2024 Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast
A Morning Of Fellowship
April was a jam-packed month for us at the Town of Chapin but one of the highlights that feels particularly special was our annual Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast. This year, our Keynote speaker was Dr. Akil Ross of Lexington-Richland School District 5 and he gave an incredibly moving presentation about finding his struggles in life and how he found his footing. We were also fortunate enough to have a musical performance by noted local artist Curt London as well as the presentation of the flags and Pledge of Allegiance by the Chapin HS NJROTC.
We want to take this moment and thank our grand sponsor, Whitaker Funeral Homes, as well as Chick-fil-a Ballentine and our table and breakfast sponsors: Chapin Christian Community Church, Rep. Jay Kilmartin, Darren Kaplan, J. B. Brown, the Greater Chapin Chamber of Commerce, the Irmo Chapin Recreation Commission, Chapin Baptist Church, Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Mt. Horeb Lutheran Church, Dean Widener for SC House 85, Rebecca Hines, Caughman-Harman Funeral Home - Chapin Chapel, and Lowery Consulting Agency. This is a very important event to our Town and we could not put it on without your generosity. We’re looking forward to next year and another great breakfast!
Town Spotlight
Shannon Bowers! Our Municipal Clerk!
With May being host to Municipal Clerks week, this month’s Town Spotlight is Shannon. Shannon has been with the Town of Chapin for more than four years and takes on a multitude of responsibilities. She serves as the clerk to our Town Council, our boards, and our commissions. She also works diligently to fulfil FOIA requests, provide structure to our council members, and generally ensure success in our administrative department.
Upcoming Events!
Memorial Day Service
Please join our Chapin community in honoring our fallen service men and women at a Memorial Day Service courtesy of American Legion Post 193. This outdoor event will be held in front of the Town Hall Building at the flag pole. There is limited seating available but you are welcome to bring chairs and it is handicapped accessible.
Immediately following the outdoor ceremony there will be an indoor reception. We invite members of the public to share images, names, and ranks of those that have been killed in action as a way to publicly acknowledge their sacrifice and share in remembrance of their life. The keynote address will be given by Lieutenant Colonel Whitten.
The Town of Chapin would like to extend a special thanks to Gold Star families, local Scouts, members of Chapin American Legion Post 193 and American Legion Auxiliary Unit 193, Chapin High School students, local business who donated time and supplies, our Veterans, and to those who have given the ultimate sacrifice in service to America.
Chapin’s Day of Service
A Day to Give Back
Saturday, April 20th saw the return of our Day of Community Service. We had volunteers from many local organizations such as The Chapin High School NJROTC, Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church, the American Legion Post 193, The Chapin Junior Women’s Club, the Chapin Garden Club, and Mt. Zion Baptist Church. The Day of Service is a great opportunity for our community to come together and make efforts to brighten our town. We want to take time to thank our volunteers for their time and energy on their Saturday morning and express our appreciation for their dedication to the betterment of the Town of Chapin. Hopefully next year we can do even more and make Chapin even better!
National Small Business Week
April 28-May 4
It’s a recurring theme in many of our newsletter pieces, but shopping small and shopping local are the pillars of any small town community. Local artisans, tradespeople, and service workers are what give small towns like Chapin their character and part of what fuels their economy. If you needed yet another reason to support local businesses, we are currently in the middle of National Small Business Week! National Small Business Week is an initiative from the US Small Business Administration to assist in the success and longevity of America’s small businesses.
Town Councilman Gregg White, also a regional director with the US Small Business Administration. provided some information and context with the small businesses in the state and the importance of the week. “With 99.4% of small businesses in South Carolina considered small businesses and 42.2% of all employees in the state being a part of small businesses, the economic impact of these small businesses on South Carolina’s economy is tremendous. Women ownership is 44.6%, veteran ownership is 9%, Hispanic/Latino ownership is 4.9% and other racial and ethnic minority ownership is 21.1% of South Carolina small business ownership. The wealth created for local communities and families is greatly impacted by these entrepreneurs and businesses. Let’s thank them for the impact they have provided to our economy this National small Business Week,” said councilman White.
