January 5, 2026 — Regular Council Meeting
At its January 5, 2026 regular meeting, Loris City Council approved the December 1, 2025 minutes, re-elected Councilman Padgett as Mayor Pro-Tempore for a two-year term, and heard that the standing committees of council were appointed by Mayor Suggs for the next two years. Council also received a municipal court update reporting pending cases down from 1,301 in June 2025 to 400 as of December 29, 2025.
At a glance
- Approval of minutes — December 1, 2025 regular meeting
- Municipal court update from Judge William N. Hutson
- Election of Mayor Pro-Tempore
- Appointment of standing committees of council
Read the full summary
The Loris City Council met for a regular session on January 5, 2026, from 6:00 to 6:27 p.m. with the mayor and all six council members present. Council unanimously approved the minutes of the December 1, 2025 regular meeting.
Municipal Judge William N. Hutson, who took office July 1, 2025, gave his first update: pending cases dropped from 1,301 in June 2025 to 400 as of December 29, 2025 (about 70% of the June 30 caseload cleared), a second weekly court date was added so court now sits Tuesdays and Thursdays, and more than 100 jury-trial requests are under review.
No action was taken on the update. On organizational matters required after the November general election, council voted unanimously to re-elect Councilman Padgett as Mayor Pro-Tempore for a two-year term, and Mayor Suggs appointed the standing committees of council for the next two years.
Department reports covered municipal services and public safety, including 1,470 fire calls for the year and 8,834 police calls, ongoing sewer-line replacement and water-meter work, and progress closing out Hurricane Florence FEMA projects. No one from the public or press signed up to speak.
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 — December 1, 2025 regular meeting
Municipal court update from Judge William N. Hutson
Judge Hutson, who began as city judge July 1, 2025 (succeeding Judge Butler), gave his first update to council. Pending cases fell from 1,301 (June 2025) to 400 as of December 29, 2025; about 70% of the June 30, 2025 caseload has been cleared. A little over 100 jury-trial requests are being reviewed to determine whether a jury trial is necessary in each. A second weekly court date was added — Municipal Court now sits Tuesdays and Thursdays — to reduce overtime paid to officers attending court on off days. He credited clerk of court Aundrea Washington, Police Chief Buley, and Lt. Williams. No questions were raised; he will give another update in six months.
Election of Mayor Pro-Tempore
State law requires a Mayor Pro-Tempore to be appointed after the first meeting following the swearing-in of new council members after each general election; the term is two years. Councilman Padgett was re-nominated to the position.
Appointment of standing committees of council
City ordinance requires standing committees to be appointed after every general election. The election was completed in November; Mayor Suggs appointed the standing committees of council and provided a printed copy of the assignments to each council member. The assignments stand for the next two years.
Beyond the votes
Reports, announcements, and public comment from the same meeting, also drawn verbatim from the minutes.
Reports & announcements
- Christmas Tree Lighting. Mayor Suggs thanked the Chamber of Commerce for hosting the Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony — well attended despite chilly weather — and thanked the local ministers and musicians who took part.
- Head Start center opening. On Tuesday, December 9, Councilwoman Gerald attended, on behalf of the city, the grand opening of the Waccamaw Economic Opportunity Council's Myrtle Beach Head Start Center, held at the Boys and Girls Club of the Grand Strand.
- Records retention. Clerk Melinda Price was thanked for reorganizing and researching the city's records — council minutes, agendas, ordinances, and resolutions — for proper retention. The project is in process and should be completed soon.
- Monthly citizen meeting. Administrator Neighbours and Mayor Suggs will meet with citizens at City Hall on Thursday, January 15, from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. Residents are invited to stop by with any questions or input; the city plans to continue these informal meetings monthly.
- Administrator's report — sewer & street sweeper. Administrator Neighbours reported the street sweeper should be back from the shop and operating again, with tree trimming to resume and several sidewalk repairs completed or under way. Replacement of two major sewer lines and rehabilitation of manholes are also under way.
- Administrator's report — FEMA projects. Of the eight Hurricane Florence FEMA projects discussed at the last meeting, two have been closed out and two more are under review for closing — probably completed by early February. Documentation has been the key to getting the projects closed.
- Code Enforcement & Planning. Planning and Zoning Director Meredith Holmes was absent recovering from knee surgery; no reports were received.
- Fire Department. Fire Marshal Robert Rudelitch reported 1,470 calls for the year, 125 in December, and 10 on January 1 — one of the busiest days on record. The department applied for the South Carolina Forestry Firefighters Grant (a 50/50 grant). The federal Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act was signed into law, expanding the PSOB program to recognize certain cancers as line-of-duty deaths or disabilities. The department hosted a fire instructor class with 16 registered, four of them from Loris, and received equipment with support from McLeod Healthcare System (press release to follow). Six vests for officers were received through a grant.
- Police Department. Chief Gary Buley did not have a written report because the city is merging onto Horry County's reporting system and is working through technical issues. The department ended the year with 8,834 calls, the most in June and July.
- Public Works. Administrator Neighbours reported new water/sewer department staff: billing clerk Shakima Grissett, water tech Thomas DiMaggio, and meter reader William Stavrakis. Phase two of meter installation/rehabilitation continues on Liberty Street. The city partnered with the SC Rural Water Association and inspected all three water tanks using a drone (a required DES inspection), and continues hydrant flushing and valve maintenance.
- Recreation. Recreation Director Woody Hinson was absent; Mayor Suggs presented his written report. The youth travel-ball team worked hard but came up short in the district tournament; basketball practices have officially started, and repairs are under way throughout the recreation building during the colder months.