It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting BallentineShealy House in Chapin, SC gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Chapin, SC is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“Professional, caring, and reliable at home service.”
“Amazing place and they do a wonderful job.”
“The caregivers at Always Best Care are friendly, reliable, and truly care about their clients.”
“Always Best Care has helped our family tremendously. With the care they provide we”
“Nate and his team have helped multiple family members and the service and support was”
“I engaged Nate as a consultant to search for the right Assisted Living Facility for”
“Very professional and friendly office staff. They are also easy to communicate with. I recommend”
“I am truly grateful for the opportunity to work here at Always Best Care over”
“This is a great company and I would recommended to everyone. I have been with”
“I am a friend or relative of a current/past resident Always Best Care of the Midlands”
“This is a company that truly cares about its employees and the seniors they care”
“Nice people to work with”
“Gina Berry takes time explaining why home care and Always Best Care is the best”
“I am a current client of this provider From a caretakers/daughters point of view: This service”
“Always Best Care is a great company to work for and if you are looking”
“The Staff, the care teams and the owners are one of a kind! They take”
“Nate took the time to meet with me and my family and help make sense”
“Hello to all of my Always Best Care friends, I'd like to wish you and your”
“I am a current client of this provider It is essential to us, he really needs”
“This is one of the best companies I’ve worked for in a long time. The”
“I am a current client of this provider It depends on who they hire for the”
“I am a current client of this provider I would have had to quit my job”
“Professional, caring, and reliable at home service.”
“Amazing place and they do a wonderful job.”
“The caregivers at Always Best Care are friendly, reliable, and truly care about their clients. They make daily life easier and more comfortable for seniors.”
“Always Best Care has helped our family tremendously. With the care they provide we have been able to keep my dad in his home. He is a total care client and they have gone above and beyond to meet our needs the best way they can. Not to say we haven't had some trials with schedules and caregivers getting sick or family emergencies, that is to be expected, but they are consistently meeting the needs the best way thay can. Thank you Always Best Care for what you have done for our family the last almost 3 years!”
“Nate and his team have helped multiple family members and the service and support was a great peace of mind. Care of those in need can be a heavy load on the family, and Always Best Care made everything run better in the household. Their care extended past those in need and helped the other family members provide better care. The experience was a breath of fresh air.”
“I engaged Nate as a consultant to search for the right Assisted Living Facility for my mom. This service is no cost to the family. He spent quite some time getting my mom's preferences clarified and then searching for matching AL facilities. All of this was done in less than two days. He and I talked through the options and I relayed the two I felt were best to mom. Nate personally picked mom up from rehab and took her on those tours, which was a godsend because I live in another state. During both tours, he texted me "play by plays" as to how it was going. He helped me and mom choose the right place for her budget and needs - and was very patient with us as my mom took longer than expected to make the final decision. She was talking about needing a new TV and Nate provided her/us with a link to some that were on sale that met her needs. Once the decision was made, Nate accompanied the AL staff member to mom's rehab and sat through the entire long paperwork process to ensure mom understood what she was signing. Again, he kept me in the loop by texting me regularly about how things were going during the meeting. He checked in a couple of times after that and prior to mom's move asking how our prep was going and if we needed anything. On one call, I did ask for a referral to a specific service we needed. He didn't have an established one, so he researched it and got one for me promptly. During and shortly after moving day, Nate checked in again to see how mom was settling in. I've been amazed at the personalized engagement that we received from Nate. Anytime he said he would do something, he did it and he did it promptly. If anything was delayed, he updated me immediately. This is in stark contrast to Tara at Senior Care Authority that provides this service as well. She promised me things during our initial call and didn't follow through on most of them. During our text exchanges, she never answered my specific question - always danced around it. Within a handful of days, I said "nope!", researched more, and came across Nate and this service. Ahhhh, what a breath of fresh air to receive what you asked for. I have no doubt it saved me countless hours glued to my computer, trying to compare facilities. I highly recommend Nate and his consulting service - it was an excellent experience and he was a lifesaver!”
“Very professional and friendly office staff. They are also easy to communicate with. I recommend Always Best Care Senior Services for any senior in need. Also, if you ever need a job, please go and apply. They are always hiring weekly and offer competitive rates.”
