By Jim Hulen, North Myrtle Beach Online.com

SEPTEMBER 23, 2009 LITTLE RIVER, SC ― The Community Coalition of Little River (CCLR) is a non-profit community service organization focusing on concerns of their unincorporated community.  On September 21st, the CCLR hosted their second roundtable meeting with state and county officials representing their citizens.  Bob Weldon and Sherry Higginbottom co-chair the CCLR.

Over 100 people attended the meeting to hear and ask questions of Horry County Councilman Harold Worley, SC State Senator Dick Elliott and SC State Representative Tracy Edge.  The event was moderated by Paul Gable, free lance writer and writer for Veterans Herald.

Transportation through Little River

State Senator Dick Elliott highlighted that “In 1988 I made the effort to have Hwy 9 upgraded to 4-lane status for 35 miles inland and that was the beginning of building roads in the grand strand. Prior to [widening Hwy 9] it was about 35 years before we had any help from Columbia.  We are on the verge of getting a contract for a portion of I73 to extend from I95 outside of Dillon to Latta - a distance of about 7.5 miles including an interchange.  Then I will be back on Hwy 9 to 4-lane it to I95 – a cost estimated to be around $150 million.  That is a project I intend to push very hard on and identify some funds.”

Elliott went on to say that he believed that an extension of I74 in North Carolina to Hwy 31 was important so that there would be a bypass to Little River “so it won’t be so crowded.”

Recalling when the two-state cooperation was made, Elliott said, “Being in room when the agreement reached in a hotel room in Myrtle Beach between the head commissioners of the North Carolina DOT and the SC DOT was historic. I recall the NC commissioner rising and saying ‘Folks we have an agreement. We will have I 74 ready when you get there.’”

SC State Representative Edge commented, “We are fortunate to have the first leg built.  It is easy to get on Hwy 31 from Little River. There is a lot of activity to extend [Hwy 31] in the south, but it is better to extend Hwy 31 northward.”  

Edge pointed out that the result would probable be a limited access highway providing a bypass for Little River.

Continuing Edge said, “The agreement is that SC is doing the environmental study for I73 and NC is doing it for I74.  I73 gets all the publicity because it goes thru so many districts but [the extension to I74] only goes though this one.”

“It’s not going to be expense as I73 which is estimated to cost $2 billion.  I’m not sure of the price but would guess around $50 million.  It will be a priority for delegation,” said Edge.

Horry Councilman Harold Worley weighted in by pointed out that the majority of funding for road projects are being paid for by our citizens. “Local taxes are paying for them through bonds.  When we see the bonds are being paid off or down to the point they can be refinanced the delegation will go back to the infrastructure bank to get the funding to make some of these roads happen,” said Worley. When asked how long he thought it would take, to groans from the gathering, Worley said it would be “eight to ten years before that happens.”

Use of Casino money

Worley stressed that the monies were going towards public safety. “You will notice that we have a full time ambulance in Little River now at the fire station and twenty four hour career service personnel.  We currently have $400,000 in the account.” He went on to explain that a traffic study funded by a grant was underway to address how to accommodate the foot traffic resulting from people going back and forth to boats to Hwy 17.

Elliott pointed out that the SCDOT has a Transportation Enhancement grant program that can be used for construction of sidewalks, beautification and bike paths. “We have received a number of these grants for the town of Loris, Conway and Aynor,” said Elliott. He said he would be glad to work with him on those grants.

Home Owner Association legislation

There has been a rise of legislation filed concerning HOA that Representative Edge attributes to the declining economy. “People haven’t had the money to pay dues or you see developers that haven’t been able to complete projects.”

Main bill is Senate Bill 30 that addresses how HOAs are set up and governed, according to Edge.  “A controversial provision requiring each member of an HOA to pay a $10 fee has been scrapped, said Edge. “What is left in the bill primarily deals with how the HOA meets, the openness of the meeting and the finances and, especially the openness of the meetings when financial decisions are made. With the number of HOAs coming on line it is important to look at the regulations.  Its had a lot of study this past year.”

Elliott elaborated, “The first section of Senate Bill 30 says there is currently no appeal from a decision by a HOA Board of Directors. One of the things that need to be corrected before it moves forward is that it says an appeal can go to an arbitration panel appointed by the Board of Director. This needs to be corrected.  It seems to me to be just the same circle. That caught my attention.  I would think an arbitration panel should be appointed by the members themselves. This statute has not been dealt with in 15 years and needs to be updated.”

Water and Sewer

Councilman Worley said that “We have already received a grant for $1,000,000, plans have been drawn and is in the process. Other grants are being worked so that as one project is finished we don’t have to demobilize but can move from one area to another.”

Senator Elliott complimented Worley for the hard work he did to get the million dollar grant. He pointed out that he serves on the Waccamaw Regional Council of Governments and will work closely with him.

Addressing another issue, Elliott said, “The fastest increase in state budget is health insurance. We have to keep an eye on what is happening in Washington. “One of the worst options in my opinion is to do nothing, Democrats and Republicans have something to offer. They ought to pull up a chair around a table and put the best ideas out.”