City intends to raise sanitation charges

The Clarendon Board of Aldermen voted to raise garbage rates during their regular meeting last Tuesday, September 24.

The increase comes after several budget workshops in which aldermen realized the city’s sanitation department was operating in the red, according to Mayor Pro Tem Mark White. That department is supposed to be a revenue producer for the city.

“It ought to at least break even,” White said, “but it was short several thousand dollars.”

The board approved a motion by Alderman Tommy Hill, seconded by White, to raise the garbage rate by $1.80, but the increase may not be official yet. Board consultant Colby Waters said this week the city is looking into whether the increase must be enacted by ordinance. If so, the board will have to adopt an amending ordinance to change the rate.

The city intends to have the increase take effect with the November bills.

Also last Tuesday, the aldermen conducted a public hearing on the 2002-2003 municipal budget. The same budget was later approved in the regular meeting.

The Municipal Court contract with Judge Jimmy Johnson was discussed. Johnson reported increased activity in the court coming from the Sheriff’s Department. Seventeen Class C misdemeanors were filed in municipal court last year. As of last Tuesday, 43 had been filed for the month of September this year.

The aldermen approved Johnson’s contract with no changes from last year. The city will pay Johnson $10 per case and an additional $25 for every case that goes to trial.

Depository bids were discussed and reviewed. The board voted 3-1 to accept the bid of Herring National Bank. (Alderman Michael Tibbets voted “no,” and Alderman Janice Knorpp was absent from the meeting.)

The board reviewed bids for health insurance and accepted the bid from First Care on a 3-0 vote. (Tibbets abstained)

The board voted 3-1 to amend the 2001-2002 budget for the Clarendon Economic Development Corporation (Tibbets abstained) and also voted 3-1 to approve the CEDC’s budget for 2002-2003 (Tibbets against).

The appointment of a new board member for the CEDC was discussed, and the aldermen voted to appoint Roger Estlack to that position.