Dateline: March 20, 2008

Judge Jimmy Johnson defends city court

The City of Clarendon will keep its municipal court after Judge Jimmy Johnson explained to the Board of Aldermen the need for the office during last Tuesday’s city meeting.

The court had come under scrutiny in recent months after a decline in traffic citations brought the operation of the court to only a break even level.

City Secretary Linda Smith asked Johnson to explain to the board why the city needs his office. Johnson replied that city ordinances would have to be re-written in order to be enforced because a county justice of the peace cannot handle city cases.

Johnson also said that, because of precinct lines, most hot check cases would have to be heard by Judge Ann Kennedy in Hedley. And, he said all revenue from prosecuting tickets in the city and from hot checks would go to the county.

Mayor Mark White asked Johnson what the city did before the creation of the municipal court, and Johnson said it couldn’t do anything.

The board thanked Johnson and took no action, meaning the court remains intact as it is.

In other city business, city engineer Che Shadle addressed the board concerning the Community Development Block Grant, and he advised the city not to order the pressure tank for the current waterworks project until the city has heard from the Office of Rural Community Affairs regarding a grant to replace the west water tower with a new standpipe.

Shadle said if funds are allocated for the standpipe, the city would probably scrap the pressure tank and use funds within the waterworks project grant to prepare the system for the new standpipe. The city will first have to wait for official 2008 CBGD allocation before it can proceed. That grant has already been tentatively approved, but official approval will not be received for a few weeks.

Shadle also said some patchwork remains to be done on the paving project but has been hampered by weather. And also concerning streets, it was noted that the city has set aside $20,000 to pay for seal coating this year with a focus to be put on fixing streets that can be saved.

Prices at the recycling center were discussed, and the board decided to leave it up to the employees there since they are the ones who see the loads brought in. The board will discuss this with sanitation department head Joe Shadle at a future meeting.