Archives for May 2013

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

Continued verbal sparring between an elected official and the school superintendent marked the regular meeting of the Hedley ISD Board of Trustees last Thursday evening, April 25.

Although the board itself was united on every vote it took Thursday, school trustee Karen Watt and Superintendent Bill Sanders remained at loggerheads on several issues.

Watt questioned Sanders on his mileage charges during consideration of the school district’s financial report, and later drilled the administrator over the school’s failure to ratify a Concussion Oversight Team, an item that had been on the board’s agenda several times for “discussion” but not for “approval.”

Watt quoted passages of the state education code and quizzed Sanders, who also coaches tennis, as to whether he had the required two-hour concussion training and required CPR training.

Sanders said he was capable of performing CPR if needed, and said he still had 22 months to get the concussion training, but Watt disagreed and said the concussion training had to be completed by September 2012. She then said Sanders’ failure to complete the training could jeopardize a Hedley student’s appearance at the state tennis meet.

“It’s on you,” Watt told Sanders, “if she goes to state and gets kicked out because I’m telling you it’s required.”

The board later scheduled a 6 a.m. meeting Monday, April 29, for the purpose of affirming the Concussion Oversight Team.

The board also discussed its “FDA local” policy related to the authorization of accepting transfer students when said student might require increased staff. The school had previously placed that authority with the superintendent, but some months ago the board voted unanimously to return that authority to the board.

Sanders said an advisor with the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) had recommended the board rescind that change and leave the authority with the superintendent.

Watt read a lengthy prepared statement on the topic, defending the change as a legal local policy decision and calling the fact that the policy change had not been made “unacceptable.” She also said she was “insulted” that TASB would try to interfere with the board’s action.

Sanders read a letter from the TASB representative and said the school should listen to its policy consultant.

“We have to trust somebody,” Sanders said, “and I trust TASB.”

Trustee Ted Wright said the TASB representative was supposed to have attended the April 25 meeting, but then the matter was “turned over to Bonnie Brown.” Wright, the former board president, was referring to his being ousted from the board leadership and being replaced by Brown at an April 16 meeting.

Brown did not attend last week’s meeting, and Sanders said Brown told him the board could handle the matter without TASB.

Trustee James Edward Potts said he thought the board needed TASB at the meeting, and Trustee Mark Howard said he trusted the judgment of the professionals.

The board took no action on the policy and will reconsider the matter at a May 6 meeting.

Watt then took issue with Sanders’ handling of the District Improvement Plan and presented Groom ISD’s plan as an example of what a school with a small staff can do. She specifically wanted to see changes to Hedley’s documentation of higher education opportunities at the school. Board Vice President Dana Bell directed Sanders to make the changes and e-mail the revised plan to Watt so she could review it prior to the board’s May 6 meeting.

Under personnel issues, Sanders announced the resignation of Linda Naylor, who will retire after 30 years of teaching.

The board then came to consideration of salaries for not-contract labor staff, and a short debate centered on the closed session called for on the agenda with some trustees feeling the matter needed to be discussed in closed session “for one of them.” Watt asked for representatives of The Clarendon Enterprise to look at the agenda for an opinion as to whether a closed session was legitimate, but Potts objected.

“We’re not asking the Enterprise for advice,” he said.

The board then met behind closed doors for six minutes, but Watt excluded herself from the session, saying she thought the wording on the agenda was too general.

When the board reconvened in open session, trustees voted unanimously to increase the salaries of the non-contract labor staff by five percent effective September 1, 2013.

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

The City of Clarendon will begin the process of changing zoning requirements in residential areas after a local businessman addressed the Board of Aldermen last Tuesday, April 23.

Gary Hunt asked the board for permission to build and operate storage units on land he owns along Seventh Street between Leroy and Cottage streets. He said Code Compliance Officer Jason Conatser told him the structures he wants to build in that location are allowable under city rules but that operating a business is not.

