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Record of Proceedings

Horry County Public Safety Committee Meeting – November 4, 2025

County Council — Tuesday, November 4, 2025
BodyHorry County, South Carolina
SessionCounty Council
DateTuesday, November 4, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 27:16

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:01

Committee meeting of November 4th, 2045 to Order.

0:05

And as always, we will start off with our invocations and pledge of allegiance by Dr.

0:10

Dillon.

0:14

Heavenly Father, we come before you today to thank you for another beautiful day, an opportunity to gather as community leaders and friends.

0:22

We asked that you would give us that you would bless us with wisdom, patience, and your guidance as we work together to make decisions for the betterment of our county and its residents.

0:35

As always, we ask that you would place your hand of protection upon our first responders.

0:40

As they serve selflessly each and every day to keep us safe.

0:44

These things we ask in Jesus' name.

0:46

Amen.

0:47

Attention to the flag.

0:49

A fledge to the flag of the United States of America.

0:57

One nation under God.

1:07

We have no public input.

1:09

So we will go down to the review and approval agenda contest.

1:13

So moved.

1:14

Second.

1:15

Mr.

1:15

Chairman.

1:16

Yes, sir.

1:17

I would like to make a motion to reconsider County Council resolution to limit residential rezoning.

1:24

So I could number one is going to be postponed, so we will go to number two with Chief Lincoln.

1:36

Wait a minute, I'm sorry.

1:37

Approval and minutes for October 14, 2025.

1:40

So motion.

1:41

Seconded.

1:42

All in favor?

1:42

Aye.

1:43

All right.

1:44

Now chief.

1:44

Thanks, sir.

1:45

Sorry about that.

1:46

No problem at all.

1:47

Thank you, Mr.

1:48

Chairman, members of committee.

1:49

Uh come before you today with a resolution for retirement surplus weapon for Captain Charles Powell, Chuck Powell is supposed to be doing uh served many years here in the county.

1:59

Just uh ask that you approve that motion resolution.

2:04

Motion we move forward with staff's recommendation concerned.

2:07

Mr.

2:07

Powell and Voter.

2:08

Aye.

2:09

Motion carries.

2:10

Thank you so much.

2:10

Thank you, sir.

2:11

Is that a staff recommendation or is that a law?

2:16

You got a NFA.

2:18

Approving allocations for council community benefit funds, Miss Carroll.

2:24

Thank you, Mr.

2:24

Chairman.

2:25

We've got one here today, and it is for the Hopeful Restoration Group.

2:28

They're deep doing business as folks of hope.

2:30

Um funds will be used to help with their annual Christmas giveaway for children in need.

2:34

It's going to be $2,000 with a thousand from District 3 and District 10.

2:38

Weren't they just on here last at the last meeting?

2:41

Yes, sir.

2:42

Same people?

2:44

Yes, sir.

2:47

Some of us didn't make the meeting.

2:49

Okay.

2:54

Double dipping.

2:59

So moved.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Emergency Management█████████████████████████████████████████████54%
Public Safety████████████████████24%
Procedural████████10%
Community Engagement████████9%
Mental Health Awareness███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Horry County Public Safety Committee Meeting – November 4, 2025

The Horry County Public Safety Committee met on November 4, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. in the County Council Conference Room. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Danny Hardee, with an invocation by Jenna Dukes. The committee reviewed resolutions, received updates from the 911 and Emergency Management departments, and voted to reconsider a resolution limiting residential rezonings that increase density.

