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Council advances flood ordinance first reading to preserve insurance eligibility; appoints disability board member and moves into legal briefing
Summary
Council approved first reading by title of an updated flood damage prevention ordinance required by DNR to maintain participation in the federal flood insurance program; it also appointed Thomas 'TC' Smalls to the disability board and then moved into executive session for a legal briefing under state law.
Hampton County Council advanced an updated Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance on first reading by title only on June 8, citing a state DNR requirement that the county adopt the update to remain eligible for the federal flood insurance program.
Miss Peoples explained the ordinance is an update of the county’s existing rules and said several towns and the county must complete three readings; she told council members that the ordinance needs to be adopted before July 21, 2026 to avoid interruption of the county’s participation in the flood insurance program. She introduced Ronald Hannah, identified in the meeting as the county’s director of development and strategic initiatives, who will assist with emergency- and floodplain-related work.
"We would not be part of the flood insurance program" without timely adoption, Miss Peoples said, explaining why the readings are time-sensitive. Council moved to adopt the ordinance by title only; the motion was seconded and approved by raised hands as the first reading.
On a separate action, the council appointed Thomas 'TC' Smalls to the county disability board for a three-year term ending in June 2029; staff described using ballots to record the appointment in their packet.
The meeting then moved into executive session for a legal briefing under South Carolina Code sections 4-9-610 through 4-9-670; the chair called for a five-minute recess before entering executive session.
Why it matters: Updating the flood ordinance preserves the county’s eligibility in the federal flood insurance program, which affects property owners in mapped floodplains and the county’s ability to participate in federally backed insurance and related assistance programs.
What’s next: The ordinance requires two additional readings and formal adoption before the July 21, 2026 deadline described in the meeting if the county is to remain eligible for flood program participation.
