OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Horry County Infrastructure & Regulation Committee Meeting - May 13, 2025

County Council — Tuesday, May 13, 2025
BodyHorry County, South Carolina
SessionCounty Council
DateTuesday, May 13, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 52:06

Transcript — Verbatim
0:02

Meeting and at this time is always and so we'll start with an invocation and a pledge of allegiance by Councilman Tom Anderson if all could stand.

0:14

We could all pause for a moment.

0:19

Gracious Heavenly Father, thank you for the opportunity to be here, to live here, and to serve here.

0:25

Dear father ask for blessings, all the folks in this room who helped to try to make our community better, safer, fair.

0:33

Father, we ask for continued blessings of safety on our public safety officials and uh be with them through this time.

0:40

Defather, we ask all these things in your name.

0:43

Amen.

0:44

Ladies and gentlemen, attention to the flag.

0:46

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and the Republic for which it stands.

0:54

One nation under God with liberty and justice for all.

1:00

Thank you very much.

1:03

We don't have any public input this time.

1:06

We got a lot to cover, and so I'd ask I'd ask everyone to be mindful of that.

1:12

Uh need a motion for approval of agenda contents.

1:16

So moved.

1:17

So everybody in favor.

1:19

And in the minutes from the previous meeting approval of uh minutes in March.

1:27

So moved.

1:28

So all in favor.

1:30

Ms.

1:31

Pam Creek with Ory County Solar Wish started recycling.

1:35

She asked for 20.

1:37

I told her 10.

1:38

I know that's going to be a struggle for her.

1:40

So I'll just let her go ahead.

1:42

That's true.

1:43

What's then up there with her?

1:44

Yes, sir.

1:45

So executive director, Mr.

1:46

Danny Knight.

1:47

So he don't need much.

1:48

No.

1:49

All of your other mister had an appointment flip cloth on it last afternoon.

1:55

And when you get to a certain age, the biggest board in town is got an appointment.

2:01

Rugby doors and stuff like that.

2:03

We don't know nothing yet.

2:06

I'm working on it.

2:09

Kind of give them an update for Miss Krugor.

2:14

Our board gave us very direct, plain, clear direction a few months back that we would not be transferring garbage out of the county.

2:27

And that would we would not co-mangle.

2:31

And we would look at sites on our existing property, the new landfill.

2:38

And right now we're starting the process for three new permit.

2:43

Before that, we were looking at a big crack up there around Ayner.

2:47

Watch out now.

2:49

I was just sitting here.

2:53

Not really, but uh we knew single member district, they would know why you could ever sign up land filling over every county.

3:01

But Ms.

3:02

Creech, it's uh your passion.

3:06

Thank you.

3:07

I appreciate y'all allowing me to be here.

3:09

I'm not going to be able to go over all of these figures, and we have the information for you, and the figures are really time for a workshop that people need to sit down and look at the figures for each city, the county, incorporated areas.

3:24

But as you know, we have a class two landfill, the tonnage we took in last year was over 148,000 tons.

3:32

Our past three people in SW took over 33,000 tons.

3:37

We all know with the growth that we have here and coming here and permitted here, not only in unincorporated areas, but also in the cities, that these figures are going to double and triple in the coming years.

3:52

As you said previously, we thought about co-mingling, but really for the most part, that is a waste of an MSW and what it costs to co-mingle.

4:08

And the reason we would prefer it be on the existing property, it's going to be cheaper to maintain, it's going to be cheaper to hire people and to work with them.

4:18

Transferring something out, we've always looked at that.

4:22

We had a problem in electronics one time, and we found out there's a federal law that says if you ever touch any waste, you will be responsible for it.

4:34

The man that we paid to do the electronics that the state issued.

4:40

For a few years everything went fine.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Engineering And Infrastructure█████████████████████21%
Waste Management████████████████████20%
Procedural████████████12%
Transportation Safety██████████10%
Zoning And Land Use█████████9%
Environmental Protection███████7%
Technology and Innovation██████6%
Mental Health Awareness██████6%
Public Engagement█████5%
Summary of Proceedings

Horry County Infrastructure & Regulation Committee Meeting - May 13, 2025

The Infrastructure & Regulation Committee of Horry County Council met on May 13, 2025, at approximately 9:00 a.m. in the County Council Conference Room. The meeting was chaired by Al Allen. Key agenda items included discussions on solid waste recycling, road maintenance system removals, and a new RIDE program website, followed by the passage of several resolutions and ordinances. All votes were unanimous.

Public Comments

  • No public input was provided.

Discussion Items

  • Horry County Solid Waste Authority Recycling: Pam Creech and Danny Knight presented. Creech stated that the Authority took in over 148,000 tons of waste last year and over 33,000 tons in the past three years. She noted that a proposed Class 2 landfill would cost approximately $153 million and extend the landfill life to 2063, but emphasized that recycling diversion (currently 40.6% of recyclables still landfilled) is critical. Creech recommended mandating recycling via business licenses as the most effective approach, stating that education alone has not achieved sufficient rates. She expressed full support for beginning mandated recycling immediately and offered to collaborate with the county. Chairman Allen and Councilman Tom Anderson agreed to form a working group to develop the initiative, including coordination with municipalities and the legislature.
  • Roads Identified for Removal from County Maintenance System: Randy Plummer presented a list of dirt roads that do not meet the ordinance criteria for continued county maintenance. He clarified the county is not closing the roads, only stopping maintenance. Chairman Allen noted that this is causing issues in Districts 9, 10, and 11, where some roads are the only access to properties, and suggested adding a future discussion item to revisit the policy.
  • New RIDE Program Website: Justin Schools and Ashley Webb demonstrated a new website (roads.horrycounty.sc.gov) consolidating information on all county road projects, including RIDE III and IV. The site features interactive project maps, filters by status/type/funding, upcoming public meeting details, and a feedback form. David Gilreath added that the site is mobile-friendly and will be updated monthly, with future plans for near-real-time financial data. Council praised the transparency tool.

