August 4, 2025 — Regular Council Meeting
Loris City Council heard a preliminary outside audit of the city's hospitality fund, which flagged most of $1,515,000.77 in reviewed spending as questionable or out of compliance. Council also approved three routine FY2025–2026 contracts and agreements, and a resident asked the city to consider an ordinance on careless firearm discharge.
At a glance
- Approval of minutes — May 29, 2025 public hearing
- Approval of minutes — June 2, 2025 regular council meeting
- Approval of minutes — June 16, 2025 special council meeting
- Approval of minutes — July 2, 2025 regular council meeting
- Presentation of Hospitality Audit Report — Marc Wood, CPA, Sheheen Hancock and Godwin, LLP, Camden, South Carolina
- Discussion and approval of agreement for the provision of secure detention services with the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice's Juvenile Detention Complex for fiscal year 2025–2026
- Discussion and approval of the Waccamaw Regional Council of Governments contract for planning and technical assistance for fiscal year 2025–2026
- Discussion and approval of proposed contract with Enterprise Fleet Management
- Executive session — personnel matter
Read the full summary
At its August 4, 2025 regular meeting, the council approved minutes from four prior meetings and received a preliminary hospitality-fund audit from Marc Wood, CPA, of Sheheen Hancock and Godwin, LLP. The audit reviewed 495 transactions totaling $1,515,000.77 from December 31, 2017 through December 31, 2023: 113 (22%, $203,847.60) met South Carolina guidelines, 292 (59%, $1,192,578.58) were questionable, and 90 (18%, $118,574.59) did not meet guidelines.
The CPA, who will return with a final report, asked the city to review fiscal years ending June 30, 2024 and June 30, 2025 as well. No vote was taken on the report.
Council approved three items for fiscal year 2025–2026: a secure-detention agreement with the SC Department of Juvenile Justice (max $50.00/day plus a new state-mandated $125.00/day capital charge); a Waccamaw Regional Council of Governments planning contract not to exceed $30,000.00; and a contract with Enterprise Fleet Management, authorizing Interim City Administrator Angel Neighbours to sign. All passed with the mayor and all members voting favorably.
The council also entered one executive session on a personnel matter, taking no action. During public comment, resident Kimberly Rudelitch asked council to review firearm-discharge ordinances after an incident in her neighborhood; Chief Buley said he has a draft ordinance council can discuss.
Written by an AI from the verbatim record below, a convenience, not the official record. It may contain errors; the sourced items below are authoritative.
The item-by-item record
Click “Jump to …” on any item to play the video at the moment it was taken up.
Approval of minutes — May 29, 2025 public hearing
Approval of minutes — June 2, 2025 regular council meeting
Approval of minutes — June 16, 2025 special council meeting
Approval of minutes — July 2, 2025 regular council meeting
Presentation of Hospitality Audit Report — Marc Wood, CPA, Sheheen Hancock and Godwin, LLP, Camden, South Carolina
Marc Wood, CPA, explained that his accounting firm was engaged by the City of Loris to perform an extensive audit of the city's hospitality fund account due to concerns that there may have been expenditures not made in accordance with state guidelines. This is a preliminary report; a final comprehensive report will be given at a later date. The preliminary audit reviewed 495 transactions from December 31, 2017, through December 31, 2023, totaling $1,515,000.77. Mr. Wood has asked the city to do another extensive review of both fiscal years ending June 30, 2024, and June 30, 2025. Mr. Wood stated he will return and present a final report and go into as much detail as possible.
Discussion and approval of agreement for the provision of secure detention services with the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice's Juvenile Detention Complex for fiscal year 2025–2026
Annual agreement allowing juveniles arrested by the city police department who must be detained to be housed at the SC Department of Juvenile Justice's Juvenile Detention Complex. This agreement is similar to prior years; the daily fee charged to the city is a maximum of $50.00 per day. Attorney Zilinsky noted that the new contract for 2025–2026 includes a provision for a capital expenditures charge of $125.00 per day in addition to the daily charge of $50.00, which is mandated by the state budget.
- What it is
- This agreement lets the city's police department house juveniles it arrests and must detain at the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice's Juvenile Detention Complex for fiscal year 2025–2026.
- What it does
- Approved, the city pays the Juvenile Detention Complex a daily rate of up to $50.00 per juvenile held, plus a capital expenditures charge of $125.00 per day that is new to this year's contract.
AI-written from the sourced items above, a convenience, not the official record.
Discussion and approval of the Waccamaw Regional Council of Governments contract for planning and technical assistance for fiscal year 2025–2026
Planning Director Meredith Holmes explained the services provided under this contract, which the city has maintained for several years. Services include maintaining the on-line zoning map, annexations, subdivisions of property, and related technical assistance for the city's planning and zoning department. Cost not to exceed $30,000.00 for FY 2025–2026; billed on a quarterly basis. Attorney Zilinsky confirmed the contract provides that billing is "not to exceed" $30,000.
