STATEMENT OF DR. STUART SCHNUR
HORRY COUNTY PRIDE
BEFORE THE
HORRY COUNTY COUNCIL
November 27, 2007

Good evening. My name is Dr. Stuart Schnur. I reside in the Blackmoor community in the unincorporated segment of Murrells Inlet. Because of my experiences in my “previous life” – as a member of library boards and Master Planning committees, ad hoc governmental and legislative advisory committees, and my public life as a school district superintendent for 16 years – I have been following with great interest the unfolding story of the so-called “development” of Horry County.

In the past year or so I have gleaned much from the news reports about the airport approval/disapproval project, from the development stories as they related to Bay Tree, Deerfield, and Robber’s Roost, and the recent news related to approvals for the development of Carolina Station. I have followed the growth of grassroots movements such as George Edwards’ GIAC and the recently created Horry County Pride. I read the editorial page of the Sun News daily. All of the aforementioned has led me to a conclusion that is both shocking and disheartening to me. Using an analogy of the celebrated Kevin Costner movie “Field of Dreams”, it seems that our ruling governmental bodies subscribe to a theory similar to “if we build it they will come.” Sadly, it appears that you subscribe to “just keep building it, they will come, and eventually things will work out.”

As someone who was actively engaged in his professional life with strategic and long-term planning, including the need to finance and support not only basic construction and building costs but the development and maintenance of the entire related infrastructure, I am disappointed by the lack of leadership and foresight demonstrated by the Council in terms of both planning for and then funding the requisite infrastructure.

Let us use the planned Carolina Station community as an example of what I am alluding to. There appears to be an intelligent and appropriate allocation of resources, roadways, fire, medical, and police facilities. But other than identifying three parcels of land that the school district may purchase, there is no planning nor input from the school district as to needs in terms of facilities, program, or staff. It is easy to point a finger at the district and say that this is their problem, but I would disagree and say instead it is our problem. Aren’t the children all of ours? In a county where the newspapers constantly report that the schools are over capacity before their construction is even completed, how can you allow more construction without planning for the development and funding of all related infrastructure needs? How can you pass the buck to the taxpayers claiming that the school district can just set millage rates and the problem is then solved?

I do not understand why you allow almost unbridled growth in Horry County and do not expect those who cause undue strain on our infrastructure, whether it be roadways, public services, schools, natural resource preservation, storm water drainage systems and the like, to not bear their fair share or an appropriate proportion of the cost of expanding the currently inadequate infrastructure. I beseech you to step forward – do not allow Horry County to evolve into the kind of mess that exists in the New York to Washington megalopolis/corridor. Allow controlled growth, but match it with appropriate infrastructural support to maintain and even augment the quality of life we deserve and expect in this County.

Again, I thank you for your attention.

Stuart Schnur, Ed.D.
1153 N. Blackmoor Drive
Murrells Inlet, SC 29576
(843) 215-6985
sschnur@sc.rr.com

This entry was posted on Monday, December 3rd, 2007 at 2:12 pm and is filed under Horry County Council.