Chapin Council vs Mayor Legal Battle | Columbia News

Chapin’s town council just made a bold move—voting 4-to-1 to take control of legal hiring and fund approvals, sidelining the mayor’s authority. They brought in Ryan Hicks as their new attorney, while Mayor Bill Mitchell fiercely opposes both decisions, calling them illegal and refusing to back any council-led actions. The feud stems from a standoff with Lexington County over sewer permits, where the mayor hired a Georgia lawyer without council approval—a move the AG’s office says is out of bounds. Now, with citizens feeling shut out and tensions high, Chapin’s leadership is locked in a power struggle that could reshape how local government operates. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/97f608ed30ff00f8