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Council approves budget amendment, grants for fire safety and opioid recovery, HOME report, abatement program and community grants
Summary
At its meeting, council approved an FY26 budget amendment adding staffing and capital items, authorized submission of a FEMA fire‑safety grant and an opioid recovery grant to fund harm‑reduction hires, accepted the HOME Consortium APR, authorized abatement actions for unfit dwellings, and approved four community benefit disbursements.
Horry County council approved a package of fiscal and programmatic actions during the meeting.
Budget amendment: Council adopted an ordinance amendment to the FY26 budget (Ordinance No. 39‑2025 Section 1) that (1) adds four positions in Behavioral Services funded from excess ARPA revenue, (2) adds three library positions funded with additional state aid, (3) adds two capital projects — Murrells Inlet dredging and the Windy Hill EMS station — and (4) updates a Solid Waste Authority tire disposal fee to align with state law.
FEMA fire‑safety grant: Beth Tran, speaking on behalf of Chief Keith Tanner, requested authority to submit and accept, if awarded, the 2024 FEMA Fire Prevention and Safety Grant of $315,347.42. Staff said the grant would fund part‑time personnel for fire‑safety events and provide smoke alarms for residents (2,700 smoke alarms; 900 combination smoke/carbon‑monoxide alarms; 40 alarms for the hearing‑impaired). Council authorized submission and acceptance if awarded.
Opioid Recovery Fund application: Tran also requested county authorization to apply to the South Carolina Opioid Recovery Fund Board sub‑fund and to appropriate opioid settlement funds to hire two additional harm‑reduction team members for Horry County Fire & Rescue. Staff said the team contacted more than 2,200 individuals in its first full year, and the application total is $180,194.15. Council approved the request.
HOME Consortium annual report: The council adopted the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (FY 2024–25) for the Horry County HOME Consortium. Staff reported homeowner rehabilitation spending of just over $1,000,000: 22 rehabs completed and 8 in progress (30 total); HUD funds supported planning and administration costs of $340,000; wildfire equipment for Fire Rescue cost $314,428.82; ESG and other programs assisted dozens of households (utilities, rent assistance and transportation programs noted).
Code enforcement abatement resolution: Randy Holliday presented a resolution authorizing the county administrator to pursue abatement of unfit dwellings in unincorporated areas consistent with the county ordinance adopted in 2017 and South Carolina law. Holliday said the county has undertaken these actions against roughly 90 properties historically; the council approved the resolution.
Community benefit funds: Council approved four disbursements recommended by staff: Loris High School Football Parents Club $5,000 (districts 4, 9, 10); Long Bay Youth Enrichment Center $500 (district 9); Carolina Forest (Middle of the Road) maintenance $3,000 (district 3); and Green Sea recreation (15‑under softball team) $10,000 (districts 9, 10 and chair).
Procedural note: All of the actions above were approved by council through motions and voice votes recorded in the meeting transcript; the transcript does not include an itemized roll‑call tally for these approvals.
Speakers quoted in this article are Beth Tran (on behalf of Horry County Fire & Rescue) and Randy Holliday (presentation on abatement).
