Jasper County Council approved an emergency ordinance to transfer custody, management and operations of the Jasper County Detention Center to the Jasper County Sheriff, the council announced at an emergency meeting.

Lawrence Flynn, a staff member who introduced the measure, said the county moved to an emergency ordinance because personnel changes at the detention center left it without an executive director or assistant director. Flynn told the council the emergency action is allowed under state law when exigent circumstances exist and requires a supermajority; the ordinance would operate for up to 60 days while the county begins the normal ordinance process for first, second and third readings.

"This is done on an emergency basis, and that is allowed to be done by state law under a finding of exigency," Flynn said, explaining the purpose and the proposed timing. He also said the county would add a subsection to ratify the prior transfer, noting the takeover began "Monday the twelfth" at 8:00 a.m.

Council members asked how the sheriff would access or use detention funds during the emergency period. Flynn said a detention center line item already exists in the county budget and finance staff can code payroll and charges so spending is tracked separately during the transition. "It's specifically delineated in your budget that there is some certain set aside for detention center operations," Flynn said.

Sheriff Malthus outlined immediate priorities and staffing. He said the sheriff's office is triaging maintenance and compliance needs, obtaining quotes for repairs and reviewing previously approved but unused resolutions and funds tied to the TIP Center that might offset costs. "We're currently at process of hiring," Sheriff Malthus said. "We've had over 15 applicants just in 3 days since us changing hands, so things are moving in the right direction quickly." He confirmed employees were sworn in as sheriff's deputies and assigned to detention duties but remain limited by their current certifications until cross-training is completed.

When the council moved the ordinance forward, Councilman Van Geezen made the motion to advance consideration of the emergency ordinance and a second was recorded. The council approved the measure by voice vote; the chair announced the motion carried. The transcript does not record a numerical roll-call or the specific vote tally.

Next steps outlined in the meeting include adding ratification language specifying the effective takeover date in the ordinance, presenting the ordinance for first reading by title only at the next scheduled meeting, and continuing staff coordination with human resources and finance to ensure expenditures and staffing are properly coded.

Authorities and legal references read into the record included an initial citation to the South Carolina Code of Laws, 1976 (as read) regarding public-posting requirements, and later a citation in the motion to South Carolina State Statute 24-5-12 related to sheriff responsibilities. The transcript does not provide further statutory citations or a printed ordinance text in full.

The meeting concluded with the council adjourning following approval of the emergency ordinance and routine closing motions.