Firefighters from White Lake will be able to breathe a bit easier, thanks to a federal grant announced at Tuesday's town council meeting.

The White Lake Volunteer Fire Department has been approved for a $13,194 grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The grant will be used to purchase new breathing systems for the department.

The grant is administered through the U.S. Fire Administration, a division of FEMA, and must be matched by a ten percent donation from the department.

In other business, the town council approved a voluntary water conservation resolution, but tabled a mandatory water-saving plan.

The voluntary measure is similar to those passed by towns throughout the county, and suggests ways residents can save water during periods of drought.

The mandatory ordinance, which I similar to that passed last week by Elizabethtown, requires residents to take some of the same steps as the voluntary measure. Violators can be fined.

"The summer season is over," said Mayor Goldston Womble, "so we aren't in a real big push right now. Still, we need to seriously consider effects of the drought on our wells."

Among other rules, the mandatory ordinance would restrict outdoor water usage to certain days of the week.

During peak water usage times, such as holidays and weekends, outdoor water usage would be tightened.

Commissioner Don Smith told the board he felt the lawn irrigation restrictions in the mandatory policy should be clarified, if not changed entirely.

"That's going to mess up some of our people who are only here on the weekends," he said.

The mandatory ordinance will be discussed at a future council meeting.

--30-

--30--