“I am truly grateful for the opportunity to work here at Always Best Care over the past six months. Melisa and Nate have been wonderful and thanks for molding me into becoming a great leader. Professionalism is the key to success ????✨⭐️ I am looking forward to many years to come.”
“This is a great company and I would recommended to everyone. I have been with them for 3years Their caregivers are insightful and have so much compassion especially Mariah and Sabrina they are some of there champs they both have great personality and are very Professional. The owners are great and they run a great company.thank you for all that you guys do ????”
“I am a friend or relative of a current/past resident Always Best Care of the Midlands Team ensured that I was well informed, and my loved one received the best care possible. The compassionate care was delivered not only by the care professionals, but by the support team. The owners even checked in with us to offer support and guidance. They exceeded our expectations!”
“This is a company that truly cares about its employees and the seniors they care for! Nate and Melisa offer regular training for caregivers so they they can provide the best care possible!”
“Nice people to work with”
“Gina Berry takes time explaining why home care and Always Best Care is the best choice for your family’s needs. The Team at Always Best is thoughtful and supportive they go out of their way to make you feel heard and understood. They customize the care plan, care team and schedule. I recommend them to anyone considering aging in place.”
“I am a current client of this provider From a caretakers/daughters point of view: This service is a savior for me personally. It relieves me from having to miss a lot of work time to travel to my mothers appt, now I can meet her at the appt. and save this time. The care and service she is getting is TOP NOTCH! From how easy it is for my mother to schedule and the follow through is right on the money. From a person getting the services: Melissa is the best, she calls me weekly to remind me of my appointments coming up. I am very pleased with the services and absolutely pleased with the services provided. I know that this alone helps ease the mind of my daughter. Thank you to the team at Always Best Care!”
“Always Best Care is a great company to work for and if you are looking for care for a loved one, I highly recommend them. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable and supportive. I work in the senior industry and recommend Always Best Care to my clients that need extra support in their home or while family is away. Always Best Care will respond immediately and truly show compassion to others.”
“The Staff, the care teams and the owners are one of a kind! They take the time to ensure your care needs are met. Highly recommend giving them a call if you have senior care or senior living questions or concerns.”
“Nate took the time to meet with me and my family and help make sense of the questions we had when it came to the short and long term care of our loved one. When you have an elderly parent or a loved one with disabilities there are so many questions and so many emotions. It can be so confusing and it was hard for us to find one person or one company that has the knowledge and grasp of this industry that Nate has. We cannot thank him enough for guiding us through this process and his amazing bedside manner!”
“Hello to all of my Always Best Care friends, I'd like to wish you and your families a Merry, Blessed Christmas and a Happy, Prosperous New Year! My brother, my dad, and I really appreciate everything you did for us this year. You're amazing! All the best for the Christmas season and 2023,”
“I am a current client of this provider It is essential to us, he really needs assistance daily, and I work full time. I like their team approach.”
“This is one of the best companies I’ve worked for in a long time. The owners, Nate and Melisa, genuinely care about clients AND staff. They go above and beyond to support, encourage, and help everyone they work with. Their doors are always open, they’re generous with their time, and they truly want their staff to succeed. Donna in the billing department is fabulous, always available to answer questions or help in any way; Katrina in scheduling puts in so much time and effort to accommodate everyone’s needs and it’s amazing how well she handles everything; Angel works diligently on recruiting and training, making sure there’s plenty of staff to provide quality care; and Jackie is an incredible CHAMP, making sure clients are properly reassessed and care givers have the right tools and knowledge to do their job. ABC is a fantastic, compassionate, caring team I’m proud to be a part of, and I’m proud to serve our clients, too.”
“I am a current client of this provider It depends on who they hire for the job. The people they hire can improve.”
“I am a current client of this provider I would have had to quit my job if it wasn't for them and they go grocery shopping. They can have more guidance for the client and what to do for the client.”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Crooked Creek Park in Chapin, SC with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Chophouse of Chapin, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Chapin, SC, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Chapin, SC understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Chapin, SC 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
Two Midlands towns are taking steps to change the ways their communities are run, and they are going about it in very different ways.In the town of Irmo, voters will be asked this November to approve a change in town government by referendum, moving from a council-led model to one that empowers a town manager to run Irmo’s day-to-day affairs. Up Interstate 26 in the town of Chapin, a power struggle is underway under a different style of government, between the town’s “strong” mayor and the town council trying t...
