SCDOT Advisory - Partial Johnny Causey Boat Ramp Closure

A portion of the Johnny Causey Boat Ramp underneath the US 17 bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway at Little River in Horry County has been closed while South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) crews inspect and perform minor, nonstructural repairs to the bridge beams and underside of the bridge deck.

Daytime lane closures on US 17 will occur at this location beginning Tuesday, Aug. 30 through Thursday, Sept. 1, and continue on Tuesday, Sept. 6 through Thursday, Sept. 8, in order to complete this work. For safety reasons, the public is not allowed past the roped off areas at the boat ramp.

QUESTIONS: Contact SCDOT’s Bob Kudelka at KudelkaRP@scdot.org

NMB Public Safety Department to hold August 29 Test of Enhancement to its Nixle Emergency Notification System

North Myrtle Beach, SC – August 23, 2016 – On Monday, August 29, between 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m., the North Myrtle Beach Public Safety Department will conduct a test of an enhancement to its Nixle emergency notification system. The upgrade supports the automatic dialing of telephones for major emergency voice alerts.

The test will connect with residential land-lines in North Myrtle Beach and with cellphones containing the Google application.

As part of its expanding Nixle service, along with the text message and email notifications that area Nixle subscribers current receive from the public safety department, residents who choose the additional phone call option will receive calls on their land-lines and cellphones alerting them to a variety of potential public safety issues that may have an impact on the whole community, including threatening weather.

The content of the test voicemail will be as follows: “This is a test of the City of North Myrtle Beach’s Nixle dial emergency notification system. The Nixle dial telephone notification system will be used to deliver emergency information to City residents. If you also want to receive email, text and voice alerts on your cellphone, go to www.nixle.com and create an account. This is only a test.”

For more information, please contact Lt. Sean Downey at (843) 280-5698.

Dolphins Swim Team Pre-Team Practice Program September 6-29

Swimmers ages 5-18 years who want to join the Dolphin Swim Team at the NMB Aquatic & Fitness Center, but who may not be entirely ready to make that jump, are invited to participate in a Pre-Team Program September 6-29 at the Center. The program will focus on breathing techniques, stroke development, and endurance.

Swimmers must be comfortable in 9 feet of water, know how to tread water, and be able to swim freestyle and backstroke for 20 yards.

Practice begins September 6. Practice days are Tuesday and Thursday. Practice time is 4:00 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.

Fees are $30 per month for AFC members and $45 for nonmembers.

For more information, call Judy Childers at (843) 281-3743 or email Judy at jachilders@nmb.us

Special Blend Experience Performs in a FREE August 25 Concert on Main Street in North Myrtle Beach

The public is invited to enjoy Special Blend Experience in a free August 25, 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. concert on Main Street in North Myrtle Beach. Concert-goers will enjoy a wide variety of hits, including Motown soul, R&B, pop, funk and today’s top 40.

The free concert is part of the North Myrtle Beach Parks & Recreation Department’s Music on Main summer concert series sponsored by Anderson Brothers Bank (www.abbank.com).

Special Blend Experience covers the tunes of legendary groups such as LaBelle, The Supremes, Chic, The Temptations, Rose Royse and many more.

For day of event weather information call the “Rec Check” hotline at (843) 280-5594 ext. 3, follow on Facebook, or visit their website http://parks.nmb.us.

Frontier Communications Invests $150,000 in North Myrtle Beach Economic Development

On August 16, Frontier Communications presented to the City of North Myrtle Beach a contribution of $150,000 to be used to expand recreational and other quality of life opportunities in the city.

This investment from Frontier Communications will greatly contribute toward helping the city expand and add new quality of life opportunities, primarily at the North Myrtle Beach Park & Sports Complex, a focal point for residents and visitors. The complex also generates millions additional annual revenue for the North Myrtle Beach business community.

“Frontier Communications believes in supporting the communities where we live and work,” said Marcy Fox, general manager, South Carolina East for Frontier. “As a telecommunications company, we invest regularly in communications infrastructure to better serve our residents and commercial customers. Our employees also serve on boards and volunteer in a wide variety of charitable organizations. We are very active in the community, helping to fund food banks and we believe in hiring and supporting our veterans. Our approach to business and society is a good fit for North Myrtle Beach.”

North Myrtle Beach Mayor Marilyn Hatley said that the entire community appreciates Frontier Communications’ continuing investment in the city. She said that Frontier’s investment will help to grow more recreational and other opportunities for residents and visitors, which also aids economic development in the city.

“Frontier Communications is not required to make these sorts of investments,” Mayor Hatley said. “This is the way they do business. They have become part of the community and help us in many positive ways. We greatly appreciate their involvement.”

