Myrtle Beach Parking Fees.pdfFeds : Myrtle Bea ch parking fees won't impact be ach renourishment money I Horry County 1 myh oiTynews .com
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https://www.myhorrynews.com/news/local/horry_county/feds-myrtle-beach-parking-fees-won-t-impact-beach
renourishment/article_S09dadba-4e23-11 e6-864e-73d56790a83c.html
Feds: Myrtle Beach parking fees won't impact beach
renourishment money
By Tom O'Dare and Charles D. Perry info@myhorrynews.com Jul 19, 2016
MARCH 1
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Feds: My1tle Beach parking fees won't impact beach renourishment money I Hony County I myhorrynews.com
Signs were unveiled Tuesday in the Avenues section ofthe northern part of Myrtle Beach reminding motorists of the
new parking regulations for that area.
Tom O'Dare I The Herald
Myrtle Beach's new parking fees will not place the city's federal funding for beach
renourishment in jeopardy, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said Tuesday.
The announcement came after Horry County officials questioned whether a 1995 contract
between the city and the Corps required the city to charge all users the same rates for
beachfront parking.
The city recently decided to charge visitors for parking along Ocean Boulevard in the Golden Mile
of the city and in the rights-of-way along the avenues from 31st North to 82nd North. Anyone with
a city resident decal can park in those spaces for free, but non-residents have to pay $2 per hour
or $10 per day.
On Friday, Harry County Councilman Harold Worley pointed out that the city and the Corps have
a contract that deals with who pays for replenishing sand on eroding shorelines. The agreement
provides the city with millions of dollars in renourishment funding, and it stipulates that access
roads, parking areas and other public facilities at the beach must be "o en and available to all on
equal terms."
Worley and County Council Chairman Mark Lazarus argued that by charging city residents and
county residents different parking rates, the city violated that agreement.
City officials, however, maintained that residents al r eady paid for parking through their taxes .
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F ed s : My1ile Beach park ing fe es w on't im pac t beach renouris hment mo ne y I H a rry Co unty I my h onynews.com
The Corps reviewed the contract after county leaders raised the issue. The federal agency sided
with the city.
"Upon review, the Charleston District has determined that everyone, both City of Myrtle Beach
residents and non-residents, are being consistently charged for parking and, therefore, there is
no violation of the agreement," the Corps said in a news release. "The specifics of how those
charges are incurred, whether through taxes to residents or fees to non-residents, are a decision
up to the City of Myrtle Beach and all questions about those charges should be directed to
them."
As of Ma r ch 29, more than $24 million in federal funding has gone to "initial construct ion,
periodic nourishment and hurricane emergency rehabilitation on this stretch of Myrtle Beach
unde r the beach nourishment agreement with the City," according to the Corps' news release.
Myrtle Beach Mayo r John Rhodes said he wasn't surprised by the Corps ' findings .
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Feds: My1ile Beach parking fees won 't impact beach renourishment money I Horry County I myhorrynews .com
"We were told all along by our attorney that there wouldn't be a problem," he said. "This latest
controversy was a can of worms Mr. Worley was trying to stir up. This proves he has no idea
what he's talking about and should pay more attention to his own area and not try to be
something he's not."
Despite the Corps' decision, Worley said the language of the contract is clear.
"I guess the Harry County citizens in the unincorporated areas are not as important as the city
residents," he said. "The contract reads the way it reads . I think a third grader could figure it
out."
Although the city remains committed to the parking fees, Lazarus said he still hopes to persuade
Myrtle Beach leaders to offer a pass that county residents could purchase to allow them to park
in those areas.
"Everything's all about negotiations," he said . "We'll still be talking."
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Tom O'Dare
I'm the editor of the Myrtle Beach Herald, a weekly newspaper serving South Carol i na's Grand Strand. I cover
municipal government in Myrtle Beach and Surfside Beach . Know of a good story? Call me at 843-488 -7258 .
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Feds: Niyitle Beach parking fees won't impact beach renourishment money I Harry County I myhonynews.com
Charles Perry
I'm the editor of myhorrynews.com and the Carolina Forest Chronicle, a weekly newspaper in Harry County,
South Carolina. I cover county government, the justice system and agriculture. Know of a story that needs to
be covered? Call me at 843-488-7236.
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