Grand Strand Water and Sewer Authority did not follow proper procedure

Lisa Bourcier, Horry County's Public Information Officer, said it's all a matter of miscommunication between the county's planning and zoning board, and the Grand Strand Water and Sewer Authority.

The county says the water and sewer authority never obtained a building permit, and never had a review, known as a 540 review, by the planning commission to see if the water tower was compatible with the neighborhood.

The county says the water and sewer authority will probably have the review, which is a state requirement, in late May or early June.

However, the county says even if the planning commission does not approve the water tower, they cannot stop construction. The utility will only have to notify the county that the plan was not approved.

As far as the building permit goes, the utility will have to pay a penalty double the cost of the permit, totaling $5,900.

CEO of Grand Strand Water and Sewer, Fred Richardson, told people in the neighborhood Thursday night at a public meeting, that he didn't know about the 540 review required by the county; and while the county has a heavily regulated building permit process, he believed that the water tower was exempt because it is a public utility.

People at Thursday night's meeting say they will continue to fight the tower. Some even threatened to file a class action lawsuit.