Despite Myrtle Beach's efforts to crack down on bike rallies, the town of Atlantic Beach decided this evening to go forth with their annual Memorial Day Bike Fest. But not before making some changes of their own.
At a special meeting held Saturday evening, the town council agreed to have and promote Bike Fest and adopt their operating procedure for the event.
Officials agreed to raise vendor permit prices by nearly 50 percent and to limit the number of permits issued.
Myrtle Beach has urged Atlantic Beach to not rely on bike fest as a primary source of revenue.. but mayor Retha Pierce says bikers are welcome.
"They've always been welcome and they always will be because I look at bikers as I look at any other citizen or tourists or as I look at anybody in general. They have a right to visit our town just like anybody else," said Atlantic Beach Mayor Retha Pierce.
Talks between the cities of North Myrtle, Myrtle, and Atlantic beaches as well as Horry County about a collaborative economic redevelopment initiative for the town of Atlantic Beach are expected to continue.