CAMERON - The Town of Cameron will not be able to continue allowing its police chief to also serve as temporary fire chief.

During its meeting Monday night, Cameron Town Council discussed the fact that Police Chief Chris Hales has been doing double duty as interim fire chief for the town. It was noted, however, that in order for the Cameron Fire Department to receive one percent money, which is money provided by insurance companies to all the fire departments in South Carolina, the state requires that the department's annual report be signed by a permanent fire chief, with a committee in place, and is due by Dec. 31.

Council agreed to hold a special called meeting to select a new fire chief. No date for the meeting was announced.

"I appreciate what the fire department does. It's a thankless job," Councilman Johnny Wesner said.

Also during the meeting, Town Clerk Kathy Wiles said Almega Cable still has not removed all of its equipment from the utility poles in town. She said she talked to an SCE&G official who said he is willing to work with the town to get the Almega lines removed from the SCE&G poles. She said the official indicated that SCE&G is attempting some legal action against Almega.

Wesner said this is a SCE&G problem and the town should not incur any costs.

In other business:

* Wiles said she had not yet run newspaper ads for bids for renovation of Cameron Town Hall.

* The clerk said an official with the S.C. Department of Transportation told her the agency will not remove the stop sign at Old Orangeburg Road as requested by the town.

* Wiles said the power lines for the lights on the crepe myrtle trees on Boyce Lawton Drive did not work. She said she checked on installing a new underground line but that required railroad permission. Wiles said it would cost $750 to submit the 32-page application. She said she talked to CSX representative John Dillard, who said he would try to help with the cost and time. But Wiles said that the lights would not be available this Christmas.

* Hales reported 42 traffic cases were written for the month of November. The police department handled 29 calls in town for the month, he said.

* Hales said the fire department answered seven calls. He also reported that the brush truck was in the shop for repairs.

* The town's financial report ending Nov. 30 showed revenues of $5,973.30; expenses of $16,030.60; a checking account balance of $19,995.68; a fire department checking account balance of $14,083.06 and a Money Market account of $179,782.09, for a total balance of $213,860.83.

T&D Correspondent Larry P. Jordan can be reached by phone at 803-874-3276. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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