MRTYLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) – Myrtle Beach city leaders met with members of the Oceanfront Merchants Association Friday to discuss issues they’ve faced in the past and establish a new plan in leadership moving forward.
The City of Myrtle Beach Mayor John Rhodes told OMA members he wanted to help, but he felt the way things are handled now is not accountable when it comes to spending money from the city.
OMA has had an unsteady with relationship with the city of Myrtle Beach in the last few months, and the meeting was about moving forward and looking to the future.
Chris Walker took on the new role of president of the Oceanfront Merchants Association and told city leaders he wanted a fresh start.
“We ironed out some things, you know, and hashed out. We’re going forward, and the past is the past,” said Rhodes.
Mayor Rhodes said moving forward, he’d like the city to be in control of writing all checks for events put on by the organization.
“We just want to make sure that we’re in the know, where our money is going, how it’s being spent, and what is the best way to make an investment to get the greatest return,” said Rhodes.
In the last three years, OMA received more than one million dollars from Accommodation Tax funds and contributions from the Downtown Redevelopment Corporation.
That money goes towards putting on events like the Saints Patrick’s Day Festival, Hot Summer Nights, and various concerts near the boardwalk.
“Without them, we’re just some businesses trying to scrounge together a little bit of money to do something really low-level,” said Walker.
City leaders proposed a shift in funds that would grant the organization about $275,000 between ATax and DRC funds for this year. The city would have control over the money.
“It really doesn’t make sense for any sort of bad feelings to come up between us and the city when we know it works. So, let’s take our egos out of it, and just keep doing what’s right for the community, and what’s right for businesses, and what’s right for people who visit us”, said Walker.
Mayor Rhodes said the organization would still be in charge of advertising for all their events.
City leaders plan to discuss the proposed changes Tuesday at the Myrtle Beach city council meeting.
