Bailey Bill Would Revert County Policing to Sheriff’s Department

A bill introduced into the S. C. House of Representatives this week by North Myrtle Beach Rep. William Bailey would abolish the Horry County Police Department and return all county law enforcement duties to the Sheriff’s Department, if passed.
This is not a new issue in Horry County, only the latest iteration evolving from the recent revelations in the case of the 2023 fatal shooting of Scott Spivey by North Myrtle Beach business owner Weldon Boyd and the initial handling of the case by Horry County police officers.
By the provisions of the 1895 Constitution of South Carolina, the elected County Sheriff is the chief law enforcement officer in each of the state’s 46 counties. However, through the years, the members of the General Assembly found a way around this provision by passing individual bills establishing police commissions, appointed by the respective county’s legislative delegation, to oversee policing in the county. These commissions established county police departments to assume many of the duties of the county’s Sheriff. At one time, as many as 19 counties in the state had police departments separate from the Sheriff’s Department. Today, only the Horry County Police Department remains.
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Amending the State Impact Fee Law Would be Real Government Effectiveness

Earlier this month, Rep. William Bailey (R-104) posted the following on his Facebook page to his constituents in Horry County:
“As the federal and state governments start to review and reform their financial responsibilities to our taxpayers, I strongly encourage local governments to begin a process of enhancing infrastructure projects, limiting governmental expansion, and encouraging and assisting small businesses as they struggle with related inflation that negatively impacts us all. Every dollar should be a wise investment for our future but more importantly, they should be dollars that improve our economic stability.”
Bailey has generally done a good job representing his constituents in the North Myrtle Beach area. One thing he could do to further help all the citizens in Horry County would be to sponsor a bill to amend the state’s current impact fee law to help local governments correctly apportion the costs of infrastructure improvements and additions caused by new construction.
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The Twelve Days of Christmas

What in the world do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans and especially the partridge who won’t come out of a pear tree have to do with the Twelve Days of Christmas?

From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this Carol as a catechism song for young Catholics.

The song has two levels of meaning:

The Partridge in a Pear Tree was Jesus Christ.

Two Turtle Doves were the Old and New Testaments.

Three French Hens stood for Faith, Hope and Love.

The Four Calling Birds were the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

The Five Golden Rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.

The Six Geese A-Laying stood for the six days of Creation.

Seven Swans A-Swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit – Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership and Mercy.

The Eight Maids A-Milking were the eight beatitudes.

Nine Ladies Dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit – Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self Control.

The Ten Lords A-Leaping were the Ten Commandments.

The Eleven Pipers Piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.

The Twelve Drummers Drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles’ Creed.

Rodney Berry’s Vision for Senate District 30

Republican candidate Rodney Berry will square off against five-term incumbent Democrat Kent Willians in tomorrow’s election for SC Senate District 30.
Berry brings a unique set of qualifications and experience to the race which could help pull District 30 up from its current economic problems. He is a past mayor of Marion, a former Administrator of Dillon County government, has 10 years of experience working with Congress and is currently a contractor for economic development for Dillon County.
“For the past 20 years the two main counties in this Senate District have ranked in the top 5 poorest counties in South Carolina,” Berry said. “We can’t keep accepting losing and finishing at the bottom.”
Berry was a principal negotiator in the economic development initiative that resulted in the Dillon Inland Port which has provided over 2,000 new jobs to date. He plans to use his experience in economic development initiatives to benefit the entirety of District 30.
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The RIDE IV Ballot Question – Do You Want Road Improvements or Not?

The decision by voters on Tuesday on whether to approve the RIDE IV referendum for road improvements in Horry County may be the most important decision they make on the general election ballot.
Unlike the politicians for whom they decide to cast a ballot, politicians who will pass with time, the roads, which will be built if the referendum is approved, will serve not only the present generation of voters but also future generations. Or Not!
Horry County Council chose to ask voters to approve a 25-year, one-cent sales tax to raise approximately $6.6 billion for road improvements and additions. It is currently estimated that Horry County is deficient to the tune of approximately $4.5 billion in road improvements needed to service today’s needs and population. Approval of the 25-year referendum will allow the county to issue bonds, funded by future revenues, to speed up construction of needed improvements. Former RIDE projects were funded on a pay as you go basis.
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