SC- Myrtle Beach reaches out to Atlantic Beach, financially
www.carolinalive.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=260896
Myrtle Beach reaches out to Atlantic Beach, financially
By Joel Allen
Monday, February 16, 2009 at 5:07 p.m.
Myrtle Beach wants to help Atlantic Beach move away from an economy
that’s dependent on a motorcycle rally. But that’s going to take
taxpayer money and where it will come from is up in the air.
The town managers from Myrtle Beach and Atlantic Beach held a
teleconference Monday, where they talked about what has to be done to
move the town to a year-round economy.
They say, it won’t be accomplished overnight, and it can’t be done for
free.
If Atlantic Beach hopes to redevelop, Myrtle Beach City Manager Tom
Leath says the town will need things like zoning rewrites, a
comprehensive plan and engineering studies.
Those things cost money and Leath says where it will come from hasn’t
been worked out.
But one way or another, taxpayers will likely be footing the bill.
“It’s not going to come from all of Myrtle Beach. We’re hopeful that if
any money’s involved, it would come from the various governments,” said
Leath.
Leath is looking at some kind of investment or partnership that would
cost around $250,000 to $500,000 and allow the cities and county to be
paid back.
Leath wants to work out a meeting later this week for the city and
county managers to talk about what they can do for Atlantic Beach, and
whatever they come up with will take some time to work out.
“So we’re talking about a couple of years of planning and study and this
sort of thing,” explained Leath.
Leath says this isn’t about bribing Atlantic Beach to get rid of its
bike rally, it’s about moving the town toward a year-round economy.
He says the communities surrounding Atlantic Beach have to do something
to help the struggling town.
“None of us can afford to have Atlantic Beach continue to stagnate,
continue to falter, we’ve got to continue to try to help our neighbor
and that way, I don’t think it’s good money after bad,” said Leath.
Leath says Monday’s teleconference was really about getting the new
Atlantic Beach town manager, Kenneth McIver, up to speed on plans that
Leath had discussed with the previous town manager.
The next step will be to get North Myrtle Beach and the county on board.
