Little River Fishing Fleet and Coastal Scuba


Happy Spring...feels very much like it here at the beach with temp in the 70's and sunny. Ocean is starting to warm up nicely. We have been running our 3/4 day fishing trips with great success, catching lots of black sea bass and sharks.  

Megalodon Tooth Dive
Megalodon Tooth Dive is on the calendar for March 11th and more are being added so keep an eye on the dive schedule.
Check out our dive schedule at www.coastalscuba.com, or call us in the shop if you would like to join us or for more information. 843-361-3323.
The awesome teeth in the pictures are from February 6th and February 23rd.  The bottom temp was 65 and the surface was 70.  Two great days of fossil hunting!

Open Water Certification Classes
Now is a great time to get your Open
Water Certification!!
PADI has made getting your Open Water certification, Advanced Open Water certification and many other specialties quicker and easier than ever before with eLearning options.  Take advantage of these options and get certified or advance your certification this Summer!
Try Diving!
Always wondered what it would be like to breathe underwater?  This is the perfect opportunity for you to see what it's like.  Sign up for a Discover Scuba Diving class, come get in our amazing training pool in full gear to discover how amazing diving is!
We offer the classes year round and it gives you the chance to see if you want to become a PADI Open Water diver. Start your adventure to become a part of the awe-inspiring underwater world.
Gulf Stream Fishing
Our gulf stream trips are a wonderful fit for the avid angler or the beginner angler wanting to "fill the freezer". We are a family friendly company and love to help your family create memories to last a lifetime. Our captains love to put you on the fish! 
We have trips scheduled on:
Friday, March 9th
Sunday, March 18th
Saturday, March 24th
Wednesday, March 28th
Book online at www.littleriverfleet.com or call 843-361-3323 and our friendly staff will be happy to make your reservation for you.


3/4 Day Fishing
We are currently having great success catching keeper Black Sea Bass and other species on our 3/4 day trips. Give us a call to book a spot, or book online at www.littleriverfleet.com 

About Little River Fishing Fleet and Coastal Scuba
Little River Fishing Fleet has a fleet of 5 vessels to accommodate groups of every size.  We run trips every day and it's as simple as one phone call to get yourself or a group out for fantastic fishing.  Our captains and mates are FIRST CLASS in customer service.
Coastal Scuba has been a 5 Star PADI Dive Center since 2008 and now is a 5 Star IDC(instructor development center).  If you are looking to advance your Open Water certification toward the professional side we offer Advanced Open Water, Rescue Diver through Open Water Scuba Instructor.  We also offer many specialties for those wanting to obtain Master Scuba Diver.  Continue your diving certification level through Coastal Scuba right here on the Grand Strand!!!

Location(s)
Little River Fishing Fleet/Coastal Scuba
N. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 29582

Results - City of North Myrtle Beach FY 2019 Budget Retreat

The North Myrtle Beach City Council held its fiscal year 2019 budget retreat meeting February 26-27 at Santee Cooper’s Wampee Conference Center in Pinopolis, SC. 

No final decisions were made regarding the budget.

The city’s fiscal year is July 1-June 30.

The proposed FY 2019 budget involves 16 separate funds with significant interrelations and transfers between the various funds. 

The proposed FY 2019 budget is $96.2 million, about $8 million less than the FY 2018 budget.

First reading of the proposed FY 2019 budget ordinance is tentatively scheduled for theApril 16 City Council meeting.

Potential Property Tax Increase

City Council discussed a proposed property tax increase of between 1 and 2 mills.

The proposed increase is driven by the need for more funding for capital improvement projects; funding a state retirement system-mandated $260,000 increase in the city’s contribution for police and fire retirement funding for FY 2019 (other City employees are not part of the state retirement system); increases in health insurance; and a 4% pay increase for all full-time employees.

In North Myrtle Beach, 1-mill of property tax equals about $375,000 in revenue. A 1-mill property tax increase on a $350,000 home would amount to an increase of $14 annually and a 2-mill property tax increase on a $350,000 home would amount to an increase of $28 annually.

The current North Myrtle Beach property tax rate is 41.3 mills, the lowest in Horry County and one of the lowest in South Carolina. An increase of 1 or 2 mills would increase the property tax rate to 42.3 mills or 43.3 mills, still the lowest in Horry County.

Additionally, 6.2 mills of the city’s current 41.3 mills property tax rate goes to pay down the land purchase/construction bond on the 162-acre North Myrtle Beach Park & Sports Complex. The bond debt will be retired in calendar year 2019 and the city’s property tax rate will then be reduced6.2 mills in FY 2020 to reflect a projected property tax rate of 37.2 mills.

