The Denmark Police Department (DPD) recorded a very busy year in 2012, according to a report given by Police Chief Leroy Grimes at Monday night’s December 17th, city council meeting. According to the report, that covered a period between January 1, 2012 and December 17, 2012, the DPD created 994 new cases. The department wrote 1,267 citations that included 69 DUS cases, 16 uninsured vehicle cases, 61 traffic collisions, (which Chief Grimes noted was quite a large number for a city the size of Denmark) 41 vehicle license violations, 16 disorderly conduct cases, seven reckless driving and 61 cases for disregarding a stop sign and traffic lights.

In the area of speeding tickets, DPD officers wrote 490 tickets to drivers going from 1 to 10 miles per hour over the limit, 140 tickets to drivers going 10 to 25 miles per hour over the limit and only seven tickets to drivers going 25 miles per hour over the posted limit. In the area of arrests, the DPD arrested 153 subjects. Arrest include 15 for simple assault, 13 for criminal domestic violence (CDV), 12 for possession of controlled substance and nine for shoplifting…etc.

Chief Grimes reported that Officer Michael Wilson resigned his employment on December 14, 2012, and Lamont James a native of Bamberg will start his employment with the department on December 31, 2012.

Also during the meeting, in the financial report city finance director Rusty Munoz reported that for the first five months of the fiscal year July 1st-November 30th, “everything was pretty much as expected and things are looking very well,” for the city. Munoz noted that revenues and expenses were on schedule. Council members gave their approval to the 2012 auditor’s report that given at last month’s meeting.

Fire Chief Charles Breland report the Denmark Fire Department had a “relatively quiet” month. The department responded to two structure fires, two false alarms, one grass fire, one mutual aid to Bamberg, one auto fire and worked a wreck with EMS. All total the department responded to eight calls. The department presently has 24 members, which includes a newly certified firefighter.

Department of Public Works general manager Cedrick Hudson reported the department repaired 13 water leaks during the month. He noted that the city received its water citation report from DHEC and was “still addressing” some improvement needs listed on the report. Hudson also noted that the city had applied to the South Carolina Rural Infrastructure Bank for a $350,000 grant to replace some of the city’s water lines. It was noted during discussions that it would cost between four and five million dollars to replace the entire city’s water lines.

In his administrator’s report, in a follow up on the water survey report from DHEC, City Administrator Heyward Robinson reported that the city, “has been making improvements and doing better.” Robinson noted the report showed the city made improvements to (Satisfactory Levels) in the areas of: record keeping, sample site plans, maintenance, operational control, staffing (which was noted could be attributed to the hiring of a fulltime director) and “most importantly” corrections to the previous survey.

In his mayor’s report, Mayor Gerald Wright noted that in keeping with last year, when several citizens were recognized for their part in keeping the city clean and others for their holiday decorations the following citizens were recognized for this year: Mr. & Mrs. James Broxton; Mr. & Mrs. Willie Jefferson and Rev. & Mrs. Frank J. Davis. Mayor Wright also recognized The Advertizer-Herald Staff Reporter/Sports Editor Jerry E. Halmon for serving as City of Denmark Christmas Parade Grand Marshal and being named Bamberg County Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year.