Aldermen table request to close resident’s alley

The Clarendon Board of Aldermen tabled a resident’s request to close the alley behind her house during their regular meeting last Tuesday.

Jewell Judd addressed the board and requested the official closing of the alley beside her house in Block 182B.

Judd said the alley was not open but that it was not officially closed either and said only one of her neighbors was using the alley. She said she wanted it closed because use of the alley was disturbing the gravel she had put in for her driveway.

Aldermen tabled Judd’s request until they could look at the property.

In other city business, Linda Gray came before the board on behalf of the Destination Donley County tourism group to request funds from the Motel Bed Tax fund to help promote a Farmers Market on the Courthouse Square on July 30. The board agreed to provide $500 for this project.

Grant consulting was discussed, and Alderman Bobbie Kidd said he had spoken to grant consultant Kay Howard regarding disputed items the city is being required to pay related to the disaster grant from the US Department of Agriculture’s NRCS. Kidd said Howard told him that she was not the administrator for the NRCS portion of the grant and that she only administered the portion funded by the state’s Office of Rural Community Affairs, which provided the city’s match. Aldermen want to hear from Howard again personally.

The city’s Capitalization Policy was amended to increase the allotted leasehold improvements from $5,000 to $25,000 per the advice of the city’s auditor.

City Administrator Sean Pate reported increased income from the sale of recyclables with cardboard bringing $95 per ton and paper bringing $68 per ton. He also said he will get an estimate for a tower on which to mount the city’s new siren, and he discussed the possibility of adding law enforcement liability coverage to the city’s insurance at a cost of $500 per year.