OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Horry County Council Regular Meeting - April 21, 2026

County Council — Tuesday, April 21, 2026
BodyHorry County, South Carolina
SessionCounty Council
DateTuesday, April 21, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 40:20

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Now, good evening.

0:02

We will call to order our regular county council meeting for April 21st, 2026.

0:07

We start on time so we can end on time, and we always start with the invocation tonight by Mr.

0:12

Allen, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Mr.

0:14

Crawford.

0:15

If I get everybody, please stand.

0:20

Let us pray.

0:21

Praise God.

0:22

Heavenly Father, we're thankful once again for this opportunity to come together here.

0:27

Help us, O Lord, so that all things that we do will be done for your glory.

0:32

Help us, O Lord, to understand that oftentimes we have not because we ask not, and when we ask according to your words, so many times we ask amiss.

0:43

Help us, O Lord, increase our faith, encourage our hearts, touch our land and send us rain, Lord, for the farmers, for everyone, Lord, that needs this tonight.

0:56

Watch over us and keep us all safe and healthy.

0:59

Touch and bless each and every family and household represented here tonight and help us all to be able to come together in one mind and one accord, all for your glory.

1:09

For we ask it in Christ's name.

1:11

Amen.

1:22

One nation, one of God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

1:27

Thank you.

1:28

Please be seated.

1:33

Alright, we'll move right into public input.

1:36

We've had four people sign up tonight, and that's great.

1:38

We would love to hear from them.

1:40

I just want to go over our rules real quick.

1:42

We have five minutes by rule.

1:44

We have this wonderful clock up here if you want to look at it.

1:47

Green means go, go, go.

1:49

Yellow is one minute left, and red is stop.

1:52

We'll try not to be as mean as the Supreme Court can be at times if you run over the red lights.

1:56

We'll uh if you're in the middle of a sentence, go ahead and finish your sentence, but let's try to be courteous to the people watching and the people that are in line.

2:03

Remind everybody, this is a professional venue.

2:05

We want to hear from you, but we don't want you up here doing anything unprofessional.

2:09

So we know that you've got a reason for being here, and we want to hear it, like I said.

2:13

First up will be Mr.

2:14

John Law speaking on the consolidation of Oregon County Police Department and Ory County Sheriff's Office.

2:20

Mr.

2:20

Long.

2:22

Good evening, Chairman.

2:23

Mr.

2:23

Chairman, thanks for having me to speak tonight.

2:26

Again, my name's John Ruben Lawn II.

2:29

I tell people that the jail and I were both named after the same person, my granddad.

2:35

That doesn't get me any privilege or any extra things.

2:39

Uh, just to know my family has been in this county for generations, and I love Ory County and I care about it.

2:47

But an issue has arisen that's causing me great grief, and that's the issue that we have with Oregon County Police Department.

2:55

Recently I've read four articles in the Wall Street Journal about our county being described as if we're still in the 1800s.

3:06

It's described as a good old boy system, is corruption, there's scandals in law enforcement, and the good old boy system seems to be alive and well in Ory County.

3:19

This has brought great embarrassment to me, to my family.

3:23

I've had friends call me from out of state saying what's going on in Ori County.

3:29

Law enforcement should be trusted.

3:31

We should have confidence in law enforcement.

3:35

I'm here tonight to tell you in my personal opinion, enough is enough.

3:40

There is currently a bad system in place for the county law enforcement.

3:45

That's evidenced by the same problems being repeated over and over again without address.

3:53

We need to evaluate how to change the system more than the individuals within the system.

4:02

Instead of instead of imagining the best person for the job.

4:08

Imagine the worst person applying for the job.

4:14

Now design the law enforcement system with that in mind.

4:21

You would create a screening process to weed out bad candidates.

4:26

You have checks and balances and oversight to eliminate bad people from the job.

