Final decision made on land for Myrtle Beach pet shelter. Were neighbors concerns heard?
The Grand Strand Humane Society officially has its land to build a new animal shelter despite opposition from its future neighbors.
The South Carolina Joint Bond Review Committee gave final approval to the deal Wednesday after Santee Cooper agreed in December to grant the nonprofit a 40-year free lease on about 10 acres of its land near Myrtle Beach.
The committee’s motion to approve the lease passed with six committee members in favor, Rep. Heather Ammons-Crawford and Sen. Ronnie Cromer opposing, and Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter abstaining.
Marty Watson, Santee Cooper’s chief commercial officer, spoke briefly before the vote, acknowledging resident concerns and stating that they believe the humane society is working diligently to mitigate the concerns. He also acknowledged recent accusations of a conflict of interest related to one of its board members in this transaction and told the committee the agency is confident no violations occurred.
Sen. Cromer asked if one of the residents opposing the lease could speak, but committee chairman Sen. Harvey Peeler declined, noting this meeting wasn’t a “town hall.” Cromer also suggested postponing the vote, but that was also turned down.
Rep. Cobb-Hunter said she’d like for Santee Cooper to reconsider its leasing policies to prevent this issue from coming to this committee because she felt this should be decided at a local level.
The humane society has operated in its city-owned facility on Mr. Joe White Avenue in Myrtle Beach for more than 50 years, but employees were forced to move out in 2021 due to a rat infestation, according to previous reporting.
Lindsey Rankin, the nonprofit’s president, told The Sun News she and other board members have been looking for suitable property within or near city limits for more than three years, and they’ve raised almost $3 million to build the facility.
The humane society’s timeline includes beginning construction in Feb. 2025 and commencing operation Jan. 2026, according to previous Sun News reporting. The facility would include a pet clinic, pet food bank and cat cafe.
Political influence?
Residents along Piedmont Avenue and Waterside Drive, near where the shelter will be built, have voiced concerns about the project, including increased traffic and noise and decreased property values.
The Sun News reported Tuesday that those residents had received records from Santee Cooper showing political connections may have influenced the land deal.
Lindsey Rankin had contacted Santee Cooper Vice Chairman David Singleton to help obtain the gratis lease, and internal communications show he initiated the process for agency staff to work toward an agreement.
Singleton is a longtime friend of Lindsey Rankin’s husband, state Sen. Luke Rankin, and the two are partners in Columbus Farms Realty Holdings LLC, which Luke Rankin told The Sun News is a holding company for a tract of land purchased in 2005 in Columbus County, North Carolina.
Luke Rankin serves on the State Regulation of Public Utilities Review Committee, which oversees South Carolina’s public utilities. That includes Santee Cooper, a state-owned utility company that provides electricity to about 2 million people across South Carolina.
Luke Rankin and Singleton have denied any unethical behavior related to the humane society lease, and a Santee Cooper spokeswoman told The Sun News an independent investigation found no conflict of interest existed.