Town Council 4.16.24
Smoke-Free Palmetto Certification
At last months Town Council meeting, SCDHEC presented the mayor and council with Smoke-Free Palmetto State certification. This certification recognizes Chapin's achievement in adopting and implementing a comprehensive smoke-free law covering all indoor workplaces, restaurants, and bars. With this certification, Chapin can further demonstrate its continued dedication to the health and well-being of our citizens. We join the list of 56 other municipalities in South Carolina with Smoke-Free Palmetto State certification.
Lexington County Defies Municipalities
A Mayor’s Message
In response to recent developments in the ongoing discussions regarding the County proposed road maintenance and stormwater agreement, representatives from seven Lexington County municipalities convened with County Chairwoman Beth Carrigg and the County Administrator last month in Lexington.
During the meeting, the municipalities raised significant concerns regarding the proposed conditions outlined in the agreement, citing restrictions that impede our authority to regulate zoning and land use within our respective jurisdictions. Emphasizing the importance of home rule protection and the consistent application of state law, the municipalities underscored the need for collaboration and adherence to established legal frameworks.
Following thorough consultation with legal experts, the municipalities collectively advocated for the reinstatement of the longstanding agreement that had been terminated, dating back over four decades. This unified request aimed to provide a manner to continue operations and provide the necessary time to facilitate individual agreements between each jurisdiction and the County Council, fostering a cooperative approach to address anticipated growth and plan responsibly for the future.
In the spirit of cooperation and mutual respect, municipalities engaged in good faith efforts to work towards a mutually beneficial solution. Following the meeting, Chapin’s Town Administrator and I communicated an update to the Lexington County Council Representative for Chapin, emphasizing a desire to seek avenues for compromise through future dialogue and requesting their support of the municipalities request.
The decision made by the Lexington County Council and voted on by the Lexington County Representative for Chapin, to extend the prior road maintenance agreement to only four of the fourteen municipalities, showcases a blatant disregard for the Town of Chapin's request and our endeavors toward collaboration. The deliberate decision to exclude the Town of Chapin from the reinstatement of the previous agreement underscores the utter indifference and neglect consistently exhibited by our Council Representative toward our citizens.
This action, is inconsistent with the County's professed commitment to cooperation, and is a regression to outdated political practices, which favor certain jurisdictions over others. The Town of Chapin, along with its municipal counterparts, recognize the financial inequity and the unfair burden placed on our residents who continue to contribute taxes for services they are not eligible to receive, while others benefit from the same funds.
Despite these challenges, the Town of Chapin reaffirms our unity with the municipalities and calls for the prompt reinstatement of the previous agreement, which has long served as a framework for collaboration without issue. The offer to engage in constructive dialogue remains open, with a shared commitment to adopt reasonable planning principles that enhance the quality of life for all citizens, while respecting jurisdictional rights afforded in state law.
For media inquiries, please contact communications@chapinsc.com.
Town of Chapin Communications Survey
Touching Base
Hey everyone! Last month we closed the communications survey for the town and we took a look at the responses. They were certainly a mixed bag but we hear you all and want to make our communications as thorough and as effective as possible. We may have some other surprises coming your way, but I just wanted to assure everyone that may feel a little bogged down with surveys that we greatly appreciate your time and your input does not go unnoticed.
This newsletter marks one year of The Chapin Star and we truly love having an apparatus to share news, accomplishments, and memories with the members of our community. You guys make it all worth it. We are also happy to take an article or photo submission if it serves the best interest of the Town and its citizens so if you have something to share, please reach out because we’d love to take a look. Thank you again to everyone who takes the time the read the newsletter (especially those who made it all the way here, to the end) and we’ll talk real soon!
-Dylan