4:33

You would have public scrutiny so that there will be accountability to the citizens of Overy County.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Safety██████████████████████████████████34%
Procedural██████████████████████████26%
Zoning And Land Use██████████████14%
Environmental Protection████████████12%
Youth Programs██████████10%
Mental Health Awareness██2%
Active Transportation██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Horry County Council Regular Meeting - April 21, 2026

The Horry County Council held its regular meeting on April 21, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in Council Chambers. The meeting included public input on law enforcement consolidation and wetland buffers, approval of a consent agenda containing 28 items, second readings and public hearings on zoning and ordinance amendments, and the proclamation of Child Abuse Prevention Month. Key outcomes included passage of all consent items, passage of most second-reading ordinances, one failed rezoning, and a commitment to study the potential consolidation of the county police department with the sheriff's office.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • John Ruben Lawn II spoke in favor of a referendum to consolidate the Horry County Police Department (HCPD) with the Horry County Sheriff's Office. He cited recent Wall Street Journal articles describing the county as having a "good old boy system" and corruption. He requested the council place the topic on a future agenda.
  • Preston Kelly (Winyah Rivers Alliance Riverkeeper) expressed gratitude for the county's proposed 15-foot wetland buffer ordinance. He noted that South Carolina has lost over 2.3 million acres of wetlands since 1875, and Horry County lost nearly a fifth of its forested wetlands between 1996 and 2021, while development increased by 60%. He emphasized that wetlands are natural infrastructure and urged the council to consider stronger buffers modeled after Georgetown County's ordinance.
  • Kevin Suggs, a 23-year law enforcement veteran and former HCPD officer, criticized the police department's culture and lack of accountability. He pointed to the handling of the Scott Spivey case and recent officer arrests. He called for returning law enforcement authority to the sheriff, who is directly accountable to voters.
  • Jennifer Foley, a North Carolina resident whose brother was fatally shot, contrasted her family's negative experience with HCPD (denial of justice) with their positive experience with the Sheriff's Office during a recent court hearing. She stated HCPD has a culture of cover-ups and weak leadership, while the Sheriff's Office displayed professionalism and accountability.

Consent Calendar

  • The council approved the consent agenda (items 1–28) unanimously. This included third reading of Ordinance 117-2025 (Planned Development Districts), first readings of several zoning and lease ordinances, resolutions proclaiming Crime Victims' Rights Week (April 19–25, 2026) and Fair Housing Month (April 2026), and numerous resolutions authorizing grants and fund transfers. Key resolutions: R-22-2026 (U.S. DOJ Victims Services Grant, $1,200,000), R-32-2026 (All-Hazards Mitigation Plan), R-43-2026 (CIP contingency for Goretown Fire Project), R-44-2026 (CIP contingency for Aynor Recreation Center). Also approved were district board appointments (Martin Johnson to Board of Assessment Appeals).

Discussion Items

  • Resolution R-30-2026 – Child Abuse Prevention Month: Proclaimed April 2026 as Child Abuse Prevention Month. Michelle Murphy of Sea Haven for Youth presented, noting the organization serves over 800 youth annually and operates the county's only 24-hour crisis shelter. She highlighted the upcoming SARS House for foster girls. The resolution passed unanimously.
  • Second Reading & Public Hearing – Zoning Map Amendments (Ordinances 17-2026 through 22-2026): Passed unanimously without public comment.
  • Second Reading & Public Hearing – Ordinance 24-2026 (Amusement Uses): Passed unanimously.
  • Second Reading & Public Hearing – Ordinance 25-2026 (Hwy 17 Business South Overlay): Passed unanimously.
  • Second Reading & Public Hearing – Ordinance 26-2026 (Temporary Vending Overlay): Passed unanimously.
  • Second Reading & Public Hearing – Ordinance 27-2026 (Little River Overlay): Passed unanimously.
  • Second Reading & Public Hearing – Ordinance 29-2026 (Chapter 2, Article V amendments): Passed unanimously.
  • Second Reading & Public Hearing – Ordinance 31-2026 (Personal Electric Devices): Councilmember DeSabato introduced an amendment to exclude stand-up electric scooters (EPAMDs and stand-up devices) from the definition, focusing on seated electric dirt bikes. The amendment passed unanimously. A public commenter thanked the sponsors. The ordinance as amended passed unanimously.
  • First Reading – Ordinance 23-2026 (Landscape, Buffer, Tree Preservation): Passed first reading unanimously. Councilmember DeSabato noted a meeting with the development community and staff scheduled for the next day and indicated that the second reading vote would likely be deferred to allow further work.
  • First Reading – Ordinance 45-2026 (Rezone from LFA to PA1): Referred back to the Planning Commission by motion of Councilmember Hardy, passed unanimously.
  • First Reading – Ordinance 46-2026 (Rezone from CFA to AG2): Passed unanimously.
  • First Reading – Ordinance 47-2026 (Rezone from CFA to MA1): Failed unanimously after Councilmember Anderson requested a no vote, citing the proposed commercial use behind a residential area.

