North Myrtle Beach Public Safety Officer Keith Williams invites Windy Hill residents to join him on Saturday, May 14, 9am-11am, at Yow Park, 508 Windy Hill Road, to meet him and other Police Officers and Supervisors who patrol the Windy Hill neighborhood daily. (Some of the public safety employees will be joined by their families.) The event will include a bouncy house and prizes for kids, patrol cars, and an opportunity for residents to ask questions and get to know some of the Public Safety Officers who care about and keep your community safe.
Officer Keith Williams joined the Public Safety Department in August 2015. Prior to that, he served in the United States Marine Corps as a Military Policeman and retired with the rank of Sergeant Major in 2012 after 25 years of service.
One of the greatest honors in his life was to serve as a Marine, during which time he completed several combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.
After retiring from the Marine Corps, he served as a law enforcement officer in San Diego, CA for two years before deciding to head east to be closer to family.
Officer Williams was raised in Burlington, NC and married his high school sweetheart, Dawn. They have been married for 25 years and have three children, ages 10, 16 and 20.
In describing his objectives for his Windy Hill community focus, Officer Williams said, "I want residents to know that I am here to serve and protect all of them. I want to meet everyone and get to know their needs and concerns. If they see me driving around, they can feel free to stop me to ask any questions, express concerns, or just say hello."
Officer Williams added that, if he doesn't know the answer to a question offhand, he will "research it, find the answer, and get back to you."
Hope you can make it to Yow Park on May 14!
NMB Tree City Board presents its May Tree of the Month Award to City Councilman J. O. Baldwin
The North Myrtle Beach Tree City Board has presented its May 2016 Tree of the Month Award to City Councilman Jay Baldwin for protecting and preserving a collection of very old Live Oak trees on his property at 404 14th Avenue South.
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| L-R Ron Bruce, Dee Myers, Sean Hoelscher, Caroline Driggers, Dexter Allen, Ruth Anne Ellis, Tom Walker, and Jim Grainger |
The property was originally owned by Baldwin’s grandparents, and he remembers the trees being sizeable when he would visit them as a young boy. His grandparents were the owners of the original 1940’s house that was built on the property, and they lived in the home until the 1990s.
When Baldwin decided to move to the location in 2000, he determined that the 1940s home could not be saved, so he demolished it and rebuilt on the site. He purposely designed his new house to sit among the grand old oaks in such a way as to preserve every tree. One tree, however, proved to be too close to the planned home, and acting on advice from the Clemson Extension Service, he dug up the tree, keeping as many of its roots intact as possible, and replanted it. He used a backhoe to dig a hole for the 15 foot wide root ball. The tree lived for another six years in its new location before succumbing to drought conditions around 2007. The remaining trees continue to thrive on his lot.
The North Myrtle Beach Tree City Board salutes Councilman Baldwin for his understanding of the value of the trees on his property, and his willingness to take extra measures to protect what are some of the more historic trees in the city.
Property owners and developers who are interested in finding out more about how they can preserve trees on their property are invited to contact the Board at nmbtreeboard@nmb.us or 843-280-5571.
The Tree of the Month program began in 2010 as a way to recognize trees within the community that have been preserved over the years. It also provides a platform to remind people of the benefits and importance that trees offer in our everyday lives.
If you think you have the biggest, prettiest, or most unusual tree in North Myrtle Beach, or that your tree has a unique story attached to it, the Tree City Board encourages you to contact Parks & Grounds Superintendent Jim Grainger at (843) 280-5571 or via email at nmbtreeboard@nmb.us.
North Myrtle Beach Farmers Market Opens May 6
The North Myrtle Beach Farmers Market season is May 6-October 28. The market will be open on Fridays, 10am-3pm.
The North Myrtle Beach Farmers Market is located at 925 1st Avenue South, between the Library and City Hall.
The
North Myrtle Beach Farmers Market is part of the Waccamaw Market
Cooperative (WMC), an incorporated 501c3 nonprofit organization
responsible for coordinating and managing community based farmer’s
markets throughout Horry and Georgetown Counties. Under the guidance of
the Clemson Cooperative Extension, WMC has grown to include regional
network of markets sponsored in partnership with public and private
organizations throughout the region. The resulting structured market
network ensures that virtually all communities in the Waccamaw Region
benefit from access to fresh fruits and vegetables that farmers markets
offer.
Public markets
are not just places of commerce. Successful markets help grow and
connect urban and rural economies. They encourage development, enhance
real estate values and the tax base, and keep money in the local
neighborhood. Public markets also offer low-risk business opportunities
for vendors and feed money back into the rural economy where many
vendors grow, raise and produce their products.
