The citizens of Ehrhardt will have a water system “ that will last many, many years,” Tom Bowles an engineer with (AECOM) told members of the Ehrhardt Town Council at their March 15, town council meeting.

Bowles said that the residents of the town will be “pleased” with the higher pressure they will receive from the new system that raised pressure 15-18 feet. In giving an update on the three-part project, he noted that new line construction was “almost complete”, the new 100,000 gallon water tank is being used to supply water to the existing tank and the installation of the water meters is “proceeding at a pretty good clip.”

It was also noted during discussion of the new water system that the new water meters can be read electronically and connected with the town’s billing software, which should eliminate the human error in reading meters. It was also noted that 110 new services have been added to the system.

In other business:

• Mayor Bill Stanley said that town officials recently met with Representative Bakari Sellers and Senator Brad Hutto in seeking funds for a proposed health clinic in the town, but were unable to secure those funds at this time. The mayor said letters “asking for help” have also been written to Santee Cooper CEO Lonnie Carter and to SCANA. “Hopefully between the representatives and the companies, we can get some help to refurbish the building and do what’s needed.”

• Council members approved on second reading entitle only the following ordinances: No.2011-01 Tampering with Town Owned Water Meters, which was noted relates to (water meters only and not gas or electricity.); Ordinance No. 2011-02 which prohibits the consumption of alcoholic beverages on certain public and private areas. Public Safety Chief Chad Dilling said he had received some questions about the beer wagon during the week of Schuetzenfest. Chief Dilling said the area where beer is sold is blocked off and patrons must stay in that area and Ordinance No. 2011-03 which relates to the Careless Burning of Combustible Matter. Council members agreed this ordinance was not about preventing the burning of trash, but was “strictly about negligence.”

• Council members approved renewal of an agreement with Southern Software Company for software related to the town’s water bills and water meters for $2,650 per year. “When I call them they do help me,” Town Clerk Teresa Smith said of the company.

• During the public works department report it was reported that for the month of February the department collected $15,152.69 and $7,529.62 in March with 12 customer’s having their service cutoff during the time period.

• In the public safety department report Chief Dilling reported the fire department had received several calls for brush fires due to the dry weather. The Chief cautioned residents not to burn yard debris on windy days. In the police department report it was reported the department made the following case files for the month: trust passing, stolen golf cart, pointing a firearm, larceny of a nail gun (which was recovered in Barnwell), thief of diesel fuel and false alarm.

Chief Dilling also reported following a three-week investigation by the Ehrhardt Police Department with the assistance of the Colleton Co. Sheriff’s Office three suspects have been arrested and charged with the theft of a golf cart belonging to an Ehrhardt Citizen of Mill Springs Road. Arrested were: Leonardo Javon Stephens, 18 of 1581 Community Ave Smoaks, David Robert Smith, 26, of 565 Little Swamp Road, Smoaks and Travis Koger, 27, of 288 Able Road, Walterboro.