Key Outcomes

  • All consent agenda items (1–28) passed unanimously.
  • Resolution R-30-2026 (Child Abuse Prevention Month) passed unanimously.
  • Ordinances 17-2026 through 22-2026, 24-2026 through 27-2026, 29-2026, and 31-2026 (as amended) all passed second reading unanimously.
  • Ordinance 23-2026 passed first reading unanimously; second reading deferral anticipated.
  • Ordinance 45-2026 referred back to Planning Commission (unanimous).
  • Ordinance 46-2026 passed first reading unanimously.
  • Ordinance 47-2026 failed unanimously.
  • Chairman Gardner committed to studying the feasibility and cost of consolidating HCPD under the Sheriff's Office, noting that Councilmember Hardy has been working on the issue. He stated that if a referendum proceeds, voters will be fully informed of costs and implications.
  • Upcoming meeting noted: Administration Committee moved to Monday, April 28, 2026 at 9:00 a.m.
  • Memorials were read for 16 deceased individuals, and the meeting adjourned in their memory.

Meeting Transcript

Now, good evening. We will call to order our regular county council meeting for April 21st, 2026. We start on time so we can end on time, and we always start with the invocation tonight by Mr. Allen, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Mr. Crawford. If I get everybody, please stand. Let us pray. Praise God. Heavenly Father, we're thankful once again for this opportunity to come together here. Help us, O Lord, so that all things that we do will be done for your glory. Help us, O Lord, to understand that oftentimes we have not because we ask not, and when we ask according to your words, so many times we ask amiss. Help us, O Lord, increase our faith, encourage our hearts, touch our land and send us rain, Lord, for the farmers, for everyone, Lord, that needs this tonight. Watch over us and keep us all safe and healthy. Touch and bless each and every family and household represented here tonight and help us all to be able to come together in one mind and one accord, all for your glory. For we ask it in Christ's name. Amen. One nation, one of God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Please be seated. Alright, we'll move right into public input. We've had four people sign up tonight, and that's great. We would love to hear from them. I just want to go over our rules real quick. We have five minutes by rule. We have this wonderful clock up here if you want to look at it. Green means go, go, go. Yellow is one minute left, and red is stop. We'll try not to be as mean as the Supreme Court can be at times if you run over the red lights. We'll uh if you're in the middle of a sentence, go ahead and finish your sentence, but let's try to be courteous to the people watching and the people that are in line. Remind everybody, this is a professional venue. We want to hear from you, but we don't want you up here doing anything unprofessional. So we know that you've got a reason for being here, and we want to hear it, like I said. First up will be Mr. John Law speaking on the consolidation of Oregon County Police Department and Ory County Sheriff's Office. Mr. Long. Good evening, Chairman. Mr. Chairman, thanks for having me to speak tonight. Again, my name's John Ruben Lawn II. I tell people that the jail and I were both named after the same person, my granddad. That doesn't get me any privilege or any extra things. Uh, just to know my family has been in this county for generations, and I love Ory County and I care about it. But an issue has arisen that's causing me great grief, and that's the issue that we have with Oregon County Police Department. Recently I've read four articles in the Wall Street Journal about our county being described as if we're still in the 1800s. It's described as a good old boy system, is corruption, there's scandals in law enforcement, and the good old boy system seems to be alive and well in Ory County. This has brought great embarrassment to me, to my family. I've had friends call me from out of state saying what's going on in Ori County. Law enforcement should be trusted. We should have confidence in law enforcement.

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