OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Horry County Council Regular Meeting - August 18, 2026

County Council — Tuesday, August 18, 2026
BodyHorry County, South Carolina
SessionCounty Council
DateTuesday, August 18, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 41:11

Transcript — Verbatim
0:02

Council meeting for August 18, 2026.

0:04

We call it on time so we can end on time.

0:07

We started the way we do all of our meetings with an invitation tonight by Mr.

0:11

Anderson, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Dr.

0:13

Dukes.

0:14

If I can get everyone to please stand.

0:25

Gracious Heavenly Father, thank you for the opportunity to come together tonight to work on the people's business.

0:31

The father, we ask for blessings that we um we just don't deserve.

0:36

Your father, we ask for blessings on our public safety, or all of our people to work for the county to try to serve the citizens.

0:45

The father, I ask for wisdom for the council.

0:48

I ask with patience, for the council, and from the people.

0:51

All these things I ask in your holy name.

0:54

Amen.

0:59

I pledge.

1:12

Thank you.

1:13

Please be seated.

1:18

Moving right along, we have public input.

1:20

Before we get started, I we have a lot of people signed up today.

1:24

We want to hear from everybody that signed up.

1:28

I'm sure y'all want to hear them too, because there's a big crowd here.

1:31

Um we want to hear from you.

1:36

Uh this is not a place for to be yelling and blueing and calling names and things like us, just like you would if you were stating your case or whatever your case is.

1:45

By rule, it's five minutes.

1:46

We have this nice clock system here that can help you with that.

1:51

Beg your pardon?

1:53

Okay, thank you.

1:55

I'll do the best I can.

1:57

Um I guess that works two ways.

2:00

Okay, thank you.

2:01

I guess it works two ways.

2:02

We want to hear y'all, and uh and I didn't know y'all wanted to hear us.

2:05

Okay, good.

2:07

So this clock system will keep us on track.

2:10

It's only uh by rule, we got 30 minutes to do this whole thing, and by rule, everybody gets five minutes.

2:16

So green is go, go, go.

2:17

Yellow is you got one minute left, and red is your time is up.

2:21

Now, if you're in the middle of a sentence, finish your sentence by all means, once upon a and then stop.

2:27

We want to hear what happened, but don't turn the page and start into another chapter, okay?

2:31

I've seen it all, I've seen everything that y'all can do tonight, and just want to keep everybody on track because we've got a lot of stuff to cover.

2:37

So we'll start out with Jennifer Elvis on mobile vets.

2:45

Hi.

2:46

Hi.

2:51

Perfect.

2:52

Hi, my name is Jennifer Elvis, and I thank you guys for having me today.

2:57

I recently started a rescue called By the Beach Animal Rescue.

3:01

I've been in rescue for about eight years.

3:04

The reason why I started rescue is because of the purpose of helping dogs in the community to find safe and responsible and loving homes.

3:12

When I started this rescue, I knew there would be some challenges.

3:15

I knew there would be veterinary bills, foster homes needed, food supplies, and countless hours of work.

3:22

What I did not fully understand was just how many people would turn to one small rescue because they have nowhere else to go.

3:29

Since putting my phone number and my address on my website and Facebook page, I have had countless people come to my house with dogs that want to enter surrender.

3:40

Not to mention, as I'm at work, I've had people come and bring the ring doorbell, and at my desk as an office manager of a medical office, we have to tell people that I cannot take the dog.

3:51

I am not a brick and mortar.

3:53

It is my home, and I put that to take donations so that people can leave things so I can get the rescue started.

3:59

Because of all this, we have a huge problem.

4:02

The problem is that people cannot afford to spay and their dogs.

4:07

They cannot afford to spay a neuter, which also extends to unexpected litters.

4:14

They call because they no longer can afford the pet, because the dog has behaved behavior problems.

4:20

And fortunately, some people just want someone else for the responsibility, and they no longer want their dog.

4:26

First, we need to have more access to affordable spay and neuter.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural████████████████████████████28%
Engineering And Infrastructure███████████████████19%
Personnel Matters█████████████████17%
Environmental Protection█████████████13%
Public Safety█████████9%
Animal Welfare████████8%
Technology and Innovation████4%
Affordable Housing██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Horry County Council Regular Meeting – August 18, 2026

The Horry County Council held its regular meeting on August 18, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers. The meeting included public comment, recognition of employees with 30 years of service, a resolution honoring County Administrator Barry Spivey, and the approval of numerous ordinances and resolutions, including a major development agreement with Pulte Home Company and several zoning map amendments.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved by unanimous vote: the consent agenda included 34 items covering third-read ordinances (e.g., quit-claim deed releases, lease agreements, zoning amendments), first-read ordinances (joint industrial park with Georgetown County, comprehensive plan update for Industrial Corridors, airport leases), resolutions (product development funds, accommodations tax budgets, road dedications, board appointments, and community benefit fund allocations).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Jennifer Elvis (By the Beach Animal Rescue) called for more accessible spay/neuter services, stronger penalties for irresponsible breeding and animal abandonment, and better enforcement of at-large dog violations. She urged the council to consider mobile spay/neuter clinics and income-based services.
  • Charles Hooks (lifelong resident) raised concerns about oversight and accountability of Flock automated license plate reader cameras, asking who audits searches, which agencies have access, how long data is retained, and whether independent oversight exists. Chairman Gardner noted that Councilman Hardee would take up the issue at the next Public Safety Committee meeting in October.
  • Ann Kirsch, Morris Hartman, and Robert Brustman (Surfside Beach Club residents) spoke on Ordinance 73-2026 (Pulte development agreement). They acknowledged receiving a clarifying email from staff but expressed residual concerns about noise, traffic congestion, flooding, environmental impacts, and lack of accurate public maps. They requested continued transparency and accurate project information.

