EHRHARDT -- With traffic ticket revenues at only 23.64 percent of budget projections for fiscal year 2003-2004, Ehrhardt Mayor Billy Stanley instructed Police Chief Steve Dunn to improve the situation during Monday night's regular Ehrhardt Town Council meeting, stating, "We need to do something about that."

"We'll write more tickets," Dunn said.

The town had budgeted $44,200 in ticket revenue for 2002-03 and had only collected $10,449 through March 31 of this fiscal year. Town Administrator Scott Neely explained that the budget figures were based on previous years' revenue collections.

The town has also transferred $25,000 from its general fund to the public works department during this fiscal year to keep the department solvent, mainly because of past due water bills.

Stanley requested that Neely begin preparing a report each month that includes amounts billed for town water, amounts collected and amounts delinquent.

The mayor noted that, accounting for collection of past due amounts, public works collections should exceed amounts billed, and in his review of the March, 2003, collections, the amount collected was less than that billed.

The council also approved $2,500 to pay for technical assistance needed by Neely to prepare the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System report for the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. Ehrhardt is on a five-year cycle for the report, and Neely explained that there would be more technical information required to complete it for this cycle, and he needed the assistance of an engineer to properly complete the report.

Council also approved the sale of a half-acre lot owned by the town located on Highway 64 West. The town will advertise for bids and reserve the right to accept or reject any bids proffered.

Councilwoman Sara Caldwell objected, saying, "We shouldn't be selling our property; we have so little of it."

Caldwell also addressed the issue of overgrown lots and dilapidated buildings in Ehrhardt.

Police Chief Dunn noted that there was an ordinance on the books concerning unkempt lots and "if you'll tell me which properties, I'll send them a letter."

During public comments, Ehrhardt resident Diana Varn expressed appreciation for the efforts of council in keeping Ehrhardt Elementary open.

Stanley noted that "the benefits more than offset whatever damages may have been done" from losing school district jobs.

"I have the names and phone numbers of the school board members, and we need to call them, except Dr. (Dale) Padgett," Caldwell said. "Our supporters are Greg Bamberg, Sherry Seigler and Mr. (Donald) Mallory ... and I believe Mr. John Bamberg as well."

Caldwell went on to say, "It's my understanding that Dr. Padgett will present a motion (during the next scheduled board meeting on May 26) to close the school."

The Ehrhardt school issue also brought forth heated remarks from Councilman Willy Campbell, who said, "He (Brab McCully) put out some very negative things about Ehrhardt and Andrew Jackson (Academy) that didn't need to be put out."

Campbell's comments referenced remarks made by McCully at a called trustee meeting on May 13.

"He's against me, and I'm against him," said Campbell, who instructed the police chief to "please feel free to write tickets. You know what I mean."

T&D Correspondent Phyllis A. Overstreet can be reached by e-mail at paoverstreet@aol.com.

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