Incorporation
Sheriff casts doubt on group’s plan for policing town
Voters in Pawleys Island and Litchfield can’t be sure they will continue to get the same service from the Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office if an effort to form a new town in the area succeeds, Sheriff Carter Weaver said.
He wants the group that’s organizing the effort to come up with “Plan B.”
The Pawleys Litchfield Municipal Study Group went public over Memorial Day weekend with its proposal for a town in the 29585 ZIP code. It calls for a town that will provide planning and zoning services, but continue to rely on Georgetown County for all other services through contracts.
Under state law, before a referendum can be held, the proponents need to submit a petition from 15 percent of the eligible voters along with a feasibility plan for providing services. It specifically requires a plan for “a minimum level of law enforcement.”
Andy Hallock, who leads the study group, said their plan for law enforcement is “business as usual.” They expect taxpayers will get the same county services they have now.
A town would have two years to develop its other services, but it has to show that it has a contract for law enforcement up front.
“They were saying the sheriff was going to continue to provide services at no cost,” Weaver said. “I told Andy I want to hear Plan B.”
There was none given at the group’s debut presentation or in an email that followed.
“The email they sent out Tuesday night doubled down on his lack of commitment,” Weaver said.
Hallock said it is Weaver who should be providing a plan for law enforcement.
When the incorporation effort was first announced, Weaver estimated it would require at least 32 law enforcement personnel to cover the area. That was based on figures compiled for a proposed development outside of Georgetown. He didn’t do a calculation for the the proposed town in the 29585 ZIP code.
“It’s your job to do the homework,” Weaver said he told Hallock. “This is what he did instead. There was no Plan B given at his first public meeting.”
The decision on a contract will be made by County Council, Weaver noted.
“They want the county to provide those services under contract for free,” County Council Chairman Clint Elliott said. “That’s not going to happen.”
He said no one from the study group has contacted him about services for a new town.
