Public Safety Committee

The Horry County Public Safety Committee met on June 11, 2026, to discuss several key public safety and procurement matters. A significant portion of the meeting focused on approving a resolution to authorize schematic design and cost estimates for a new 574-bed detention center tower, with an estimated cost of $130 million. The tower will include specialized mental health and detox beds, addressing current capacity and service gaps. The committee approved moving forward with the design phase, with $7 million already budgeted and an estimated $1.5 to $1.8 million needed for schematic design. Additionally, the committee approved a transfer of $727,300 in budget savings to purchase additional portable radios for the fire department, and authorized a $2 million Assistance to Firefighters grant with a $200,000 local match for EMS equipment including power load stretchers and stair chairs. The meeting also included discussions on animal protection ordinance updates, police department accreditation and training initiatives, and a grant match approval of $100,600 for an emergency vehicle signal preemption system to improve emergency response times. Several resolutions related to equipment procurement and funding allocations were passed by unanimous vote.