WESSON — The board of aldermen approved a $400,000 budgetMonday for the 2002-2003 fiscal year beginning next month.

Few questions arose as the aldermen present for the specialcalled meeting reviewed and approved the budget. Aldermen LuraGreer and David Douglas were absent.

The main area of concern was the water department’s budget,which included an increase in revenue over last year due to a hikein water fees earlier this year.

Aldermen questioned whether the increased rates are needed toallow the board to put 10 percent in savings, a requirement bystate law.

“We’re going to put a little more than 10 percent into a cd(certificate of deposit) at the end of the year,” said Mayor BillTigner.

If it appears there will be much more than 10 percent left over,the board wants to review the fees to see if they could bedecreased some.

“We will review it this winter,” said Tigner.

In other discussion, board members noted some of the majorexpenditures for next year, including computer upgrades and two newvehicles.

“If there’s any bad news (about the budget) it’s that we’re notgoing to end as strong as we did this year, but we have moreexpenses,” said Tigner.

The proposed budget shows the town finishing about $20,000 inthe black for next year. Tigner expects the town will finish thisyear with a surplus of $32,000.

After the budget was approved with a motion by Alderman HollisCowen Jr., and a second by Alderman Robert Derrick, the boardaddressed the matter of property on Main Street owned by BobbyLumley.

Lumley and his attorney were expected to appear before the boardMonday to make a decision on what to do with the run-down building,but they were not present for the meeting.

“My recommendation to the board is that if we don’t hearanything by the deadline (Tuesday) that we have our attorneycontact his attorney to let him know we are moving forward,” saidTigner.

Aldermen voted to proceed with the tearing down of the buildingif no further developments arise Tuesday.

In other matters, Tigner mentioned that the junk car ordinancewas now being enforced by the police department. Chief Lance Falveysaid he already had officers issuing warnings to give people achance to take care of any junk car situations.

Another ordinance issue was brought up by Roy Smith, whodisagreed with the strong consequences for disobeying the burnordinance adopted a few months ago. Smith said the ordinance wastoo hard on citizens because they are required to get a permitbefore each burn.

“I burn almost every day from now through the fall,” heremarked.

Tigner said the board was open to suggestions, and wouldre-address the ordinance at the next board meeting, which is 7p.m., Oct. 1.