Cayce faces leadership and financial challenges

This collection of stories highlights the challenges Cayce faces regarding leadership instability, police department turmoil, and financial disagreements.

Cayce's city manager recently retired after only six months of service. This followed behind the sudden resignation of the police chief amidst accusations of a hostile work environment. The unstable leadership situation has been met by financial disagreements, such as the town council's disagreement over funding for tourism and staff retention bonuses. Read the stories below.

Former Cayce police chief Herbert Blake (center) is introduced by the city at a press conference on Oct. 29, 2024. Hired in September, Blake handed in his resignation in December. By Jordan Lawrence

NO. 1: MIDLANDS POLICE CHIEF CREATED HOSTILE WORKPLACE, EMPLOYEES SAY. HE LEFT AFTER 3 MONTHS

The Midlands city’s police department saw 11 employees resign between September and January. | Published February 19, 2025 | Read Full Story by Hannah Wade

Cayce Municipal Building. June 25, 2024 By Jordan Lawrence

NO. 2: WITHOUT A POLICE CHIEF, MIDLANDS CITY IS LEANING ON CONSULTANT. HERE’S HOW MUCH HE’S PAID

The Midlands city’s former police chief left after three months in the role amid complaints from police staff. | Published February 24, 2025 | Read Full Story by Hannah Wade

The city of Cayce has chosen Bruce Wade, the assistant police chief for West Columbia, as its next police chief. By Provided by city of Cayce

NO. 3: MIDLANDS CITY TAPS NEW POLICE CHIEF AFTER PREDECESSOR LEFT IN LESS THAN 3 MONTHS

The move comes after six months of turmoil within the police department right outside Columbia. | Published March 21, 2025 | Read Full Story by Hannah Wade

1300 Knox Abbot Dr. in Cayce. By Tracy Glantz

NO. 4: CITY NEAR COLUMBIA HAS STRUGGLED WITH RETAIL VACANCIES. HAVE THINGS GOTTEN BETTER?

Officials for the Midlands city highlighted vacant, blighted buildings as an area to improve. Real estate agents say things are looking up. | Published April 17, 2025 | Read Full Story by Hannah Wade

The city of Cayce hired Jim Crosland as its city manager, removing the interim tag from his title nearly six months after he assumed the role. By Hannah Wade

NO. 5: 2 TOP ADMINISTRATORS SET TO DEPART FROM CAYCE FOLLOWING MONTHS OF TURNOVER

The exit of the city manager, who is leaving for a leadership position at another town in Lexington County, comes less than two weeks after he announced his upcoming retirement in Cayce and intent to stay until August. | Published May 21, 2025 | Read Full Story by Hannah Wade Bristow Marchant

Cayce Mayor Elise Partin makes a point during a meeting of the Cayce City Council on Wednesday, May, 21, 2025. By Tracy Glantz

NO. 6: CAYCE MAYOR CLAIMS FUNDS FOR EMPLOYEE BONUSES CAME FROM GRANT. STAFF DISAGREES

The disagreement over where the money came from comes amid tensions between elected officials, continuing turnover among top city staff positions. | Published June 11, 2025 | Read Full Story by Hannah Wade

The Cayce Municipal Building on Wednesday, May, 21, 2025. By Tracy Glantz

NO. 7: CAYCE PAID A MEDIA RELATIONS FIRM THOUSANDS WHEN IT HAD ANOTHER UNDER CONTRACT

Among the services the Midlands city got for its money was advice relating to public records requests. | Published June 12, 2025 | Read Full Story by Hannah Wade

A meeting of the Cayce City Council on Wednesday, May, 21, 2025. By Tracy Glantz

NO. 8: CAYCE OK’D THOUSANDS FOR TOURISM. THEN SHOT DOWN THE GROUP’S PROPOSED BUDGET

It’s unclear what will happen to the money the city allocated to the organization. | Published June 19, 2025 | Read Full Story by Hannah Wade

The city of Cayce selected Michael Conley as its new city manager, after losing two in the last year, during an early morning meeting June 23. By Provided/City of Cayce

NO. 9: CAYCE HIRES NEW CITY MANAGER AFTER LOSING TWO IN THE LAST YEAR

Cayce’s previous city manager retired then signed on to lead another town in the same county. Here’s who will replace him. | Published June 23, 2025 | Read Full Story by Hannah Wade

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.