OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Public Safety Committee Meeting Summary – June 10, 2025

County Council — Tuesday, June 10, 2025
BodyHorry County, South Carolina
SessionCounty Council
DateTuesday, June 10, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 31:24

Transcript — Verbatim
0:01

2025.

0:02

And as always, we will have unification and pledge by Mr.

0:06

Gary Love.

0:07

Yes.

0:08

All right.

0:13

Let us pray.

0:16

Lord, we come before you.

0:18

Humbly ask, humbly asking for your guidance as we go about the public's business.

0:25

Help us to do the most good for the most people.

0:30

We ask that you watch out for those who are less fortunate than us.

0:36

Watch over our police in our fire.

0:39

As they go about their business.

0:41

Running into danger practically every day.

0:44

We ask all this in your only name.

0:46

Amen.

0:49

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

0:55

Which is one of God in individual.

1:04

Okay.

1:08

No input for review and approval of the journal content.

1:13

So move.

1:14

All in favor.

1:17

Approval of amendment for April 8th, 2025.

1:21

So move Mr.

1:23

All in favor.

1:25

Resolution.

1:27

Ms.

1:27

Beth Kranmer.

1:33

Thank you, Mr.

1:34

Chairman, members of the committee.

1:35

As you know, as a result of funding provided through the American Rescue Plan Act, which was awarded up front rather than on a cost reimbursement basis.

1:44

We do have the opportunity to accrue interest on these funds.

1:48

Staff brings you today a request to fund three items or three different projects with accrued interest from ARPA funds.

1:57

The first is core funding for behavioral services department and the amount of $500,000 to support provision of services and programs through this new department.

2:08

The second is to Giving Hope Gardens and Loris in the amount of 50K.

2:13

Giving Hope Gardens is a 501c3 nonprofit and retail garden center located in Lawrence, who serves adults with special needs.

2:24

And third, the Council on Aging.

2:27

We are recommending funding in the amount of 150,000 for them to provide vital programming and meal services for the elderly across the county through meal delivery programs and congregate meal set uh settings at its senior centers.

2:42

Thank you for your consideration of this.

2:44

It's a total of $700,000 in uh funding.

2:48

Mr.

2:49

Chairman, I'd like to make a motion to move forward with staff's recommendation.

2:52

Second.

2:53

All in favor?

2:55

Good.

2:56

Thank you.

3:00

And on behalf of Chief Tanner, um the uh next item before you is a resolution authorizing Ori County Fire Rescue to submit and accept if awarded the 2024 FEMA staffing for adequate fire and emergency response or safer grant.

3:18

I do have a slight change in the amount from the resolution that's in your packet.

3:24

I'll send those updates around.

3:27

We do have a red line because we have a late breaking update to the budget.

3:37

Uh so the total amount is 14,223,002 and 71 cents.

3:46

As you know, um we have had two safer awards, uh, one in 2018, one in uh 2020, those are federal fiscal years.

3:56

And uh this is grant program that pays for salary and for fringes uh for the hiring of new firefighters.

4:06

In the past, and that this is under COVID, the grant has reimbursed 100% of the salary infringes for new employees.

4:14

They've gone back to the old rules now, in which the first year that's 75% of the salaries that are funded through federal funds, 25 through local, it's 75% federal for year two, 35% federal for year three.

4:32

Also, this grant will not pay for turnout gear, it will not pay for the physicals, etc.

4:38

So what you see before you is the county expense for this for 36 firefighters and uh for three years, and then you see the federal portion of that that would be picked up by the grant.

4:53

Um also this year, FEMA will not pay the cost of salary escalation in years two and three.

5:00

So that is reflected in the county costs.

5:02

A fourth year has been added in the estimate, just so you can see what the steady state cost to the county will be once we transition out of the grant.

5:11

This application is due July 3rd, and if funded 36 new firefighters hired through this grant would in the aggregate allow for the staffing of a ladder at station 20, which is CIPIO, and an engine and a ladder for the new station 31 at Prestwick.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Safety███████████████████████████████31%
Emergency Management█████████████████████████25%
Behavioral Health Services██████████████████████22%
Procedural█████████████13%
Animal Welfare█████████9%
Summary of Proceedings

