Archives for August 2002

The Clarendon Board of Aldermen last Tuesday moved forward with a plan for a citywide clean up to be held in September.

Dates for the clean up were set for Friday, September 13, and Saturday, September 14, in order to have the town clean for homecoming and the Chuckwagon cookoff the following week.

The aldermen are planning to allow city residents to have free dumping privileges at the recycling center during the clean up. A water bill will have to be shown to get the privilege.

The board is also considering allowing city personnel to help pick up and haul loads of trash on September 13. No action was taken, however, and this issue will be taken up again at the next regular meeting.

In other city business, Donna Hicks gave the annual report for the Local Housing Authority and asked the city to do something about the trash and debris in the 200 block of N. Jefferson Street. Eyesores at that location and on N. Sully Street make it difficult to find renters for the apartments in those neighborhoods.

The board agreed to send a letter to those residents to be followed up by a letter from the city attorney if the property is not cleaned within 10 days.

Theresa Shelton addressed the board on behalf of the Bronco Boosters and asked for permission to paint horseshoes or hoof prints on Bugbee Avenue and asked for the city to declare Fridays as Bronco Days to help promote school spirit. The board agreed to both requests.

Sheriff Butch Blackburn spoke on the city’s contract with the county for police protection. Blackburn proposed increasing the contract from $100,000 to $120,000 with the same services or increasing to $140,000 with enforcement of city ordinances and all Class C or lesser misdemeanors being filed in municipal court.

Blackburn said he was trying to raise his deputies salaries and said his department has four officers with advanced certificates. He is the fourth lowest paid sheriff in the State of Texas.

The board took no action on the contract until the 2002-2003 budget could be prepared. Alderman Janice Knorpp expressed concern that the existing contract already calls for ordinance enforcement.

The board accepted a bid for a new trash truck from Amarillo Truck Center in the amount of $92,652 at 4.5 percent financing and also accepted a bid for a new backhoe from John Deere in the amount of $42,626.

Proposals for engineer services were considered for the 2003-2004 TCDP grant program, and the board voted to go with Brandt Engineering of Amarillo.

The drug and alcohol policy for city employees was discussed. Board consultant Colby Waters will check on the policies of other cities.

The 2002-2003 budget was discussed, but no action was taken. The tax rate for the coming fiscal year was also tabled.

Services were held here Friday for Dr. Richard L. “Rip” Gilkey, a man who had served the people of Donley County as their family doctor for nearly 40 years.

Gilkey died in Amarillo last Wednesday, August 14, 2002, at the age of 72.

During his life, Gilkey was recognized as a public servant and as a gentle man with a healing touch. His colleague, Nurse Onita Thomas, said in a 1996 interview that it was Gilkey’s extra touch and the wink of an eye that made him a favorite of the people he treated.

“He is kind and caring, and he knows everybody’s family and treats the person as a family member and not just as a statistic,” she said.

Gilkey himself looked upon his relationship with those he treated in terms of friendship.

“I don’t have patients. I have friends,” Gilkey said in a 1996 interview. “I want them to think of me as a friend.”

Indeed, that was exactly how the community thought of him. His comments were echoed Friday as the Methodist Church filled with the friends Gilkey had made over the years, and Pastor James Ivey Edwards recalled how each Sunday, Gilkey had greeted him saying, “Hello, my friend.”

Former local pastor Terry Tamplen also spoke of the doctor’s sense of humor, his love of his family, and his love of learning.

“You can’t yearn for yesterday,” Gilkey told his interviewer. “You have to stay current with the times.”

Gilkey, who was born in Garnett, Kansas, and raised in Topeka, retired in 1996 and reflected on his career with no regrets.

“I’m most proud of the fact that I have been able to be a family practitioner in a small town and [to] practice quality medicine and do the thing I love doing,” he said. “I believe I’ve made a contribution to my community.”

Gilkey also had a record of public service. He was on the Board of Regents of Clarendon College for 22 years and served as its chairman for four years.  He served as Clarendon’s mayor in the late 1960s and was very active in the First United Methodist Church of Clarendon, where he served as Chairman of the Administrative Board and in many other capacities.  One of his favorites was the Kairos Prison Ministries.

In 1997, the Clarendon Chamber of Commerce named Dr. Gilkey recipient of the Saints’ Roost Lifetime Achievement Award.

Beyond his devotion to his community and family, he enjoyed piloting airplanes. He served as flight surgeon in the Navy and was assigned to the Marines.  He was a member of the Texas Flying Physicians Association, serving as Secretary-Treasurer.

