‘This is no longer a state of emergency,’ Horry County claims, after all cities say it is
Horry County is no longer under a formal state of emergency, but staff leaders were given flexibility to respond to coronavirus challenges.
Council voted 10-2 to end the state of emergency ordinance after a second day of discussion and approved a new emergency ordinance that gives County Administration Steve Gosnell clearer powers to continue the county’s response to the virus.
“This is no longer a state of emergency,” Horry County Chairman Johnny Gardner said. “Instead of highlighting the emergency, it highlights the recovery.”
Canceling the formal state of emergency ordinance is largely a matter of appearances. Several council members were worried about how renewing the ordinance would look to the public and how it will affect people supporting local businesses reopening.
But most local governments renewed their states of emergency. The City of Conway, City of Myrtle Beach, City of North Myrtle Beach, Town of Surfside Beach and Georgetown County voted to renew its states of emergencies this week.
Renewing the ordinance would have had no effect on what businesses could reopen or when restrictions will be lifted. Gov. Henry McMaster controls when the economy reopens.
Council Member Harold Worley said the county needs to make sure it does not get in the way of reopening, and he believes the new ordinance will help.
While Horry County removed an emergency ordinance that closed amusement attractions, the governor still has to give the okay before they can open.
While it quickly became clear Horry County wouldn’t renew the state of emergency ordinance, it took council two meetings to decide what comes next. Staff started Tuesday preparing a new emergency ordinance.
County Council Member Johnny Vaught said he doesn’t believe the new ordinance needs to be an emergency ordinance. He believes that there is not enough evidence to show Horry County is still in an emergency situation.
Horry County’s new emergency ordinance instructs Gosnell and staff over the next 60 days before the new ordinance ends to begin reopening county facilities in phases, maintain incentives for the public to work online and allow Gosnell to help guide the recovery effort.
County offices and libraries will reopen on Monday.
Gosnell will not, however, have the power to circumvent the procurement process to acquire personal protective equipment for county staff and public safety officers. The county will still be able to acquire PPE, but not as swiftly as it did under the emergency ordinance.
A pandemic plan is being created to help outline the procedures of maintaining public services for the remainder of the coronavirus issue and if a future need arises. County staff leaders are fine tuning it now for council approval.
“It’s going to remain a living document,” Assistant Administrator Randy Webster said.
Council Member Al Allen said the new emergency ordinance does not accomplish all the council wanted and isn’t specific enough. He would like to see a more concrete plan for moving forward, no emergency ordinance, more council involvement in the planning process and a more clear date on when the county will reopen and in-person meetings can resume.
“We are being asked to pass something that we will not know will come of it. That makes me uncomfortable,” Allen said. “Our public is ready to get out. We need to lead by example.”
This story was originally published May 13, 2020 at 10:50 AM.