- What it is
- This contract pays the Waccamaw Regional Council of Governments to provide planning and technical assistance to the city for fiscal year 2025–2026, including maintaining the online zoning map and handling annexations and subdivisions of property.
- What it does
- Approved, the city pays the Waccamaw Regional Council of Governments a cost not to exceed $30,000.00 for the year, billed quarterly.
AI-written from the sourced items above, a convenience, not the official record.
Discussion and approval of proposed contract with Enterprise Fleet Management
This item was on the agenda the prior month; Attorney Zilinsky had expressed concerns about contract language regarding indemnification. Those concerns have been resolved and the contract is now satisfactory. Council voted to approve the contract and authorize Interim City Administrator Angel Neighbours to sign the contract on behalf of the city.
- What it is
- This is a contract between the city and Enterprise Fleet Management. It had been on the agenda the prior month while the city attorney reviewed contract language about indemnification (who covers the city if something goes wrong).
- What it does
- Approved, the contract with Enterprise Fleet Management takes effect, and Interim City Administrator Angel Neighbours is authorized to sign it on behalf of the city.
AI-written from the sourced items above, a convenience, not the official record.
Executive session — personnel matter
Interim Administrator Neighbours indicated to council that there was one personnel item that needed to be addressed in executive session. Upon returning, Mayor Suggs announced that council discussed a personnel matter and that no action or vote was taken in executive session.
Beyond the votes
Reports, announcements, and public comment from the same meeting, also drawn verbatim from the minutes.
Reports & announcements
- Highway 701 North road construction. The road construction project on Highway 701 North is substantially complete. SCDOT should be putting the finishing touches on it over the next couple of weeks. The road project on SC Highway 9 is progressing and there will be some traffic pattern changes in the coming days. DOT has a sign near the Presbyterian Church that will notify motorists of when those changes will be in effect.
- Old Loris High School site cleanup. The cleanup of the old Loris High School site on Broad Street is practically finished. There are still some mowing and other minor cleanup issues to be addressed.
- Aerial platform truck purchase. The city's purchase offer for the refurbished aerial platform truck was accepted by the Upper Macungie Fire District in Pennsylvania. The truck passed inspection, was certified and the purchase was completed for $33,000.00.
- Horry County League of Cities meeting. Loris hosted the quarterly Horry County League of Cities meeting on Thursday, July 24th at the Public Safety Building. Mayor Suggs thanked all council members for attending. Loris was the only city that had the mayor and all council members present.
- Leaf and limb truck. The city's leaf and limb truck developed a problem with its brakes and is being repaired. The regular pick up schedule should resume in a few days.
- Loris Lions Club vision screening. The Loris Lions Club is having a vision screening for children on Tuesday August 12, from 6 until 8 pm at the State Theater Building on Main Street. This is a great opportunity for parents to have their child's eyes checked before starting back to school.
- Loris Lions football season opener. High school football season begins soon. The Loris Lions travel to Green Sea Floyds to open the season on Friday, August 22nd. It is the annual bog-off bowl with bragging rights on the line. He urged everyone to support our local high school team.
- Chamber of Commerce. Loris Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Samantha Norris was not present at the council meeting and no chamber of commerce update was presented.
- Administrator's report — sewer line replacement. Interim Administrator Neighbours reported that the first phase of the sewer line replacement and manhole upgrades was almost complete and that phase two will replace the sewer line and manholes from the Bayboro Street wastewater treatment plant to Rogers Road.
- Administrator's report — drainage study grant and road work. The city will soon make application for a grant to conduct a drainage study for the Northern side of the city which will help determine the actions needed to alleviate some of the flash flooding issues in that area. Also, bids are being taken from paving companies to repair road cuts and pot holes throughout the city. The city is also engaging a painting contractor to restripe parking spaces along Meeting Street and repaint the handicapped parking areas that were covered by the recent SCDOT repaving project. The contractor will also restripe the parking spaces along Main Street.
- Finance and Personnel Committee. Councilwoman Coleman, Chairman of the Finance and Personnel Committee, reported that the committee met on July 17, 2025, at 6:00 pm. All members were present. The committee reviewed resumes and interviewed candidates for the vacant city clerk position. No action was taken.
- Code Enforcement & Planning. Planning Director Meredith Holmes presented the latest information regarding the Horry County Multi-jurisdictional all Hazards Mitigation Plans Update. The thirty day comment period is now open during which Horry County is soliciting citizens comments regarding the plan. The plan will be finalized later this year after acceptance of all participation jurisdictions including the City of Loris. Also, Horry County is having a Hurricane preparation and safety event. Fliers are available giving more information on both the Hazard Mitigation Plan and the Hurricane preparation event. The Rural Long-Range Transportation Plan is being developed. The next meeting on the plan is scheduled for October 9th with the Waccamaw Regional Council of Governments.
- Fire Department. No additions to the written report.
- Police Department. No additions to the written report.
- Public Works. No additions to the written report.
- Recreation. No additions to the written report.