Will North Myrtle Beach make government even more transparent and accessible?
One of Horry County’s largest cities has limited access to its council meetings since 2021, making it difficult for residents to learn about potential tax hikes or new programs.
But candidates vying for a seat on North Myrtle Beach’s council all say they’d favor a return to internet broadcasts as a way to make local government more accessible for constituents.
“There is no reason not to,” Deborah Lombardino said in response to a recent Sun News questionnaire.
City spokesman Ryan Fabbri did not immediately respond to a Sun News inquiry about whether the practice will be revived, but officials told the newspaper last year it was being considered.
They also said it was initially halted due to low viewership.
South Carolina’s open meetings law doesn’t require communities to broadcast any of their deliberations, but nearly all of North Myrtle Beach’s neighbors do it anyway: Conway, Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach, the Horry County Council and Horry County Schools among them.
Myrtle Beach residents have been able to watch City Council meetings on TV since the mid-1990s, and online beginning in late 2018. Between the costs of streaming and equipment installation, it’s a roughly $55,000 investment to get meetings in cyberspace.
Councilman J.O. Baldwin III, who is seeking re-election Nov. 7, said he promotes any method that links the public with information about the city.
“I support live streaming council meetings to encourage as much public involvement as possible. For years I have provided my personal cell phone number and email address to the public, and I encourage folks to use them,” he said. “I want to hear from as many people as possible on the issues that affect our city.”
Fellow incumbents Fred Coyne and Hank Thomas also said they’d welcome a return to internet-supported meetings.
“I would not have any issue with live streaming. The city, in my opinion does a good job of trying to keep citizens informed especially through electronic media,” Thomas said. “All council agendas are posted online along with all city department reports. Also, the city website is continuously updated.”
