Public news and announcements are brought to you by the Horry County Public Information Office.
On October 23, 2020 in Weekly Update
[Revised 10/26/2020-Revised Administration Committee agenda & packet]
Upcoming Meetings
Meeting attendees are encouraged to wear a face-covering when entering the building and when social distancing is not possible or practical.
Infrastructure & Regulation Committee
Tuesday, October 27, 2020, 9 a.m.
Click here to view and download the agenda or here for the packet.
Keep Horry County Beautiful
Tuesday, October 27, 2020, 11:30 a.m.
Administration Committee
Tuesday, October 27, 2020, 2 p.m.
The following meeting will take place virtually and will be broadcast on the Horry County Government website as well as the Government Access Channel (Spectrum/Time Warner channel 1301 or Horry Telephone Cooperative Channel 14).
Planning Commission Workshop
Thursday, October 29, 2020, 3 p.m.
The following meeting will take place virtually via Webex (instructions below). Please note these links will not work until the meeting date/time.
Local Emergency Planning Committee
Thursday, October 29, 2020, 10 a.m.
Click here to view and download the agenda.
Click here to contact Jason Lehman for information on how to join the meeting.
Horry County Voter's Registration & Elections Office To Be Open On Saturday
The Horry County Voter’s Registration & Elections office located at 1515 4th Avenue in Conway will be open for absentee in person voting from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, October 24, 2020, and Saturday, October 31, 2020, ahead of the November 3, 2020, General Election. Please note, this is the only location open on these Saturdays for absentee in person voting and absentee ballot drop off.
Voters who prefer to vote absentee in person will enter the facility, complete the provided absentee voting application, and then vote. Voters are urged to visit www.scvotes.gov to ensure that their information is correct prior to arrival. Additionally, absentee in person voters will need to have proper photo identification. Voters are reminded to be patient as safety protocols may cause the process to be slightly slower.
For more information, visit www.scvotes.gov or contact the Horry County Voter’s Registration & Elections office at (843) 915-5440.
Registration and Elections to Conduct Scanner Test
The Horry County Election Commission will be conducting a routine test of the scanner used to count absentee ballots on Election Day, November 3, 2020. The test will be conducted on Friday, October 30, 2020, at 8 a.m. in the Registration & Elections Office located at 1515 4th Avenue in Conway.
For further information, contact Horry County Registration & Elections at 843-915-5440.
Community Tree Planting Event at the Michael Morris Graham Park
As part of Community Planning Month, the Horry County Parks & Open Space Board, Horry County Parks & Recreation and Keep Horry County Beautiful will hold a Community Tree Planting at the Michael Morris Graham Park in Aynor on Friday, November 6, 2020, at 9 a.m. The tree planting was made possible through a grant of 70-trees from PalmettoPride (some of which will be planted at Michael Morris Graham Park). Additional landscaping items (plants, mulch, etc) will be placed thanks to an additional grant from PalmettoPride that was awarded to Keep Horry County Beautiful. The event is free and open to the public.
For more information, contact Horry County Planning & Zoning at (843) 915-5340.
Horry County Government COVID19 Operations Update
Following the guidance from Governor McMaster and state agencies, Horry County will allow public access to its buildings with the best safety practices being implemented. Safety measures will include:
To help alleviate crowding in public areas, Horry County encourages individuals to continue to do business online and over the phone with county departments where possible. Horry County will continue to phase into operations as conditions permit, and ask for patience if wait times exist.
Anyone planning to visit a County building should be prepared to check in with staff located at the entrance to the facility. Visitors may be asked to wait outside the office or facility depending on the capacity of the facility.
County officials remind everyone to continue to follow CDC and S.C. DHEC safety guidelines as well as Governor McMaster’s executive orders that remain in effect.
Juror selection has resumed with precautions in place.
All local Magistrate Offices are open to the public for filings and court.
Central Traffic Court is open as well as is the Central Jury Court. Central Jury will only be receiving guilty pleas, so the public will not be required to serve jury duty.
Preliminary hearings will be resumed October 30, 2020.
On September 4, 2020 in Weekly Update
Labor Day Holiday
Monday, September 7, 2020
All County government offices, except public safety operations, will be closed in observance of Labor Day.
Public Safety Committee
Tuesday, September 8, 2020, 9 a.m.
Parks & Open Space Board
Tuesday, September 8, 2020, 12 pm.
Click here to view and download the agenda or here for the packet
Transportation/Economic Development Committee
Thursday, September 10, 2020, 2 p.m.
Eddy Lake Cemetery Sign Unveiling Ceremony
Thursday, September 10, 2020, at 6:30 p.m.
