Georgetown County officials and community members are confronting three significant local initiatives that could affect daily life, public health, and safety for residents.
In the summer, the Georgetown County Water and Sewer District voted to stop fluoridating the drinking water supplied to the Waccamaw Neck area, citing equipment replacement costs. The fluoridation unit, last replaced six years ago at a cost of $80,000, would now be considerably more expensive to replace, according to district executive director Tommie Kennedy. Annual chemical expenses range from $10,000 to $12,000. Data from the CDC show the district’s fluoride level averaged .23 parts per million in 2023—well below the public‑health optimal level of .7 ppm. Dentists Dr. Nick Papadea and Dr. Meredith Papadea, who learned of the decision from a September letter, are circulating a petition and plan to address the board next month to restore fluoridation, arguing it reduces cavities by 25 % and serves as a safety net for children in low‑income families.
Meanwhile, the Pawleys Island Litchfield Municipal Study Group is advancing a proposal to incorporate a new town covering ZIP code 29585—from the south side of Brookgreen Gardens to the north side of DeBordieu—home to roughly 16,400 people. The group has held five meetings this month, drawing over 400 property owners, and says it is “over halfway” to its goal of gathering 2,500 signatures required for a referendum. Their financial plan projects $2.08 million in annual revenue, including $1.3 million from a state‑distributed insurance‑premium tax, against $874,140 in first‑year operating costs. The surplus is estimated at $1.2 million, with $130,000 earmarked for a town manager and $120,000 for planning and zoning. Law‑enforcement arrangements remain unsettled, and County Sheriff Carter Weaver notes the study group has not yet consulted his office.
On the safety front, Georgetown County is set to launch an Opticom emergency‑vehicle priority system by mid‑October. Funded with $1 million in surplus sales‑tax dollars collected between 2015 and 2019, the system will give fire and rescue vehicles green lights at intersections, keeping traffic moving until the vehicles clear. Midway Fire and Rescue, which expects to handle 4,000 calls this year—85 % medical—anticipates the system will improve response times to hospitals in Georgetown and Murrells Inlet and will integrate with Horry County’s existing Opticom network.
What’s next? The water district’s board will consider the dentists’ petition at its next meeting next month. The study group aims to submit the required 2,500 signatures to the South Carolina Secretary of State before the end of summer, triggering a potential referendum. Residents can expect the Opticom traffic‑signal system to be operational by mid‑October, enhancing emergency response across the county.
Sources: coastalobserver.com, coastalobserver.com, coastalobserver.com, coastalobserver.com
