Editorials

The Horry County SWA and Mis-information

A meeting today between Horry County council members and members of the Horry County Legislative Delegation evolved through many points of discussion, reached no consensus on the issue of flow control of the county’s waste stream, but did address charges of mis-information about proposed state legislation.

The flow control issue is currently being debated at the state level as Senate Bill 514 makes its way through the legislative process. Horry County currently is the only county in the state to mandate flow control of its waste stream by county ordinance 02-09. The ordinance requires that all waste generated in the county must be disposed at the Horry County Solid Waste Authority landfill on Hwy 90, giving the SWA monopoly control over the county’s waste.

The state legislation, if enacted, states that an ordinance “is void to the extent that a county ordinance restricts solid waste disposal at a permitted site outside a county’s boundaries or impedes a recycling program.”

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New Policy Needed for County Transportation Committee Funds

The spotlight that shined last week on the controversial proposed paving of Goldmine Road illuminated the need for a new policy governing the way state transportation “C” funds are disbursed and used in Horry County.

“C” funds come from 2.66 cents of the 16 cents per gallon state tax on gasoline and are apportioned to the counties according to a formula established in state law. They are collected by the S.C. Department of Revenue and Taxation and are deposited in the County Transportation Fund in the state Treasury until they are disbursed.

According to state law, 25 percent of the funds must be spent on the state highway system for construction, maintenance or improvements of state roads. The remainder may be spent for paving or improving local roads, traffic and street signs, road resurfacing, sidewalk construction and drainage improvements.

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Reconsidering the AvCraft Bailout

Horry County Council could vote to reconsider the $100,000 economic development incentive package it approved at its December 13, 2011 regular meeting, according to an article published yesterday in the Myrtle Beach Sun News by reporter David Wren.

Council members voted to approve the incentive package for a code named business and did not realize the recipient was AvCraft Technical Services until publicly announced two weeks after the vote. After AvCraft was announced as the recipient in a press conference, some council members became incensed.

Since the controversy erupted, Myrtle Beach Regional Economic Development Corporation chief executive Brad Lofton and Mike Hill, Chief Operating Officer of AvCraft, have joined council chairman Tom Rice in trying to spin that the current version of AvCraft is a new company, not the same old one that has consistently failed to add new jobs to the area.

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Jobs, AvCraft and Rice for Congress

Reflecting further on Thursday’s announcement that the county and the state would combine to provide AvCraft Technical Services, Inc. with $200,000 of new incentives, I am offended. I can’t help but ask just how stupid county council chairman Tom Rice, Gov. Nikki Haley and officials of the Myrtle Beach Regional Economic Development Corporation think the citizens of Horry County are!

“I am thankful for the company’s commitment to Horry County and proud of our economic development team for this terrific announcement.” – Rice.

“It’s another great day in South Carolina, and we are going to celebrate AvCraft’s decision to expand and create 150 new jobs in Horry County.” – Haley.

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Are We Letting Our Children Down

A child has been violated.

Perhaps, it is the same child you have loved, given a kiss good night to or dreamed about how he or she would look in a football uniform or a cheerleading outfit.

However, an athletic surface is the last place where this child wants to be. Not after what has happened between this child and the coach they trusted.

The same coach that vowed to the child’s parents that he or she was going to take care of and protect their child.

And that is sickening.

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How Far Do We Still Have To Go?

The final shots of the Civil War sounded 146 years ago.

Brown vs. the Board was 57 years ago, and, 48 years ago, the famous” I Have a Dream” speech was delivered. However, one has to question just how far we haven’t come when it comes to racism in this country.

The actions of a select few at games at Triton Central Friday and at a high school in Tennessee have me wondering what exactly is going on when people think it’s “cool” to hurl racial slurs at the opposition.

It is absolutely disgraceful that, in 2011, some of us can’t see beyond the color of a person’s skin.

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Welcome to Grand Strand Daily, a Free Press

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people to peaceably assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” – First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
Of all ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution set forth in the Bill of Rights, the first is the one practiced daily by virtually all Americans. Freedom of religion, speech and the press, the right to assemble peaceably and to petition the government for a redress of grievances are what separate us, as Americans, from all other national groups.

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Federal and State Served Tort Claims Lawsuit

Service was completed yesterday for a federal lawsuit claiming, but not limited to, violations of the First, Fourth, Fifth, Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution by the U.S. Government, the State of South Carolina and Horry County.

Copies of the suit were served on the U.S. Government, the U.S. Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and 13 current or former FBI agents and the State of South Carolina, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and four current or former SLED agents (Mark Keel, Larry Gainey, Michael Prodan and David Caldwell) and Horry County and its police chief John Morgan.

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