PICKENS — Monday nigh Dr. Jim Sheriff used the public comment session of the monthly meeting of Pickens County Council to make clear his views on the County’s “Plan 2030” for future development.

Sheriff said the plan not only needs to be disregarded, but “cut with a machete and destroyed.”

Sheriff said that the plan has too much “city influence” for the mostly rural county.

“A synonym for the word planning is the phrase, ‘government control,’” Sheriff said. “I am absolutely aghast and refuse to give up my rights.”

Sheriff volunteered to help drastically alter the plan to be more in line with Pickens County values.

“I don’t want Pickens County to become like a city government,” Sheriff said.

Later, Lisa Halo of Central, who said she had been one of the many citizens who helped formed the plan, encouraged council members to adopt the plan.

“We have had a lot of input over time,” Halo said. “And people will continue to have input. But I want to strongly encourage you to adopt the plan.”

Halo said many provisions of the plan are key to continued growth.