Two Midlands towns are taking steps to change the ways their communities are run, and they are going about it in very different ways.
In the town of Irmo, voters will be asked this November to approve a change in town government by referendum, moving from a council-led model to one that empowers a town manager to run Irmo’s day-to-day affairs. Up Interstate 26 in the town of Chapin, a power struggle is underway under a different style of government, between the town’s “strong” mayor and the town council trying to exert its own authority.
The contrast shows how South Carolina’s towns and cities can operate under very different rules, often with very different results.
The state allows municipalities to operate under three forms of government, as explained by the S.C. Municipal Association — and all three are in evidence in the suburbs northwest of Columbia.
Irmo leaders say the vote won’t change how the town operates so much as solidify how it already operates.
“The reality is we have operated as council-manager forever, longer than I’ve been involved with the town,” Mayor Bill Danielson previously told The State, pointing to ordinances that vest most of council’s nominal authority in the town administrator already.
Irmo Town Administrator Jim Crosland, who previously worked as the city manager in nearby Cayce, said town residents wouldn’t notice a difference in town operations, but if the referendum passes, it would bring the town more in line with how it’s actually run.
Until late last year, Chapin had a similar structure to Irmo, with Town Administrator Nicholle Burroughs overseeing much of the town’s operations day-to-day. But unlike in a council-manager government, an administrator is a subordinate town employee to the mayor.
When Mayor Bill Mitchell was elected in November 2025, he eliminated the administrator position and took over administration of the town as a full-time mayor.
Since leaving her job in Chapin, Burroughs has moved down the road and become deputy administrator in Irmo.
Mitchell has disagreed with Chapin’s town council over his management style. In recent weeks, council members have voted no confidence in Mitchell’s leadership, and passed measures to allow the council to hire and direct a town attorney outside the mayor’s control.
At a town council meeting on Thursday, Mitchell said his council colleagues’ maneuvers were going against the spirit of Chapin’s adopted form of government.
“You can’t ordinance your way into a council form of government,” the mayor said.
South Carolina law requires that a town adopt one of the three forms of government by a voter referendum, just like Irmo is pursuing now. Chapin adopted its current mayor-council form in a townwide-vote in 1976, according to the town website.
So far, Chapin’s town council has not moved to change the town’s form of government outright, thought Mitchell suggested at Thursday’s meeting that the council may want to try in the future.
Not every attempt to get voter approval for that kind of change succeeds. Back in 2013, then-Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin tried to get the capital city to approve a change from council-manager to strong mayor when Benjamin was at the height of his popularity in the city.
He handily won re-election to a second term that year, but a separate referendum on changing Columbia’s form of government went down to defeat by 14 percentage points. Opponents warned that it would place “absolute power” in the hands of the mayor.
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Chapin air quality index (AQI?) forecast
| Today | 59 | km/h | 63% | ||
| Thu | 60 | km/h | |||
| Fri | 58 | km/h |
What is the current air quality in Chapin?
| PM2.5Fine particles (≤ 2.5 µm)13.6 *µg/m³ |
PM2.5 concentration is currently 2.7 times the World Health Organization annual PM2.5 guideline value.
Health recommendations
Sensitive groups should reduce outdoor exercise |
Close your windows to avoid dirty outdoor air |
Sensitive groups should wear a mask outdoors |
Sensitive groups should run an air purifier |
What is the pollen count in Chapin today?
Air Purifiers
NOTE: The above video is a livestream of WIS featuring current newscasts, Soda City Living and Gray Media’s Local News Live.CHAPIN, S.C. (WIS) — Chapin’s mayor and town council once again clashed over who has direct authority in making decisions for the town.The council called a special meeting on Aug. 6, voting to curtail Mayor Bill Mitchell’s sole authority over creating town offices as well as hiring a town attorney.While previously referring to “the mayor and council,&rdquo...
NOTE: The above video is a livestream of WIS featuring current newscasts, Soda City Living and Gray Media’s Local News Live.
CHAPIN, S.C. (WIS) — Chapin’s mayor and town council once again clashed over who has direct authority in making decisions for the town.