Hunt owns other storage units on the north side of US 287 and on SH 70 north of the city, but he said he has several elderly clients who don’t want to cross the highway.

Alderman Abby Patten asked if Hunt had contacted the neighbors for their opinion. He said that he had not but he was sure there would be objections, noting that he had asked for permission before and been denied.

Hunt said finding suitable commercial property is difficult and said his planned construction would generate economic activity on land that is unsuitable for residential construction due to a lack of sewer service.

Alderman Will Thompson urged the board to contact the city attorney to be sure proper procedure is being followed. The board unanimously voted to begin the process of making the change, which will require a public hearing.

In other board business, Engineer Clayton Scales presented findings of a study his firm conducted on the city’s water system. He said the city needs more elevated storage and that the new west side standpipe built in 2010 is inadequate for the city’s requirements and doesn’t provide for growth. He recommended adding a new standpipe on the east side of town and increasing the capacity of distribution lines.

Scales also said the city needs to work to replace old cast iron lines and to find a way to boost pump capacity at Greenbelt’s filter plant.

Phase One of the improvements – the new standpipe and enhanced distribution lines – would cost an estimated $1.75 million, and the engineering firm has submitted an application to the state water development board on behalf of the city.

Alderman Debbie Roberts raised concerns about workers not getting paid overtime for emergency calls at nights and on weekends if they haven’t put in 40 hours during the week. She said under city rules, if an employee is off for a doctor’s visit or vacation day and then gets called in at 9 p.m. on Friday, that employee does not get overtime, which she said was not fair. The board approved a motion to research how other cities handle this situation.

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

LaVelle’s Coffee house is the newest business on Kearney Street and the recipient of the Clarendon Economic Development Corporation’s 15th cash award under its popular Façade Grant Program.

Owned and operated by Michelle Hall, LaVelle’s opened Tuesday at 214 S. Kearney in the building formerly occupied by Eads’ Furniture & Appliance. Hall received $706.33 from the CEDC for fifty percent of the cost of signage improvements to the front of the building, which repurposed an old lighted RCA sign for the coffee house.

“The façade grant was very important to us,” Hall said last Friday before the business opened. “We already had six tourists come in from as far away as Arizona.”

Hall also completed a substantial remodeling of the old furniture store with new wall treatments, new bathrooms, and a new kitchen.

LaVelle’s features flavored coffees, lattes, and cappuccinos as well as soups, salads, sandwiches and will also offer a healthy breakfast menu.

Hall said she wants the coffee shop to be a place where people come to relax. Free wireless Internet is available, and other amenities include a pool table, a kids’ corner, and seating areas for small groups.

Since the Façade Grant Program began in 2008, the CEDC has awarded $ 17,636.93 to property owners on a three-block stretch of Kearney Street.

LaVelle’s is the first grant the CEDC has awarded since it renewed and revised the Façade Grant Program last month. The basic concept of the program remains unchanged, providing 50-50 matching grants, up to a maximum of $2,000 per project, for improvements done to commercial storefronts.

Under the new guidelines, the program will now consider properties located in the city’s entire Central Business District, an area defined by city planning maps created in 2002. Generally, that includes properties facing Kearney Street from First to Fifth streets as well as properties facing Sully Street from First to Fifth and properties on the west side of Gorst Street from Second Street (US 287) to Fourth Street.

Projects eligible for consideration could be anything from a coat of paint to new signage to a complete rehabilitation of a storefront. Property owners interested in Façade Grant funds must get approval before beginning their projects.

For more information about the CEDC Façade Grant Program, contact Chandra Eggemeyer at the Clarendon Visitor Center inside the Mulkey Theatre at 874-2421.

Early voting by personal appearance began Monday for four local governments holding elections this spring.

Balloting for the City of Clarendon and Clarendon ISD is being held at the Donley County Courthouse Annex. Howardwick residents vote for their city officials at the City Hall there, and early voting for the Hedley ISD Board of Trustees is at the school office.

