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Incorporation: Creating a new town on the Lower Waccamaw Neck
Today we are announcing a new grass roots citizens group:
The Pawleys-Litchfield Municipal Study Group
Our Goal: Establishing a new self-governing town
This is the viable alternative to replace the unincorporated County government we live under today. The present government is structured so decisions affecting the Lower Waccamaw Neck are made predominantly by representatives of people from other parts of the County. “Voting the bums out” as a way to effect change is not possible with this government structure.
The main reason for announcing the Study Group today is the County’s recent approval of a new Comprehensive Land Use Plan. We have been anticipating this direction by the County for some time.
This Plan, required by law, establishes the County’s land management policy for the next ten years. The Plan is critical. It will impact traffic volume, evacuation plans, environmental management, recreation, and population growth. The new Plan will increase the population growth rate above the rate experienced the last ten years. Population density will increase. This Plan will be transformative for the Lower Waccamaw Neck. It means our distinctive area in time will become Myrtle Beach.
The only way to block this plan is for Lower Waccamaw Neck residents to unite and establish a new town through Incorporation. Incorporation means decisions that affect this area will be made by the people who live here. The new town government representatives will be accountable to local voters.
Important Fact:
In South Carolina, Incorporated towns develop and implement their own Comprehensive Land Use Plan. Decisions on the plan’s specifics are made by representatives of the town’s citizens. In other words, Incorporation gives Lower Waccamaw Neck residents the ability to stop the County’s effort to re-make our area into Myrtle Beach.
There will be naysayers. They will spew misinformation. Their strategy to scare potential voters is predictable. They will say Incorporation means tax increases, inefficient government, and paying twice for existing services such as police, fire and schools. If the people working on this project for over a year believed these were the outcomes, we would have stopped working.
Why “Study Group” in our name?
There are three big issues we will need to determine in the short term. Understanding each will be crucial to the success of this initiative.
- Are the people of the Lower Neck supportive of forming their own self-governing town?Casual conversations and social media seem to indicate support is there.
- Will people become involved with this initiative and eventually a new town government?
Will people help us get the word out to the different neighborhoods? To be successful we will need to bring the Incorporation message to where people live.
Will people volunteer to serve on standing committees such as a town Planning Commission? Will people step up and run for Mayor or Town Council? The involvement question has become more important as we got deeper into understanding Incorporation.
- Can we raise the money necessary to support a successful Incorporation Campaign? We will need legal assistance in creating a new town.
Communications:
This communication is only the beginning. We know you will have many questions. Our plan over the coming weeks and months is to regularly provide you with vital information that educates and states our progress. Such things as town boundaries, the Incorporation process, timeline for action, etc., will all be communicated. Each message will take about five minutes to read.
Our next message will be in the next two weeks. That message will review the makeup of the proposed town.
That’s it… we are interested in your feedback.
Go to pawleyslitchfieldmsg@gmail.com
We look forward to hearing from you!
PS: Add us to your contact list so you don't miss any of our future messages.
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