Resolutions

  • Acceptance of Roads into County Maintenance System: Approved acceptance of the following subdivisions (all inspected and meeting county standards):
    • Heather Glen Phase 20 (Ardeer Court, Nelson Road, Murrayfield Court) – 0.28 miles
    • Las Palmas Drive and Azalea Bloom Drive – 0.31 miles
    • Oyster Bluff Phase 4 (Sage Drive, Black Pearl Way, Pearl Tabby Drive) – 0.55 miles
    • Parks @ Carolina Forest Phase 13 (Calhoun Falls Drive) – 0.26 miles
    • Parks @ Carolina Forest Phase 15 (Calhoun Falls Drive and Baker Creek Loop) – 0.58 miles
  • National Public Works Week: Approved designating May 18–24, 2025, as National Public Works Week: People, Purpose, Presence. David Gilreath noted the 65th annual celebration, including a safety training event (“Backhoe Rodeo”) on May 21.
  • Mental Health Awareness Month: Approved a resolution proclaiming May 2025 as Mental Health Awareness Month. Michelle Smith, Director of Behavioral Services, presented and thanked the committee.
  • Airport Fund Transfer: Approved transferring $322,000 from Project A0095 (Terminal Contingency) to overhaul ARFF Rescue 4 (a fire truck), extending its life by 7–10 years, and $200,000 to replace 4–6 rooftop air conditioning units at Myrtle Beach International Airport. Judith Olmstead noted a new replacement truck would cost $1.2 million.

Ordinances

  • Lease with Squires Brothers Farms, Inc. : Approved a three-year lease of approximately 70 acres on Party Pines Road near Conway for crop farming. Rent is $3,500 for year one and $6,300 for subsequent years. The county retains a recapture clause if needed for the planned Equestrian Center.
  • Lease with Grand Strand Sertoma Club: Approved a 10-year lease for $1/year of county-owned property at 704 21st Ave. N in Myrtle Beach. Sertoma has operated a medical support facility there since 1995, now providing services to children and adults with autism and intellectual disabilities via SOS Healthcare.
  • Highway 707 Overlay Zone Amendment: Approved an ordinance amending Article VIII, Section 804 to enhance buffer and landscaping requirements along the 707 corridor. Changes include:
    • Non-residential-to-residential buffers increased from 10–15 feet to 25 feet width with more vegetation.
    • Non-residential-to-non-residential buffers increased from 5 feet to 10 feet.
    • Corridor (Type C) buffer set at a mandatory minimum 25 feet (removing the 10% depth alternative) and requiring an additional 10 evergreens per 100 linear feet (50% must be trees). No changes were made to building facade or materials.

Key Outcomes

  • All resolutions and ordinances passed unanimously.
  • The committee directed staff to schedule a workshop with the Solid Waste Authority to discuss mandatory commercial recycling and to explore legislative options for producer responsibility.
  • The next regular Infrastructure & Regulation Committee meeting is set for June 10, 2025.

Meeting Transcript

Meeting and at this time is always and so we'll start with an invocation and a pledge of allegiance by Councilman Tom Anderson if all could stand. We could all pause for a moment. Gracious Heavenly Father, thank you for the opportunity to be here, to live here, and to serve here. Dear father ask for blessings, all the folks in this room who helped to try to make our community better, safer, fair. Father, we ask for continued blessings of safety on our public safety officials and uh be with them through this time. Defather, we ask all these things in your name. Amen. Ladies and gentlemen, attention to the flag. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God with liberty and justice for all. Thank you very much. We don't have any public input this time. We got a lot to cover, and so I'd ask I'd ask everyone to be mindful of that. Uh need a motion for approval of agenda contents. So moved. So everybody in favor. And in the minutes from the previous meeting approval of uh minutes in March. So moved. So all in favor. Ms. Pam Creek with Ory County Solar Wish started recycling. She asked for 20. I told her 10. I know that's going to be a struggle for her. So I'll just let her go ahead. That's true. What's then up there with her? Yes, sir. So executive director, Mr. Danny Knight. So he don't need much. No. All of your other mister had an appointment flip cloth on it last afternoon. And when you get to a certain age, the biggest board in town is got an appointment. Rugby doors and stuff like that. We don't know nothing yet. I'm working on it. Kind of give them an update for Miss Krugor. Our board gave us very direct, plain, clear direction a few months back that we would not be transferring garbage out of the county. And that would we would not co-mangle. And we would look at sites on our existing property, the new landfill. And right now we're starting the process for three new permit. Before that, we were looking at a big crack up there around Ayner. Watch out now. I was just sitting here. Not really, but uh we knew single member district, they would know why you could ever sign up land filling over every county. But Ms. Creech, it's uh your passion. Thank you. I appreciate y'all allowing me to be here.

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