Refusing to wait for the state Supreme Court to rule on a lawsuit, Richland County Council has replaced two members of the county’s Recreation Commission, and another replacement is in the works.

The Rev. Charles Epps and Lynn Roth will replace Hannah Timmons and Danny Young on the seven-member commission at today’s meeting.

State House and Senate members from the county formerly appointed the commissioners. But last year, they pushed through legislation ceding their power to County Council.

Five members of the Recreation Commission sued, arguing the legislation was unconstitutional. Circuit Judge J. Ernest Kinard ruled against the commissioners, but his ruling was appealed. The state Supreme Court agreed to hear the case to expedite the process, but it isn’t on the court’s upcoming dockets.

In the meantime, the terms of two of seven recreation commissioners expired in December. After waiting for a court ruling, the county legislative delegation sent a letter to Gov. Mark Sanford nominating two new commissioners, said Sen. Kay Patterson, D-Richland.

Sanford’s office responded by saying it recognizes the new law that allows County Council to make the nominations. County Council then voted to forward the same two nominees to Sanford, who approved them.

Also, commissioner Robbie Robinson will be replaced soon, Patterson said. Robinson lives in the city limits of Columbia, which is outside the Recreation Commission tax district, he said.

Robinson’s replacement will come from the Irmo-Ballentine area, according to County Council members.

“The outcome of the lawsuit is unclear at this point, so we decided to make nominations that represented fairly all parts of the county, including the northwest and northeast, which were underrepresented before,” Councilwoman Val Hutchinson said.

Reach Holleman at (803) 771-8366.