Dateline: October 23, 2003

Aldermen hear new street paving plan

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

Former mayor Steve Smith presented a new paving proposal to Clarendon Aldermen during the board’s regular meeting last Tuesday.

He asked the city to consider hiring him and giving him the authority to oversee a qualified equipment operator and two laborers, who would pave streets with the city’s own equipment.

“I’ve got 31 years experience with the highway department, and I think I’m capable and willing to help the city.”

Smith said he would not do the job for less than $25,000 per year and said he could get an equipment operator for $12 per hour, which would amount to $24,960 per year.

The usability of city equipment would have to be determined, and it’s likely that some additional equipment would have to be purchased.

Smith said to pay for his proposal, the city could assess each property owner for their portion of the paving or could issue approximately $1 million in bonds.

There would be no curb and gutter work under Smith’s proposal.

Aldermen asked Smith to put his proposal in writing along with cost estimates and bring it to the next board meeting.

In other city business, the aldermen unanimously approved Ordinance 346, which amends Ordinance 343 to clarify garbage rates for customers outside of the city limits.

The first reading was held for Ordinance 347, which would increase water, sewer, and garbage rates.

During budget negotiations last month, the board had tentatively agreed to raise water rates by $2 per month, sanitation charges by $1.80 per month, and sewer rates by $5 per month. But last week, Alderman Michael Tibbets came out against the proposal.

“I’m not in favor of this sewer rate,” he said. “It’s too much.”

Other aldermen reacted in disbelief with Aldermen Bobbie Kidd, Janice Knorpp, and Mark White saying that Tibbets had come up with that rate himself during the budget process.

“I didn’t vote for it,” Tibbets said.

“You probably didn’t,” White retorted, “but you set it when we discussed it.”

Tibbets restated his new position that the rate was “too high,” and Knorpp sarcastically replied, “Well, that’s just wonderful.”

During the September 15 meeting at which the rates were tentatively set, Tibbets had said, “I don’t mind raising rates,” and afterward he said the proposed increases totaling $8.80 per month were necessary.

“We have to have this for other things – like our sheriff’s contract – and not just the streets,” he said at the time.

Ordinance 347 was approved 4-1 on the first reading with Tibbets voting against the measure. It will face a second reading at the next meeting.

Also at last week’s meeting, Morris Crump addressed the board and requested that Collinson and McLean Streets be closed between Eighth and Tenth Streets. The board took no action.

City Secretary Linda Smith was selected to continue as the city’s funds investment officer with City Administrator Sean Pate as advisor.

County Judge Jack Hall presented a joint resolution for emergency management between the city, the county, and the cities of Hedley and Howardwick. The board approved the resolution.

A resolution calling for a public hearing on the proposed Reinvestment Zone #5 was discussed and approved. The reinvestment zone is the first step to allow taxing entities to abate property taxes for the new motel being constructed at US 287 and SH 70 North.

New members for the Clarendon Economic Development Corporation Board were discussed, and the board voted 3-2 to re-appoint Myles Shelton and Jerry Woodard and also appoint Sherol Johnston to the board. Aldermen Hill and Tibbets voted against the appointment but said they had nothing against any of the those three appointees. They said they thought appointment should have been determined by secret ballot and included it the names of Alan Fletcher and Cindy Shelton, who were also discussed.

Bob Watson’s resignation from the CEDC board was accepted with regret. Sherol Johnston will take his place.