City Aldermen discuss water system issues

The Clarendon Board of Aldermen discussed issues facing the city’s water distribution system when engineer Clayton Scales presented early findings of a $25,000 study.

Scales, representing KSA Engineers, found several causes of concern including the east side of town being fed only by one eight-inch line connected to Greenbelt’s main 14-inch line. Scales said a long forgotten plan from 1981 would have addressed that and other issues but was never acted upon, possibly due to a lack of funding at the time.

KSA’s assessment includes a computer model that can run the city’s waterworks through a variety of simulations. Scales said the model shows that under peak flow situations, some parts of town do not have the proper water pressure. Replacing the old standpipe on the east side of the city with a taller one would make the whole system work better, he said.

Scales said red water experienced by some citizens is due largely to cast iron pipes that are releasing iron into the water, and he recommended replacing those lines as the best way to eliminate the problems.

The engineers continue to gather information about the water system, including problems being experienced by citizens, and will present a more detailed report at a future date.

In other city business, Phyllis O’Keefe asked the city to remove dead trees from the right of way in front of her house on Collinson Street, but the board took no action, noting that there would be no end to the expense if the city started caring for trees in the rights of way.

Fred Gray addressed the aldermen and asked them to think carefully about any inclination they might have regarding ending City Administrator Lambert Little’s employment. He said prominent citizens do not favor such an action and asked the council to consider all possible consequences of dismissing Mr. Little.

City Secretary Machiel Covey and Little reported on meetings that they had attended, and the board authorized Little’s attendance at the 100th annual Texas Municipal League in Grapevine later this year.