Dateline: October 5, 2006

Aldermen will review mobile home restrictions

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

The City of Clarendon will review zoning regulations in the R1 residential zone next week following a second request by Loy Davis to place two modular homes at Eighth and Leroy streets.

The Board of Aldermen had initially turned down Davis’ request because the homes fall under the description that bans trailer houses in the southwest part of town. But during last Tuesday’s city meeting, Davis showed pictures of what his modular homes would look like and pointed out that exceptions have been made to the zoning rules in the past.

Alderman Janice Knorpp recalled that the board had allowed Davis to put two modular homes at Eighth and Johns streets a few years ago and said the homes were not what the city anticipated. She said the structures look like doublewide mobile homes.

After that exception, city aldermen began turning down subsequent requests for variances to the zoning ordinance. Mayor Mark White reminded the board of this and said some of the neighbors are opposed to Davis’ request.

Alderman Tommy Hill said he didn’t have a problem with Davis locating the homes there because the town needs more rental property, but Knorpp said people have bought and built homes in that zone with the understanding that mobile homes are not allowed.

Alderman Michael Tibbets said the city should be consistent and moved to table the issue but asked that it be placed on the next agenda. The motion carried with Alderman Hill opposed.

The R1 residential zone is bounded by the city limit on the west with the boundary running along US 287 to Bugbee Ave., then east along Third Street to Parks Street, south to Fifth Street, east one block to Jefferson, then south to Wood Ave, and then west along Wood Ave. and FM 2161 to the city limit.

Also during last week’s meeting, Herring Bank president Jerry Woodard addressed the board concerning its September 12 depository bid vote, which resulted in the city moving its deposits from Herring to the Donley County State Bank. That vote had come 2-1-1 with Aldermen Tibbets and Bobbie Kidd in favor, Alderman Hill opposed, and Alderman Knorpp abstaining. At the time, Tibbets said he felt the city should select the Donley bank because the business should be spread around and Herring had more accounts from local governments than did Donley.

Woodard said Herring Bank had served the city for eight years and helped it with equipment notes and with the tax notes to pave the streets, and he said he did not think the board’s decision was made according to the bids.

“There are two ways you lose a bid,” Woodard said. “You either don’t do your job, or you get outbid. Your decision was based on how many depository contracts the bidder has. You don’t have the right to reject or accept a bid based on criteria that are not in the bids.”

Woodard asked Alderman Tibbets how long he had been employed by Clarendon College.

Tibbets replied, “Since 1989.”

Woodard then said the situation would be like saying Tibbets had enjoyed his job long enough and that it was time to let someone else have Tibbets’ job and give it to someone with less experience but pay them more money.

Woodard is a member of the Clarendon College Board of Regents. After Woodard left the Board Room, Alderman Tibbets asked City Secretary Linda Smith to have the minutes reflect that Mr. Woodard “threatened my job at the college.”

Woodard later told the Enterprise that he was trying to make an analogy and was not speaking for the Board of Regents.

In other city business, Chris Ford received the oath of office to fill Mark White’s vacant seat as alderman. The position became vacant when White, as mayor pro-tem, succeeded the retiring Mayor Tex Selvidge.

Aldermen considered a request from the Clarendon Public Schools to help with improvements at the ball fields. The board approved spending $2,500 from the Motel Bed Tax to purchase a new irrigation system.

The second and final reading of Ordinance 364, creating the reinvestment zone for the Sonic Drive, was approved, 2-1-1, with Aldermen Ford and Tibbets in favor, Alderman Hill opposed, and Alderman Knorpp abstaining.

The 2006-2007 city budget was considered and approved with changes.