Dateline: February 22, 2007

New City Hall facility being considered

Clarendon officials discussed building a new City Hall on Kearney Street during their regular meeting last Tuesday.

The new building would provide for expanded office space, additional storage, a larger chamber for board meetings, better handicap accessibility, a community storm shelter, and an emergency command center with radio equipment and a backup generator that would double as an office for the City Superintendent.

“I think it would be great,” said Mayor Mark White. “It would tie in downtown, and it would be more accessible for everyone.”

White said the city is looking at funding the project through a US Department of Agriculture program that lends cities money at low interest for up to 40 years. USDA representative Clyde Jenkins told the Board of Aldermen that the agency’s current interest rate is just over four percent.

City Secretary Linda Smith likes the idea of a new municipal building but said the project is just in its earliest stages.

“I don’t know if it will happen or not,” Smith said. “It’s a good idea, but it may not happen in my lifetime.”

The new City Hall would be located on the southeast corner of  Fourth and Kearney across the street east of the Post Office. The city purchased the undeveloped property in May 1995, and it has mostly been used for parking and occasional festivals.

White said the property, which is next to the city’s main storm canal, would be built up one foot to guard against flooding.

Dimensions for the new building have not been set, but Smith said, “It would be pretty big.”

The current City Hall was built in 1918 and is in need of several repairs, which has led city officials to conclude that it would probably be cheaper to build a new facility.

“It needs updating, and it would be cost prohibitive to remodel,” White said.

Smith said the board had not yet discussed what to do with the 1918 building, which also houses the fire department, if the city offices were moved out. She said it would likely be turned over to the fire department but would still be owned and insured by the city.

The board also discussed revitalizing downtown during last week’s meeting. Jenkins told the board that the state department of agriculture has a downtown revitalization grant that could provide between $50,000 and $150,000 in matching funds.

Assistant City Clerk Jeannie Molder is working with Jenkins to pursue funds for both projects.

In other city business, aldermen heard from Connie McKinney regarding the condition of the 200 block of Sims Street. The thoroughfare carries a lot of water off US 287 and is in persistently bad condition. The city agreed to look into what could be done to improve the street.

The board approved a request from Johnny Treichel to sponsor the Clarendon College Invitational Judging Contest this spring in the amount of $3,500. The event is expected to bring in as many as 2,300 people to the city March 31.

The board voted to order an election to be held May 12 for the purpose of electing the mayor and two aldermen. The terms of Mayor Mark White and Aldermen Bobbie Kidd and Michael Tibbets are expiring.

The board considered and modified the employee policy manual with regards to sick leave and vacation leave.