Land use
Magistrate appointment creates vacancy on Planning Commission
A retired forester will join the Georgetown County Planning Commission following the resignation of David Roper, who was confirmed last week by the state Senate as the Murrells Inlet magistrate.
County Council this week approved Bill Hills to the seat representing District 1.
“Mr. Hills has got a long history of representing District 1. He has some ideas I know some people don’t agree with, however, he is a very solid person and will give his expert opinion and also will be fair and just,” Council Chairman Clint Elliott, who represents District 1, said in making the nomination.
Council Member Bob Anderson, who represents District 2, made a point of seconding the nomination.
He said afterward that Hills had supported him on some unpopular decisions early in his council career. He also thinks it was a good choice.
“He’s like Marlajean. He’ll take his courses, his continuing education. He’ll go out in the field and look at places,” Anderson said, referring to his appointee Marlajean Hamby. Her nomination for a second term on the commission was withdrawn last month, but she will continue to serve until replaced.
“When he has an opinion, it’s going to be an informed opinion,” Anderson said of Hills.
Hills declined to comment on the appointment this week. He said he wants to meet first with Holly Richardson, the county planning director.
Roper will fill the magistrate seat held by Kin McKenzie who was suspended in 2023 following a complaint by the former chief magistrate, Isaac Pyatt. Roper, an inlet resident, is director of security at Coastal Carolina University and a former agent with the State Law Enforcement Division. He was appointed to the Planning Commission by Elliott in 2023 to replace Sandra Bundy.
Hills previously served on the County Transportation Commission and the 2014 Capital Project Sales Tax Commission. A native of McClellanville, he moved to Murrells Inlet in 2001 after living in Andrews for 15 years. He spent 35 years in timber management with International Paper and later worked part time in real estate. In 2018, he ran for County Council in District 1 and fell short of unseating the incumbent, John Thomas, by 66 votes in the Republican Party primary.