Survivors include his wife, Jane, of 39 years; four children, Melinda McAnear and husband, Ronnie, of Clarendon; Tina Putnam and husband, David, of Austin; Jim Moore and wife, Karen, of Albuquerque, New Mexico; and John Moore and wife, Cathy, of Waxahachie, Texas; nine grandchildren; and three great grandchildren.

Texas Comptroller Carole Keeton Rylander delivered $378.8 million in monthly sales tax payments to local governments last week.

So far this year, sales tax collections in Texas cities were lower. Local rebates this month were mixed as Clarendon and Hedley were down, and Howardwick was up.

Clarendon’s rebate was  $23,702.80 for the month, a decrease of 6.8 percent from last year. Hedley was down 39 percent to $547.24. Howardwick’s rebate rose 3.7 percent to a total of $1,107.50.

For the year-to-date, statewide city sales tax rebates are down 1.3 percent compared with 2001.

August sales tax rebates include local sales taxes collected in June and reported to the Comptroller in July.

Two Donley County citizens told the Commissioners’ Court Monday to raise their taxes if that is what it takes to give local deputies a pay increase.

Appearing before the court to support the sheriff’s department, Jim Cockerham said he was concerned about the low salary situation.

Donley County deputies gross $18,680 annually, out of which is taken more than 14 percent for payroll taxes and retirement benefits, according to the sheriff’s office

“We’ve got a good sheriff and a good sheriff’s department,” he said, “but we’re going to lose some of these people to more lucrative salaries.”

Donley County officers are among the lowest paid in the state.

Cockerham urged the commissioners to set priorities in the next budget year and to do “anything” to raise deputies’ pay.

“I don’t mind paying more taxes,” he said.

Paul Bell echoed Cockerham’s comments.

“These men want to stay here; they want to live here,” Bell said. “They care, and they do a good job.”

Bell said he knew other county employees needed more money also but said the deputies’ situations are different.

“This is a hazardous profession,” he said. “It can turn deadly any time. I’m not trying to put down any other position, but it takes more than a drivers license and a desire to be a deputy sheriff.”

Bell repeatedly urged commissioners to “put a patch” on a bad situation by giving deputies a raise and said the only way he knew to do it was to raise taxes.

“I hate paying taxes, but I’m willing to do it if that’s what it takes. Raise the taxes.”

Commissioners took no action on the salary question.

Also at Monday’s meeting, Donley County Appraisal District Chief Appraiser Paula Lowrie addressed the court and explained the county can levy a special tax rate for the purpose of paying its debts.

The county will make payments on indebtedness totaling approximately $173,000 during the next fiscal year. The courthouse restoration note accounts for nearly $101,000 of that figure.

Lowrie said the entire indebtedness could be covered with a special 11-cent tax rate, which she said would raise county taxes on a $50,000 home by $55 dollars. Commissioners have the option of levying the maximum of the 11-cent rate, no rate, or any rate in between.

The court asked Lowrie to calculate a rate needed for just the indebtedness on the courthouse notes.

In other county business, the court accepted a fuel bid from West Texas Gas for one year.

A road hand was transferred from Precinct 2 to Precinct 3, and the court authorized advertising for a new Precinct 2 road hand.

The Tax Office Clerk bond for Paula Garrison was canceled, and a new Tax Office Clerk bond for Vicky Tunnell was approved.

Emergency personnel had a busy day Monday with two accidents in Clarendon. No one was seriously injured in either case.

At 7:40 a.m., a tractor-trailer rig, loaded with landscaping rocks and driven by Michael Roland Hampton of Early, Texas, was traveling south on SH 70 when it failed to stop at the intersection with US 287. The truck crossed 287 onto Orpe Street and crashed through a gate at the end of the street.

The driver reportedly turned to avoid a row of trees in front of the Burlington Northern-Santa Fe railroad when the vehicle overturned, trapping Hampton inside.

The Clarendon Volunteer Fire Department and EMS with the Associated Ambulance Authority freed Hampton, and he was transported to Northwest Texas Hospital in Amarillo. Chief Deputy Randy Bond said Hampton was reported to be bruised and suffered an injured shoulder.

No citations or charges had been filed at press time. Hampton reportedly claimed his brakes had failed.

Monday evening, another accident occurred at the intersection of US 287 and Kearney.

Donley County resident David Green, age 26, was traveling west on US 287 when he was rear-ended at a high speed by a flatbed truck driven by Kerry Leon Kittrell of Haltom, Texas, according to officials with the Donley County Sheriff’s Department.

