Personal Injury Attorney Near Me Abbeville, SC

ABBEVILLE, S.C. —

After months of ethics complaints, internal investigations, and a mayor's resignation, the city of Abbeville selected a new leader. Voters say they want longtime Councilwoman Faye Thomas as mayor. WYFF 4 sat down with her to discuss the city's past and its future.

"You show respect, you get respect," Thomas said.

Thomas has served on Abbeville City Council for 25 years and most recently, before this election, as mayor pro-tem.

"They've seen the things that I was doing, and my character, and my integrity, the honesty and accountability," Thomas said.

WYFF 4 has reported on the string of concerns out of the city of Abbeville. Last November, former mayor Trey Edwards was censured by council. Edwards made many ethics complaints about what he believed were issues going on among council, city workers, and city contractors. City leaders say the investigations into the complaints Edwards made cost the city $191,000 and 2,600 staff hours.

"I was on council for 25 years, and that was the first I've came across it. So it was a learning experience to me," Thomas said. "But what I learned the most about it is that no matter what, you still listen to the complaints, you still show respect, and you have to have your evidence there in front of you."

Mayor-elect Thomas knows there are people who may question Abbeville's future.

"I understand that with everything that went on. I know you might be a little skeptical, but let's move forward. Let's move forward and make Abbeville continue to grow," Thomas said. "Trust the citizens' choice and trust your mayor because I believe in being honest. I believe in accountability. I believe in being transparent."

Thomas is on track to be the first Black female mayor in Abbeville. She said it is a fact that she is proud of but not limited by that.

"It's not about male or female. It's about Abbeville and continuing to make Abbeville grow," Thomas said.

That's one of her goals for the next year. WYFF 4 asked about the recent closure of a few chain restaurants in Abbeville.

"We are working on it; we are trying to get any kind of industry that we can get in here," Thomas said. "I know, I have a lot of people say we need more than one grocery store. You know what, we are working on that. I think when you get together with all the other different organizations within the county and work together, we can get those things in."

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ABBEVILLE, S.C. —

For more than a year, WYFF 4 has investigated water problems, mounting debt, a state-ordered audit, and unanswered questions in Calhoun Falls. Now, the city of Abbeville, the town's water supplier, wants to take ownership of Calhoun Falls' water and sewer system.

The city is already suing Calhoun Falls for more than $400,000 in unpaid water costs. For over a year, WYFF 4 has taken you inside homes to show the many people dealing with brown water and low water pressure.

For the first time, Abbeville leaders are explaining to WYFF 4 why they are considering a new route.

The city of Abbeville said while Calhoun Falls has made some payments on its water debt since the lawsuit, the debt has increased to more than $500,000. Abbeville leaders say they are prepared to forgive it all if Calhoun Falls enters a partnership.

Calhoun Falls is also dealing with a South Carolina Law Enforcement Division investigation and a $1.7 million debt that includes the $400,000 owed to Abbeville.

Recently Abbeville passed this joint resolution. City Deputy Administrative Officer Michael Clary said the city would own and operate the Calhoun Falls water and sewer system.

"The city would read meters, we would bill, we would collect all payments," Clary said.

However, Calhoun Falls has many issues with its water infrastructure, and many water meters need replacing. According to Clary, Abbeville would work to develop a comprehensive capital improvement fund. He also addressed what would happen with the $400,000 debt.

"In the current framework, the city would forgive the town of Calhoun Falls as an organization," Clary said. "That debt now would be billed to Calhoun Falls customers over a period of years."

WYFF 4 asked why the city did not offer the partnership before filing a lawsuit.

"Before things got to the lawsuit level, there were numerous meetings to try and resolve this," Clary said.

"This will be the death of Calhoun Falls," Calhoun Falls Mayor Viggo Lassen said.

Lassen is not on board and doesn't believe it is in the town's best interest.

"If the council decides to do this, then they're selling out the town," Viggo said. "And Calhoun Falls will never have anything."

Keep up with what's happening around our area by downloading the WYFF News 4 app on the App Store or Google Play.

Clary disagrees; he referred to the state-ordered audit. It's an audit that found Calhoun Falls as a high risk for fraud.

"The audit that was done by the state, it would appear to me that general fund dollars are going into the utility revenue system or into the utility system," Clary said.

He says Calhoun Falls could stand to gain through a franchise fee that could go up to 10% if they accept the resolution.

While Lassen is not on board, he says other councilmembers have expressed interest.

Clary says there is no rush on a decision, but if Calhoun Falls says no, then they will continue to follow the lawsuit path.