Georgetown County gives initial approval to casino boat rules

Thursday, Oct. 28, 2004 | 9:13 a.m.

GEORGETOWN, S.C. -- An ordinance to regulate casino boats that would prevent the craft from docking within 1,000 feet of churches, day-care centers or schools has won preliminary approval from Georgetown County Council.

Under the rules approved Tuesday night, Wallace Cheves, president of Palmetto Princess LLC, would be barred from docking his casino boat at Voyager's View Marina and Capt. Dick's Marina in Murrells Inlet.

Cheves said he already had secured a berth at Voyager's View and does not think he should be treated the same as a sexually oriented business.

"I don't understand the legality behind this," he said. "We should be treated like a shrimp boat or a commercial vessel. I'd be happy to adhere to noise regulations, but this is unconstitutional."

Cheves said he wanted to run midnight cruises from Murrells Inlet, but the ordinance prohibits him from operating from 1 a.m. to 7 a.m.