The council called a special meeting on Aug. 6, voting to curtail Mayor Bill Mitchell’s sole authority over creating town offices as well as hiring a town attorney.
While previously referring to “the mayor and council,” the ordinances now state that “the council” has sole authority for such actions. Mitchell later went on to threaten legal action against the council over those votes.
The move came less than a month after council publicly gave Mitchell a vote of no confidence in a meeting that also became heated. Both the mayor and council apologized for their behavior after the fact.
Did the mayor hire a town attorney?
During the Aug. 6 meeting, however, council members claimed they had contacted at least 15 local attorneys, all of whom reportedly refused to work for or with the town due to Mitchell’s reputation.
Mitchell fired back, saying he had signed an engagement letter with Georgia-based attorney Bubba Samuels for a rate of $200 per hour. Samuels’ firm does not have an office or location in South Carolina, but Samuels himself is licensed to practice law in the Palmetto State.
WIS has reached out to Samuels’ law firm for comment and clarification.
Councilman Warren Burritt, citing state law, claimed Mitchell actually had no authority to sign such an agreement and that the town may not be liable for paying any attorney hired under those circumstances.
“I would stomp on that ice,” Mitchell responded. “I sign contracts and commit the town’s money continually within the budget. That’s my job. And that’s what I do.”
Question of authority
Mitchell then continued to address the town’s form of government and insisted he was the one solely responsible for making decisions in the town’s best interest.
Chapin operates under a mayor-council, or “strong mayor,” form of government as outlined in state law.
“You cannot ordinance yourself into a council form of governing,” Mitchell told council members.
Other council members, including Councilwoman Ainslee Bost, continued taking issue with Mitchell seemingly making decisions without their knowledge.
“We have been excluded from all the hirings of every attorney that you have hired,” she said. “We have been told after the fact and introduced after the fact. We should be making a collective decision about who is representing the town of Chapin. That is what we want.”
Mitchell later became frustrated over questions about what he does and does not have sole authority to do.
“See, I hear the growling and moaning,” he said. “You hate the form of government the town has picked, and there lies the problem. It’s not your choice. You are obligated to do what they say. And if it needs to be changed, they have the authority to change it. They could be voting on it in November if they want to. And I have a responsibility and the right to engage with these attorneys. And I have since I’ve been here. And I have paid them since I’ve been here.”
Mitchell also threatened to file a lawsuit against town council over the ordinances that passed, even as Bost pointed out that the ordinances passed did not remove any responsibilities or powers of the mayoral office as outlined in South Carolina law.
“I’m going to take the position, you are breaking state law that says the mayor is to oversee the day-to-day operations, including working with that town attorney,” Mitchell said. “I will take declaratory judgment action, and I’m saying that now. And I’m not blinking. I think you’re breaking the law, and I will ask a judge to give his opinion.”
A direct accusation
Mitchell was also directly accused by Councilwoman Vicky Shealy of screaming at her over the phone when asked about the status of the town’s $200,000 settlement with former town administrator Nichole Burroughs, who Mitchell fired upon taking office in November 2025.
“I called you the other morning and I started to ask you a question. And before I got it, even out of my mouth, you jumped on me and started screaming at me. To the point my husband came to see who I was talking to. And I hung up the phone with you,” Shealy said.
Mitchell responded by acknowledging the call was “a loud conversation” but then claimed that Shealy was asking him with an ulterior motive.
“Vicky, if you are asking that information to assist her [Burroughs] or someone who has threatened to file a lawsuit against this town...I have a problem with you gathering information to help someone who is acting against the town,” he said.
It was revealed during the meeting that nearly $50,000 was still due as part of the settlement — but Mitchell contested that, saying it was due to an invoice not being provided by Burroughs’ attorney.
Shealy said she was asking to ensure the town did not owe interest on its payments to Burroughs and said Mitchell didn’t let her finish her question because of his temper.
Mitchell replied, saying that he and Shealy “have a history” and claimed she doesn’t “act in the town’s best interest.”
Further pushback
Mitchell took to the town’s Facebook page on Sunday morning, calling out what he deemed “selective reporting” by media outlets and claims of a lack of transparency.
“Under my administration, our communication is clear: the citizens of Chapin come first. I do not grant media interviews on town matters until our residents have been informed directly. Traditional news outlets must take a back seat to the people I was elected to serve,” he wrote.
