Town of Chapin officials shocked & angered by Lexington County Councilmember who verbally attacks Chapin staffer at council meeting
In an unexpected turn of events at the Chapin town council meeting held on Tuesday night, Lexington County Council Member Charli Wessinger allegedly verbally attacked Chapin’s Town Administrator Nicholle Burroughs, surprising and angering the mayor and council members present.
A surprise visit leads to an unsettling ending
Mayor Al Koon expressed his disbelief at Wessinger’s outburst and confirmed the surprise visit from Wessinger to the meeting. Wessinger’s presence was unusual as, according to Mayor Koon, she had not attended any council meetings in the past despite representing the Chapin area. Given the tense history between Wessinger and Koon after a heated argument approximately a year ago, her sudden appearance raised eyebrows.
The cause of the fallout
The report that allegedly led to the verbal tussle was a briefing by Town Administrator Burroughs regarding an issue of contention among the county’s mayors. Lexington County proposed that all towns adapt Lexington County’s zoning and development rules, superseding the towns’ individual rules. This proposal was not well-received by Chapin, along with the other municipalities, which led to rising tensions.
A string of unsettling communication
A series of letters received from the Lexington County and the events that followed were flagged by Mayor Koon as triggers that further escalated the conflict. Lexington County, without prior warning or discussion, cancelled an agreement regarding the maintenance of roads and storm drainage in towns that was in place for 46 years. A new proposed agreement was received in late February 2024, leaving little time for the towns to respond. This abrupt move ruffled feathers in the Chapin council and triggered suspicions of Lexington County deploying strong-arm tactics to exert their authority.
The aftermath of the verbal attack
Following Charli Wessinger’s verbal attack towards the Town Administrator at the council meeting, Chapin officials raised concerns about the lack of professionalism demonstrated. Mayor Koon affirmed that the towns’ councils were committed to working towards amicable solutions in the face of challenging situations, and such behaviour was highly inappropriate and obstructive to constructive negotiations. Mayor Koon emphasized that this incident and the recently strained relations with the county council do not reflect Chapin’s willingness to engage in productive communication and interactions with Lexington County.
Lexington County’s response: Another meeting
In response to the recent upheaval, Lexington County has invited Chapin officials to have a meeting at their administration building. It remains unclear whether this meeting will serve as an opportunity to address the misunderstandings or if Lexington County will continue to exert authority unilaterally. All eyes are now on this upcoming meeting, the unfolding dynamics and the possible outcomes. As of now, the stage is set for some intense talks between Lexington County and the now-shaken Town of Chapin.
The above events were reported by HERE News Network.
