Horry County Public Safety Committee Meeting - August 12, 2025
Horry County Public Safety Committee Meeting - August 12, 2025
The Horry County Public Safety Committee met on August 12, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. in the County Council Conference Room to discuss resolutions, public input, and updates on gang activity, school resource officers, and May events. The meeting was chaired by Danny Hardee.
Public Input
- Joey Davis (Chairman, Little River Chamber of Commerce) presented the inaugural Patriots Day festival, scheduled for September 13, 2025, to honor veterans and first responders. The event will include a parade, boat procession, artificial reef placement, memorial, scholarships, and free admission for service members. All proceeds will go to veterans and first responders of Horry County. Davis confirmed safety planning with public safety agencies.
Resolutions
- Acceptance of 2025 Local Emergency Management Performance Grant – Sam Hodge presented the resolution for a $80,972 grant (50/50 federal/local match, no county out-of-pocket cost). Approved unanimously.
- Allocation of Community Benefit Funds – Ashley Carroll presented three allocations: $5,000 to Socastee High School tennis team for court maintenance and equipment; $7,000 to Sunshine Recovery Ministries for entry fees for individuals in substance use treatment; $7,000 to Traveling Apostles for Christ Corporation for outreach to low-income and homeless individuals. Approved unanimously.
- Acceptance of Roads and Drainage into County Maintenance System – Andrew Markunas presented the acceptance of multiple subdivisions: Buckeye Forest Phase 1, Chatham Crossing Phase 1, Coopers Bluff Phase 6, Farm @ Timberlake Phases 3A, 3B, 3C, Lyden Village, Saddle Ridge Phase 2, and Shaftesbury Greens Phase 4. Councilman Tom Anderson raised a concern about the $50 road fee potentially being insufficient within 3-4 years due to inflation, requesting a future presentation from Infrastructure & Regulation. The motion to accept passed unanimously.
Discussion Items
- Gang Update – Chief Leonhardt reported that the gang unit, approved by Council, has made 67 fugitive arrests year-to-date (compared to 139 in all of 2024). Firearm seizures have increased, and drug/gun seizures are detailed in the packet. He proposed a future Fugitive Apprehension Unit to supplement the gang unit.
- School Resource Officer (SRO) Update – Chief Leonhardt announced that a state grant has funded SROs at all seven high schools and three additional middle schools (North Myrtle Beach, Blackwater, St. James). Councilman Gardner asked about the grant’s perpetuity; Chief Leonhardt noted the program is intended to grow but future budget discussions may be needed.
- May Events – Randy Webster noted that Behavioral Services is partnering with the SRO program to address mental health in schools. He confirmed the committee is working on easing the burden of May events on public safety personnel, per Councilwoman Dukes’ request, but acknowledged no simple solution.
Department Reports
Reports from Police, Fire/Rescue, Animal Care Center, Emergency Management, 911, Sheriff’s Office, Detention Center, and the Multijurisdictional All Hazards Mitigation Plan were provided in packets. No questions were raised.
Key Outcomes
- Approved three resolutions unanimously.
- No executive session was held.
- The next meeting is scheduled for September 9, 2025.
- Meeting adjourned at approximately 11:32 a.m.
Meeting Transcript
Public safety committee meeting on August 12th, 2025. I'd like to start by saying I appreciate all your thoughts and prayers and kindness to Al Shell to my family. It was a blessing, and I appreciate it. We will start with our public input as usual. And Mr. Joey Davis. Mr. Chairman, can we have a prayer and a pledge of leaders? Hey, we're all good. That's what I get for talking. I've got to doing that for me, because I need little we need a little praying and a little pledge of allegiance. I would go do it. Go and get public input out of the way, I guess. We have an invocation. I pledge allegiance by Chairman Gardner. Yes, sir. Everybody please stand and pray for me. Let us pray. Dear Lord, thank you once again for an opportunity for us to assemble to conduct the business to the county. Give us strength and wisdom as we go along today's agenda. But most of all, grant us patience. And also, dear Lord, wrap your arms around all the people that live and work here. Not only public safety, but everybody involved in Ory County. And bless the state trooper as he sits in the hospital today and bless his family and the things that are happening. Bless all of us, dear Lord. And uh we ask for those blessings, but we also ask for power of your will, the care carry it all out, dear Lord. In your name we pray. Amen. I believe the flag of the United States of America to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Yes, sir. Okay. Now we'll get to our public input. Mr. Dikers. I just need something to make up a note. Good morning, everybody. How are we doing? So I'd like to present today. Um my name is Joey Davidson with the Little River Chamber of Commerce. I'm the chairman, um, also a business owner in the area. Um I am chairing a new festival on behalf of the chamber and our veterans of first responder organizations in the area called Patriots Day. It's gonna be the weekend of September 13th, uh always the second weekend following 9-11. Uh we have an event down there uh in the waterfront at the uh Little River Landing, which is the property adjacent to the original waterfront. Uh we have uh uh parade that's going to be starting at Miniola at the beginning of the ON 17. We're going down Miniola towards Watson, and we'll take a right, go two blocks and turn left into Little River Landing. Uh we've already are in contact with the appropriate appropriate police and uh fire, EMS, uh insurance, um all public safety, everything is uh already in process or already taken care of just like for the other with the Crab Fest and Shirt Fest that we run. Umce the land parade that's gonna be uh we're gonna line it up at 8 8 a.m. Uh they'll proceed in and be at the marina landing by 9. Uh the safety committee has a schedule of events there and information on the event.
openpublica.com