Horry County Council Regular Meeting – June 4, 2025
Horry County Council Regular Meeting – June 4, 2025
The Horry County Council met on June 4, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. for a regular meeting. The council addressed multiple zoning ordinances, lease agreements, a joint industrial park agreement, a HUD annual action plan, and reconsidered a resolution regarding the Myrtle Beach Pelicans stadium. One member of the public spoke on I-73, and a citizen spoke in opposition to one rezoning item. The meeting also featured a special recognition of a police officer.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the consent agenda including third readings of: Ordinance 47-2025 (rezoning PIN 45710040010 to RE 4), Ordinance 48-2025 (Future Land Use Map amendment to Suburban), Ordinance 50-2025 (amending capital planning fund provisions), and Ordinance 51-2025 (joint industrial park with Georgetown County in Georgetown County). Unanimous vote.
Public Comments & Testimony
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Donna Kalas (self-identified as former project coordinator for National I-73 Corridor Association) spoke in favor of completing I-73, citing hurricane evacuation needs, traffic fatalities (Horry County ranks 2nd out of 46 South Carolina counties for traffic fatalities), and alleging a conflict of interest involving a council member. She urged the council to prioritize I-73 over a 22 extension.
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Crystal Oxford (speaking on behalf of her father, Chris Lawrence, resident on McKinley Shortcut Road) opposed Ordinance 56-2025 (rezoning 42.35 acres to AG 3 for tradeshops). She cited road safety concerns (narrow, frequently washed-out dirt road), increased traffic, wildlife encroachment (bears, coyotes, venomous snakes), and safety of a private school and animal sanctuary on adjacent Daphne Road. She noted the council had denied a similar project on the same road in 2021 for the same reasons.
Discussion Items
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Recognition of Police Officer Turner – The council recognized Patrolman First Class Turner for his role in safely ending a car chase on May 22, 2025, during which suspects fired at law enforcement. He was commended for his bravery and professionalism.
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Resolution R-58-2025 (HUD Annual Action Plan) – The council adopted and approved the Horry County Home Consortium 2025-2026 Annual Action Plan for CDBG ($1,892,35), ESG ($168,117), and HOME ($984,438.54) grants, as amended. Unanimous vote.
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Ordinance 54-2025 (Rezoning to RE 4, 1..79 acres for general retail) – Second reading and public hearing. No public comments. Approved unanimously.
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Ordinance 55-2025 (Rezoning to AG 6, 1.99 acres for fowl) – Second reading and public hearing. No public comments. Moved to third reading unanimously.
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Ordinance 56-2025 (Rezoning 42.35 acres to AG 3 for tradeshops) – Following public testimony from Crystal Oxford, Councilmember Hardee responded that required road improvements (including paving and dedication) would be completed by the applicant. Second reading approved unanimously.
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Ordinance 57-2025 (Lease with Squires Brothers Farms for ~70 acres at Party Pines Road) – Second reading and public hearing. No public comments. Approved unanimously.
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Ordinance 58-2025 (Lease with Grand Strand Sertoma Club at 704 21st Ave N, Myrtle Beach) – Second reading and public hearing. No public comments. Approved unanimously.
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Ordinance 60-2025 (Joint industrial and business park agreement with Georgetown County for Horry County properties along Postal Way) – Second reading and public hearing. No public comments. Approved unanimously.
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Ordinance 59-2025 (Authorizing conveyance of county’s interest in property on 21st Ave N, Myrtle Beach) – Second reading (not a public hearing item). Approved unanimously.
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Reconsidered Resolution R-71-2025 (Myrtle Beach Pelicans stadium ownership transfer) – The council voted to reconsider the resolution from the previous meeting (May 20, 2025). An amendment was offered to increase the county’s authorized negotiation amount from $6 million to $8.25 million, reflecting a counter to the City of Myrtle Beach’s proposal. The amended resolution was approved unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Consented items: All consent agenda items passed unanimously.
- HUD Action Plan adopted as amended (unanimous).
- Zoning ordinances (54-2025, 55-2025, 56-2025) all advanced or approved (unanimous).
- Lease ordinances (57-2025, 58-2025) approved (unanimous).
- Joint industrial park ordinance (60-2025) approved (unanimous).
- Conveyance ordinance (59-2025) approved (unanimous).
- Pelicans resolution (R-71-2025) reconsidered, amended to increase negotiation cap to $8,250,000, and approved unanimously.
- Memorial dedications for individuals noted at adjournment.
Meeting adjourned at approximately 6:21 p.m.
Meeting Transcript
Lessons that you've given us. Thank you for the opportunity to gather here tonight and discuss the business of Ori County. We ask that you give us guidance guidance and wisdom as we go through the agenda tonight, dear Lord. Also ask that you keep all of us safe as we leave out of here tonight. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. I claim to leave the flag. One nation. Indivisible with liberty and justice for all. All right, thank you. Um next on our um agenda will have public input today. There is only one person signed up, Dana uh Donna Kalas who wants to talk to us about I-73, Ms. Kalos, if you want to come on up. Your name for the uh record, please. And you've you've spoken before us before, so you know the rules you've got. I'll try to speak through it as fast as I can. I've got a lot to say and not much time to say it. Thank you. Anyways, good evening. My name's Donna Kayla's, and I moved to Myrtle Beach to the Myrtle Beach area in 2008 after a long career in DC and Maryland. When I did work here in South Carolina, I worked for a few years as a project coordinator for the National I 73 7475 Corridor Association, and that is how I know about the importance of I-73 in South Carolina. People are driving on I 73 in North Carolina. Here we are at the beginning of hurricane season. Our enormous growth isn't new, and I stepped out of my happy retirement into this room for the very first time in 2019. I did so to sound an alarm, and I've been sounding that alarm ever since. I have been threatened, I've been lied about, and some pump lies that I was paid by the chamber and someone else these last six years. That was a lie. I stood up for what was right. That was and is I-73, and I stood up for the safety of our people on my dime and on my time. This council tried to hide some of my public comments in 2019 because I was exposing truth about I-73 and that hospitality suit. But I caught what was being done, and before the minutes went into the permanent record, it was correct. The city of Myrtle Beach did the same thing, but I didn't catch it in time. What happened was wrong and shady. Council people come here from all over because they love our 60 miles of beautiful beaches and all our area has to offer. We grew, council, and there is no turning back time. The proposed 22 extension is nowhere near the permitting stage. Yes, we have roads that will take us up and down the coast, but people need to be able to get away from the coast and out to I-95. I-73 is the only already permitted nonstop road that has already been through the environmental battle. The route was already established and it is shovel ready. But here we are standing still. I-73 is important, especially when the hurricanes come, and our people matter. Has been profiting while in office, and he has been serving to the and that profit is adds up to at least 1.7 million Ori County dollars. So the last I checked. Four checks issued this 41 checks issued this company, and one alone was for over 369. I'm going to ask you to please stay on topic with the I-73 matter. I'm good, I'm getting to that too. Because this matters. This is a conflict of interests, sir. And when he can fly out of town, and our people, and our people are away or have become statistics, sir. Out of 46 counties in South Carolina, our people are a second in second place for traffic fatalities.
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