JD Willis is scheduled to be sworn in as a member of the Laurinburg City Council tonight at a city agenda workshop meeting, bringing to a close two months of debate about who should replace retiring Councilman Herbert Rainer.

Willis’ appointment to the board came after several council members criticized the policy currently in place to handle mid-term council replacements.

In the past the council has given a rubber stamp to the person selected by the outgoing member. Prior to the appointment of Willis this procedure was last employed in the selection of Mayor Tommy Parker’s replacement, current board member Drew Williamson.

Last month Parker blamed himself for not pushing the board to create a new policy, saying that he was “not on (his) toes.”

Local pastor Jesse Brunson also declared himself a candidate for Rainer’s seat, but was never nominated by the council which chose not to break from tradition in appointing Willis.

A former chairman of the Scotland County Board of Commissioners, Willis served on the board for 22 years.

Also during tonight’s agenda workshop, the board will consider a request from the Laurinburg Housing Authority asking that the city provide no-cost electricity for the operation of security cameras.

The board will also consider several financial issues ahead of its regular meeting on Sept. 18 at 7 p.m.

City council’s agenda workshop will begin tonight at 7 p.m. in the Charles W. Barrett Building on 305 W Church Street.