County Council Takes Up Myrtle Beach Airport Deal Again

Posted on Thu, Feb. 19, 2004 
  
County Council Takes Up Airport Deal Again
Myrtle Beach Sun News, SC


'[The airport expansion] has been held up for years.
If the votes are there [to pass the deal], they'll be
there in two weeks.'

Horry County officials will try again today to discuss
and perhaps pass a proposed compromise meant to
resolve the county's well-worn aviation fight with
Myrtle Beach.

The council was poised to adopt the plan Tuesday, but
two councilmen blocked the discussion, using a rule
requiring unanimous council approval to add a
discussion to an agenda.

That forced Council Chairwoman Liz Gilland to call a
meeting today to discuss and probably vote on the
deal. Most council members are reluctant to pass the
compromise but see no other option if airport
expansion plans are to move forward.

The dispute centers on control of the city's former
aviation fund, which generates more than $1 million
per year from leases on city-owned campgrounds, and
the expansion of Myrtle Beach International Airport,
which is in the city but controlled by the county.
County leaders want to build a 14-gate terminal, but
city leaders fear further expansion could harm
residential quality of life.

The deal would:

Split the balance of the city's former aviation fund -
about $4.2 million - between the city and the county
and give 80 percent of future revenue for the airport;
20 percent would stay with the city.

Endorse the new terminal, with limits on future
growth, and plans to build a boat landing and extend
Harrelson Boulevard to Kings Highway.

Councilman Harold Worley said he worries the city will
use the money to bail out its struggling Radisson
Hotel. Worley and Councilman Paul Prince blocked the
vote Tuesday.

"I just believe it's the wrong thing to do," Worley
said.

Using the city's share of the money on the hotel was
part of the original proposal, but it was taken out
after county leaders objected. City Council is free to
use the money as it sees fit, according to city
spokesman Mark Kruea, especially since the fund and
all rules governing it were dissolved last month.

Worley said he would like time to discuss that detail
of the proposal and doesn't see the need to rush the
decision.

"[The airport expansion] has been held up for years,"
Worley said. "If the votes are there [to pass the
deal], they'll be there in two weeks."

The county's Airport Advisory Committee endorsed the
plan Wednesday. The city accepted it last week, and
County Council approved an earlier draft two weeks
ago. On Tuesday, the city Planning Commission reviewed
the terminal project.

Any further delay could jeopardize the new terminal's
planned spring 2007 opening, proponents of the plan
said.

"We're at a point where we have to move forward," said
County Councilman Mark Lazarus, one of the deal's
authors.

 

 Do you have an opinion about this story?
Share it with other readers in our CAA Discussion Forums

http://www.californiaaviation.org/dc/dcboard.php

*****************************************