Consent Calendar

  • The committee approved the agenda and the minutes from the October 14, 2025 meeting. (Motion by Tom Anderson, seconded; unanimous)
  • Resolution – Declaring a Service Weapon as Surplus Property for Retiring Officer Charles B. Powell: Approved unanimously. (Chief Leonhardt presented)
  • Resolution – Approving Allocation of Council Community Benefit Funds: $2,000 to the Hopeful Restoration Group (Folks of Hope) for an annual Christmas giveaway, with $1,000 from District 3 and $1,000 from District 10. Approved unanimously. (Ashley Carroll presented)

Discussion Items

  • 911 Update (Renee Hardwick): Hardwick recognized two employees: Michelle Johnson as 911 Supervisor of the Year (SC NAPCA) and Ginger Day receiving the Palmetto Award. She reported a successful round‑robin test with neighboring centers (Berkeley, Beaufort, Charleston, Orangeburg) and cross‑state coordination with Palm County, Florida. The department has hired 20 new employees, though current staffing is 12 per shift (target 16). Training takes 16 weeks, and retention remains a challenge due to the demanding nature of the job. Hardwick expressed gratitude for council support in addressing staffing and mental health resources.
  • Emergency Management Update (Sam Hodge): Hodge provided a five-month overview since June 1, 2025. He introduced his team and noted that the department’s comprehensive emergency management plan is updated annually. The hazard mitigation plan was completed internally, saving approximately $200,000. Key activities included community engagement (preparedness events, church vulnerability assessments under the non-profit security grant program), training exercises (Myrtle Beach airport exercise with 18 agencies and 200 participants, Hurricane Jolene exercises, Skywarn training), and participation in committees (Brunswick Nuclear Task Force, state association mentoring). Upcoming events: winter weather preparedness, Operation Powerback (utility coordination in December), and a tsunami exercise (LANTEX 25) in November. Hodge highlighted the team’s receipt of the Agency of the Year award from the South Carolina Emergency Management Association.

Key Outcomes

  • Reconsideration of Resolution to Limit Residential Rezonings: The committee voted to reconsider the resolution previously discussed in October, which aims to limit residential rezoning that increases density on parcels served by volunteer fire stations and ISO‑10 areas. The motion passed unanimously, allowing future discussion.
  • Department Reports: Written reports were provided in packets for Police, Fire/Rescue, Animal Care Center, Emergency Management, 911, Sheriff’s Office, and Detention Center. No questions were raised.
  • Next Meeting: Announced that the next meeting will likely be in early 2026 due to holiday scheduling.

Note: The agenda item “Recognizing G. Scott Bellamy for his Service on the Public Defender Selection Panel” was postponed and not discussed.

Meeting Transcript

Committee meeting of November 4th, 2045 to Order. And as always, we will start off with our invocations and pledge of allegiance by Dr. Dillon. Heavenly Father, we come before you today to thank you for another beautiful day, an opportunity to gather as community leaders and friends. We asked that you would give us that you would bless us with wisdom, patience, and your guidance as we work together to make decisions for the betterment of our county and its residents. As always, we ask that you would place your hand of protection upon our first responders. As they serve selflessly each and every day to keep us safe. These things we ask in Jesus' name. Amen. Attention to the flag. A fledge to the flag of the United States of America. One nation under God. We have no public input. So we will go down to the review and approval agenda contest. So moved. Second. Mr. Chairman. Yes, sir. I would like to make a motion to reconsider County Council resolution to limit residential rezoning. So I could number one is going to be postponed, so we will go to number two with Chief Lincoln. Wait a minute, I'm sorry. Approval and minutes for October 14, 2025. So motion. Seconded. All in favor? Aye. All right. Now chief. Thanks, sir. Sorry about that. No problem at all. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of committee. Uh come before you today with a resolution for retirement surplus weapon for Captain Charles Powell, Chuck Powell is supposed to be doing uh served many years here in the county. Just uh ask that you approve that motion resolution. Motion we move forward with staff's recommendation concerned. Mr. Powell and Voter. Aye. Motion carries. Thank you so much. Thank you, sir. Is that a staff recommendation or is that a law? You got a NFA. Approving allocations for council community benefit funds, Miss Carroll. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We've got one here today, and it is for the Hopeful Restoration Group. They're deep doing business as folks of hope.

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