This is the second commitment since 2014 that Frontier has made to North Myrtle Beach to help improve the quality of city services opportunities. That year a $300,000 commitment was made to the city and was used in part to expand the city’s fiber optic network by another mile to extend connectivity to the lake front area at the North Myrtle Beach Park & Sports Complex. As a result, complementary Wi-Fi access is now provided to the lake front trail area and to the area around the amphitheater located within the park. 

The City also used a portion of the funding to establish live-streaming video and audio from all six baseball and softball fields at the park and sports complex. Additionally, there are three live stream cameras that provide overviews of the soccer and lacrosse complex, the baseball and softball area and the wake board park on the lake.

Mike Flynn, Frontier’s Southeast region president, attended the presentation ceremony.

“We are very pleased to help the city of North Myrtle Beach improve broadband and video communications options for its citizens,” said Flynn. “These are the types of network improvements Frontier routinely makes in all 29 states we serve. It’s great to see the city recognize the value and quality of live broadband networks offer to communities.”

About Frontier Communications Corporation

Frontier Communications Corporation, now a Fortune 500 and S&P 500 company, is a leader in providing communications services to urban, suburban and rural communities in 29 states. Frontier offers a variety of services to residential customers over its fiber-optic and copper networks, including video, high-speed internet, advanced voice and Frontier Secure digital protection solutions. Frontier Business Edge offers communications solutions to small, medium and enterprise businesses. Frontier’s approximately 29,000 employees are based entirely in the United States. More information about Frontier is available at www.frontier.com.

For more information on Frontier Communications, contact Marcy Fox, general manager, South Carolina East for Frontier, Office: (843) 444-3230, Email: Marcy.fox@ftr.com.

PHOTO IDENTIFICATION – L-R: Councilman Fred Coyne, Frontier South Carolina East General Manager Marcy Fox, Councilwoman Nicole Fontana, Frontier Southeast Region President Mike Flynn, Mayor Marilyn Hatley, City Manager Mike Mahaney, Councilman Bob Cavanaugh, Frontier Area General Manager Todd Van Epps.

Nine North Myrtle Beach Veterans Presented with Quilts of Valor

On August 15, representatives of the local chapter of the Quilts of Valor Foundation presented nine veterans with Quilts of Valor. All of the recipients are also members of the North Myrtle Beach Public Safety Department.

Those receiving personal Quilts of Valor were Michael Baldasarre, Bryan Floyd, James Martin, Hannah McLaurin, Stephen Murphy, Robert Speedling, Ian Vaughn, J. Phillip Webster, and Keith Williams.

Quilts of Valor began in 2003. It is then that founder Catherine Roberts, whose son was deployed in Iraq, had a dream. In her dream, she saw a young man sitting on the side of the road in the middle of the night, hunched over. The permeating feeling in her dream was one of utter despair.

“I could see his war demons clustered around him,” she said, “dragging him down into an emotional gutter. Then, as if viewing a movie, I saw him in the next scene wrapped in a quilt. His whole demeanor had changed from one of despair to one of hope and well-being. The quilt had made this dramatic change. The message of my dream was— quilts equal healing.”

According to Joan Wobbleton, head of the local chapter of Quilts of Valor,  volunteer teams donate their time and materials to make a quilt for veterans who have been touched by war. One person pieces the top, and another quilts it. The quilts are not provided to families or others, only to veterans. Each quilt recipient is encouraged to not put their quilt away in a chest or to display it as a museum piece but to use it when they feel the need to warm themselves, to feel better about life or themselves.

North Myrtle Beach Mayor Marilyn Hatley was invited to address the recipients. She recalled those times as a child when she was scared or ill, and her mother or grandmother would put a quilt around her. She recalled that with the quilt around her, she would very soon feel safer, better, warmer, more loved and cared for. She encouraged the recipients to make their quilts a part of their lives. Mayor Hatley also thanked them for their service to their Country and their continuing service to North Myrtle Beach residents and visitors as Police Officers and Firefighter/EMTs.

Horry County Solicitor Jimmy Richardson also spoke. He reminded those in the audience that, while not everyone can make a quilt by hand, everyone can say "Thank You" to those who have served their Country, and to those who now serve their communities as Police Officers and Firefighter/EMTs.

PHOTO OF QUILT OF VALOR RECIPIENTS – Left to Right:  Mayor Pro Tem Terry White, City Councilman Bob Cavanaugh, Mayor Marilyn Hatley, Ian Vaughn, Michael Baldasarre, Stephen Murphy, Robert Speedling, Bryan Floyd, James Martin, Hannah McLaurin, Keith Williams, Phillip Webster, Horry County Solicitor Jimmy Richardson.

