Abbeville council reappoints housing authority commissioner over opposition; approves business incubator, park reopening and Juneteenth closure

A contested reappointment and several community approvals were among the final actions taken by the City of Abbeville City Council on March 16, 2026.

The council voted 5‑3 to reappoint Margaret Harrison to a five‑year term on the Housing Authority Board. The minutes state Harrison wished to serve again and that both she and Councilmember Christopher R. Crawford spoke to the council in support of her reappointment. Mayor Pro Tem A. Faye Thomas moved to reappoint Harrison and Councilmember Benji Greeson seconded; the motion passed with Councilmembers Crawford, James Jackson and Mayor Trey Edwards recorded as opposing.

Council also approved a Small Business Incubator applicant (motion moved by Councilmember Jason Edwards and seconded by Councilmember Matthew H. Gambrell) and unanimously authorized city assistance to maintain South Carolina Department of Transportation streets and rights‑of‑way within the city. The council approved a Juneteenth road closure request (moved by Councilmember Benji Greeson; seconded by Councilmember Christopher R. Crawford) and endorsed Phase 1 of the Wilson Hill Park Revolutionary War walking trail while expressing support for later phases.

Staff reported that Chestnut Park will hold a grand reopening on Saturday, March 21, 2026 at noon; that item was informational. The council approved personnel manual updates and a City Attorney fee and services agreement earlier in the agenda; those motions were recorded as passing with no objections.

The meeting adjourned at 8:34 p.m.; no public comments were recorded during the public comment period.