Horry County to consider dissolving airport advisory; create transportation committee to ensure accountability

Horry County Council Chairman Mark Lazarus said he wants to dissolve the airport advisory committee, but assures the public that by doing so it will not diminish accountability to the County Council because he's creating a transportation committee within council.

Lazarus said the dissolution is an effort to streamline the process and eliminate one more meeting for Department of Airport officials. Currently, airport officials give presentations to the advisory committee and the administration committee.

“It’s redundant, it’s a lot of staff time and it’s a lot of money,” Lazarus said. It was putting a lot on the staff to prepare for the two meetings.”

The advisory committee is made up of residents throughout the county.

“It’s nothing against the advisory committee or anything that they’ve done or any issue there,” Lazarus said. “It’s just a better process.”

The advisory committee had a key role with the recent airport improvement projects at Myrtle Beach International Airport, including the new terminal, the new runway, and renovating the old terminal.

Lazarus said he plans to form a fourth committee of council members called the transportation committee, which will oversee railroad issues, Coast RTA, roads and the airports.

“In the admin committee, our agendas are really getting full,” Lazarus said. “I would like to give more attention and detail to these transportation needs. I feel we’re better suited to have that fourth committee made up of council to make recommendations to council.”

This story was originally published April 30, 2015 at 4:58 PM with the headline "Horry County to consider dissolving airport advisory; create transportation committee to ensure accountability."