Discussion Items

  • Ordinance 73-2026 (Pulte Home Company – Pine Ridge Residential Tract): After public comment, Council debated and approved two amendments: one from the packet and another from a handout. The final ordinance passes third reading, authorizing a development agreement that limits the tract to 2,000 residential units (down from 2,506), provides for a connection of Carolina Bays Parkway to Highway 17 Bypass, and includes contributions for road improvements and a recreation center expansion.
  • Ordinance 10-2026 (Official Map Amendment – Carolina Bays Parkway): Second reading approved with an amendment from the handout, adding right-of-way from Highway 707 to Highway 17 Bypass to the Official Index Map.

Key Outcomes

  • Third Reading Approvals (all unanimous unless noted):
    • Ordinance 65-2026: Amended Chapter 15, Article VI (Development Agreements) with an amendment.
    • Ordinance 25-2026: Amended Article VIII, Section 809 (Highway 17 Business South Overlay Zone) with an amendment.
    • Ordinance 73-2026: Approved development agreement with Pulte Home Company, as amended twice.
  • Second Reading Approvals (all unanimous) :
    • Ordinances 74-2026 and 75-2026: Future Land Use Map amendment from Suburban to Mixed Use and rezoning from Highway Commercial to Multi-Residential (MRD3) for PINS 44105010095, 44105010096, 44105010097, and 44105040009.
    • Ordinances 76-2026 through 81-2026: Rezoning requests for various parcels (ATM Property Group, GLC Holdings, Brandon Tray Andrew, Budd T. Trammel et al., H.D. One LLC, Hunter Dennis Brown et al.).
  • Solid Waste Authority Board Appointment: Steven Neeves won the ballot vote for the one open position.
  • Recognitions: 30-year service awards presented to Lynn Baker (40 years) and Liz Orlando (30 years); Resolution R-89-2026 recognizing Barry Spivey as GFOA Outstanding Professional of the Year.
  • Consent Agenda: All items passed unanimously, including approval of minutes, appointments, and numerous resolutions.
  • Memorial Dedications: Council members read names of deceased community members and public servants.
  • Next Meetings: Scheduled for September 1, 2026, 6:00 p.m. (Council Meeting); committee meetings as listed in the agenda.

Meeting Transcript

Council meeting for August 18, 2026. We call it on time so we can end on time. We started the way we do all of our meetings with an invitation tonight by Mr. Anderson, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Dr. Dukes. If I can get everyone to please stand. Gracious Heavenly Father, thank you for the opportunity to come together tonight to work on the people's business. The father, we ask for blessings that we um we just don't deserve. Your father, we ask for blessings on our public safety, or all of our people to work for the county to try to serve the citizens. The father, I ask for wisdom for the council. I ask with patience, for the council, and from the people. All these things I ask in your holy name. Amen. I pledge. Thank you. Please be seated. Moving right along, we have public input. Before we get started, I we have a lot of people signed up today. We want to hear from everybody that signed up. I'm sure y'all want to hear them too, because there's a big crowd here. Um we want to hear from you. Uh this is not a place for to be yelling and blueing and calling names and things like us, just like you would if you were stating your case or whatever your case is. By rule, it's five minutes. We have this nice clock system here that can help you with that. Beg your pardon? Okay, thank you. I'll do the best I can. Um I guess that works two ways. Okay, thank you. I guess it works two ways. We want to hear y'all, and uh and I didn't know y'all wanted to hear us. Okay, good. So this clock system will keep us on track. It's only uh by rule, we got 30 minutes to do this whole thing, and by rule, everybody gets five minutes. So green is go, go, go. Yellow is you got one minute left, and red is your time is up. Now, if you're in the middle of a sentence, finish your sentence by all means, once upon a and then stop. We want to hear what happened, but don't turn the page and start into another chapter, okay? I've seen it all, I've seen everything that y'all can do tonight, and just want to keep everybody on track because we've got a lot of stuff to cover. So we'll start out with Jennifer Elvis on mobile vets. Hi. Hi. Perfect. Hi, my name is Jennifer Elvis, and I thank you guys for having me today. I recently started a rescue called By the Beach Animal Rescue. I've been in rescue for about eight years. The reason why I started rescue is because of the purpose of helping dogs in the community to find safe and responsible and loving homes. When I started this rescue, I knew there would be some challenges. I knew there would be veterinary bills, foster homes needed, food supplies, and countless hours of work. What I did not fully understand was just how many people would turn to one small rescue because they have nowhere else to go.

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