Council Moves Closer to Myrtle Beach, Fla., Airport Expansion

Horry County Council is asking Myrtle Beach for a chunk of cash for the temporary expansion of the Myrtle Beach International Airport.

City Council will vote on $1 million tonight toward a temporary structure that would add three plane parking positions until the $185 million expansion is complete in 2007.

This immediate addition would cost $3.5 million and either be a fabric structure or a series of modular buildings, airport Director Bob Kemp said.

County Council members asked City Council for $1.5 million toward the temporary structure but City Council members did not want to support that large of a request.

The city has committed to a $2 million contribution, which can be used for any airport purpose, in January 2005 from the Seascape fund, formerly the aviation fund, and about $1 million a year, said City Manager Tom Leath.

The funds for the temporary expansion, if approved, would likely come from the Seascape fund, he said.

Horry County Council Chairwoman Liz Gilland suggested the city could use the structure after the airport no longer needs it, but Councilwoman Judy Rodman said it will be useless by that time and likened it to portable classrooms used by schools.

"When it comes down to it, you've spent all that money and they'll probably be junked," she said. "They're not reusable."

Some City Council members said they have contributed enough for now to the airport.

"The city of Myrtle Beach is the only entity that brought hard assets to the table. We have already -- some say boldly, and some say blindly -- committed $1 million a year to the airport, which we have no control over," Councilman Phil Render said. "It's a county resource, and they're asking the city of Myrtle Beach to shoulder the burden."

Council members suggested other groups should contribute to the airport.

"I'm for the people that benefit, i.e., the airlines, for chipping in," Rodman said. "We are always the first on the list. These other cities benefit, too, and I'd like to see them come forward with $5,000 or $10,000 or what they can afford," she said.

Kemp said there is no intent to ask airlines or other cities to contribute because they want the city to draw from the Seascape fund.