City purchases land for potential landfill site

Clarendon Aldermen voted to purchase land for a potential new city landfill during their regular meeting last Tuesday.

Alderman Michael Tibbets located the land southeast of the city and said the land would be the perfect location.

Tibbets also reported that the caliche and gravel found on the site would make it worth the purchase price even if the city did not pursue a landfill.

Mayor Mark White had also visited the property and supported the idea of having the city’s engineer look at the site and develop a plan to open a landfill, rather than paying to haul trash to Memphis and paying Memphis for the use of its landfill.

The board approved a motion to purchase the 160-acre tract at a cost of $700 per acre.

Tibbets said he would like to see revenue from a new landfill go first to replace monies taken from CDs to buy the land and second to supplement the city’s income in order to stave off future tax increases.

In other city business, the board approved giving $3,000 from the Motel Bed Tax Fund to the Clarendon Outdoor Entertainment Association to promote this year’s Saints’ Roost Celebration.

The board considered and approved revisions in the bylaws for the library and appointed Freddie Jo Moreman, Sharon Knox, and Gail Shelton to the library board.

The board also approved a resolution authorizing the city’s participation in the Panhandle region mutual aid agreement and adopted an e-mail and Internet policy for city employees.