Archives for March 2002

The City of Clarendon donated $5,000 to the restoration of the Donley County Courthouse when city aldermen met last Tuesday, March 12.

County Judge Jack Hall and Donley County Historical Commission Chairman Jean Stavenhagen addressed the city and asked for support.

Hall presented a history of the 1890 building, describing it as a center for everything that has gone on in Clarendon and the county for over 100 years.

Stavenhagen addressed the ongoing fundraiser to finish the project and said the community had been good to support it.

“We have had very good verbal support,” she said, “but now we need money.”

Aldermen voted to take the money from the Motel Bed Tax fund, which is set aside for projects that promote tourism and advertise the community.

In other city business, the board discussed the dumping fees at the Three Feathers Recycling Center. The committee of Aldermen Mac Stavenhagen and Mark White proposed allowing citizens to use three paid water stubs to dump one trailer load of trash. The board approved the motion with Alderman Billy Jack Land voting against the measure.

The taxation of travel trailers in the city limits was discussed. Alderman Bob Watson moved to exempt such property, but his motion died for lack of a second. Other board members felt that it would be unfair to tax cars, leased vehicles, and boats but then exempt travel trailers.

The budget was amended to appropriate funds for the CDBG Water System grant and to raise the Fire Marshall’s salary.

Alice Davis was appointed to serve as presiding judge of the upcoming May municipal election. Linda Smith will serve as early voting clerk, and LeAnn Marcum will be deputy clerk.

A fine from the TNRCC related to arson at the recycling center last year was discussed. The board voted to spend the $1,250 on a supplemental environmental project rather than send the money to Austin. Board consultant Colby Waters will look into different projects and present those options to the city.

Resolutions were passed pursuant to the city’s participation in development grants.

Librarian Carolyn Blackerby asked permission to hire a temporary employee to fill in as needed. The board approved this request.

City Superintendent Jim Roberts reported equipment problems and said the city will need to look at replacing a trash truck before long.

The Howardwick Board of Aldermen met in regular session March 12.

The taxation of travel trailers was discussed. Paula Lowry and Neva Spier of the Donley County Appraisal District explained the issue to the board, which voted to exempt travel trailers in Howardwick.

All Howardwick residents with travel trailers will have to apply for an exemption with the appraisal district every year. The forms are available at Howardwick City Hall or the appraisal district office. Exemptions for 2002 need to be filed before April 30. Individuals who fail to file for the exemption will be taxed.

Fire Chief Joe Zeyen reported his department is applying for a FEMA grant to purchase new radios for the trucks and the personnel.

Dorothy Arnold and Peggy Cockerham were named judge and alternate judge for the May municipal election. Winnie Permenter was appointed as election clerk.

Alderman Nancy Davis reported the city is looking for a grant to purchase a new weather warning siren.

By Carrie Helms, Clarendon Enterprise

Clarendon and Hedley school districts stand to lose almost half a million dollars in state funding if appeals to the state Comptroller’s office are not successful.

Each year the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts conducts a study to estimate the total taxable value of all property within each school district to determine how several billion dollars in school aid is to be distributed.

This year, the state’s property valuation and the Donley County Appraisal District’s valuation differ by over $2,781,000 in the Hedley district and almost $10,600,000 in the Clarendon district.

“When the Comptroller determines from its study that Clarendon CISD’s taxable value is higher than the local values, it causes the district to receive less funding from the Texas Education Agency,” Clarendon’s Superintendent Monty Hysinger said.

The difference would mean the loss of approximately $400,000 in Clarendon and $100,000 in Hedley not only for the 2002-03 school year, but also for 2003-04.

 “According to the state, property values are much higher because of the utilities,” Hedley Superintendent Bryan Hill said. “They think we should be getting more money from those companies, so the state doesn’t have to give it to us.”

Both districts have filed an appeal with the Comptroller’s Office to try to prove that the state’s estimate is in error and the districts should be assigned its local estimate.

“This problem is not unique to us,” Hill said. “We are being represented by a man who works specifically with this kind of issue. He says it’s been happening all over the state for years.”

 Paula Lowrie of the Donley County Appraisal District said that if the appeals are unsuccessful, both schools are within their rights to file suit against the state.

“We believe our values are correct,” Lowrie said. “Both schools have successfully appealed in the past, and the state adjusted to our estimate.  We feel that means our values are right.”