Join Horry County officials on Thursday, September 10, 2020, at 6:30 p.m. for the Eddy Lake Cemetery Sign Unveiling at the Grand Strand Water & Sewer treatment plant site.
Eddy Lake Cemetery is on the historic register, and with permission from Grand Strand Water & Sewer Authority, the cemetery is in the process of being recovered and restored.
Traffic control signs will be posted along Bucksport Road to provide directions to the ceremony.
Afterschool Programming: Registration Now Open
Starting September 8th, Horry County Parks and Recreation is offering Afterschool programming (AFS) at the following locations: Carolina Forest Recreation Center, South Strand Recreation Center, North Strand Recreation Center, Bucksport Community Center, and the Green Sea Senior Center.
AFS programming will run Monday-Friday from 2:45 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Each site will be limited to 24 total participants, and enhanced safety measures will be put in place.
Alongside Horry County Schools, Horry County Parks and Recreation is following SC DHEC’s Levels of Disease Activity guidelines.
To register or learn more about HCPR's AFS program, please visit ParksAndRec.horrycounty.org or contact the location directly.
Complete the 2020 Census Today
The 2020 Census is more than a count. Census information is used to determine funding for roads and infrastructure, education, housing, health care, public safety, and more. All you have to do is answer a few questions about you and everyone who is or will be living with you. This year, you can respond online, by phone, or by mail. If you haven’t already, do your part and complete the census at www.my2020census.gov.
Preliminary hearings have been canceled until further notice.
On August 14, 2020 in Weekly Update
[Revised 08.17.20-County Council agenda revised]
[Revised 08.18.20-Added Forfeited Land Commission meeting & agenda.]
[Revised 08.19.20-Added agenda packet for Welcome Back Committee.]
Board of Architectural Review
Tuesday, August 18, 2020, 2:30 p.m.
County Council
Tuesday, August 18, 2020, 6 p.m.
The August 18th Council Meeting will take place in-person in Council Chambers. Social separation protocols will be enforced and seating will be very limited. Overflow space will be available to accommodate public viewing. Attendees are encouraged to wear a face-covering when entering the building and in Council Chambers. The meeting will be broadcast on the Horry County Government website as well as Spectrum/Time Warner channel 1301 or Horry Telephone Cooperative channel 14.
IMPORTANT NOTICE CONCERNING PUBLIC COMMENT
Public Comment will be taken ONLY on items scheduled for a public hearing. See the list below.
Members of the public will have an opportunity to provide public comment via telephone on the items having a public hearing. You must sign up in advance to speak on public hearing by 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 18, 2020. You will receive a call during the meeting and patched into the meeting when the item on which you wish to speak comes up on the agenda. You can sign up by calling Pat Hartley in the Council Office at (843) 915-5120, or by emailing hartleyp@horrycounty.org. You can also provide written comments to be provided to each Council member at the same email, hartleyp@horrycounty.org. The Public Input segment that is held at the beginning of each meeting remains suspended until further notice.
Public Hearings that are scheduled for August 18th include:
The following Ordinances to approve the request to amend the official zoning maps (rezonings):
Ord 70-2020 Rowe Professional Services Co., agent for Burroughs Brothers Properties Inc.
Ord 71-2020 Keane McLaughlin, agent for Shark Investments LLC
Ord 72-2020 DDC Engineers, agent for Wake Stone Corporation
Ord 73-2020 Robert Turner, agent for Hawksbill Lake LLC
Ordinance 61-2020 to establish procedures for the Comprehensive Plan adoption & amendment process within Chapter 15 of the County Code.
Ordinance 62-2020 to amend the County Code pertaining to zoning amendments.
Ordinance 63-2020 to amend the County Code pertaining to campers and recreation vehicles used as temporary living accommodations.
Ordinance 64-2020 to amend the County Code pertaining to High Bulk Retail and Open Yard Storage.
Ordinance 65-2020 to amend the Commercial Forest/Agriculture District of the County Code pertaining to veterinary offices, animal hospitals, and/or boarding facilities.
Ordinance 66-2020 to amend various sections of the County Code pertaining to the Horry County Board of Architectural Review & Historical Preservation.
Ordinance 67-2020 approving the abandonment, conveyance, and removal from the county’s drainage system of a portion of a ditch located adjacent Simpson Creek Drive, and authorizing the administrator to execute a quit-claim deed.
Ordinance 69-2020 approving & authorizing the county administrator to execute Modification Number One to the lease agreement with Allen Aviation, Inc. for use of an aviation fuel storage tank at Conway-Horry County Airport.
