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To keep up with the growth of the city of North Myrtle Beach, council is preparing to adjust the ward lines and this could mean some households might be represented by a different council member than they were before the redrawing.

The 鈥渋n accordance with the 2020 Census Data to comply with the requirements of the United States Constitution, federal law, the Constitution of South Carolina and state law,鈥� according to public documents.

In adjusting the ward lines, the city鈥檚 goal is to have relatively equal populations in each.

Documents state that the 鈥渋deal population for a NMB City Council ward is 4,744,鈥� and that the city is to adjust the ward lines so that each ward has no less than 4,625 people and no more than 4,863 people.

Before the lines are officially altered, council will have a public meeting so residents can comment on the redrawing. After council takes the public's comments and concerns into consideration, then the ward lines will be revised and officially adopted, documents state.听

The meeting has not yet been scheduled.听

Councilman J.O. Baldwin III said during the Dec. 5 city council meeting that redistricting becomes necessary because 鈥渨ith the growth of the city, sometimes our districts get larger and some get smaller.鈥�

During public comment at the December meeting, a question was raised regarding when the population size would warrant an additional council member.

City Manager Mike Mahaney said that it would not be clear as to whether another council member would be sought out until after the next census. 鈥淎nything鈥檚 possible,鈥� he said.

An ordinance was passed unanimously on the second reading at the Jan. 9 meeting to revise the district lines.听

Immobilization devices

North Myrtle Beachers will not have to spend so much money to have immobilization devices removed from their vehicles.

鈥淭he use of (which are devices covering a vehicle鈥檚 windshield) by towing operators and/or private landowners is on the rise,鈥� public documents state.

City council unanimously approved the second reading of an amendment during the Jan. 9 meeting which will 鈥減rotect the public from being required to pay unreasonable fees to have the immobilization devices removed.鈥�

Locals will not have to pay more than $50 to have such devices removed. The $50 will also cover听administrative fees, user fees, installation fees or "any other type of fee" involved in removing the device.

Councilman Fred Coyne said during the Dec. 5 meeting at the first reading that enforcing the cap is 鈥渢he right thing to do even though sometimes you do park in the wrong place inadvertently.鈥�

Coyne said that without the cap, drivers could have to pay as much as 鈥渢hree or 400 dollars.鈥�

Trespassing

Property owners in North Myrtle Beach will soon have the option to permit North Myrtle Beach police to handle trespassers without having to contact the property owner.

Usually, police have to contact the property owner if someone is found on private property when unauthorized.

"[Police] typically do not arrest the person for trespassing because the police are unable to determine if the person on the property was authorized by the owner (or the person/entity in legal control of the property) to enter upon the property,鈥� city documents state.听

City council unanimously approved the second reading of an amendment during the Jan. 9 meeting to听

If a property owner enters the agreement, they are required to have noticeable signage on their property that "trespassing after hours is prohibited."

This option will also be open to businesses, not just residential properties.

Police will be able to arrest trespassers without contacting the property or business owner as a part of this agreement.听

Coyne called the amendment a great option for locals who do not live in their North Myrtle Beach homes full time.

City Manager Mike Mahaney said during that same meeting that the amendment will make it "easier for public safety to do their job.鈥