Town of Hampton sets limit to livestock

The Town of Hampton council voted to pass a first reading of an ordinance which would limit Hampton residents to legally house 12 hen chickens and one rooster within city limits. The proposed town ordinance stems from complaints from residents regarding noisy roosters waking them from sleep at all hours of the night.

Council voted unanimously to limit the number of rooster chickens a resident living within city limits may possess; one. According to several council members, one rooster is all that is needed on a farm to produce additional chickens.

Mayor John Rhoden stated several nearby municipalities have similar ordinances limiting the number of roosters a resident may possess within city limits. Town officials felt limiting residents to one rooster would be a solid compromise and allow residents to still farm fresh eggs, as well as limiting noise pollution omitted by a large number of roosters.

Town council urged all concerned residents to attend the next town council meeting.

Town Hires Victim Advocate

It was announced during the meeting that current Hampton County Court clerk Jvondra Brooks-Creech has been hired as the Hampton Police Department’s Victim Advocate.

After an extensive interview process with town officials and Anna Sue Rivers of Hampton Town Council, Brooks-Creech was offered the position. She is a Estill High School class of 1999 graduate and attended Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College from 2005-2007. She is married and has three children.

Miss Hampton 2017

Nearing the end of the meeting, town council took time to officially congratulate and recognize the 2017 Miss Town of Hampton Marybeth Hiers. Accompanied by her parents, Debbie and Dobie, Hiers proudly accepted her crown and will represent the town during the Hampton County Watermelon Festival, as well as make additional appearances at local events throughout the year. 

Fire Department urges safety updates

Hampton Fire Department Deputy Chief Tommy Smith attended meeting and informed council that the town hall’s current fire alarms monitoring system was over a decade old and in need of replacement. As well as being safer, new equipment alert emergency personnel faster and more reliably than previous technology. No longer will the fire alarms be dependent on a working phone line, he said; modern fire monitoring systems are linked to the service provider via the internet.

Smith also asked council to approve the purchase of two front tires for a fire truck which is currently operating with 13-year-old tires. Council unanimously voted to purchase two new front tires for $870 and a front end alignment for an additional $75. 

Council also approved for Smith to travel to an annual firefighter’s conference in Myrtle Beach. The conference offers extensive training courses and will cost the town over $5,000 for the week long stay.

In other town news:

• A new roof was put on the town’s baseball field concession stand.
• A flag pole was put in place at the town’s baseball field.
• Wood chips were placed on the Hampton Walking Trail.
• Town council voted unanimously to spend $350.00 in town funds to repair the Lightsey Park fence.
• Council voted unanimously to proceed with a CPA audit agreement/contract with the Brittingham Group, with fees and expenses stipulated not to exceed $15,000.
• Council unanimously voted to accept a bid proposal by FGP for $4,015 to perform an HR audit/report.
• LCOG representatives and town officials are currently searching for grant funding to perform a revitalization of the Nix Street, Hampton.
• Council unanimously voted to spend $500 to send Town Building Inspector Robbie Poston to Myrtle Beach for training.