Fundraising efforts for the Donley County Courthouse restoration received a boost last week when the Clarendon Economic Development Corporation (CEDC) pledged $15,000 to the project.

The CEDC board unanimously approved the funds at their regular meeting last Tuesday. County Judge Jack Hall and Donley County Historical Commission Chairman Jean Stavenhagen discussed the project, and board members were given a tour of the work going on inside the building.

The funds will be split up with $7,500 being contributed now and another $7,500 to be given in October.

Stavenhagen hopes the CEDC’s donation will spur other people and organizations to contribute.

“It really may open the door to other people realizing the project does have community support,” she said. “It’s the biggest donation we’ve had so far, and it’s important that it came from a local source. It really will give us a boost.”

CEDC President Bob Watson was impressed with the work.

“The woodwork is going to be beautiful, and it will be something Donley County can be proud of,” Watson said. “We’d like to encourage everyone to support this project.”

The CEDC board believes the restored courthouse will be an economic asset to the town and will boost heritage tourism.

“It will definitely improve economic development in Clarendon by being a tourist attraction,” he said. “There’s a tremendous number of people who travel to look at historical places, and Clarendon and Donley County both have a lot to offer.”

The CEDC’s contribution nearly doubled the funds donated to the project. Other contributions as of Monday afternoon totaled $16,649 with citizens, organizations, businesses  giving anywhere from $5 to $2,000.

The local historical commission is trying to raise $400,000 to complete the courthouse restoration and reinstate work that had to be deleted due to budget constraints. The commission hopes to raise $75,000 locally and solicit the remainder from foundations.

Those wishing to help with this project may send a donation to Donley County Courthouse Preservation Fund, PO Box 825, Clarendon, TX 79226

Community organizers met last Tuesday to begin making plans for the annual Saints’ Roost Celebration on July 4, 5, and 6.

For the first time in several years, the main activities will be held on July Fourth, which falls on Thursday this year. The Craft Fair, the Old Settlers Reunion, and the Parade will all be held on July Fourth.

Official word was not available at press time, but members of the Al Morrah Shrine said they would probably hold their annual barbecue the same day as the parade.

A change for this year calls for merging the kiddie parade back into the regular parade instead of holding it on a different day.

Details are still being worked out, but the plan calls for the kids to join the lead of the parade for approximately one block downtown then pull off to the side where they can watch the rest of the parade. This prevents Kearney Street from being blocked off for two days and hopefully will provide a larger crowd to see the kids on their bikes and tricycles.

On Friday, July 5, the Downtown Ministry Center will host a Depression Luncheon, and a stick horse rodeo is also being discussed for that day.

Henson’s annual Turtle Race will be held on the afternoon of Saturday, July 6.

The Clarendon Outdoor Entertainment Association is planning to hold a 30-man bull riding contest, a wild mare race, and a calf scramble on July 4th. The Ranch Rodeo will be held Friday and Saturday nights with dances to follow both nights.

Businesses in Clarendon and Hedley bucked the statewide trend in January and posted gains in sales, according to information from Comptroller Carole Keeton Rylander.

The comptroller’s office Friday delivered $271.3 million in monthly sales tax payments to Texas cities, counties, transit departments, and special purpose taxing districts. Sales tax allocations to local governments are down 2.4 percent compared to the $278.2 million paid in March 2001. So far this year, local sales tax allocations are down 0.2 percent compared to the first three months of 2001.

But locally, the cities of Clarendon and Hedley saw significant increases in their sales tax rebates. Clarendon’s rebate grew more than 60 percent from $8,819.10 last year at this time to $14,112.46. Hedley’s sales tax rebate jumped from $35.70 in March 2001 to $285.93 this year.

March sales tax rebates include local sales taxes collected in January and reported to the Comptroller in February.

January sales pushed Clarendon’s year-to-date rebate total to $57,702.91, an increase of 3.73 percent. Hedley’s year-to-date total is down less than one percent.

Another local city did not enjoy increases this month. Howardwick’s rebate dropped 43.94 percent to $489.55 and is down nearly 26 percent for the year.

Statewide, Rylander sent March sales tax rebates of $181.9 million to 1,115 Texas cities, down 1.8 percent compared to March 2001.

 Donley County Commissioners enacted a county-wide burn ban during the court’s regular meeting Monday.

The ban prohibits the burning of trash, controlled burns, and open pit fires but does not include barbecue grills.

The ban will remain in effect until the court’s next session and may be extended if dry conditions continue. Violators will be prosecuted.