Horry Council right on Coast RTA actions

Horry County Council took the right and reasonable action, despite the obvious frustrations of some council members, in approving the final payment of the fiscal year to Coast RTA and granting the transit system extensions on creating transportation development and long-range strategy plans.

Not making the approximately $263,000 quarterly payment – three council members voted not to make it – would have created another crisis for the system as the high season for tourism begins. Another crisis is the last thing the embattled Coast RTA needs.

County Council Chairman Mark Lazarus correctly pointed out the extensions, requested by Coast board chairman Bernie Silverman, are in the best interests of the County Council, which has an agreement with Coast related to county funding. In addition to the transportation and strategy plans, the RTA is to develop a forensic financial audit and look into a management agency operating Coast.

Coast is in the process of hiring a new general manager and Silverman prematurely announced the hiring of Brian Piascik before the Coast board’s choice was reviewed by County Council as established in the county-Coast agreement. As Lazarus noted, it makes sense to wait on developing plans until the new CEO is hired. Former general manager Myers Rollins was fired a year ago. An interim general manager, Julie Norton-Dew, has served since Rollins’ departure.

Council members Al Allen, Bill Howard and Jody Prince voted against making the quarterly payment and granting the extensions. At the council meeting, Allen said he supports public transportation, but has problems with Coast’s performance. “There’s a definition of insanity, if you continue to do the same thing over and over and expect different results. I really believe that we need to take a look at this. This is an organization that has been plagued with problems for the last 20 years, and it seems like this council has not been taken seriously.”

To the council’s great credit, it has taken a different approach beginning with the agreement. The council has three appointees on the Coast board, including two council members. Granted, the approach came later rather than sooner in various and ongoing problems of the transportation authority. Exactly what does Allen propose to do at this point – other than “take a look”?

Councilman Gary Loftus of Surfside Beach voted with the majority, but said: “RTA and their board better start taking council seriously. I’m going to go to bat for you one last time and that’s it.” Really? Does Loftus mean he won’t support reasonable requests no matter what? Loftus, a frequent critic of Coast, with justification for the most part, is on the authority’s board. Loftus is in a position to guide Coast in policy and management decisions. If he’s not going to support the RTA, he should resign from the Coast board.

Coast board members are volunteers. No doubt, they have made mistakes, perhaps in some cases from not paying close enough attention. If anyone on the Coast board really does not take Horry County Council seriously, that attitude must be adjusted. A Coast statement after the council meeting surely suggests Coast board members and employees take the County Council seriously.

Coast RTA has fallen far short of being the regional transportation system it needs to be. It’s easy to be frustrated by Coast’s performance. Allen and Loftus would better serve their districts and Horry County overall, by acknowledging the need for better transportation. Improving the bus system should be the goal, which at this point requires setting aside frustrations and helping ensure that the new Coast CEO is the best person for the job to advance Horry County’s public transit.

This story was originally published April 23, 2015 at 2:35 PM with the headline "Horry Council right on Coast RTA actions."