Dateline: February 2, 2006

City may limit trucks on residential streets

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

The Clarendon Board of Aldermen last week drafted an ordinance that, if approved, would prohibit heavy trucks and vehicles from driving or parking on residential streets.

The subject first came up three weeks ago when Alderman Michael Tibbets aired a citizen’s concerns that semi-trucks could tear up the city’s new paving when completed.

During last Tuesday’s regular board meeting, the board first considered a ban on heavy trucks on all city streets, which they defined as weighing more than 20,000 pounds. But concerns about deliveries related to agricultural production and deliveries to local businesses caused the board to narrow its focus.

The ban as it is now proposed would apply only to the R1 and R2 residential zones, which includes most of south central and southwest Clarendon, as defined by a map on the last page of this week’s Enterprise.

Exceptions would be made for moving vans, trucks or vehicles involved in permitted construction, or vehicles accessing an agricultural facility.

The ordinance will be considered for a vote at the next regular city meeting on February 13.

In other city business, Joel Wright presented the 2004-2005 audit on behalf of Dosier-Pickens and made some suggestions regarding how better to track certificates of deposit, municipal court fines, and sales tax allocations for the economic development corporation. The city received a clean report, and the board accepted the audit.

Fire Marshal Kelly Hill addressed property at 422 W. Third and said the structure there is both a health and a safety hazard. The aldermen suggested the mayor contact the Donley Appraisal District to see if the property could be put up for sale for back taxes in order to avoid the city incurring the cost of demolishing it.

City engineer Che Shadle addressed the board concerning a seal coat project proposed by OJD Engineering. Shadle said his firm is still waiting to see how many cities will be involved to set a price on the seal coating, but they are estimating $2 per square yard or less.

Shadle also spoke concerning a groundwater monitoring plan at the city’s wastewater treatment plant. The city will use a plan from 2001 and will use existing water wells for required monitoring every six months.

Aldermen also discussed with Shadle the progress on the 2005 paving project. The board expressed its frustration over the pace of the project with some aldermen questioning when the proper time would be to start charging the contractor.

The board reviewed the city’s employee policy and procedure manual and will take this topic up at a future meeting.

City Secretary Linda Smith reported that filing begins February 11, 2006, for this year’s municipal election. She also reported that a citizen had asked if speed bumps could be put between the baseball fields on Jefferson Street, but the board did not feel this was necessary since cones could be erected during games.