It will be at least January 2 before the Greenville County Council considers a resolution dictating action against the Greenville Women’s Clinic.

In early December, Councilman Stan Tzouvelekas proposed a measure to pull the Women’s Clinic operating license, calling it a “nuisance business.” He cited the number of times the Sheriff’s Department has been called to quiet picketing at the Grove Road location.

Clinic advocates such as the Women’s Rights Empowerment Network (WREN) and the regional Planned Parenthood organization call this attempt “another attack against women’s health care.” This resolution interferes with free speech and assembly, they say, and doesn’t relate to performing abortions. 

A separate ordinance proposed by Sheriff Hobart Lewis would tighten requirements for picketing anywhere in the county. That measure was initially brought up in September, but Council decided not to act because of its impact on protest activities of all kinds.

The license resolution — affecting only the Women’s Clinic — was referred to the Committee of the Whole, which meets in advance of the entire Council on Tuesday, January 2. It’s possible it may not come up for lack of interest.

The “new” county Library Board meets 

The reconstituted Greenville County Library Board meets on January 22 for its first business of 2024. There are six new trustees named by the County Council in early November. Only one of the “new” members is actually new to the board; the other five were previous members whose terms expired and were approved for another term. One of their first considerations may be the tentative policy adopted by previous board members who scotched most displays that were not tied to County or public holidays.

The trustees agenda will be posted before the meeting.