Bike rally supporters ask council to hold off on ordinances
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ask_council_to_hold_off_on_ordinances/33691/
Bike rally supporters ask council to hold off on ordinances
By Aisha Khan
WBTW Reporter
Published: February 16, 2009
A group of several business owners and cruiser bikers came together
Sunday afternoon at Hoof-n-Fins in Murrells Inlet rallying to raise
awareness about potential new Horry County laws.
The group, “Business Owners Organized to Save Tourism” or “BOOST”,
hosted the meeting to discuss issues concerning the spring bike rally
and the changes that Horry County council will be voting on come
February 17th.
That is when the council is expected to give its final approval to a
pair of new ordinances that could have a major impact on motorcycle
rallies along the grand strand. If approved, the ordinance would require
a permit for all outdoor events in the county.
Curtis Thornton the owner of Hoof-n-Finz said that such potential
changes could negatively impact local businesses.
“The economy is down everybody is hurting from the economy,” said
Thornton, “give us time to fix the rally, the noise, the congestion, the
problems that we all recognize, but let’s put it off and save it until
after the May rally, until we have time to fix it; there’s no time to
fix the rally.”
Thornton wasn’t the only one rallying, long time business owner and
cruiser biker, Lee Weemer said that many tourists look forward to bike
week but now it seems like Myrtle Beach is starting to get a bad name
and may not attract any visitors.
“Everybody comes up to me and the number one question is, what’s going
on in Myrtle Beach don’t they understand? Don’t they realize?,” said
Weemer, “and I think it’s just so bad what’s happening, we’re getting
such a bad rap down here.”
Both the special events and the vendor ordinances will be up for a
public hearing and final vote on Tuesday night at 6:00.
The two ordinances will directly impact the big may bike rallies.
Count on News 13 for updates on the council’s vote and what it may mean
to the bike rallies, the bikers and local business owners.
