City will amend animal ordinance

A new animal ordinance remains on hold this week as Clarendon officials draft changes to the law to make it more pleasing to livestock owners.

Clarendon Aldermen voted 4-1 last Tuesday to delay implementation of Ordinance 340 for fifty days to give themselves time to amend the law. Alderman Bob Watson voted against the delay.

City Hall was crowded during the meeting as opponents and supporters lined up to speak to the Board of Aldermen.

City Attorney James Shelton spoke against a proposal to have a general nuisance ordinance take the place of Ordinance 340, saying it would be difficult to make it all-inclusive.

“I recommend that if we’re going to have a livestock ordinance, it needs to be just that,” Shelton said.

Citizens on both side of the issue addressed the aldermen. Livestock owners expressed concerns about he space requirements and permitting process called for by Ordinance 340, which was passed in April. Meanwhile, non-livestock owners stated flatly that they did not want livestock kept in town.

“I just think its ridiculous to have to come before the council,” said Sue Hardy. “I just don’t think they [livestock] should be in the city.”

But other citizens talked about livestock as their livelihood, and some said they had purchased certain properties in the city because of the barns or facilities already on that land.

Following the public comment, Alderman Michael Tibbets moved to pass an ordinance repealing the livestock ordinance. Alderman Tommy Hill seconded the motion, but the motion failed when Aldermen Janice Knorpp, Mark White, and Bob Watson voted against the measure.

Tibbets then moved to delay Ordinance 340 from taking effect for 60 days. That motion failed in the same manner. Alderman White moved for a 30-day delay with a second by Knorpp, but Tibbets, Hill, and Watson voted against that measure. The 50-day delay was reached as a compromise.

A work session followed the vote whereby aldermen, the city attorney, and citizens gathered around the table to try to reach an agreement palatable to all concerned. General consensus seemed to favor eliminating the per head license called for in Ordinance 340 and reducing the space requirement for animal pens from 1,000 square feet to between 300 and 500 square feet.

A final draft of the new proposal is to be presented at the next city meeting.

In other city business, a public hearing was held regarding the submission of an application for a Texas Community Development Program grant. No questions or comments were made at the hearing.

City Superintendent Jim Roberts updated the board on the need for a new trash truck as the old one is costing too much in repairs. A new truck should cost about $100,000.

Mayor Tex Selvidge presented a new Public Comment Policy for city meetings, saying he wanted some format to hold discussions. The policy, drafted by Board Consultant Colby Waters, calls for citizens to sign in and specifies that individual comments will be taken at either the beginning or the end of the meeting. When speaking, citizens are asked to state their names and limit their remarks to three minutes. Any alderman can call on a citizen to speak at any time, and the Mayor, with the consent of the aldermen, can allow people to extend their remarks. The policy emphasizes the board cannot take action on items which are not on the posted agenda.

The board voted unanimously to adopt the public comment proposal.

The aldermen voted 4-1 to contract with Merriman & Barber to engineer Phase I of the street improvement project. That phase includes only repair and seal coating of existing streets. Alderman Hill voted against the measure.

The board voted to appoint Will Thompson to fill the unexpired term of Dee Dee Autry on the Clarendon Economic Development Board.

A request by Howardwick Mayor Billy Woods to allow his city to dump mattresses, furniture, and similar items at Clarendon’s Three Feathers Recycling Center was approved. The City of Howardwick will have to pay the regular rates for dumping.

Rabbit Osburn addressed the council and requested a loading zone in front of his business on Kearney Street. The board approved that request.

The Clarendon Outdoor Entertainment Association requested funds from the Motel Bed Tax to advertise the Saints’ Roost Celebration activities. No action was taken because the city has already spent 60 percent of the available funds, which is the legal maximum in a fiscal year. The board discussed the need to set aside money for COEA in next year’s budget since it is a known annual activity.

The property at 107 E. Front St. was discussed, and the board voted to clean up the property again.