro, has been elected chairman of the board of directors for the Lowcountry Council of Governments.
Young, who is in his third year as mayor, has been actively involved with the Lowcountry Council of Governments for four years, having served as secretary of the board, as a member of the Council’s transportation committee, and most recently as vice chair.
“I am pleased and honored to serve this organization of local governments who are committed to doing the work of the people, for the people, and to collaborate with other agencies who help to make our region an even more desirable place to call home,” said Young.
Called “LCOG,” “LowCOG,” or simply “the COG,” the Lowcountry Council of Governments is a public agency governed by a thirty two member board of directors appointed by participating local governments. Established in 1971 as a resource for the twenty-five local governments in the Lowcountry region, which includes Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, and Jasper counties, LCOG is one of the ten regional councils covering South Carolina. Members include all four counties and all municipalities that have a population of at least 1,000.
State legislators from the region may also serve on the board, and mayors of smaller towns are invited to join as non-voting members. Board meetings bring together officials from across the region to oversee LCOG activities and promote a regional vision. The Council’s mission is to serve as an advocate for regionalism and as a connection between those local governments and certain state and federal agencies. It also operates a number of regional programs.
Established in 1826, the City of Walterboro is hailed as the “front porch of the Lowcountry,” with its historic charm, plentiful natural resources and warm Southern hospitality. The area around the city, rich with forests and vast quantities of water, is also known as the gateway to the ACE Basin, one of the largest undeveloped estuaries on the East Coast. Centrally located between Charleston, Savannah, Hilton Head, and Columbia, the city is home to many historic buildings, antique stores, the Great Swamp Sanctuary and the S.C. Artisans Center, designated by the state’s legislature as the “Official South Carolina Folk Art and Craft Center.” In addition, the city is home to the largest general aviation airport in the state. Walterboro serves as the economic heart of Colleton County and maintains a small-town Americana atmosphere. For more information, call 843-549-2545 or visit www.walterborosc.org.
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