RESULTS: May 2 North Myrtle Beach City Council Meeting
During
the May 2 North Myrtle Beach City Council meeting, Mayor Marilyn Hatley
presented a proclamation directing that all flags on City buildings be
flown at half-staff on May 15, which is Peace Officers Memorial Day.
Mayor
Hatley said that members of the City’s public safety department play an
essential role in safeguarding the rights and freedoms for all citizens
in the community. She reminded citizens of the duties,
responsibilities, hazards and sacrifices of the community’s law
enforcement officers.
In
1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation which designated
May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that date
falls as Police Week. During Police Week, tens of thousands of law
enforcement officers from around the world converge on Washington, DC to
participate in a number of planned events which honor officers who have
paid the ultimate sacrifice.
City Council tabled until its June 6 meeting second reading of an ordinance to
annex and zone one lot located adjacent to the Parkway Group PDD (PDD),
which is located west of the Intracoastal Waterway. Council wants to
wait until an associated Development Agreement has been completed before
giving second reading to the proposed annexation and zoning.
City Council tabled until its June 6 meeting second reading of an ordinance
for a major amendment to the Parkway Group Planned Development District
(PDD) to allow changes to the previously approved phase known as the
Waterway Hills Tract and to add a newly annexed area known as the Wilson
Chestnut Tract. The area is referred to as “Grande Dunes North” in the
PDD,
which is located west of the Intracoastal Waterway. Council wants to
wait until an associated Development Agreement has been completed before
giving second reading to the proposed ordinance.
City Council tabled until its June 6 meeting second reading of an ordinance
to amend the Parkway Group Planned Development District (PDD) to allow
changes to the previously approved residential tracts known as Seashore
Farms and L.L. Chestnut, referred to as “Waterside” in the PDD. Council
wants to wait until an associated Development Agreement has been
completed before giving second reading of the proposed ordinance
City Council adopted a Resolution
to exercise the City's option to extend the lease between the City and
Midcon Cable Co. Inc. In April of 2014 the City leased a portion of its
warehouse located on the corner of 6th Avenue South and Bay Street to
Midcon for a term of two years with an annual lease rate of $156,896.
The lease rate increased per a lease formula.
Midcon
requested that the City exercise its option to extend the lease for an
additional two year term from April 1, 2016 through March 31, 2018 with
an annual lease rate beginning at $166,451.16. The rate will increase
the second year of the lease extension via a formula contained in the
lease.
City Council passed first reading of an ordinance
to authorize the addition of a third parasail boat to the Parasail and
Banana Boat Franchise granted to Randle Duke. Council previously
authorized Duke to operate a parasail and banana boat business from the
beach in the vicinity of Sea Mountain Highway and Ocean Boulevard.
When
the franchise was first awarded to Duke, the agreement authorized the
use of three parasail boats and a $45,000 franchise fee. Thereafter,
Duke requested that the agreement be amended to allow only two parasail
boats and a $15,000 reduction of the franchise fee from $45,000 to
$30,000. Council agreed to the requested amendment.
On
April 15, 2016, Duke requested that the agreement be amended again to
allow the use of three parasail boats. City staff informed Duke that it
would present the requested amendment to City Council but the amendment
would also include a $15,000 fee increase from $30,000 per year to
$45,000 per year.
City Council passed first reading of an amendment
to the Zoning Text to create a new inland multifamily zoning district
(R-4i) to allow multifamily and non-medical commercial or office uses on
properties not adjacent to the oceanfront.
Council
directed staff to investigate creating a new zoning district similar to
R-4 that would allow multi-family, but at lesser intensities and
shorter building heights for properties away from the oceanfront. As a
result, staff has proposed a text amendment to the Zoning Ordinance to
create a new inland multi-family zoning district to be called R-4i
(Inland Multifamily Residential).
Resembling
R-4, the new district's purpose statement references a need to provide
for reduced intensity multi-family in areas inland from the ocean, which
are distinctly different from resort-style development represented
along the oceanfront or with an ocean view. The purpose of the proposed
R-4i district is to allow multi-family similar to the R-4 zoning
district, but with less intensity for inland locations; however, not at
the expense of visibility and access by the community to the ocean or
the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway.
City Council passed first reading of an ordinance
to rezone one lot containing about 1.22 acres located at the corner of
Vereen Road and Bay Colony Drive from R-24 (Mid-Rise Multifamily
Residential) to NC (Neighborhood Commercial).
The
vacant, unimproved property is zoned R-24. It is adjacent to the
current single-family Marina Bay subdivision, which is zoned R24, and is
surrounded by HC (Highway Commercial) to the east and LI
(Limited Industrial) to the north.
