Monday Press Conference Could Be A $300 Million Embarrassment For Governor And MBACC

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David Hucks
David Huckshttps://myrtlebeachsc.com
David Hucks is a 12th generation descendant of the area we now call Myrtle Beach, S.C. David attended Coastal Carolina University and like most of his family, has never left the area. David is the lead journalist at MyrtleBeachSC.com

If you have been following the news, then you have certainly read about the off again and on again efforts to fund I-73.

Horry County Councilmen Dennis DiSibato and Tyler Servant are attempting to raise $250 million from Horry County, Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach for I-73. A committee of the Horry County Council on Tuesday voted to delay discussing Horry County’s portion of that total for another month.

Funding for a Highway 90 project, though, did win a vote of approval from the council committee on Tuesday. This measure is popular with Horry County residents. The I-73 funding idea is NOT popular in rural Horry County.

In a surprise move, Karen Riordan, President – Myrtle Beach Area Chamber, announced privately today that Governor Henry McMaster is scheduled to hold a press conference on Monday, October 4th with MBACC.

At that presser, McMaster will supposedly ask the S.C. General Assembly to earmark $300 million in Covid monies towards I-73. Key members of the local Horry County legislative delegation were not informed of the Governor’s visit, however.

Notification sent several to Facebook today to weigh where their constituents stood on the issue.

REP WILLIAM BAILEY OF NMB POSTED

Horry County residents want Hwy 90, Hwy 701, Hwy 378, and Hwy 9 completed first.

Those posts alone caused a meeting between key leaders today. Despite pleas from DiSabato, 6 Horry County Councilmen have made it clear that I-73 will not make any Horry County Council agenda.

STATE LEGISLATORS AND SENATORS

MyrtleBeachSC News reached out to legislators and state senators today. The consensus there was the same.

I-73 is unlikely to receive any covid funding despite the Governor’s ask. In fact, all the Governor can do is ask. He can not make such promises in a press conference on behalf of the General Assembly.

BIG PRESSER – EMPTY PROMISES

Should Governor McMaster follow through on his commitment to the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce on Monday, the event will amount to a front page presser of empty promises.

The mood in Horry County and in the General Assembly is clearly against this connector road.

The price tag is more likely to come in at $3.6 Billion.

The Interstate will not bring in industry. Were that true, I-20 would certainly have brought industry to Florence, S.C.

The myth of tourism leading as Horry County’s top economic engine is pure propaganda.

The real estate industry in Horry County does $30 billion annually.

Tourism generates $3 billion annually.

Real Estate is the prime economic engine in Horry County. I-73 would be nothing more than a tax free road funded for rural Horry County development.

SHOULD MCMASTER COME

Should McMaster show up on Monday, a group of Horry County local legislators are planning their own press conference opposing I-73.

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