Horry County council talks trash

The New Year brings new responsibilities and commitments for many newly-elected public officials.
 
Horry County welcomed back returning members and greeted some new ones at Tuesday’s Inauguration Ceremony in council chambers.

Gary Loftus, District 4, and Jody Prince, District 10, were sworn in as new members, while Marion Foxworth, District 3, Bob Grabowski, District 6, and Paul Prince, District 9 were all sworn in for new terms.

On the agenda were several issues that prompted some spirited debate.

Council members passed the first reading of Ordinance 02-09 that reads “regulating the county-wide collection and disposal of solid waste generated within Horry County and for the prohibition of the disposal of solid waste materials in any manner except as set for herein and providing penalties for violation thereof.”

Council Chair Liz Gilland said the item was placed on the agenda after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that said county’s can now have a say as to where their garbage goes.  Right now, Gilland said county’s have a responsibility for what happens to all the waste and garbage that is generated in the county as to whether it is trucked out or stored at a landfill.

John Abercrombie, the general manager of Sandlands C&D Landfill said if the county passes the ordinance, dumping fees will go up and businesses like his could be devalued.

Abercrombie said, “We’ve been conducting business as we do know for six or seven years and it’s never been an issue until the economy went south and at that point in time you’ve got a small revenue pool and everybody has to drink out of the same pool, it’s just everybody should get their fair share.”

Gilland said passing the first reading of the ordinance means council is going to dig deeper into the issue.  “We’re not interested in putting anybody out of business, hurting anybody’s business, we just want to get a handle on how the garbage flows in Horry County, where it goes and what we do with it because it’s fraught with pitfalls and we can be liable to serious lawsuits if things are done poorly.” said Gilland.

Council scheduled a workshop on the issue Jan. 20 at 6 p.m.

Also on Tuesday’s agenda, and item concerning Horry County’s Habitat for Humanity.
 
Council members approved the first reading of an ordinance for Habitat for Humanity to amend the official zoning maps.
 
Habitat wants to build about 30 homes in the proposed “Hopes Crossing” subdivision, off of S.C. Highway 905.
 
One man who lives in that area spoke out about the plan during the public input part of the meeting.
 
He said the new homes will create dangerous conditions on the roads.
 
The issue needs two more readings before any zoning maps can be changed.

Council also approved a series of resolutions about the Myrtle Beach International Airport.
 
Members passed three resolutions.
 
One would extend Harrelson Boulevard, another includes new details about a proposed new terminal and the third gives the go ahead for land swap negotiations that if successful would add more than 200 parking spots at the airport.

All three resolutions were presented to council by the firm hired to come up with a new terminal design plan.

Council’s next meeting is scheduled for Jan. 20.