NORWAY - Norway officials are considering disbanding the town's police department.

Mayor Brad Fogle, in presenting the town's proposed 2009 budget for first reading at Monday night's Norway Town Council meeting, said the police department is currently costing the town more money than it's generating.

Norway currently does not have a full-time police department and is not seeking a full-time officer at this time, Fogle said. The town's proposed spending plan for 2009 allocates $152,500 for the police department.

"We have been discussing the possibility of not having a police department for several months. Right now, we only have a part-time officer and although he works very hard, the police department is actually costing the town at this point. I prepared this proposed budget, but I want everyone to understand that we may decide to disband the department completely," Fogle said. "And, if we approve the budget tonight, it is with the understanding that we may amend this budget during the second reading in January, or we may decide not to have a police department at all."

He said $131,100 is proposed for the general fund, and $212,700 is projected for the public works department.

Fogle said he would appreciate anyone who wanted to help review the budget to obtain a copy from Norway Town Hall.

"The money in this budget comes from the citizens of Norway, and everyone needs to have the opportunity to have input. We need to cut some $20,000 from the general fund and public works' proposed budgets," he said, "and I am open to suggestions."

"We are in a recession," the mayor added. "Money is tight, and things are going to get worse before they get better. We have bills that must be paid, but we also have to be realistic about the rest of the budget. We have to tighten our belts."

The council gave first-reading approval to the proposed spending plan.

Second reading of the budget will be held at the council's January meeting at 7 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 5. A date for a public hearing on the spending plan has not yet been announced.

Also during the meeting, Fogle announced Norway received an $80,000 grant from the S.C. Budget and Control Board that is earmarked for water and wastewater.

Jimmy Thomas, supervisor of the water department, reported that he has already planned how some of the $80,000 could be used to benefit the Town.

"First," he said, "we must do something about the water tanks. They need to be cleaned and repaired and level indicators attached. I have received two bids so far and will keep Council updated on them. We also need to have our aerator wiring repaired, and we need an asphalt/concrete saw."

Councilman Greg Covington asked if the town's wells could be serviced and used to help offset some of the cost of buying water from Orangeburg's DPU. That idea is being looked into, it was noted, and a more complete report will be presented in January.

In other business:

* Thomas reported that several water lines were repaired and that employee Willie Freeman is continuing to flush the water lines to maintain water quality. He also said the sand filter in the system need to be replaced. In addition, Thomas said the chlorine tablets the town has been using are not working as well as they should be and the system is using more tablets than originally anticipated. "Since S.C. DHEC has never approved the tablets for our system because of the system's design, I suggest that we try using chlorine gas again," he said.

Council agreed to take the matter under consideration and review it again in January.

* Thomas said the ammonia levels in the system were rising, although they are still within the safe parameter, and that he is monitoring the situation.

* The mayor Fogle reported progress is being made on cleanup of property belonging to the estate of the late Geraldine Boltin.

T&D Correspondent Sherryl M. Peters can be reached by e-mail at boykinbaby@timesanddemocrat.com. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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