Horry County in contract talks with administrator

Horry County Council is negotiating a contract renewal with County Administrator Chris Eldridge that should be finalized next month.

Eldridge makes $157,624.48 — the highest on county payroll — and is working under a three-year deal penned June 18, 2012.

Council Chairman Mark Lazarus said talks have been ongoing with Eldridge, which included a closed session meeting at the spring budget retreat.

“I have been working with Chris in negotiating a contract,” Lazarus said. “... We’re looking at what Chris’ future holds with us and what type of contract that we will enter in with him. We’ve got a draft that I’m reviewing now.”

Eldridge manages a $373 million annual budget in a county where more than 2,100 employees either report to him or his department heads.

Eldridge prides himself on improving relationships with the county’s municipalities through a regularly scheduled meeting among the administrators every other month, which includes the school district and Grand Strand Water and Sewer.

Eldridge was key in not renewing the contract of Mike LaPier, former director of airports for Horry County, after an agreement the county had with Canadian airline WestJet cost the county about $583,000 in rebates in 2013.

Also, after the September resignation of Paul Whitten, former assistant administrator for public safety, Eldridge absorbed Whitten’s responsibilities, effectively saving the county money through attrition. Since Eldridge has taken over, the county has reorganized the public safety division and has seen overtime savings in public safety through more close monitoring.

Lazarus said he plans to discuss the contract in closed session at the April 30 administration committee meeting, and then to the full County Council May 5. Lazarus said he anticipates a three-year contract where Eldridge will work at-will until the new budget year begins July 1.

“His contract will be based on budget cycles from now on,” Lazarus said.

- Jason M. Rodriguez, jrodriguez@thesunnews.com

This story was originally published April 20, 2015 at 3:55 PM with the headline "Horry County in contract talks with administrator."