Ordinance 74-2020 amending the County Code so as to provide for standards for the infant cabana exception to the prohibition of tents along the beaches in unincorporated Horry County.
Forfeited Land Commission
Thursday, August 20, 2020, 9:30 a.m.
Welcome Back Committee
Thursday, August 20, 2020, 10:30 a.m.
Click here to view and download the agenda packet.
Keep Horry County Beautiful Supports #Grab a Bucket SC
Contact Keep Horry County Beautiful to grab a bucket and pick up litter in your community. You can participate by picking up one bucket of litter in your neighborhood, park, or other public space. Then put that litter in your trash or recycling bin. Date and sign the bucket with a permanent marker and pass it on to someone else who wants to join the challenge or return it to the County. Feel free to post a photo of you holding the bucket full of litter using #GrabABucketSC and #KeepHorryCountyBeautiful. Don’t forget to report your pickup to keephorrycountybeautiful@horrycounty.org or by calling Katie Moore at (843) 915-5340. You can pick up a bucket at the Horry County Planning & Zoning Office located in the Government & Justice Center, 1301 Second Avenue, in Conway.
Palmetto Pride (Keep South Carolina Beautiful) launched the #Grab a Bucket SC program as a statewide litter pick-up challenge. The program will continue until October 18, 2020, as it coincides with the national Great American Cleanup activities of Keep America Beautiful.
#Grab A Bucket brochure
On July 17, 2020 in Weekly Update
Tuesday, July 21, 2020, 2 p.m.
Library Board
Thursday, July 23, 2020, 4:30 p.m.
Board of Assessment Appeals
Thursday, July 23, 2020, 4 p.m.
Horry County Flood Resiliency Virtual Seminar Series Reminder
Horry County Government is hosting a seven-week virtual seminar series on flood mitigation and resiliency as a component of the flood resiliency plan. The virtual seminars take place each Wednesday at 4 p.m. from July 1st to August 12th, 2020. A schedule of topics for discussion is available here and below.
The purpose of the seminars is to provide resources and a venue for community members to ask questions about relevant programs and topics. The series will culminate with an update on the Horry County Resiliency Plan. A variety of County department leaders, as well as State and Federal agency representatives, plan to participate in the series.
The seminars are broadcast live on the Horry County Government Facebook Page, Government Access Channel (Spectrum/Time Warner channel 1301 or Horry Telephone Cooperative Channel 14), and on the County website at horrycounty.org/resiliencyproject. The format for each session includes one or two presentations followed by an opportunity for virtual attendees to submit questions. The question and answer session will be moderated. Each session is planned to last about an hour.
Participants can submit questions during the seminar by texting (843) 502-0033 (message and data rates may apply) or by emailing resiliencyproject@horrycounty.org. Users watching the seminar on the Horry County Government Facebook page can submit their questions in the comments section of the live video feed.
Information and updates will be available at horrycounty.org/resiliencyproject.
Following the guidance from Governor McMaster and state agencies, Horry County will allow public access to its buildings with best safety practices being implemented. Safety measures will include:
Jurors called by the Horry County Clerk of Court are excused through the end of July.
Central Traffic Court in Conway is open as well as is the Central Jury Court. Central Jury will only be receiving guilty pleas, so the public will not be required to serve jury duty.
On May 29, 2020 in Emergencies, Weekly Update
Horry County Council and County Council Committees will resume in-person meetings beginning next week. Social distancing protocols will be enforced and seating will be limited. Overflow space will be set up to accommodate public viewing. Attendees are encouraged to wear a face-covering when entering the building and when social distancing is not possible or practical. Public input for County Council and County Council Committee meetings remains suspended until further notice.
The meeting will also be broadcast, as usual, on the Government Access television channels and horrycounty.org website.
Click to watch the video remotely.
Tuesday, June 2, 2020, 6 p.m.
The June 2nd Council Meeting will take place in-person in Council Chambers. Social separation protocols will be enforced and seating will be very limited. Overflow space will be available to accommodate public viewing. Attendees are encouraged to wear a face-covering when entering the building and in Council Chambers. The meeting will be broadcast on the Horry County Government website as well as Spectrum/Time Warner channel 1301 or Horry Telephone Cooperative channel 14.
Members of the public will have an opportunity to provide public comment via telephone on the items having public hearing. You must sign up in advance to speak on public hearing by 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 2, 2020. You can sign up by calling Pat Hartley in the Council Office at (843) 915-5120, or by emailing hartleyp@horrycounty.org. You can also provide written comments to be provided to each Council member at the same email, hartleyp@horrycounty.org.
