Horry County chairman highlights public-safety gains and a 25-year, $6 billion infrastructure plan

Horry County Council Chairman opened the Jan. 7 meeting with a year-in-review that emphasized public safety and an ambitious long-term infrastructure program. He told the council that "our award winning 9 1 1 team handled over 320,000 calls for service" in 2024 and noted the county opened three new fire stations while entering design and construction on three more.

The chairman outlined near-term facility projects and personnel additions that he said are intended to maintain service levels as the county grows. He said the Central Coast Complex, which will include police, taxpayer services and courts, is under construction and is expected to open in September, and that the Myrtle Beach International Airport saw record passenger counts and began a concourse expansion. He added that the county "must execute a transformative 25 year, $6,000,000,000 program to connect our community." The comment followed his reminder that voters approved the next phase of the countyroad program by 56.78% in a recent referendum.

The chairman also described resilience and planning milestones in 2024, saying the county's Community Rating System score for the National Flood Insurance Program improved from a 7 to a 5, which he said translated to lower premiums for residents. He summarized efforts on buyouts, updated hurricane evacuation zones and a series of road and drainage projects that county staff completed or advanced over the year.

Looking ahead, the chairman said the county is investing in recruitment and retention, noting "we added 99 new positions" and cited recent leadership changes in the administration. He framed 2025 as a year for implementation, saying the county must follow through on the work approved by voters and the capital plans set in motion.