Atlantic Beach officials say town continues to operate

The town of Atlantic Beach in not being shut down, that’s according to mayor pro-tem Charlene Taylor.

Taylor’s statement comes one day after a special called meeting at town hall in which interim town manager Charles Williams said because town council could not make a decision about the sale of surplus property, he would be forced to shut the town down.

Wednesday, Williams told News13 the property in question, a lot on 31st Avenue South, had been sold.  Williams said the town is hoping to close the deal immediately.

Taylor said the town will have enough money for payroll this week and they are making ends meet right now.

Williams, who has been interim town manager since the end of March, was brought in by Municipal Association of South Carolina to help with the town’s finances.

Williams said he’s put the town on a good spending plan and if they stay on it, the town should finish next year with a surplus.

Right now, Williams said the town still owes a significant amount of legal fees; he would not give a specific number, but says it is in the six figures.  He also says the town still owes the state retirement system, Santee Cooper, and a couple of other small businesses.

Taylor has told News13 the town intends to continue to have the Memorial Weekend Bike Fest because the town can’t afford not to have the rallies and she said the people who live there say they want the rally to continue, so that’s what Atlantic Beach elected officials will do.

Williams told News13 the Bike Fest is not consistent with the vision of the town’s founders, which he said is an affordable, friendly, family-oriented community.  Williams said the bike fest is not a considerable source of revenue.  He said in 2006, the town lost $150,000, on the Bike Fest and in 2007, the town lost $88,000.  Williams said this past Memorial Weekend was the first time in three years the town made a profit on the Bike Fest, $30,000, which he said is a drop in the bucket.

Williams said there will be a special called meeting Tuesday, September 23.  He said the focus of the meeting will be to discuss a contract with North Myrtle Beach.  Williams said one of the agreements he hopes to get approved is a proposal to open 30th Avenue South and Ocean Boulevard.  In exchange, he plans to ask the city of North Myrtle Beach to provide law enforcement for the town.  When asked about what would happen to the Atlantic Beach police force, Williams said, “We’ll cross that when we get to it.”

Count on News13 to keep you covered as this story develops.