Archives for July 2011

Mandatory water restrictions are in place for citizens of the City of Hedley following a July 7 meeting of the Board of Aldermen there.

Mayor Dusty Wilkinson said his board put rules in place after receiving word from Greenbelt Water Authority about the low level of the lake and learning that the Red River Water Authority, which buys water from Greenbelt, had placed mandatory restrictions on its customers.

Greenbelt is currently in Stage Three of its drought contingency plan, which calls for its member cities – Clarendon, Hedley, Childress, Quanah, and Crowell – to voluntarily reduce water usage by 30 percent.

So far, Hedley is the only member city to enact mandatory restrictions, and Mayor Dusty Wilkinson says his city is doing the right thing.

“Water is the most precious resource we have,” Wilkinson told the Enterprise. “If
it’s gone, we’re gone.”

Minutes from the July 7 meeting were not available at press time, but City Hall said the rules went into effect July 11. Mayor Wilkinson said he’s only received one comment from the public about the measures and that person said it should have been done a long time ago.

Hedley’s mandatory rules are as follows:
1) Outside watering utilizing sprinklers or irrigation systems will only be allowed on Monday and Thursday, However, no watering will be allowed between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Hand watering only will be allowed on Sundays.
2) No washing of vehicles, boats, RV’s or driveways is allowed.
3) Customers with livestock tubs must maintain the float systems in good repair to alleviate any overflow.
4) Swimming pools must be maintained to reduce evaporation and water loss due to flushing.
5) All commercial and other known high water users are asked to reduce usage and prevent waste.
6) Watch for leaks and notify personnel at Hedley City Hall immediately if one is found.

Violators will be given one verbal warning. After the warning has been given a fine of $50 will be charged to your water bill every time you are caught violating the rules.

The City of Clarendon will hold a public hearing next Tuesday evening, July 26, at 6 o’clock to discuss drought contingency planning and regulating water usage.

The hearing will be held at City Hall immediately before a called meeting of the Board of Aldermen, during which city leaders are expected to take action on a drought plan for Clarendon.

“We’ll be considering a plan that provides for action,” City Administrator Lambert Little told the Enterprise.

City Hall last week published guidelines for citizens to follow as the city tries to reduce water consumption by 30 percent. Those rules are only voluntary now, but may become mandatory next week.

During last Tuesday’s regular city meeting, aldermen met with Greenbelt Water Authority General Manager Bobbie Kidd, who said the lake entered Stage Three of its drought contingency plan in May and will likely hit Stage Four – Severe Water Shortage – on about August 8.

Kidd told city leaders it was time for everyone to be think about how they use water in the face of the shortage.

“We’ve always done as we pleased and have had enough to do that,” Kidd said. “Now we’re just going to have to be smart. Don’t water during the heat of the day. Water at night, for example.”

If the lake enters Stage Four, member cities like Clarendon and Hedley will have allotments of water and may be financially penalized for using more than their allotment, but Kidd said he hoped it wouldn’t come to that.

“Voluntary measures are a lot better than trying to force people to do something,” he said.

Looking to the future of the reservoir, Kidd said water authority has engineers studying the reliability of Greenbelt Lake, the availability of water in the Red River, and possible alternative sources of water.

“Three years ago, Greenbelt drilled some test wells and did more drilling last winter,” Kidd said.

Information from those test will be included in a report engineers are expected to make to the Greenbelt board in October.

Kidd said right now Greenbelt Lake is still holding about 4.5 billion gallons of water.

The city’s voluntary water usage rules are as follows:
1) Limit outside watering to twice-a-week and then only before 10 a.m. and after 7 p.m. Residential customers with odd-numbered street addresses should water on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Even-numbered addresses should water on Thursdays and Sundays, and commercial customers should water on Tuesdays and Fridays.
2) Limit washing motor vehicles, motorbikes, boats, and other vehicles at home to before 10 a.m. or after 7 p.m. on your designated watering day, and then use a bucket and/or hand-held hose with a shut-off nozzle. Commercial car washes are exempted.
3) Avoid filling swimming pools except during the above hours.
4) Avoid operating ornamental fountains unless necessary to support aquatic life or if equipped with a recirculation system.
5) Do not water-wash driveways, sidewalks, or other hard-surfaced areas. Do not wash down buildings or structures except for immediate fire protection.
6) Repair all leaks as soon as possible, and report any leaks or unauthorized usage to City Hall. Night and weekend emergency leaks should be reported to the Donley County Sheriff’s Office at 806-874-3533.

In other city business last week, the board received a Chamber of Commerce update from Chamber President Charlie Smith, who reported on June activities and the July Fourth celebration. Mayor Larry Hicks said he thought the celebration went off very well with the exception of a not having a grand stand or public address system, but also said he did not see any sign that the Chamber was re-organizing.

“It doesn’t seem you’re doing anything to get back in our good graces, and we want to
support you,” Hicks said, referring to the city’s withdrawal earlier this year of Chamber funding totally $20,000 annually.

“We haven’t been able to get together to have a meeting,” Smith replied.
Aldermen also considered a request from the Saints’ Roost Museum for Motel Bed Tax funds for the Col. Charles Goodnight Chuckwagon Cookoff and approved $5,000 for that event.

In his administrator’s report, Little informed the board that he believed Alderman Kyle Davis had missed three meetings and may therefore be disqualified from service.
He also said that Charles Deyhle’s term was expiring as the city’s representative on the Greenbelt Water Authority Board. Aldermen will consider those positions at next Tuesday’s called meeting.

The City of Clarendon is asking citizens to help meet a 30 percent reduction in water usage as the Greenbelt Reservoir nears a Stage Four drought condition.

As the Enterprise went to press Tuesday night, the Board of Aldermen were preparing to meeting to discuss adoption of an ordinance to include provisions for mandatory water use restrictions as well as setting penalties for those who do not comply with the law. Any action on that item will be posted on ClarendonLive.com and reported in next week’s print edition.

City Administrator Lambert Little told the Enterprise that preserving the city’s drinking water had to be a priority for all citizens.

“This is a critical time for the City of Clarendon and all Greenbelt water users,” Little said.

“I am certain that the citizens appreciate the seriousness of our water shortage. I know that all citizens will do their parts to achieve a 30 percent reduction of water use without the imposition of harsh penalties.”

Renee Betts at Greenbelt Municipal & Industrial Water Authority said the reservoir was at a depth of 48.91 feet on Tuesday morning, less than one foot away from Stage Four and dropping.

“Everyone needs to conserve water anywhere they can,” Betts said. “Quit watering the street would be a good start.”

City Hall had several recommendations for reducing water usage that were going before the Aldermen Tuesday night:

1. Limit outside watering to twice-a-week and then only before 10 a.m. and after 7 p.m. Residential customers with odd-numbered street addresses should water on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Even-numbered addresses should water on Thursdays and Sundays, and commercial customers should water on Tuesdays and Fridays.

2. Limit washing motor vehicles, motorbikes, boats, and other vehicles at home to before 10 a.m. or after 7 p.m. on your designated watering day, and then use a bucket and/or hand-held hose with a shut-off nozzle. Commercial car washes are excepted.

3. Avoid filling swimming pools except during the above hours.

4. Avoid operating ornamental fountains unless necessary to support aquatic life or if equipped with a recirculation system.

5. Do not water-wash driveways, sidewalks, or other hard-surfaced areas. Do not wash down buildings or structures except for immediate fire protection.

6. Repair all leaks as soon as possible, and report any leaks or unauthorized usage to City Hall. Night and weekend emergency leaks should be reported to the Donley County Sheriff’s Office at 806-874-3533.