Orangeburg’s Department of Public Safety has received a grant that will pay for two officers to target drunk drivers. City Council accepted the grant during its meeting Tuesday.

The $149,848 Highway Safety Grant from the state Department of Public Safety will be used for two full-time officers, with salary and fringe benefits, plus two vehicles and equipment.

They will be used as an advanced DUI enforcement team. No local match funds are required.

“They will certainly add to our patrol units out there on the street,” said City Administrator John Yow.

In other business, council:

* Unanimously re-elected Councilman Bernard Haire as mayor pro tem.

* Moved the start of the Dec. 1 session up an hour, to 6 p.m., to allow council to attend a choir event at Stevenson Auditorium.

* Received as information, an announcement from the mayor that tickets to the South Carolina State University football game on Saturday are available at half-price, or $15, for blocks of ten. The promotion is designed to encourage attendance in hopes that Orangeburg will be chosen as a site for playoff games.

* After discussion in closed, executive session, authorized the administrator to negotiate and enter into contracts for dental/vision insurance. Council’s action rescinds a previous authorization of a $198,082.80 contract.

In an effort to minimize escalating costs, council approved contracts for new plans with different providers.

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