Dateline: March 31, 2005

City begins preparing for 2005 street paving

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

The Clarendon Board of Aldermen approved the engineering contract for the 2005 street paving program when they met in regular session March 22.

The action marks another step toward paving approximately 50 blocks of city streets this year.

City Administrator Sean Pate told the board that the city should have the money from the recently authorized tax notes by the end of this week.

In the meantime, surveyors from OJD Engineering have been marking selected streets as part of the program. Stakes are being placed 40 feet apart for cutting purposes, and the backs of the curbs will be placed 4½ feet inside those markers to allow for streets approximately 30 feet wide.

Residents are asked not to move the stakes and to be advised that the stakes do not mark the edge of future paving. Space between the stakes and the new curbs will be backfilled.

Also, city crews have begun ripping the old pavement on Collinson Street as a precursor to paving in the coming months, and other streets will be ripped and prepped as the project gets nearer.

In other city business, the board approved Ordinance #355, canceling the May 7, 2005, election and declaring all unopposed candidates duly elected. Alderman Michael Tibbets abstained since he was one of those candidates.

Dee Dee Autry addressed the board on behalf of the Bar H Dude Ranch and asked for $480 from the Motel Bed Tax Fund to attend the Texas Travel Councilors Show, where the Bar H would promote all of Donley County and the annual events in Clarendon in particular. The board approved the request.

Pate advised that the City of Childress had declined to help with local propane inspections. The board decided to check with a local plumber to see if he could perform the inspections.

The board approved a bid on tax delinquent property in the North Ward community.

Aldermen approved the setting up of funds in a pooled account as recommended by city auditors.

Alderman Tibbets suggested the city contribute $150 to a charity in memory of former sheriff Jimmy Thompson and also suggested that Thompson’s widow receive a letter expressing the city’s gratitude for her husband’s 20 years of service to the community. The mayor directed Pate to carry out Tibbets’ request.