Representatives from Local Chapter of Quilts of Valor - Joan Wobbleton Fourth from Left

RESULTS: August 15 City Council Meeting

North Myrtle Beach, SC – August 15, 2016 – During the August 15 North Myrtle Beach City Council meeting, Zoning Enforcement Officer Dorian Dixon was named Employee of the Month. Every summer the zoning division must address minor violations of the city’s sign, tent and merchandise regulations, primarily by seasonal businesses. Seasonal businesses that have such violations tend to report violations being committed by their business competitors as competition for customers escalates during the summer months. Instead of having to issue dozens of citations for these violations, Dixon has done an extremely good job of using his diplomatic skills to achieve businesses compliance with city regulations, and he often achieves more peaceful interaction among competing businesses.

Dixon has also been positively singled out by residents for his assistance in helping to effectively address instances of disallowed home occupations in residential neighborhoods.

City Council also provided Employee Longevity Awards to nine employees. Receiving awards were Public Safety Officer Joshua Stevens (five years of service), Public Safety Officer Andrew Franklin (5), Public Safety OfficerAustin Bratton (5), Firefighter/EMT Craig Young (5), Firefighter/EMT James Johnson (5), Motor Equipment Operator James Gore (10), Public Safety Officer/Lifeguard Coordinator Munro Reed (10), Public Safety Officer/Lifeguard Coordinator Donald Constransitch (10), and Pump Mechanic II Christopher Wright (15).

Council passed second (final) reading of an ordinance annexing and zoning as R-1 (Single Family, Low Density Residential) one lot located in the Riverside Campground Subdivision. The property is located on Lot 2 within the Riverside Campground Subdivision off Little River Neck Road and is occupied by an existing detached single-family house. Surrounding land uses are vacant (Esperanza PDD within North Myrtle Beach's jurisdiction), Fire Station #4 (within North Myrtle Beach's jurisdiction) and single-family residential homes (within both jurisdictions).

Council passed second reading of an ordinance approving the First Amendment to the Amended and Restated Development Agreement regarding the Robber's Roost PDD. The amendment to the development agreement clarifies the responsibilities of the various parties to the agreement regarding the cost of improvements to 11th Avenue North and Sea Hope Way.

City Council approved a request for a special event permit by the Grand Strand Running Club for the September 17, 8:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m., BFF Pink Ribbon Run 5K/10K at Barefoot Resort. The event is a fundraiser for Susan G. Komen and other charities. The city is a co-sponsor.

City Council approved a request for a special event permit by The Society of Stranders (SOS) for the September 18, 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m., SOS Fun Sunday. The event will be held on 1^st Avenue South between Ocean Boulevard and Hillside Drive.

City Council approved a request for a special event permit by The Society of Stranders (SOS) for the September 19, 12:00 p.m.-5:30 p.m., SOS Fun Monday. The event will be held on Main Street between Ocean Boulevard and Hillside Drive.

City Council passed a Resolution approving policies and procedures for tax-advantaged debt. City bond counsel Theo Dubose of Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, P.A. advised that the city adopt the policies and procedures associated with the issuance of tax-advantaged bonds in order to ensure compliance with the various legal requirements associated with this type of debt.

Council tabled until its September 19 meeting second reading of an ordinance to petition rezoning of one lot approximately 6.4 acres in size located on Main Street from HC (Highway Commercial) to PDD (Planned Development District).

City Council passed a Resolution to authorize the Main Street Parking District Facility Plan, establishing an optional "fee in lieu" of parking.

During an August 1 meeting, City Council approved a “fee in lieu” ordinance, which allows a property owner to pay into a public parking development fund in lieu of providing their own required parking. The monies in the fund will be used to establish additional public parking in the Main Street area.

The Resolution passed at the August 15 meeting establishes the Main Street Parking District Facility Plan, which encompasses an area within the Main Street Priority Investment Activity Center Overlay. Within this area, property owners now have the option of establishing their own required parking or paying a fee in lieu to the city set at $25,000 per parking space. The monies collected will be used to establish public parking within the investment area bounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the east, 2^nd Avenue North on the north, 2^nd Avenue South on the south, and Oak Drive on the west.

EMPLOYEE LONGEVITY AWARDS: L-R: James Johnson, City Manager Mike Mahaney, Christopher Wright, James Gore, Craig Young, Andrew Franklin, Austin Bratton, Joshua Stevens, Monty Reed, Donald Constransitch.

EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH: L-R: City Manager Mike Mahaney, Dorian Dixon.