The
Future Land Use Map in the City's 2010 Comprehensive Plan Update
identifies this area with a "Marina Mixed Use" land use class. The
proposed zoning district, NC, is a recommended zoning district of this
particular land use class.
City Council adopted a Resolution
to exercise the City's option to extend a Banana Boat Franchise
Agreement between the City and Jeff Ray regarding the operation of a
banana boat business on the beach in the area seaward of North Beach
Plantation.
The
agreement, entered into in April 2011, authorized Ray to operate a
banana boat business on the beach seaward of the dune line in the area
of North Beach Plantation. The original term of the agreement was for a
term of five years, which will expire December 31, 2016.
Article
II, Section I of the agreement allows the City the option to extend the
agreement for an additional five year term and Ray requested that the
City exercise that option. The additional five year term begins January
1, 2017 and expires December 31, 2021.
The franchise fee for 2017 will be $21,000 and will increase by five percent successively for each year of the extended term.
Sunday Pops in the Park
THIS SUNDAY!
BRING A CHAIR or BLANKET to the NMB Park and Sports Complex Sandhills Bank Amphitheater for a FREE concert featuring the North Myrtle Beach Community Band and the Stardusters BIG Band. The concert will take place on Sunday, May 1st @ 5:00pm.
The program for the afternoon will include many crowd-favorites such as:
- Theme from Star Wars: The Force Awakens
- The Dam Busters
- Carnaval in Sao Paulo
- And other Jazz Standards from the Stardusters BIG Band
Join us for a great afternoon of fun music!
In case of inclement weather the concert will be moved to the J. Bryan Floyd Community Center at 7:30pm.
More information about this concert can be found on the NMB Community Band's facebook page, by clicking here.
Join us THIS SUNDAY for what is sure to be a fantastic afternoon of music!
May 1 Divas Half Marathon Route May Require Some to Accesses Churches via Alternate Roads
The May 1 Divas Half Marathon route may require those who attend the following places of worship to access them via alternate roads: Church of the Lost and Found, Trinity Methodist Church, Ocean Drive Presbyterian Church, Barefoot Church, Lakeside Baptist Church, King of Glory Lutheran Church, St. Stephens Episcopal Church.
On the morning of May 1, half marathon participants will be running along the main routes where these churches are located at about the following times:
§ Church of the Lost and Found:
§ 6:45am-7:30am – Northbound land Ocean Blvd shut down. Enter Ocean Blvd from 6th Avenue North.
§ Trinity United Methodist Church:
§ 7:20 a.m.-8:15 a.m. – Half marathon participants should be running north on Hillside Drive and will be crossing 14th Avenue South.
§ Ocean Drive Presbyterian Church:
§ 7:00 a.m.-7:15 a.m. – Participants should be running south on Ocean Boulevard. 7:30 a.m.-8:30 a.m. – Participants should be running north on Hillside Drive.
§ Barefoot Church:
§ 7:30 a.m.-8:45 a.m. – Participants should be running up the west bound lane of Main Street and turning right on to Ye Olde Kings Highway.
§ Lakeside Baptist Church, King of Glory Lutheran Church, St. Stephens Episcopal Church:
§ 7:50 a.m.-9:45 a.m. – The westbound lane of 11th Avenue North will be closed to vehicle traffic. All runners should have cleared 11th Avenue North by 10:00 a.m.
For more information about the Divas Half Marathon event, please contact the North Myrtle Beach Parks & Recreation Department at (843) 280-5570.
Greg Frazier hired as North Myrtle Beach Fire Marshal
The City of North Myrtle Beach has hired Greg Frazier as its new Fire Marshal. He will report to work on May 2.
“With his experience in the fire service, as well
as his outgoing personality, we feel like Greg will be a great fit for
North Myrtle Beach,” said Public Safety Director Jay Fernandez. “We are
very excited to have him join the department.”
Frazier
has worked in the fire service for 30 years. He retired in early 2016
after 15 years in the Fire Marshal’s office in Raleigh, NC. He served as
shift Deputy Fire Marshal in Raleigh for the past six years.
Frazier has extensive experience in inspections,
the testing of fire protection installations, and operations involving
all occupancy classes. He has also taught fire inspection certification
classes for over 20 years.
Before joining the Raleigh Fire Department, Frazier served as Fire Marshal for the city of Henderson, NC.
“Our area was listed recently as one of the fastest
growing areas in the United States,” said Fire Chief Garry Spain, “and
Raleigh is listed as one of the fastest growing cities in the United
States. That experience with growth should help
Greg in his transition to our area, and it will be of great benefit to
us.”
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