The Wilmington morning star., 1942-02-26
COUNCIL ACCEPTS
FIREH0USE FUNDS
Government Grants $685.:
700 For Station In De-
tense Section

City council accepted a federal
grant of $36,700 for new fire sta
ton in the area of the five defense
housing projects in the southern
section Of the city at the Wednes-
day morning session.
The grant, which provides $780,
700 for the construction Of the sta
ton itself and $4,000 for equip
ment, was made by the Defense
Public works division of the Feder-
al Works agency.
No funds are required to be put
up by the city government.
City Manager James G. Wallace
estimated that it would take about
three months to construct the new
station and put it into service.
Councilman Edgar L. Vow pre-
sided over the meeting in the alb
sence of Mayor Hargrove Bellamy
Bids on eight new traffic lights
and on summer uniforms were open
ed and read by City Clerk James
r. Benson.
Three firms submitted bids on the
traffic lights and eight on the uni
forms. All bids, the amount Of which
was not Immediately available, were
referred to the city manager for his
recommendations.
City Manager Wallace made a
strong plea to the council for an
overall 10 per cent increase in the
salaries of the police department.
He said that the department was
now short eight men as a result OF
designations and that more men
would be lost to other organizations
in this vicinity that pay higher
wages unless something was done.
City Treasurer J. N. Brand, Jr.,
who was detailed by Mayor Bellamy
last council meeting to see if the
funds for the wage increase were in
the treasury. told the, council that
because of work on setting up the
water supply project at Kings bluff
he had not had time to investigate
to see if the necessary funds were
available.
II considered the water project
more important since did not have
time to do both," he said.
In an attempt to have some ac-
ton talian at the meeting, the city
manager asked Councilman Brand
if he could make decision from
the last monthly report on city
finances but Mr.. Brand said that
he preferred to make more thor
ough investigation.
Action was deferred until next
meeting.
The council authorized the city
manager to have IA wells drilled
over the city and existing wells re-
paired, at a cost not to exceed
$4,000, in an attempt to anticipate
another influx of salt into the mu-
nicipal water system next fall.
The system of wells, to be oper-
ated by hand pumps, will be distri-
buted over the city so that each
neighborhood will have access to
source Of salt-free water, since the
water supply project at Kings Bluff
cannot conceivably be completed by
next fall.
There's no use trying to fool our
selves because the mountain regions
back in the state are not getting
the necessary rain and if we want
to prevent another hell on earth
next fall. we've got to take action
now," the city manager declared in
asking for the wells.
DR.. Donald B. Koonce appeared
for the County Medical association
to request that some arrangement
be made whereby the doctors of the
county would be exempt from the
parking meter ordinance.
Declaring that he had paid SIS or
more dollars in fines for overpark-
ing, he said that the doctors could
not leave patients on the table to
run down and move their automo-
biles when the time limit expired
and, at the same time, to park their
cars outside the meter zones would
mean a loss Of from is to 20 min
utes in answering emergency calls.
He was told by the council that
doctors could not be exempted from
the ordinance under the law but that
the council would be glad to con-
slider any other tions
the County. Medical association
might make.
On recommendation of City Attor-
ney w. B. Campbell, the council
voted to pay $3.50 to Mrs. Edna Volk
for damages received when she
slipped and fell on an icy pavement
in front of the Carolina apartments
on January 49,, 1910. Mr.. Campbell
said that Mrs. Volk's total hospital
bill had been 1889 and that the pay
ment to her from the city plus in.
surance company settlements would
make a total award of $1,250.