Dateline: July 31, 2003

City looking into flood control program

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

The Clarendon Board of Aldermen is seeking more information following a presentation on a federal flood management program.

Weldon Sears with the local NRCS office described the program during last Tuesday’s regular city meeting. If Clarendon qualifies, federal funds could be obtained to build or work on flood control structures which could benefit city property owners.

Any project would have to show a direct agricultural related benefit, and federal funding would cover 75 to 90 percent of the project cost with the remainder coming from the city.

Sears said there is a long waiting list for communities to be approved for these funds, but the first step is for his agency to conduct a feasibility study to see if Clarendon qualifies.

Mayor Tex Selvidge asked Sears to check on the cost to the city of the feasibility – if there is any – and report back to the city.

In other business, the GreenLight Gas franchise contract was discussed, and aldermen voted to change the agreement so the city receives its franchise fees quarterly rather than annually.

Bids were reviewed for the paving to be done in southeast Clarendon under the NRCS emergency disaster grant. The city accepted the low bid of $245,537.25 from J. Lee Milligan.

Members of the Friends of the Library addressed the board concerning the resignation of Carolyn Blackerby and expressed their view that Blackerby had done an outstanding job. Mayor Selvidge expressed his regret over the situation.

“Our decision was not to not pay her more money but to wait until October 1 when the budget starts,” Selvidge said. “We’re not just jumping with joy here.”

The board voted 4-0-1 to accept Blackerby’s resignation with regret. Alderman Tommy Hill abstained.

Patrick Robertson addressed the board concerning a letter received by his father, Delbert Robertson, about property needing to be cleaned up north of the Fire Hall. Robertson said his father had asked for more than ten days to clean up the property but had been denied by the city administrator. He said the junk vehicles on the property belong to the city. He said his father provides two buildings for the fire department’s use at no charge and provides other services to the city at no charge.

Robertson said no one disagrees with the effort to clean up the city, but he said his father deserved better treatment than to receive court documents and said the administrator had handled the situation poorly.

“You’ve got a big problem in this city, and he’s sitting at the end of that table,” Robertson said, pointing to City Administrator Sean Pate.

Mayor Selvidge defended Pate saying Robertson’s problem wasn’t Pate, it was the ordinance which prescribes ten days to comply. Alderman Bobbie Kidd also defended Pate and said he was doing just what he was supposed to do.