MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW)- Board members with The Downtown Redevelopment Corporation met on Wednesday to review Amendments to the 2015-2016 budget and approve a budget for 2016-2017.
Among the amendments discussed, included plans to add funds to support an Ambassador Test Program beginning June 2016 through October 2016 in the Boardwalk Entertainment District.
The DRC along with the City of Myrtle Beach and Myrtle Beach Police Department will hire 8 ambassadors who will work in pairs. The hours of service are 10am-6pm and 2pm-10pm.
“I think it stems just from conversations with downtown folks, downtown businesses, in terms of what we can continue to do to better the area,” Executive Assistant, Lauren Clever said.
Myrtle Beach Police will train the Ambassadors on coverage areas, customer service, use of portable radios, daily reports and other responsibilities.
Businesses in the Downtown area say they welcome any change that will help put it in a positive light.
“Last year we had a very big problem with the homeless people just hanging around downstairs and therefore we had to enclose it,” Sammy Nandwani, owner of Sharkey’s said.
The DRC wants to use the program as a way to address those public safety issues business owners like Nandwani have expressed concern about.
“I think anything we do to continue to make our Downtown, Boardwalk area better we will work towards doing. If it takes extra enhancements then we’re going to look at that. And that’s what some of these aspects with the Ambassadors program or Aesthetics program. Those are on top of what’s already taking place,” Clever adds.
Also discussed at Wednesday’s meeting were plans for an Aesthetic Committee next year. Board Members say a test will be done in the Boardwalk Entertainment District regarding aesthetic projects. This line item will be funded in the amount of $50,000.00 which come from Fund Balance.
The total estimated cost of the program is $86, 080 and City Manager John Pederson says they will post the positions this Friday. Applicants must be a South Carolina resident, have a valid SC license, a minimum age of 18, physically capable of walking 8-10 hours.
