Okra Strut Commission Recommends Hoots for Administrator Job

At a special meeting Wednesday night, members of the Okra Strut Commission unanimously approved recommending Susan Hoots for selection to serve as administrator for the 2012 Okra Strut Festival.

Commission members agreed Hoots was the right choice because of her experience with the festival.

"We really need someone who knows the situation," Commission chairman Kirk Luther said.

Luther had polled members earlier this month and had sent in a recommendation to council but the recommendation was met with opposition from Irmo Mayor Hardy King.

During council's regular meeting on Feb. 7, King voiced concerns about how the recommendation was made.

King said the commission should've voted on a recommendation in public instead of being polled, and he thought the decision came from Luther and not the entire commission.

King also said hiring Susan Hoots would violate the town's nepotism policy, which he said no council member's immediate family is eligible for employment by the town. Her husband, Harvey Hoots, is a town councilman.

Irmo Town Council decided to open the position up for bids and had accepted Susan Hoots application for the position.

So far, the town has only received Hoots application. The last day to apply is Tuesday, Feb. 21, at noon.

Council will meet next Tuesday at 7 p.m. and is expected to review all applications received.