Clarendon votes for bonds

Clarendon voters gave the green light Saturday to a $700,000 bond election that will fund street improvements.

The election was marked by low turnout with only 12.6 percent of eligible voters participating, but 58.5 percent of those voting favored the bonds. The final vote tally was 79 in favor, and 56 opposed, and City Hall says it will begin getting ready for the work right away.

“There is a 30-day waiting period before we can issue the bonds,” City Administrator Lambert Little said, noting the city can begin making some preparations right away.

“We need to identify utility lines that will need to be replaced before we repair the streets, particularly under Sixth Street,” he said.

The city expects to need only minor engineering work done to design curbs that will align with existing curbs and to create specifications for the seal coating and paving.

Little said the city should be able to go to bids on the project by the end of June, and he hopes to have the project completed by the end of August.

“We are going to have to do some scheduling to orchestrate this work so that we get it done while school is out,” Little said, referring specifically to the work near Bronco Stadium.

Mayor Larry Hicks was pleased with the election results.

“I think it’s going to be a great thing for the city, and I can’t wait to get started,” Hicks said.

Little said city aldermen will meet May 17 to canvass the election.

In other city business, the Clarendon Board of Aldermen met last Tuesday, May 8, and took the following actions:

• Approved a draft contract with Greenbelt Water Authority for the sale of city groundwater with the price of 45-cents per thousand gallons and sent it to Greenbelt for consideration;

• Accepted the resignation of Municipal Judge Bob Watson with regret, approved Ordinance 401 having to do with the organization of the municipal court, and tabled consideration of appointing a replacement for Watson;

• Approved $4,500 from the Hotel Occupancy Tax fund for use by the Clarendon Outdoor Entertainment Association to promote and advertise the Saints’ Roost July Fourth Celebration;

• and Approved Ordinance 400 adopting standardized international building, plumbing, electrical, and other codes for use by the city for the health, safety, and welfare of its citizens.