Dateline: February 6, 2003

Aldermen choose engineering firm

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

The Clarendon Board of Aldermen last Tuesday approved a proposal naming OJD Engineering, Inc., as the city’s designated engineer on future projects.

The agreement calls for OJD to provide planning, design, and implementation engineering services on as as-needed basis. A separate contract will be required for each project.

In other business at the city’s regular meeting, engineer Che Shadle reported on the progress of street work to be done under an NRCS grant. Shadle discussed the need for easements along Thurman Avenue in order to improve drainage on that area. The letters have been approved and should be signed by February 5.

Walt Knorpp addressed the board regarding the old TxDOT buildings and offered to donate the same to the city. The board voted to accept the donation of chain-link fence material but, at a called meeting on Monday, declined the offer of the building. Alderman Janice Knorpp abstained on both votes.

Also last Tuesday, City Superintendent Jim Roberts reported the Texas Workforce Commission has a program where they pay for people to work for the city for 30 hours per week. The TWC would cover salary and insurance costs. He also reported that the city has obtained a bus to transport prisoners here from Childress to work here once a week.

Roberts also said the property at 107 E. Front had been cleaned up and the old house had been demolished. Work was scheduled to begin last week on the property at 312 E. Sixth.

Gordon Maddox presented the audits for the City of Clarendon and the Clarendon Economic Development Corporation. Both were approved.

Jim Douglas presented a CD slide presentation of images from Clarendon and Donley County. He sells these to the Highway 70 Association so people can see what this area has to offer.

Dee Dee Autry spoke to the board regarding a donation to the Texas Prairie Rivers marketing plan. The board approved spending $217 from the Motel Bed Tax fund.

The board also met last Thursday in a called session to discuss hiring a city administrator. No action was taken during the work session.

Topics of discussion included duties an administrator would be expected to perform and qualifications the city would like to see in applicants.