Beach Sweep / Creek Sweep is Saturday, October 7, in North Myrtle Beach

DATE: Saturday, October 7

TIME: 9am – 12pm

CHECK-IN: Starts 8:30 am

CHECK-IN LOCATION: 53^rd Avenue North Boat Ramp in Cherry Grove

LUNCH: Starts at 11am at the 53^rd Avenue North Boat Ramp in Cherry Grove

TO VOLUNTEER: Contact Gregg Barnhill at 843-280-5673 or dgbarnhill@nmb.us

The Keep North Myrtle Beach Beautiful Commission will sponsor BEACH SWEEP / CREEK SWEEP on October 7. Volunteers will clean the ocean front areas of North Myrtle Beach and some areas of the marsh in Cherry Grove.

Following is a list of the major cleanup areas for Beach Sweep / Creek Sweep in North Myrtle Beach and some of the volunteer groups that will be cleaning the beach and marsh areas. Please feel free to join in!

BEACH SWEEP CLEANUP AREAS

With Parking and Restrooms

45^th AVENUE SOUTH -- The Christian Retreat in Windy Hill will provide 70-80 volunteers to clean the Windy Hill Section

27^th AVENUE SOUTH -- Need Volunteers

17^th AVENUE SOUTH -- Grand Strand Professionals will provide 30-50 volunteers to clean this area

THE HORSESHOE -- The OD Shag Club will provide 25-30 volunteers to clean the beach and the Main Street area

SEA MOUNTAIN HIGHWAY -- Need Volunteers

BURGESS PRESERVE AREA -- North Myrtle Beach High School will clean up marsh areas near the Preserve

CHERRY GROVE BOAT RAMP -- North Myrtle Beach High School (walk to beach from boat ramp for beach cleanup)

The North Myrtle Beach Beach Sweep / Creek Sweep is a part of the statewide Beach Sweep / River Sweep, South Carolina’s largest one-day volunteer cleanup initiative. On the third Saturday in September each year, thousands volunteer to help clear South Carolina's beaches, rivers, lakes, marshes, and swamps of debris. The annual cleanup, organized by the South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, has taken place since 1988. The event occurs in conjunction with the International Coastal Cleanup, coordinated by the Ocean Conservancy. Once the Sweep is over, the Ocean Conservancy tallies all of the debris data. This data helps to identify the sources of litter so we can try to prevent litter before it starts. 

Keep North Myrtle Beach Beautiful is volunteer committee dedicated to educating and empowering the North Myrtle Beach community to personally improve the environment and enhance the quality of life and community pride through beautification, litter prevention and recycling.

Volunteer Groups and Sponsors:

Keep North Myrtle Beach Beautiful, Sea Grant Consortium, Palmetto Pride, Driftwood Garden Club, Optimist Club, Yaupon Garden Club, North Myrtle Beach Pilot Club, Sea Oates Garden Club, North Strand Sail & Power Squadron, Sea Coast Anglers, North Myrtle Beach Public Safety, North Myrtle Beach Public Works, North Myrtle Beach Parks & Recreation, Clemson Extension Service, American Legion Post 186, OD Shag Club, North Myrtle Beach High School, North Myrtle Beach Middle School, North Myrtle Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad, all North Myrtle Beach Elementary Schools, South Carolina Department of Health & Environmental Control, and many individual volunteers from the area.

11th Annual Basil's Pizza Family Run/Walk Set for September 29 at North Myrtle Beach Aquatic & Fitness Center

The North Myrtle Beach Aquatic & Fitness Center invites you to participate in the 11^th Annual Basil’s Pizza One-Mile Family Fun Run/Walk on September 29 at the North Myrtle Beach Aquatic & Fitness Center. Whether you enjoy a jog or a light stroll, this popular annual event is designed to promote a healthy, active, fun lifestyle.

The Horry County School with the most participation will receive a monetary donation.

The $8.00 registration fee includes snacks, a medal, and a drawstring bag. (Additional dinner tickets are NOT available this year.) There is also a free inflatable zone.

Onsite registration begins at 5:00 p.m. and the one-mile run/walk begins at 6:00 p.m. If it rains, the event will be held inside the Aquatic & Fitness Center.

