MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) – Wednesday, for the first time in ten years the City of Myrtle Beach held a town hall giving the community the chance to ask city leaders questions.
For two hours, people asked city council members questions ranging from safety on the roads to sports and recreation.
“Let’s see what problems they may be having that we haven’t heard about,” said Myrtle Beach Mayor John Rhodes.
During every city council meeting there is an opportunity for “public input” but you need to call ahead to reserve time to speak and there is a time limit.
Rhodes says reinstituting town halls will open up communication between the city and the people who live in it, more so than what’s available during city council meetings.
“You go by the agenda it just doesn’t give them a chance to speak freely. This is let you ask us any questions on your mind,” said Rhodes.
Rhodes says the meetings will also help relieve some of the confusion behind government operations.
“They think that every law that’s passed is a city law and it’s not. Most of the time it’s a state law that we can’t touch,” said Rhodes.
Each person who attended had their own reason for coming.
“Once I retired this was my dream area to move to,” said Tony Thompson.
Thompson has lived in Myrtle Beach for three years.
He says after the town hall, he feels he has a better grasp now of what’s going on in his town.
“About I-73 just learn about the progress of that. What their position is on golf carts. Things that affect the community”
Mayor Rhodes says he would like to have a town hall meeting every month in different parts of Myrtle Beach.
He says he and the rest of council will take everything people bring up during the meetings into consideration.
