In the wake of a SLED investigation into extortion claims, News13 has learned members of Horry County Council drafted a motion to suspend County Administrator Chris Eldridge, with pay.
According to documents obtained by News13, the motion was drafted on January 4 to suspend Eldridge “until at such time Council receives a completed copy of the current SLED investigation or chooses to address this matter in a timely manner at the Council’s discretion for further consideration.”
The drafted motion also states that in the interim, Horry County Emergency Management Director Randy Webster would take over as the Interim Administrator, should Eldridge get suspended.
The draft motion, according to documents, was sent by Councilman Al Allen to Councilmen Johnny Vaught and Danny Hardee, as well as current Horry County Chairman Johnny Gardner on January 4 at 8:23 a.m.
Horry County Council’s meeting became heated on January 4, as there were plans to discuss ‘an employee matter’, but that did not happen.
Some council members wanted to wait until after the SLED report came back before taking action.
Eldridge was the one who made the original request to SLED.
A South Carolina-based news website says Gardner and an associate named Luke Barefoot met with Sandy Davis, CEO of the Myrtle Beach Regional Economic Development Corporation. Sherri Steele of the MBREDC was also at the meeting. Davis says Steele recorded the conversation for the MBREDC’s executive committee.
The article claims in the audio recording, Barefoot told Davis a blog was going to post a negative story about her. It also claims Barefoot told Davis to hire a consultant from the Gardner campaign for public relations work for $40,000. That money would be hidden through the Beach Ball Classic high school basketball tournament.
Davis, however, says she didn’t feel extorted.
Count on News13 for updates on this story as it continues to develop.
