DENMARK — When Denmark Administrator Heyward Robinson issued the order on June 21 to the city’s water department to cut off water service to Voorhees College, the action created quite a stir, not to mention inconvenience, at the Episcopal-church affiliated institution that has been part of the community for 109 years.

Voorhees College President Dr. Lee Monroe insists that the college was not delinquent in its water payments and that he had not been notified of the delinquency before the water was cut off. Monroe said he immediately went to city hall to correct the situation. However, he said that in order to settle the argument for the moment, he wrote a check on his personal account for $12,834.57.

Robinson said that payment “brings the college current with their water account.”

But, that’s apparently not the end of the escalating tension between the college and the city of Denmark. Robinson says Voorhees is also behind in its annual payments of $6,000 on the ladder truck the college agreed to provide to Denmark for purchasing the vehicle to protect multi-story buildings such as those on its campus. The city, however, is continuing to provide fire service to Voorhees even though it’s in arrears on its payments, the administrator said.

“Even when the water was cut off Wednesday morning, the city fire department knew about it so they could respond in case of a fire,” Robinson said.

He said someone from Voorhees came to city hall Thursday, June 22 with a check for $6,000 that covered the 2004 payment on the ladder truck. The check was signed by a Mrs. Jones and Monroe, Robinson said.

“They still owe $6,000 for the year 2005, but I am confident they will catch up,” he said.

The agreement between Voorhees and the city, dated Sept. 3, 2003, states in part: “The city of Denmark has purchased a ladder truck primarily for the protection of multi-story buildings at Voorhees College and Denmark Technical College.”

The purchase of the ladder truck was through a 10-year financing agreement with the understanding and agreement that Voorhees College would make annual payments for the purchase and maintenance of the truck.

The agreement also states: “Voorhees College agrees to make an annual payment each September for $6,000 beginning September 2003 and ending September 2011 for the enhanced fire protection that is provided by the ladder truck.”

The agreement was signed by Monroe and Mayor Carrie Simmons, who was then interim Denmark mayor.

When asked why Voorhees College made a $6,000 payment dated Sept. 20, 2002 when the agreement was dated Sept. 3, 2003, Robinson said he didn’t know because that was before he was hired as administrator. He said he’s never seen another agreement dated 2002. “Maybe it was a verbal agreement.”

Robinson said he received a letter dated June 9, 2006 from the State Budget and Control Board, signed by Frank W. Fusco, stating that the application to the Competitive Grants Committee for the city of Denmark had been approved in the amount of $60,000 for the purchase of the ladder truck.

“This amount covers Denmark Technical College’s portion of the payment for the ladder truck,” Robinson said, adding that it was through the efforts of Rep. Thomas Rhoad and Sen. Brad Hutto that this $60,000 grant was approved.

When contacted Friday, Monroe said he did not wish to make any further statement at this time and indicated the college would issue a detailed statement in the Times and Democrat next week.

-- T&D Correspondent Vic Whetstone can be reached by e-mail at vwhets@bellsouth.net or by phone at 803-793-3402. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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