To view the registration form, visit here: https://tinyurl.com/y7saenys

If the link does not work for you, visit www.nmb.us and look under "Press Releases"

The event is sponsored by Basil’s Pizza, North Myrtle Beach Aquatic & Fitness Center, Basil’s Realty McLeod Seacoast, Sandhills Bank, RIOZ Brazilian Steakhouse, ReMax Southern Shores-Roz Murray, Thomas Real Estate, Inc., Greg Norman’s Australian Grille, and State Farm-Callie Wise 843-272-9990.

For more information, call Heather Smith at 843-281-3737.

Milling of Barefoot Resort Bridge Road Starts September 25, And Paving Occurs Week of October 1

The City’s paving contractor will begin milling Barefoot Resort Bridge Road on September 25 as a part of the resurfacing of the road between the turn bridge and Catalina Drive.The work will take about four days.

Paving will occur the week of October 1. The work will take about four days.

Final striping of the road will be completed at a later date. The asphalt must cure before striping can occur.

Motorists using Barefoot Resort Bridge Road should expect delays while the work is occurring.

If inclement weather occurs during this time frame, the schedule may be adjusted.

North Myrtle Beach City Council to Participate in September 20-22 Chamber of Commerce "Leadership Retreat"

The North Myrtle Beach City Council will participate in a September 20-22 North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce "Leadership Planning Retreat" at The Wilcox in Aiken, SC.

To view or download the retreat agenda, please visit here: https://tinyurl.com/y6wl795v or see "Agendas" or "Press Releases" at www.nmb.us

Results: September 18 North Myrtle Beach City Council Meeting

During the September 18 North Myrtle Beach City Council meeting, City Council approved a special event permit for the 14th Annual Irish Italian Festival, September 30, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. on Main Street. Food and arts & crafts vendors, two stages of live entertainment, street performers, dance groups, all surrounding an Irish Italian International theme.

City Council approved a special event permit for the Endless Summer Festival, sponsored by the North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce, October 28, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. on Main Street. Entertainment, arts & crafts and food vendors, children's area with community stage, and carnival rides.

City Council approved a special event permit for the North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours event October 12, 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at Boulineau's Food Plus parking lot and Nixon Street.

City Council passed second (final) reading of a proposed ordinance to amend the Barefoot Resort Planned Development District (MJPDD-17-02) as it applies to the Tuscan Sands neighborhood. Homeowners had expressed an interest in building porches or patios farther into their rear yards, but space was limited due to a 20-foot setback requirement. The amendment reduces the rear yard setback from 20 feet to l0 feet in the Tuscan Sands neighborhood to allow for unheated/un-air conditioned patios or porches that meet specific standards. However, the 20-foot rear setback would remain for heated or air conditioned living space.

City Council passed second reading of an ordinance to amend Chapter 23, Zoning, of the Code of Ordinances of North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (ZTX-17-06). The amendment creates a new overlay zoning district — the Small Lot Outdoor Living Overlay — that addresses setbacks for the construction of decks and porches within the R-3 zoning district. The overlay district exists in the zoning text only, with no initial application to specific properties at this time. When an applicant requests that the overlay be applied to their property or if the city proposes its application to specific areas of the city, the request would be processed as a typical rezoning application. The Planning Commission would provide a recommendation to City Council as to whether the district makes sense on a case-by-case basis, applying certain criteria.

City Council passed first reading of a Zoning Ordinance text amendment to allow wireless personal telephone transmission antennae on buildings less than 120 feet in height.

Section 23-110 of the zoning ordinance regulates personal cell phone transmission antennae and accessory equipment located atop flat-roofed buildings that are 120 feet or taller, provided the antennae project no more than 6 feet above and the accessory equipment does not protrude above the lowest parapet wall. Currently, antennae or equipment on buildings that are less than 120 feet are prohibited, unless the property is zoned PDD, requiring a major amendment, or publicly owned utilities or property.

In the past few years, the city has heard from some cell phone carrier representatives that there is a need for better cell phone coverage citywide. Wi-Fi, 4G and 5G data use by cell phone customers has greatly expanded and gaps in coverage persist.

City staff proposed a text amendment to the Zoning Ordinance to allow wireless personal telephone transmission antennae on buildings shorter than 120 feet in height provided the antennae employ a stealth or concealment design that mimics architectural features consistent with the building design and/or is complementary to the building architecture. Supporting equipment required at ground level must be screened from view.

