Hampton County council accepts acting administrator’s resignation, authorizes search for interim directors

The Hampton County Council accepted the resignation of acting county administrator Lavar Jowans and authorized the council chair to seek suggested interim directors from outside advisors.

Councilman Thompson moved “that we accept the resignation of Lavar Jowans, the acting county administrator, effective Friday, May the 29th, 2020.” The motion was seconded and approved by members present; no opposition or abstentions were recorded in the transcript. The council had earlier said the matter arose during an executive session on a personnel succession plan.

A separate motion directed the chair to contact the South Carolina Association of Counties and the Parker Poe law firm to request suggested interim directors. That motion was made, seconded and approved by hand-raise in open session; the transcript does not record a roll-call vote or list individual yea/nay votes.

The meeting record provided no reasons for Jowans’s resignation and did not specify a timetable for naming an interim or permanent replacement. The council moved on to adjourn shortly after approving the two motions.

The council adjourned after the votes; the transcript records the procedural motions and approvals but contains no further details about next steps or any public discussion beyond the motions.