Hampton County Council adopts SCORF advisory committee amendment, approves festival grants and tables airport item

Hampton County Council voted April 6, 2026, in Hampton, S.C., to adopt an amendment to Ordinance 2025-005 that changes the composition and reporting rules for the Hampton SCORF Advisory Committee and to authorize two $2,000 grants for local festivals, while tabling further consideration of the county airport until its April 20 meeting.

The third reading of the ordinance to amend Ordinance 2025-005 passed on a motion by Councilman Dennis Thompson Jr., seconded by Councilman Jordan Jinks, and was recorded as approved unanimously. The amendment addresses committee composition, institutional liaisons, reporting, and recusal procedures for the Hampton SCORF Advisory Committee; the transcript records the ordinance title and council action but does not provide the ordinance text details in the meeting record.

Chairman Roy Hollingsworth read a Fair Housing resolution during the meeting; Council also approved an MCIP resolution (motion by Councilman Jordan Jinks, seconded by Councilman Dennis Thompson Jr.) recorded as all in favor. During a public hearing on the SCORF amendment, remarks were made by Ms. Bryson and Mr. Alexander; the hearing opened at 6:34 p.m. and closed at 6:40 p.m.

Resident Devin Jones requested a road-name change during the public-comment portion; the clerk was directed to send a recommendation letter to the County Transportation Commission (the transcript records the clerk’s instruction but does not specify the road name). Council approved routine agenda items and minutes, with Councilman Marvin Love recorded as opposed to approval of the March 19 special-call minutes because he had been absent from that meeting.

County Administrator Lavar Youmans reviewed operations and outcomes, noting strategic goals, a tax-assessor office update, a USDA broadband study, an internal audit RFP, a payroll audit, and a comprehensive plan/recreation center community engagement session set for April 28 at 6 p.m. at the Stanley Arts Center. Council discussed contracting to clean the Ginn Street (DSS) building and tabled starting that work after a motion by Councilman Marvin Love (seconded by Councilman Dennis Thompson Jr.).

Council voted to enter executive session on negotiations and related matters; after returning from executive session (which the record shows began at 7:27 p.m. and ended at 7:38 p.m.), Councilman Dennis Thompson Jr. moved to allocate $2,000 to the Hampton County Watermelon Festival and $2,000 to the Gifford June Festival; the motion was seconded by Councilman Darrin Williams and recorded as approved unanimously.

The council also voted to table consideration of the Hampton County Airport item until the April 20 meeting (motion by Councilman Dennis Thompson Jr., seconded by Councilman Jordan Jinks; recorded as all in favor). The meeting adjourned at 7:40 p.m.; the next meeting is scheduled for April 20, 2026.

Votes at a glance: third reading adoption of Ordinance 2025-005 amendment — motion by Councilman Dennis Thompson Jr., seconded by Councilman Jordan Jinks; outcome: approved (recorded unanimous). MCIP resolution — motion by Councilman Jordan Jinks, seconded by Councilman Dennis Thompson Jr.; outcome: approved (recorded unanimous). Airport item — motion to table by Councilman Dennis Thompson Jr., seconded by Councilman Jordan Jinks; outcome: tabled until April 20. Executive-session grants — motion by Councilman Dennis Thompson Jr., seconded by Councilman Darrin Williams; outcome: approved (two $2,000 awards). Approval of March 19 special-call minutes — recorded vote: Hollingsworth, Williams, Jinks and Thompson in favor; Councilman Marvin Love opposed citing his absence.

The meeting record does not include verbatim ordinance language, detailed MCIP project descriptions, the specific road name Devin Jones requested be changed, or a line-by-line breakdown of the budget source for the festival grants; those items were not specified in the transcript.