City resumes talks on airport hanger leases

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

The Clarendon Board of Aldermen met in regular session June 27, 2000, at 7 p.m.

The issue of the municipal airport was taken up again. The city has been trying to reach an agreement with hanger owners regarding the lease of space at the airport.

At the previous city meeting, several current and former pilots and hanger owners had said they felt as though the city was asking them to shoulder the entire operating cost of the airport.

Last week, Alderman B.J. Land said he recognized the importance of the airport to the city but recalled that a bond election to build the airport had failed in the 1960s.

“I’m reluctant to spend taxpayer dollars on it when they voted it down,” Land said.

Alderman Bobbie Kidd responded by saying, “That was 30 years ago. You’ve got a whole new set of voters now.”

Kidd said the city has been spending tax dollars on the airport for 30 years and compared not doing so to charging for the use of the City Park.

“You might as well put a quarter slot on the swing set,” Kidd said.

The board approved a motion to look up the history of the subject for review and discussion with the renters and to place the matter on the next agenda. The motion carried.

In other city business, the board voted to remove Alderman Kent Womack from office.

City regulations allow for an alderman who misses three meetings to be removed from the board. Womack had not attended a meeting since March 28, 2000.

The board approved a motion by Land, seconded by Alderman Mac Stavenhagen, to appoint Michael Tibbets to fill the remainder of Womack’s term, which will expire next May.

The Mason and Hanger agreement was discussed, and the board voted to stay with the original agreement. Mason and Hanger has a lightning detector at the city airport.

The utility ordinance was discussed and adopted. The ordinance sets the current fees for water, sewer, and sanitation charges. No changes were made to the schedule of fees.

Librarian Carolyn Blackerby reported on the technology grant that was awarded to Clarendon ISD. The library will be getting some new equipment under the school’s grant.

“I’d like to commend the participants of the grant writing team for the hours they put in and the work they did for the benefit of  the community,” said Mayor Tex Selvidge.

Engineering firm proposals were reviewed for the application for the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs program. The board selected McKae Engineering to do the work.