Chapin’s next scheduled town council meeting will be held on Aug. 18.
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CHAPIN — After a recent council meeting devolved into a heated back and forth between councilmembers, Chapin Mayor Bill Mitchell took to Facebook to apologize to his constituents and “extend an olive branch” to his colleagues.“First of all, our last regularly scheduled meeting was a bit of a trainwreck, to say the least,” Mitchell started off the live broadcast, posted July 24 to the town Facebook page. “This does not give a good look for our town, nor does it represent who we are.”At t...
CHAPIN — After a recent council meeting devolved into a heated back and forth between councilmembers, Chapin Mayor Bill Mitchell took to Facebook to apologize to his constituents and “extend an olive branch” to his colleagues.
“First of all, our last regularly scheduled meeting was a bit of a trainwreck, to say the least,” Mitchell started off the live broadcast, posted July 24 to the town Facebook page. “This does not give a good look for our town, nor does it represent who we are.”
At the end of the July 21 meeting, Councilmember Ainslee Bost introduced a resolution calling for a “vote of no confidence” in Mitchell, cosigned by members Warren Burritt, Mike Clonts and Vicky Shealy. Mitchell was alone in his dissent.
The resolution listed complaints about the mayor ranging from refusing to answer councilmembers’ questions to contributing to an “unprecedented” amount of employees either being fired or resigning from the town.
Mitchell became confrontational with the members, raising his voice and pointing his finger in Bost’s face.
Four days later, Mitchell took a different tone, calling that exchange “14 minutes of (uncontrolled) emotions,” and blaming it on a “lot of passion” between the mayor and the councilmembers. The mayor apologized, and pledged to do better in the "fierce fights” ahead of the town.
In an interview with The Post and Courier on July 27, Bost said that while the council’s resolution still stands, they are more than willing to work with the mayor going forward.
“This is not about assigning blame. It is about learning, improving, and restoring confidence in your local government,” Bost wrote in a statement from the four members of council, posted in the comments of Mitchell’s Facebook video. She also said the council “sincerely (apologizes)” for their role in last meeting’s tension.
To do that, the council is seeking “independent legal and municipal governance counsel” to guide the body on their respective duties and how to govern together. This is Bost, Mitchell, and Burritt’s first term on council.
While Mitchell appeared blindsided by the resolution, Bost said it was the last step in what had been months of behind-the-scenes tension.
“We have been trying for months to work things out behind closed doors, and we just felt like we were not being heard,” Bost said. “We can’t make any progress. He will not listen to us.”
In one example, Bost described how Mitchell had “sabotaged” council’s attempt to hire a new attorney by “belittling” the man in an executive session.
“We asked (the attorney) to step out. When he came back, he immediately retracted his offer to be the town’s attorney,” Bost said. “He said it was very evident that we had some serious issues, and we needed some help.”
The town has been through four attorneys since Mitchell took office. According to the resolution, those attorneys cited an “inability to maintain an effective working relationship with the mayor.”
The town still does not currently have an attorney, despite an ongoing legal battle with Lexington County over its plan to sell the Chapin Technology Park and add it to the proposed Brighton development, which would add 600 homes to the municipality of roughly 2,000 people.
The council also took issue with Mitchell’s interpretation of the state law.
In an interview with a local TV station, Mitchell described himself as having significantly more authority than the councilmembers. Chapin operates under a “strong mayor” format. Council sets the policy, of which the mayor has one vote, and the mayor is in charge of putting it into practice.
Bost said the mayor has made numerous decisions without informing the council at all, like hiring a new town clerk.
The council does agree with the mayor on one key issue: Brighton.
“I want to make it perfectly clear: We do not want Brighton sold to a residential developer,” Bost said. “We stand with the mayor on that 100 percent.”
Bost especially gave “kudos” to the mayor on his plan to restrict the number of sewer taps sold until the system can be expanded, as a way to further curb residential development in the rapidly growing town.
But even then, there are cracks. Mitchell has been accused of threatening a member of Lexington County Council over the development, goading her into “bringing it on” when legal action was suggested.
“I felt like that was inappropriate. I tend to do things a little bit differently,” Bost said. “His strategy is his strategy. Mine would not be to threaten anyone."
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