Council tables airport staffing request, directs RFP for building work and hears local road requests

Hampton County Council members took several operational steps and heard multiple public requests at their April 6 meeting.

Airport staffing: Council reviewed a letter from the Hampton County Airport Commission requesting a full‑time employee at the airport. Members said they had not had time to review the letter in the agenda packet and asked whether the request could be flagged in the upcoming budget. The county administrator and staff explained interim arrangements for daily fuel testing and maintenance following the death of the previous airport employee. A motion to table the airport commission’s staffing request until the April 20 meeting was made and seconded; the chair called for the vote and no opposition or abstentions were recorded on the audio.

Procurement: Council discussed janitorial/cleaning work for a county building on Ginn Avenue where staff reported a need for repairs and cleaning. A vendor quote (about $35,000) prompted questions about whether a formal RFP was required under the county procurement policy (thresholds discussed in the meeting were $15,000 and above). Council members directed staff to pause the current engagement and issue an RFP; a motion to table the work until an RFP is issued carried in the meeting discussion.

Local road requests and naming: Farmer Ray Craps asked the council to permit rerouting (straightening) part of a county dirt road (Black Creek Road) so his irrigation circle could operate on his land. He said the reroute would remain on his property and could be done by him or the county. Council and county staff discussed legal ramifications and whether the county would perform the work.

Separately, Devon Jones, senior pastor of Deliverance Church in Scotia, requested the county recommend renaming a road in honor of his grandmother for the transportation committee (CTC) to consider. The chair explained the county council’s role is to forward a recommendation to the CTC, which makes the final decision on road names.

Why it matters: These items affect county operations, procurement and local land‑use processes. Council emphasized compliance with procurement rules and the need for adequate packet distribution so members can review requests ahead of meetings.

Next steps: Airport staffing was tabled to the April 20 meeting; staff will issue an RFP for the building janitorial work and return with procurement-compliant options; the road‑renaming request will be routed to the transportation committee for final consideration.