It is interesting to note that in 1986 the City’s property tax rate was 71 mills. Over a period of 32 years, the City’s property tax rate hasdecreased 29.7 mills.

Proposed Adjustment of Business License Fee

City Council reviewed a proposed increase in business license fees.

The City has not adjusted its business license fees since 1986.

The proposal is to adjust business license fees by25% of the differencebetween North Myrtle Beach rates and Myrtle Beach rates.

Example: In the “Building, Auto Parts & Clothing” business license category, the current Myrtle Beach base rate is $105 and the current North Myrtle Beach base rate is $35. The difference between the two rates is $70. 25% of $70=$17.50. Thus, the proposed North Myrtle Beach base rate for this category would change from $35 to a proposed $52.50, still lower than the Myrtle Beach base rate of $105.

Proposed Adjustments of Sewer Base Rate and Volume Charge

Proposed adjustments to the sewer base rate and volume charge would bring sewage revenue in line with sewage expenses. For about 12,660 of the City’s sewer customers, the base rate on a ¾-inch meter would go from $6.32 to a proposed $8.00, plus 7-cents per gallon for 10,000 gallons. The total proposed adjustment would be about $2.38 for the first 10,000 gallons on a ¾-inch meter. Larger meter sizes could realize larger adjustments.

Proposed Solid Waste Fee Adjustment

A $2 per month pass-through-fee increase from the Horry County Solid Waste Authority that the City has delayed passing on to its customers for the past couple of years is included in the proposed FY 2019 budget. A proposed $1 per month fee increase would enable the City to create a long-term program to fund the replacement of roll-out containers as they age out.

SOME PROPOSED BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS

-- The proposed FY 2019 Budget includes continuation of localized drainage projects based on priorities established in 2017 by City Council. The $2 million worth of projects extend over several years.

-- Significant proposed water and sewer improvement projects include rehabilitation of the Cherry Grove Water Tank ($1.2 million), improvements to the wastewater treatment plant ($875,000), and sewer pump replacements ($300,000).

-- Continuation of the Cherry Grove Dredging Project is budgeted for FY 2019. Continued payment on the 5-year bond issue for the accomplished first dredge continues, and work will occur on marsh and oyster bed mitigation required as part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dredging permit.

-- Proposed transportation improvement priorities include intersection improvements at 2nd Avenue North & Highway 17, and secondary road resurfacing projects. A proposed multipurpose path for Little River Neck Road would currently require a 50/50 funding commitment between the City of North Myrtle Beach and Horry County.

-- The City has accomplished 5.3 miles of underground utility conversion and the FY 2019 budget proposes design and construction of another mile.

-- Replacement of City equipment would continue on a pay-as-you-go basis.

-- Funding for future beach renourishment would come from a portion of the state accommodations tax revenue.

-- City Council reviewed about $3.9 million in proposed FY 2019 accommodations tax revenue expenditures.

City Council also discussed several non-budget items.

Plastic Bag Ban: During a recent City Council meeting, several residents spoke to Council of their desire to see the provision and/or use of plastic bags banned within the city limits. It was determined that the issue be put on the agenda for a future meeting of The Coastal Alliance, which is made up of Horry County and municipal governments. It would be of benefit to the public if all governments within Horry County could find common ground on the issue, as opposed to having different laws within different jurisdictions.

Temporary Business Tents: Some businesses have asked the City to change its ordinance governing the use of temporary tents employed outside qualifying businesses for the sale or display of merchandise. Currently, a qualifying business may set up such a tent for seven days each quarter for a total of 28 days each year, however, they would prefer to have a longer use period during the more active tourism months. Council members asked the city manager and city attorney to create an ordinance for consideration that would allow qualifying businesses to set up temporary tents two times annually, each for a period of 14 days. The two periods would not run concurrently but would be separated by at least 30 days.

Music on Main Concerts:Some businesses on Main Street asked the City to move its Music on Main concerts from Main Street to the Horseshoe on Main Street (oceanfront), so that people can better access their businesses. City Council agreed to move a couple of the Music on Main concerts to the Horseshoe on a trial basis.

Mayor Marilyn Hatley of North Myrtle Beach Speaks Out Against Offshore Drilling

During a February 13 press conference in Columbia, S.C., organized by Oceana, the world’s largest international ocean conservation and advocacy organization, North Myrtle Beach Mayor Marilyn Hatley joined local and state legislators and citizens from Greenville to Charleston in speaking out against offshore drilling.