This text amendment would not change the existing code regulating antennae or accessory equipment located atop flat-roofed buildings greater than 120 feet in height; those standards would still apply. The amendment does not address allowing freestanding transmission antennae beyond the existing standards already in place.

City Council passed first reading of request to rezone 11.66 acres of land located on Ye Olde Kings Highway from R-1 (Single-Family Residential Low Density) to R-2B (Single-Family Residential Medium Density). The property is currently undeveloped.

Mayor Marilyn Hatley Proclaims September 19 "South Carolina Future Makes Day" in North Myrtle Beach

During the September 18 North Myrtle Beach City Council Meeting, Mayor Marilyn Hatley presented a Proclamation naming September 19 as "South Carolina Future Makers Day" in North Myrtle Beach. Mayor Hatley said that the city is proud to partner with North Myrtle Beach High School and the South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance in support of the South Carolina Future Makers, powered by STEM Premier.

ABOUT THE SOUTH CAROLINA FUTURE MAKERS PROGRAM

As the only statewide organization committed exclusively to the interests of South Carolina’s manufacturing community, the South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance is keenly aware that the key to future economic development and to the prosperity of our citizens will be developing a world-class workforce to staff the facilities that are being recruited to the state.

In 2013, South Carolina's manufacturers identified finding a world-class workforce to be the key challenge for them going forward. The findings made it clear that due to the aging of our workforce, South Carolina would need more and more skilled workers to fill existing plants. Additionally, with the dramatic success that the state has had in recruiting new facilities and expansions of existing operations, the challenge would only grow.

Beginning with the premise that this state can train a world-class workforce as well as any other state in the nation, the state's manufacturers realized the challenge was to tell the manufacturing and technology stories to the state’s children and their parents. Their answer to that challenge is the South Carolina Future Makers program.

Future Makers is many things, but first and foremost it is a public-private partnership which fully engages South Carolina’s manufacturing and technology communities with middle and high school students, technical college students, and four-year college students. Working with STEM Premier, the South Carolina Department of Commerce, the South Carolina Department of Education, the South Carolina Technical College System, the Department of Employment and Workforce, and so many other key players in workforce development, they tell the story of South Carolina manufacturing and information technology careers, and work to show children and their parents the endless career opportunities available to them and pathways that they can follow to realize their dreams and make their futures come true.

THE GOAL OF SOUTH CAROLINA FUTURE MAKERS

The goal of the South Carolina Future Makers initiative is to expose and connect the next generation in the state of South Carolina to all of the opportunities it has to offer, close the STEM skills gap, and ultimately retain talent for future economic development and regional prosperity.

Under the leadership of the South Carolina Department of Commerce Regional Workforce Advisor, North Myrtle Beach High School Guidance Counselors, Teachers, and Administration will provide access to all students to connect to opportunities with world-class companies and colleges throughout the state and nation.

Mayor Hatley said that this focus helps to ensure future quality leaders and future quality employees for the state and nation.

Shown left to right in the accompanying photo are Anna Strickland (Santee Cooper Community Relations Representative for Educational Programs) , SC Representative Greg Duckworth, Mayor Marilyn Hatley, James Richter (SC Manufacturers Alliance Director of Workforce Development & Member Relations), Eileen Patonay (SC Dept of Commerce Regional Workforce Advisor), Erin Johnson (NMB High School 10th Grade Guidance Counselor), Beth Brown (NMB High School Head Guidance Counselor 12th Grade)

Four North Myrtle Beach City Employees Receive Awards

During the September 18 North Myrtle Beach City Council meeting, four city employees received Longevity Awards. Employees who continuously provide excellent customer service receive Longevity Awards in five-year increments.

Receiving the awards were Heavy Equipment Operator Adrian Williams (20 years of service), Cashier/Accounting Clerk Shana O’Brien (10), Public Safety Officer/Lifeguard Coordinator Frank Smith (10), and Purchasing Agent Loy Williford (10).

Shown left to right in the accompanying photo are Frank Smith, Adrian Williams, Shana O'Brien, Loy Williford, City Manager Mike Mahaney.