Horry Councilman Holds Up Vote on Myrtle Beach International Airport Proposal

Posted on Wed, Feb. 18, 2004 
 
Horry Councilman Holds Up Vote on Airport Proposal
Myrtle Beach Sun News, SC


Horry County Councilman Harold Worley used council
rules Tuesday to delay the vote on a proposal to end
the fight between the county and Myrtle Beach over
aviation funds and the airport.

The council was poised to approve it Tuesday, but
because the airport vote was not an official agenda
item, it required unanimous council approval to be
added. Worley voted against it, over objections from
other council members and Myrtle Beach Mayor Mark
McBride.

Councilman Paul Prince sided with Worley.

Two weeks ago, Prince and Worley voted against an
earlier draft of the plan, the latest version of which
was approved by the city last week.

The deal would split the balance from the city's
former aviation fund - about $4.2 million - between
the city and the county, and give 80 percent of future
revenue to the airport.

The deal also would endorse plans for a 14-gate
terminal at Myrtle Beach International Airport, with
limits on future growth.

The deal also backs plans to build a boat landing and
extend Harrelson Boulevard to Kings Highway.

Worley objects to the division of the fund, which was
dissolved last month. He said he worries the city will
use the money to bail out its struggling Radisson
Hotel.

McBride said he will fight any attempt to use the
city's share of the money on the hotel, and other city
leaders have said they don't plan to use the money
that way. McBride and County Councilman Mark Lazarus,
one of the plan's authors, pleaded with Worley to
reconsider.

"All we're doing is delaying a process we're already
behind on," Lazarus said.

Business leaders who attended Tuesday's meeting hoping
to see the deal passed said the long dispute is
threatening the airport expansion.


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