Luncheon held to discuss future of the city of Loris

A town hall style meeting was hosted by the Loris Chamber of Commerce, Jack Murphy, the Loris Recreation Center and a city official to discuss with business owners and the public the future for Loris.

Speakers were Samantha Norris of the chamber, Jack Murphy of WSLC Tiger Radio, recreation director Tom Cocke and Brandon Harrelson, city code enforcement director.

Norris welcomed guests saying, “I appreciate you coming out to support the chamber.” She provided a rundown of what the chamber could do to help business owners. She said the chamber works diligently to build relationships with local businesses, promoting a business-to-business exchange to build business which builds the community. She stated that the chamber can connect the businesses and the city. She said, “If we could all do it together it will allow us to work together rather than separately.” She would like to see advertising with radio and television to bring recognition to the businesses in Loris. At the first of year 2020 implement a plan for membership tiers to support the Bog-Off and other similar events the chamber hosts.

Murphy opened the conversation with, “I do not live in Loris, but I do spend much of my time here.” He stated that advertising and extending business hours during festivals and special events downtown.” He said that he loves Loris and the people here and would like to see the city open up for bigger and better things. He said, “I am a member of the chamber, and do I look at it as a cost or is really an investment?” He continued, “I look at it as an investment.” He stated he has a different perspective of Loris. “I live in Loris, but I sleep in Myrtle Beach. When I drive into town I see a stream of cars leaving Loris because most residents don’t spend most of their days here (Loris), residents work in Conway or Myrtle Beach.” He said we are the chicken bog capital of the world, but where do I get chicken bog for lunch? There should be one place that provides the dish for people who visit to be able to order and taste the cuisine where we can capitalize in the visioning process. He suggested having post cards advertising chicken bog and our city placed at cash registers as people come in to shop. He asked, if I wanted to recommend a location to shop, eat and have entertainment. Wendy Barusch said, “I would probably send them to Broadway at the Beach or Barefoot Landing.” Many agreed with the recommendation. He said driving through town he can shop, eat, in Loris, and on Friday’s from 10 a.m. to noon entertainment is available to the public at Down at the Barber Shop that promotes businesses and downtown Loris. He further stated that businesses in Loris cannot compete with the “big box stores” that stay open after 5 p.m., not suggesting that they stay open extended hours, though perception and reality. One example he made was when people come to sell their wares at the Bog-Off they pack up and leave, what is here to have them stay and see the city. He did say that he is in the process of building a studio in Conway, but will have the new two-hour morning live show with Freakin’ Deacon in which he will take the opportunity to promote Loris. Murphy said, “I am in the process of developing our own internet television station 24 hours a day, seven days a week to promote Loris as much as I can.”

Harrelson began by saying that things work out. He said, “Everyone is aware of city hall, we’ve been displaced and I am in the chamber building.” He said that he and Norris have built a relationship, and he has not seen in the past where the city had a bond between the city, city staff, leaders and administrators; that he and Norris have had the opportunity to bounce ideas off one another. He stated that Norris wants to know what the business owners want. He said, “Samantha says the biggest complaint she gets is the city does not invest back into the city business owners.” He stated the purpose for this meeting is how to view the future. He stated he wants to promote the businesses by what the city can do. He said, “She has her purpose as a chamber of promoting you, but I want to create the environment for people to want to come to Loris.” He said that Loris is growing right now with many new homes being built inside the city limits and they are selling quickly. An example is home purchases in Loris are approximately $75,000 less than in Myrtle Beach. He said, “People have caught on, with the hustle and bustle and traffic in Myrtle Beach, people moving here from other states feel Loris is a wonderful place to live with friendly people.” We can all work together with the chamber promoting businesses. Harrelson’s job is to create an environment downtown and surrounding areas to where it is inviting, where it is beautiful, friendly and will have music playing downtown with speakers placed strategically to hear as someone shops downtown. Harrelson said, “It all begins with investing back into the city.” He said that city hall has an open door policy to make suggestions to help; we want the input of the business owners. I want you to be a part of, to take an active role in the meetings such as the Planning and Economic Meetings with council; they are open meetings.” He further asked, “What can I do to improve the city, what can I do to bring employees into the area to prevent driving to Conway to work?” He asked what he can do to help create an inviting environment ending with, “Hey, let’s do this together as a team.”

Cocke announced that the recreation center is making improvements this year to the baseball fields with drainage eliminating the delays of games, new field clay mixture and moving the sign with plans to plant flowers at the entrance. Sponsoring a team at the recreation center is advertising; they have baseball, basketball, football, cheerleading and soccer. Basketball and baseball are the biggest seasonal sports. He stated he has an open door policy where people can approach him to discuss what is wanted to promote the department. He worked with coaches and parents how to improve the programs. He said, “The center has improved on how they operate the programs, scheduling, the way we train our coaches and our staff, the process the kids go through and camps.” He stated identifying some of the things parents and coaches would like to see. The improvement of the baseball fields with the drainage problems of the past delaying time players are able to get back on the field has been fixed. He said, “If it rains on Friday by Saturday players can be back on the fields without that long delay.” He said the first task is the perception of the recreation department improving how people see the beauty of the park which will encourage them to come. Like the movie, Field of Dreams, if you build it they will come. They are replacing 5,000 feet of fence capping which will look like a sea of gold. He has investigated improvements by talking to surrounding area recreation department heads. He said, “They’ve all heard we’ve been making waves, which is good for us.” Also parents are asking to volunteer to help improve the center, suggesting that they come on a Saturday with rakes and shovels to help plant flowers in beds and borders around the trees. Cocke said, “With the city it is my job to try to do my best to navigate and make these types of changes possible.” He is looking at funding and grants to make this happen. During football season they purchased materials from Blanton’s to create a tunnel for the children to run through before a game with a smoke machine; he said. “For the kids, they feel they are coming out for the super dome.” In 60 days the visual of the recreation area will be improved. He said, “Youth sports are big here, utilizing businesses with an open door policy come talk to me about promoting your business locally.” to promote locally. Visit their website www.lorisrec.com for more information.

Norris said the chamber is here to help promote and support businesses. She welcomes input, if this is something that will help Loris businesses. Much of what the chamber is here for is to help businesses interact and communicate together. She said, “I’m here for you, I want you to exceed because I want Loris to grow.” She continued, “I want to say it could be the best town, but it is the best city in South Carolina.”

Lunch was catered by Ricky Dew with chicken bog, green beans, corn and a roll with a special banana dessert from Norris.