Public Safety Committee Meeting Summary – June 10, 2025

The Horry County Public Safety Committee met on June 10, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. in the County Council Conference Room. The committee reviewed and approved several resolutions, including the allocation of $700,000 in ARPA interest funding, authorization to apply for a $14.2 million SAFER grant for firefighter staffing, and recognition of various community and departmental achievements. Discussion items covered gang and narcotics enforcement, the May 2025 special events recap, behavioral services updates, animal care fee changes, hurricane season preparedness, and a national certification for a 911 deputy director. All resolutions and agenda items were approved unanimously.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Minutes (April 8, 2025): Approved unanimously.
  • Resolution to Designate Projects Under the ARPA Framework: Approved unanimously. Funds $700,000 in ARPA interest: $500,000 for Behavioral Services, $50,000 for Buck Creek Foundation’s Giving Hope Gardens, and $150,000 for Horry County Council on Aging.
  • Resolution Authorizing SAFER Grant Application: Approved unanimously. Authorizes submission and acceptance of the 2024 FEMA SAFER grant for 36 new firefighters (updated amount: $14,223,002.71). The grant covers 75% of salary/fringes in years 1-2 and 35% in year 3; county costs increase after grant period.
  • Resolution for Body Worn Camera Grant (Solicitor’s Office): Approved unanimously. $40,383.66 reimbursement grant for digital storage of body camera data.
  • Resolution Recognizing June 28-29, 2025 as Amateur Radio Days: Approved unanimously.
  • Resolution Commending HCFR and Mutual-Aid Agencies for March 1, 2025 Carolina Forest Wildfire: Approved unanimously. Recognizes 79 fire departments and over 1,500 firefighters; the fire was declared 100% controlled after 92 days.
  • Resolutions Declaring Service Weapons as Surplus (3 retiring officers): Approved unanimously. Weapons for Captain Tina Vaught, Detective John Brantly Jr., and Lieutenant Jamie DeBari.

Discussion Items

  • Gang, Narcotics, and May Review (Chief Leonhardt): Presented first-quarter 2025 enforcement statistics: 832 traffic stops, 106 total cases, 108 felony cases, 55 fugitive arrests, 59 firearms seizures, 30 search warrants, over 121 pounds of drugs seized, and $1,617,000 in cash seized. Also highlighted significant May incidents including home invasions, a murder, a mass shooting, and a bomb threat, all of which were handled alongside major special events.
  • Bike Week and May Events Recap (Randy Webster): Thanked public safety personnel for managing the demanding May schedule (Myrtle Beach Classic, Spring Bike Week, Memorial Day Bike Fest, etc.). Noted increasing call volume and severity. Council member requested a deeper review of May’s manpower and financial impact for next year.
  • CIT Investigator Update (Randy Webster): Introduced Kelsey Manamite as a police officer working with Behavioral Services to bridge gaps between law enforcement and mental health.
  • Behavioral Services Update (Michelle Smith): Reported that the department has doubled in size in two months. Mission: to serve as a conduit for change through countywide collaboration. First priority is to meet with stakeholders to create a baseline of behavioral health needs.
  • Animal Care Center Reclaim Fees (Justin Wyatt): Announced a graduated fee scale for reclaiming stray animals effective July 1, 2025: $25 for intact animals, higher fees for intact animals not spayed/neutered, with fees increasing each time. Reduced spay/neuter rates offered. Also instituting microchipping for all incoming animals and charging municipalities a daily fee for animals brought to the shelter.
  • Hurricane Season Update (Sam Hodge): NOAA predicts a 60% chance of above-average season: 13–19 named storms, 6–10 hurricanes, 3–5 major hurricanes. Preparedness campaigns underway. County remains resilient through continued planning.
  • National Certification (Renee Hardwick): Presented Lori Woods, Deputy Director of 911, with the Emergency Number Professional (ENP) certification, a rigorous national credential.

Key Outcomes

  • All resolutions and agenda items were approved unanimously by voice vote.
  • The committee directed staff to conduct a deeper analysis of May 2025 special events’ impact on manpower and finances.
  • The next Public Safety Committee meeting is scheduled for August 12, 2025, at 11:00 a.m.

Meeting Transcript

2025. And as always, we will have unification and pledge by Mr. Gary Love. Yes. All right. Let us pray. Lord, we come before you. Humbly ask, humbly asking for your guidance as we go about the public's business. Help us to do the most good for the most people. We ask that you watch out for those who are less fortunate than us. Watch over our police in our fire. As they go about their business. Running into danger practically every day. We ask all this in your only name. Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. Which is one of God in individual. Okay. No input for review and approval of the journal content. So move. All in favor. Approval of amendment for April 8th, 2025. So move Mr. All in favor. Resolution. Ms. Beth Kranmer. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of the committee. As you know, as a result of funding provided through the American Rescue Plan Act, which was awarded up front rather than on a cost reimbursement basis. We do have the opportunity to accrue interest on these funds. Staff brings you today a request to fund three items or three different projects with accrued interest from ARPA funds. The first is core funding for behavioral services department and the amount of $500,000 to support provision of services and programs through this new department. The second is to Giving Hope Gardens and Loris in the amount of 50K. Giving Hope Gardens is a 501c3 nonprofit and retail garden center located in Lawrence, who serves adults with special needs. And third, the Council on Aging. We are recommending funding in the amount of 150,000 for them to provide vital programming and meal services for the elderly across the county through meal delivery programs and congregate meal set uh settings at its senior centers. Thank you for your consideration of this. It's a total of $700,000 in uh funding. Mr. Chairman, I'd like to make a motion to move forward with staff's recommendation. Second. All in favor? Good. Thank you. And on behalf of Chief Tanner, um the uh next item before you is a resolution authorizing Ori County Fire Rescue to submit and accept if awarded the 2024 FEMA staffing for adequate fire and emergency response or safer grant. I do have a slight change in the amount from the resolution that's in your packet. I'll send those updates around. We do have a red line because we have a late breaking update to the budget. Uh so the total amount is 14,223,002 and 71 cents.

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