FERRIDAY, La. — The Town Council decided Tuesday to wait to seek restitution from ex-clerks accused of stealing about $118,000 in town funds until cases against the two women have made their way through the court system.

&uot;We’ve decided to wait until they’re convicted,&uot; said Finance Chairman Billy Rucker. &uot;There’s no action for us to take at this time.&uot;

Ex-water clerk Kathy R. Green, 36, and former Town Clerk Ida W. Tolliver, 54, are bonded for $50,000 each but will have to be convicted before the bonding company pays up, Rucker said.

Tolliver and Green admitted taking town utility and tax payments for their own use between July 1998 and February 2000, according to a report Legislative Auditor Dan Kyle released March 13. The report also said Green and Tolliver credited their utility accounts and the account of Green’s sister, Lucille Wells, $2,895 even though the town did not receive the payments. But both women pleaded not guilty March 29 in Seventh Judicial District Court to charges of malfeasance and theft.

Earlier, Dorothy Ulmer asked the council to direct crews to fix a leaky fire hydrant near her Woodland Avenue home.

Ulmer said she has called the town about the problem several times. Former Water Supervisor Howard McKeel ordered parts to fix the problem but was then transferred, becoming manager of the town’s Sewer Division, Rucker said.

Mayor Odeal Montgomery told Ulmer to call Town Hall and ask a clerk to fill out a work order. &uot;I can’t promise you it will be done,&uot;&160;she told Ulmer. &uot;They have to come out and look at it first.&uot;

Council members voted to ask representatives of Diamond Disposal to attend the council’s May 9 meeting to discuss complaints council members have received about garbage being scattered by garbage pickup crews and trash not being picked up in some locations.

The council approved an occupational license for Fred Butcher, owner of Butcher’s Lawn and Garden, despite some council members’ concerns about the business being operated from Butcher’s home on Martin Luther King Blvd.

It also approved licenses for Phyllis Hamilton, owner of the One Day at a Time counseling service, to be located on E.E. Wallace Boulevard; and Ann Harris, owner of St. Anthony’s Outreach, located behind the Police Department.