TEGA CAY--A group of Tega Cay residents have begun to rally in support of a Wal-Mart supercenter in Stonecrest - some because they want Wal-Mart, others because they don't like the alternative.

A flyer titled "Tega Cay Citizens for Wal-Mart" and signed by more than 40 residents began appearing in Tega Cay mailboxes last week. It included information presented at the July 22 city council meeting/public hearing as well as information from other sources that the organizers believe support the case for bringing Wal-Mart to Tega Cay.

"A lot of us felt at the July 22 meeting there was so much noise going on during Grant Duffield's presentation that a lot of the facts being presented weren't heard because everyone had comments about everything," says Kitty Updike, a former councilwoman and one of the flyer's signers.

The group's leaders are Pat Hermsen and Howard Jones, but the residents who signed the flyer are a loose-knit group not as organized as the opposition, Us Against the WAL. Hermsen says they are mostly longtime residents of Tega Cay.

"We've seen the community struggle over the years and know that it needs the commercial tax base," Hermsen says.

He says many people favor the Wal-Mart - the jobs, convenience and low prices that it would bring - but they are a "silent majority."

Phil Glennon, another signer and former chairman of the Parks and Recreation Committee, agrees.

"People against something are usually louder than people in favor of it," Glennon says.

But, Glennon says, it's hard to tell exactly how many are for or against Wal-Mart without a vote. There are a lot of people who didn't sign the flyer who are in favor of a Wal-Mart supercenter in Stonecrest, he says.

"I don't support Wal-Mart, but I'm not against it, either," Bob Cullen says. "I think Tega Cay will be much better off with a Wal-Mart on commercial property than with the apartments clogging up the school system."

Cullen, a local small business owner, says he is not convinced Wal-Mart would bring in more crime than any other businesses in Stonecrest would. He also likes the fact that Wal-Mart hires senior citizens and offers them health benefits.

"I can't afford to hire seniors and give them benefits," he says.

Cullen also thinks the Wal-Mart would be much more pleasing to the eye than what is now on the property.

"It's got to be better than a junkyard," he says.

Among the figures included on the flyer were the city's analysis of the Stonecrest development's impact on Fort Mill schools (see page 2), the analysis of what it would cost to serve Stonecrest with and without a Wal-Mart (also see page 2), and a comparison of crime statistics between the York Super Wal-Mart and Palmetto Place Apartments.

In that analysis calls for "quality of life" crimes at the Super Wal-Mart totaled 32 while the calls for those same types of crimes at the apartment complex totaled 51.

The flyer also includes a signed statement from Tega Cay Fire Chief Bill Kruysman: "Concerning the Wal-Mart vs. 207 apartments issue. If I had a choice from a fire-rescue life safety standpoint, I would choose the Wal-Mart over the apartments. I would also choose the Wal-Mart in lieu of the apartments from a fire load standpoint."

The flyer listed some figures on Wal-Mart's track record when it comes to community support, pointing to "Forbes Magazine" naming Wal-Mart America's biggest corporate philanthropic cash giver, as the company gives more than $200 million annually.

"Having Wal-Mart in Tega Cay will mean more money in your pocket and more time to spend with your family. Most people think these are key elements in a 'better and higher quality of life,'" the flyer read.

The flyer asked residents to call or e-mail Tega Cay City Hall to voice support for a Wal-Mart.

As of last Thursday, the flyer had generated about 15 e-mails and 15 calls to City Hall supporting the Wal-Mart proposal, says Barbie Staples, the city administrative assistant. And though her name appeared on the flyer as the person to contact, both Staples and City Manager Grant Duffield say City Hall had nothing to do with the flyer.