In her speech Mayor Hatley said that she opposes seismic air gun testing and oil and gas exploration and drilling in the ocean off the coast of North Myrtle Beach and South Carolina because the slight and speculative benefit that would likely accrue to the global energy market from such activity is not worth the potential for a single incident that could cripple local and statewide economies, and ruin natural resources.

Mayor Hatley said domestic travelers spend more than $12 billion in South Carolina each year, with a total annual economic impact of about $20 billion. Tourism sustains more than 116,000 jobs statewide, and generates more than $485 million in state and local taxes. Visitor spending on the Grand Strand (Horry and Georgetown Counties combined) totals more than $7 billion annually and supports more than 83,000 jobs, an impressive 80% of which are year-round. More than 17 million people visit the grand strand annually, representing 37% of tourism’s statewide economic impact.

“The City of North Myrtle Beach works hard to protect and preserve its 9 miles of beautiful beaches and our other natural resources for the enjoyment of current and future generations of residents and visitors,” Mayor Hatley said. “Preserving these natural attributes is essential to our healthy economy and to our quality of life.”

Following her speech, Mayor Hatley joined other state and local legislators, including South Carolina Congressman Mark Sanford, State Representative Greg Duckworth, and State Senator Luke Rankin, at a rally at the State Capitol building in opposition to offshore drilling.

The North Myrtle Beach City Council has passed a resolution against offshore drilling and the Council recently resolved to join a proposed lawsuit with other South Carolina coastal communities initiated by the South Carolina Environmental Law Project (SCELP) opposing seismic air gun testing and oil and gas exploration and drilling off the North Myrtle Beach/South Carolina Coast.

North Myrtle Beach City Applies for Permit to Accomplish Additional Dune Restoration Work

The City of North Myrtle Beach has applied to the South Carolina Department of Health & Environmental Control’s Office of Ocean & Coastal Resource Management (OCRM) for authorization under OCRM General Permit 17-SMD to place sand excavated from an inland source onto the dune system fronting the Atlantic Ocean between 41stAvenue South and 45thAvenue South, between 37th Avenue North and 42nd Avenue North, and between 61st Avenue North and 63rdAvenue North in North Myrtle Beach.

The City is nearing completion of a previously permitted dune restoration project from 45th Avenue South to 48th Avenue South and from 42nd Avenue North to 55th Avenue North.

Sand used in the second dune restoration project will come from the same dredging spoils basin located on Little River Neck Road that supplied sand for the first project. Sand currently in the spoils basin is from the Cherry Grove dredging project. Prior to dredging the canals, sand located in the canals was tested and found to be compatible with existing dune and beach sand. The City must remove all of the sand from the spoils basin. Since some sand will still remain in the basin after the first dune restoration project is complete, the City has opted to continue to utilize the remaining sand for more dune restoration.

As with the initial dune restoration project, street trucks will haul sand from the spoils basin to the beach where off-road vehicles will carry the sand along the beach to the dune line. From there, bulldozers will work to achieve the desired dune berm configuration, which is about 7 feet high, 35 feet wide at the base, and 20 feet wide at the top. Over time, wind, rain, and tides will reshape the sand to a more natural looking dune.

There may be some intermittent closures of sections of beach, particularly when the tide is high.

The project focuses on protecting exposed oceanfront structures from storm surge.

Following the reconstruction of dunes, sand fencing will be installed along the dunes and beach grass will be planted.

The Humane Society of North Myrtle Beach Offers "Macaroni Mania" on February 17, 11am-4 pm at the North Myrtle Beach Park & Sports Complex

The Humane Society of North Myrtle Beach invites you to enjoy Macaroni Mania on Saturday, February 17, 11am-4pm
 at the North Myrtle Beach Park & Sports Complex.

Proceeds from the family-friendly event will benefit The Humane Society of North Myrtle Beach Building Fund.

Macaroni Mania offers a macaroni cook-off between various area restaurants, including Midtown Bistro, Benito’s, The Main Slice, Wild Wings Café, Logan’s Roadhouse, Mellow Mushroom, Snooky’s, Brisket, Greg Norman’s Australian Grille, and Longbeard’s Bar & Grill. For a small donation you can sample macaroni dishes created by the restaurants.

Macaroni Mania will also feature live entertainment from the local band, "Cornbread", plus children’s activities, a petting zoo, raffles, auctions, and an adult beverage garden.

Dogs from The Humane Society of North Myrtle Beach and other local shelters and animal rescue organizations will be available for adoption.

The Humane Society of North Myrtle Beach is located at 409 Bay Street, North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582.