Green’s Chevrolet pickup was spun clockwise and came to rest against the Knorpp Insurance building facing east. The bed of the pickup was crushed almost to the cab.

Kittrell fled the scene, but was followed to the Western Skies Motel by volunteer fireman Robert Carmichael. DPS Trooper Chris Ward and Sheriff Butch Blackburn quickly arrived as Kittrell entered a motel room and arrested him.

Green was transported to Northwest Texas Hospital where he was treated and released.

At press time, Kittrell, age 34, was in the Donley County Jail on charges of Unsafe Speed, Driving While Intoxicated, and Failure to Stop.

By Carrie Helms, Clarendon Enterprise

Frank and Terry Hommel, owners of local restaurant Sam Hill’s Pit B-B-Q, will be facing weeks of clean up and repair work after fire damaged the building before the business opened Friday morning.

The call came in to the Clarendon Volunteer Fire Department at 9:17 a.m.  5 units and 11 men, including Assistant Fire Chief Patrick Robertson, responded immediately.

“There was heavy smoke coming from the cooker, and when they opened it to see what was going on, fire went out the door and up the wall to the ceiling,” Robertson said. “They bailed out quickly, and no one was hurt.”

The fire was out by 9:50, in time to save the building from serious structural damage.

“We might have lost the whole building,” Frank Hommel said, “but the fire never reached the attic.”

The damage inside, however, was extensive.

“The kitchen was totally gutted,” Robertson said, “and there’s heavy smoke, heat, and water damage to other parts of the building.”

The fire not only destroyed the kitchen, but several hundred dollars worth of equipment as well.

“The cash register, the TV and stereo, and the Coke machine were all just melted,” Hommel said.

Ironically, the only part of the building not damaged by smoke was the smoking section.

 “We will have to redo all of the kitchen and front dining room,” Hommel said. “The cedar ceiling planks in the dining room will all have to be replaced.”

According to the Hommels, the building was insured, but there is no word yet on how much of the damage will be covered.

“We had someone come check out how much it would cost just to clean up,” Hommel said, “and he said it would take him 4 hours just to put all the information in the computer to come up with an estimate.”

Hommel said he would be meeting with insurance adjusters later in the week to see just how extensive and expensive the damage really is.

“We have no idea how long it will take us to get things ready to reopen,” Hommel said, “but we will try as soon as we can.”

The Clarendon Board of Aldermen approved a plan to seal coat more than 30 blocks of city streets during a called meeting last Tuesday.

Engineer Gene Barber said he thinks the project will cost $160,000. City officials will meet with a financial consultant Thursday to discuss options for paying for the seal coating.

Aldermen have been discussing large scale paving project for several months, and the plan approved last week, which repairs and resurfaces several existing paved streets, is considered by the board as Phase I of a paving program.

“Money is cheap right now,” said Mayor Tex Selvidge, referring to low interest rates. “If we’re going to do something, now is the time to do it.”

Streets in Phase I include Collinson from Eighth to Clarendon Avenue, Third Street from Allen to Bugbee Avenue, Fourth Street from Koogle to Jefferson, Sixth Street from Jefferson to Goodnight, Seventh Street from Bond to Kearney, Jefferson between Seventh and Sixth, and Kearney from Wood Avenue to Sixth Street. Each of those areas will receive a double layer of seal coat.

Additionally, Cottage Street between Seventh and Fifth will receive a single layer of seal coat.

Bids for the project will be opened August 23 during a called board meeting. No time line has been given for the completion of the seal coating.

A separate paving project will also be taking place in the southeast part of town.

Under an emergency grant from the state Office of Rural Community Affairs (ORCA), 14 blocks of city streets will be paved at almost no cost to the city.

Engineer Che Shadle said half the ORCA project would hot mix construction and the other half would be hot mix with curb and gutter.

Six blocks of Thurman Avenue, located on the east city limit, will be paved with hot mix. Extensive work will be done on that road to address drainage problems in that area of town.

Paving with curbs and gutters will be done on the following streets: Wood Avenue from McClelland to Faker, McClelland from Montgomery to the alley between Fourth and Fifth streets, and Hawley Street from Barcus to Fourth.

The ORCA project dovetails with another project being funded by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), an agency of the US Department of Agriculture. Both projects were funded as a result of damaging floods in the spring of 2001.

The ORCA project will cost an estimated $300,000 with the city only incurring the cost of auditing. The ORCA work should be completed in the spring of 2003.