Dateline: September 6, 2001

City approves two abatement applications  

Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

The Clarendon Board of Aldermen announced their intentions to begin tax abatement processes on two businesses during their regular meeting last Tuesday.

Applications were presented by the Clarendon Economic Development Corporation on behalf of Bayou Medical Ltd. (Dr. John Howard and family), which plans to build a new clinic south of the Medical Center Nursing Home, and Bill Cornell, who is building a new feed and farm supply store at Second and Orpe Streets.

Clarendon EDC Director Helen Parker spoke to the board concerning tax abatement policies and guidelines. The board made changes to the guidelines and accepted them. Aldermen also voted to amend Ordinance 323 to change the identification of Industrial Reinvestment Zone #1.

Hospital District Administrator Alan Graham presented a request to have the cul-de-sac in front of the Medical Center Nursing Home designated as Medical Center Drive and to have physical addresses assigned to current and future buildings there. The hospital district will continue to maintain the cul-de-sac. The designation is for 911 and delivery purposes. The city granted the request with odd numbers on the south and even on the north to stay in keeping with city street addresses.

In other city business, the order of the code of criminal procedure for the Municipal Court was approved, and the library policy and procedure manual was tabled for review. Alderman Bob Watson was appointed to the Panhandle Emergency Medical Service Advisory Board, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s rental contract on the city radio tower was renewed.

Aldermen met for nearly an hour in closed session to discuss pending litigation relating to the animal and livestock ordinance. No action was taken.