Jackson County will be searching for another county manager after Monday's 4-1 vote to accept the resignation of Darrell Hampton.

Hampton asked that his resignation be effective March 15. Leonard Myers will serve in the interim. Myers served as interim manager for Jackson County when Hampton's predecessor, Crandall O. Jones, was fired from the post in February 2007.

Since approving the county manager form of government in 1999, Jackson County has had a string of people in the position.

Commissioner Tom Crow opposed accepting the resignation motion.

At several commission meetings in recent months, Commissioner Dwain Smith and Crow have criticized Hampton's handling of day-to-day operations and his briefings to commissioners. Most recently at the Feb. 21 commission meeting, Crow pointed out that Hampton had provided incomplete information about an agenda item the commissioner had specifically requested.

Smith and Crow served on the commission when Jones was fired.

Hampton said his departure will allow him to fully focus on his family. His 83-year-old mother has had health problems and he planned to attend her medical tests this week.

He said he hopes to find a job in the Jackson County area.

The commissioners adjourned into executive session for personnel matters at the end of the business meeting and returned 15 minutes later to wrap up the business meeting with the vote on the resignation before the work session convened.

The commission held an executive session for personnel at the close of the Feb. 21 meeting. That session lasted an hour and seven minutes with no action coming from the closed door meeting.