Dear Friends:

Horry County P.R.I.D.E. was initiated to create the PUBLIC and POLITICAL will to find innovative, effective solutions to infrastructure and natural resource issues created by rapid growth. After working with many wonderful individuals and organizations throughout the County for the past six months, it is becoming obvious to us and to our elected officials that the PUBLIC will, the will of the Horry County taxpayers, is being expressed more often, more effectively, and by more of YOU.

Horry County taxpayers are standing up in greater numbers and and asking public officials to make decisions favorable to THEM…the ones who elect them and the ones who pay the taxes! And taxpayers are making a difference.

TAXPAYER ADVOCACY RESULTS

1. Working together, Horry County taxpayers are succeeding in raising awareness and focusing attention on the need for EVERYONE to pay their fair share for needed infrastructure.

How do we know this?

a) The County is now requiring a major developer to provide some of the NEW infrastructure caused by their development. (Carolina Station)

b) The County Council is once again debating the pros and cons of development impact fees.

c) There will soon be legislation introduced in Columbia to establish “Residential Improvement Districts” which may offer a more balanced option for infrastructure funding. (We’ll be writing more on this topic later.)

2. Working with already organized environmental groups, Horry County taxpayers are helping to increase the awareness and to focus needed attention on natural resource issues.

How do we know this?
a) In the past, the County Planning Commission has recommended and the County Council has granted permits to developers to build on top of essential wetlands and in the 100 year flood plains. Recently, the County Council’s Infrastructure and Regulations Committee. headed by Councilman Carl Schwartzkopf, recognized the seriousness of these actions and formed an ad hoc group to study the issues and make recommendations. (While this may not sound like much, it is an important first step in the right direction.)

b) In the past, the County has placed potentially toxic asphalt and concrete facilities in residential areas where taxpayers live and play. Working together, Horry County taxpayers are succeeding in focusing considerable attention on 1) the need to confine potentially toxic businesses to industrial parks and 2) DHEC’s inability to properly detect and monitor toxic emissions.

3. Working together, Horry County taxpayers have succeeded in getting revisions favorable to THEM in the County’s Land Development Regulations.

How do we know this?
The recently revised Land Development Regulations contain two new provisions favorable to taxpayers: 1) increased developer road warranties will reduce the cost to taxpayers of premature road repairs, and 2) increased requirements for green/open space will improve the quality of life for all taxpayers.

4. Horry County P.R.I.D.E. has become a recognized political voice.

How do we know this?

a) Horry County P.R.I.D.E. has been asked to review proposed State legislation (mentioned above) to establish “Residential Improvement Districts (RIDs).” (This would potentially require residents who live in an area designated as a RID to pay for new infrastructure. This could alleviate the problem of ALL taxpayers paying for ALL new infrastructure.)

b) Horry County P.R.I.D.E. was asked by Liz Gilland, County Council Chair, to serve on the newly formed Horry County Economic Development Strategic Plan Committee staffed by Coastal Carolina and Clemson University. (In case you’re wondering, the Horry County Comprehensive Plan focuses on land use; this new Strategic Plan will focus on economic development.)

c) Horry County P.R.I.D.E. has also been asked to serve on the leadership team of the newly forming S.C. Association of Retired Americans. (This organization will be affiliated with the national ARA and will significantly increase our ability to reach many more taxpayers [see www.retiredamericans.org].)

WHAT’S NEXT?

Now that we’re starting to see expressions of the PUBLIC will, let’s talk about what it takes to create POLITICAL will. The reality of politics is that public officials need two things to get into office and to stay stay in office…MONEY and VOTES. While special interest groups can provide money and some votes, taxpayers, working together, ultimately control the VOTES. And in the end, that’s what counts.

The POLITICAL will right now in Horry County (in the areas of infrastructure and natural resources), more often than not, serves special interests. To change that dynamics is not easy, but it can be done. Taxpayers have to make it impossible for their elected officials to ignore them, and you are beginning to do that with the Horry County P.R.I.D.E. taxpayer MOVEMENT.

While the four of us are committed to providing leadership, YOU are the MOVEMENT. By taking on leadership roles in County advocacy groups, by speaking at government meetings, by calling or writing your elected officials, by signing up as Horry County P.R.I.D.E. supporters, by attending our meetings, you have designated yourselves, wittingly or unwittingly, to be leaders of this MOVEMENT.

EFFECTIVE TAXPAYER ADVOCACY = LARGE AMOUNTS of TIMELY, EDUCATED, and ORGANIZED ADVOCACY.

To date, you have done a great job on the TIMELY and the EDUCATED advocacy. What’s needed now is for us to focus on the LARGE AMOUNTS of ORGANIZED advocacy. The next step is to dramatically increase taxpayer participation. To get and keep the attention of elected officials and to get them to make decisions favorable to taxpayers, you need to be in action and you need to get others in action. When we send out calls for action, EVERYONE needs to respond. Together we can make a difference!

We know that those of you on our mailing list are committed to making a difference in Horry County. How? Because you put yourself on our mailing list! And we want to acknowledge you for your commitment, for the hours you give, and for the exasperated tears you sometimes shed. You are no longer a solitary voice in the desert; you are a part of a MOVEMENT much bigger than yourself.

Shortly, we will be sending out Action Alerts. Please take advantage of these designated opportunities and respond quickly. Remember, every taxpayer’s communication = a potential vote to elected officials.

We are excited about the future in Horry County, and we hope you are also.

YOUR HORRY COUNTY P.R.I.D.E. LEADERSHIP

Julie Harbin, horrycountypride@sc.rr.com
Pam Creech, fouroaksgeneral@yahoo.com
Jim Paullin, peaceoftherock81@cs.com
Stu Schnur, sschnur@sc.rr.com

www.horrycountypride.org
horrycountypride.sc.rr.com
“It is the political will of the people that makes and sustains the political will of governments. Each of us helped create the mess we are in through cynicism and apathy, and we are central to resolving it. Democracy is not a spectator sport.” (Sam Harris, the founder of RESULTS, a Washington-based advocacy group)

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This entry was posted on Sunday, February 24th, 2008 at 4:48 pm and is filed under Communications.