Dateline: August 23, 2001

City signs contracts for PRPC services

Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

The Clarendon Aldermen approved a 13-month contract for administrative services from the Panhandle Regional Planning Commission (PRPC) during a regular city meeting last Tuesday.

The agreement calls for a PRPC employee, Colby Waters, to provide “Council Support Services” for $9,900 per year. Among his several duties, Waters will attend all regular board meetings, assist with the preparation of board agendas, and provide status reports of activities at board meetings.

Waters will also serve as an on-call technical advisor for the city; recommend ordinances, resolutions, and contracts as necessary; evaluate city insurance requirements; evaluate and potentially negotiate franchise agreements; evaluate board procedures; and keep the board informed regarding Open Meetings procedures and Freedom of Information Act procedures.

Mayor Tex Selvidge says the contract will allow the city to have the benefits of a city administrator without having to hire a person fulltime for that position.

“I think Colby can provide us with a lot of insight,” Selvidge said. “It will also give us the opportunity to decide if we really want a city administrator.”

Waters has provided similar services through the PRPC for other Panhandle cities, including Bovina and Claude.

Selvidge said Waters will have no authority over any city employees and will answer directly to the mayor and board of aldermen. The contract can also be canceled at any time with 30 days notice if either the city or the PRPC becomes dissatisfied with the arrangement.

Aldermen Smiley Johnson, Billy Jack Land, and Bob Watson voted for the contract. Aldermen Mac Stavenhagen and Michael Tibbets voted against it.

The city also approved a $3,150 contract with the PRPC to develop a personnel policy and procedures manual and a $2,800 contract with the PRPC for a review, update, and codification of local ordinances. Both contracts were unanimously approved by the board.

In other city business, aldermen approved a supplemental contract with Greenbelt Water Authority and passed Ordinance No. 336 increasing a portion of the rates of public utilities in Clarendon.

Ruth Robinson and Willard Skelton addressed the board on behalf of the Saints’ Roost Museum and requested advertising funds for the 7th annual Col. Charles Goodnight Chuckwagon Cookoff to be held     September 22. The aldermen approved giving $1,500 from the Motel Bed Tax fund for advertising.

Municipal Court Technology funds were discussed. The board approved allowing the municipal court to assess this fee. Stavenhagen voted no.

The property tax rate was discussed, and the board voted to keep the city ad valorem rate at 0.45555 per $100 valuation.

The issue of livestock located at 721 W. Eighth St. was discussed due to a complaint of a violation under Ordinance 309. The aldermen voted to have the city attorney write a letter to the owner of the property and also to the owner of the property at 618 E. Browning Blvd.

Rates for dumping at the Three Feathers Recycling Center were discussed. No action was taken.