City takes action against property

Dateline: July 19, 2007

City takes action against property

The Clarendon Board of Aldermen took action last week to clean up a piece of property that has long been an eyesore and a detriment for the properties around it.

City leaders heard from neighbors in a public hearing who complained that the property at 107 E. Front was infested by ticks, fleas, mice, and rats. Citizens also complained that the residents at that address were frequently seen defecating and urinating outside.

Michael Rhinehart spoke on behalf of the neighbors and said the entire neighborhood was deteriorating because of the condition of the property. He also said that people tend to dump garbage at that location when the citizen’s convenience center is closed.

City officials said Adult Protective Services have been called in on the case to move the residents.

Following the public hearing, the board voted unanimously to declare 107 E. Front as a health hazard, a public nuisance, and a dangerous structure. Clean up on the property is to begin immediately.

In other city business, Lauraine Paul addressed the board concerning a Quiet Zone for the railroad through town. She said train whistles are a nuisance and said the railroad doesn’t provide any service to the community as it did years ago. The city would have to request the Quiet Zone for a half-mile inside the city limits and would be responsible for certain signage related to the zone.

Mayor Mark White said he’d like to hear input from other citizens before the city takes action on a Quiet Zone.

Paul also discussed stray animals in her neighborhood, particularly stray cats and people who board strays. The city has an employee who is also the animal control officer, Stormy Mayberry, who responds to calls when needed. He said he would see about alternative trapping methods to help get control of the situation.

Carl Draper presented a Citizen’s Participation form to address the board since he wasn’t on the agenda. He said he is paying for three Dumpsters and only wants one. He said he’d like the others picked up so that he wasn’t paying to haul other people’s trash. City officials will check to see that no one else is paying for the Dumpsters; and if not, they will be picked up.

MaryRuth Peacock also presented a Citizen’s Participation form. She sought Motel Bed Tax money to pay for advertising a Wind, Water, & Wildlife Festival on July 24. The board said it could change the city’s ongoing radio campaign right away, and a called meeting was set for later last week to approve funds for newspaper ads.

City Clerk Jeannie Molder reported that the North Plains Iris Society donated 100 hybrid irises for City Park, and the bulbs were planted by a visiting missions group of the Methodist Church.