Public Hearings that are scheduled for June 2 include:
Requests to amend the official zoning maps: (rezonings)
The Public Input segment that is held at the beginning of each meeting remains suspended until further notice.
Planning Commission
Thursday, June 4, 2020, 5:30 p.m.
Horry County Parks & Recreation To Resume Athletic Activities & Youth Programming
In line with the Governor’s directive, athletic fields will reopen for practice on Sunday, May 31, 2020. Competitive sports will be able to resume outdoor play on June 15, 2020. Horry County Parks and Recreation staff met with the leagues’ organizers to review the guidelines for Re-opening County, Municipal, and School Athletic Fields & Resuming Youth Sports Events developed by AccelerateSC and recommended by the Governor.
Horry County Parks and Recreation youth soccer leagues at South Strand Recreation Center, Carolina Forest Recreation Center, and Aynor area will begin practice the week of June 15, 2020. There are still spaces available in these programs.
Parks and Recreation will also resume summer camp programming for children ages 5 to 12 beginning Monday, June 8, 2020. In addition to enhanced sanitation protocols, camps will be limited to smaller capacities. In order to facilitate best practices for social distancing, campers will be placed into small cohorts that will rotate through the day’s activities. As of today, there are a limited number of spaces left for enrollment.
In addition, playgrounds are now open, but visitors are reminded to continue to follow SCDHEC and CDC guidance which includes frequent handwashing and proper social distancing.
Parks and Recreation centers will reopen for basketball, pickleball, and exercise classes on Saturday, June 13, 2020. In order to accommodate summer programming, the facilities will only be open for these activities on Saturdays through the summer months. Due to the reduction of operating hours at the Recreation Centers, staff is beginning to work through a refund process for pass holders. Every pass issued will be examined and a pro-rated refund will be issued based on how many months were remaining on each pass after February. Centers will transition to only having daily use and individual class fees until summer camp ends and normal operating hours resume.
Facility rentals will also be available on Saturdays with occupancy limits to ensure proper social distancing. Picnic shelter rentals will resume on a normal schedule with social distancing requirements.
To enroll your child in a summer camp or sports league program, please visit https://www.horrycounty.org/Departments/ParksAndRecreation or call (843) 915-5330.
Adventure is Calling! South Carolina State Park Passes Available for Loan at County Libraries
Horry County Memorial Library is now loaning South Carolina State Park Passes! Reserve one online with your library card or call any of our 10 locations. The State Park Pass provides unlimited entry to all South Carolina State Parks for everyone in the pass holder’s vehicle.
One library cardholder per household can borrow a single pass for a period of two-weeks. Choose your own adventure by exploring all the library’s resources! Guidebooks are also available at your local library – explore all the best hiking, paddling, and camping in the great State of South Carolina!
To obtain a library card or for more information please visit any of our 10 locations, call 843-915-7323, or email HCML@horrycounty.org.
Reminders for the June 9th Primary Election
South Carolina will hold a Primary Election Tuesday, June 9, 2020. Polls in Horry County will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and will be utilizing enhanced safety protocols for voters and staff.
Interested voters can also vote in-person Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Horry County Voter's Registration, Elections & CDBG complex located at 1515 4th Avenue in Conway. Additionally, the Voter's Registration & Elections office will be open for in-person voting Saturday, June 6, 2020, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Enhanced safety protocols will also be in place.
Those with absentee ballots may drop them off at the Voter's Registration, Elections, & CDBG complex until 7 p.m. on Election night using the drop-box to the right of the front doors.
For more information, contact Horry County Voter's Registration & Elections at (843) 915-5440.
Horry County Government's administrative, public safety, Living History Farm, Museum, and library facilities remain open to the public the week of June 1-5, 2020.
Anyone planning to visit a County building during the initial re-opening phase should be prepared to check in with staff located at the entrance to the facility. Visitors may be asked to wait outside the office or facility depending on the capacity of the facility.
Jury Court for Circuit Court is canceled the week of June 1st. Jurors called by the Horry County Clerk of Court are excused through the end of July.
Central Traffic Court in Conway will reopen on June 8, 2020. The court is sending out notices to members of the public that need to appear requiring them to appear at a selected time to help manage the social distancing requirements.
Central Jury Court will reopen on June 8, 2020, however, the Court will only be receiving guilty pleas, so the public will not be required to serve jury duty.
Preliminary Hearings will resume on June 19, 2020, and like Central Traffic Court hearings will be spaced out over the course of the entire day with all parties having a specific time to appear.
Your username was successfully changed. You must now sign back into the site with your new username for the changes to take effect.