In all 24 candidates are seeking offices this spring.

Clarendon Mayor Larry Hicks is being challenged for his job by Alderman Tommy Hill, and four people are running for two positions available on the Board of Aldermen. Alderman Debbie Roberts, who was appointed in December, is seeking a full term in office, and she is joined on the ballot by former alderman Janice Knorpp, Sandy Skelton, and Trevor Leeper.

Clarendon ISD has four candidates running for three positions on the Board of Trustees. Current school board members Robin Ellis and Jim Shelton are seeking re-election and challengers Linda Rowland and Chuck Robertson are also running.

Six candidates are running for two positions on the Hedley School Board. Incumbents Bonnie Walsh Brown and James E. Potts are being challenged by Michele McCann, Kevin Smith, Aaron Harper, and Lana Ritchie.

The City of Howardwick leads the candidate count at eight with David P. Cafferata and former alderman Mike Rowland running for mayor; William R. Jordan, Gail Leathers, and Jim Cockerham running for two vacant full terms on the Board of Aldermen; and Alderman Gene Rogers, Cory Longan, former mayor H.L. “Buster” Baird, and Sandy Sanders vying for two unexpired terms.

Early voting by personal appearance runs through May 7. Election Day will be Saturday, May 11.

Last Friday night, Lavelle’s Coffee Shop, located on Kearney Street, just across from the library, held an open house to introduce a new gathering place – a quaint coffee shop and bistro-style eating establishment – where folks can come together for a great meal and a wonderful cup of coffee (with tea and other drinks for the non-coffee drinkers), in a warm, comfortable environment.

Michelle Hall, the proprietor, has always wanted to be of service to others. She came by this virtue mainly by helping her mother, Rose Smith, a natural entrepreneur of many successful businesses. As a young girl Michelle spent hours working for her mother, polishing her entrepreneur skills, and developing the burning desire to be of service to others. Michelle is continuing a long held family tradition of serving others.

One of her primary reasons for opening LaVelle’s Coffee Shop was to provide a pleasant meeting place for the folks of Clarendon, offering a great atmosphere, excellent food, superior coffee, and exemplary service. She envisioned a warm place for people to meet over good coffee, good food, and good conversation. She has done that. She has created a unique dining experience for folks in Clarendon.

The name “LaVelle’s” comes from a long-established family tradition, dating back to her family’s origins in the old country of Germany. According to Michelle, the name “LaVelle” was taken as part of the name of the first-born in each new generation of the family. Michelle wanted to honor her family and pay homage to those who have gone before.

Michelle’s vision for LaVelle’s is to provide a place where folks of all ages can get together for good wholesome, family style fun and food. She wants to do something special for the people of Clarendon, and designed the concept of LaVelle’s to meet a community need that has been unmet, a place where we can come together to socialize, enjoy good food and beverages, while enjoying various activities.

LaVelle’s has a pool table that can be rented for $5 an hour. Additionally, she has many books available for reading while enjoying your coffee, along with a wide-ranging menu of breakfast and lunch dishes, including creative sandwiches, soups, and kids’ meals. There is also space available for playing games like chess, penté, and whatever board games we choose to bring along with us.

LaVelle’s Coffee Shop, a little hole in the wall place, is managed by Becky Rattan, and staffed by an energetic, well-trained group of mostly young people, each sporting bright smiles and warm dispositions.

At Friday’s sneak peak, a surprisingly large number of people (well over a hundred) gathered for a sampling of the fare offered. Alyss Simpson’s favorite menu items were the turkey and bacon sandwich and the great cup of soup. Her 10-year-old sister, Malerie Simpson, preferred the soup and chips. Actually, the entire Simpson family, including my new neighbor and long-time friend Helen, seemed to enjoy the food in a warm and relaxed environment. Samantha Wright, a precocious eight-year-old, and horse lover (she has three – Cabbage, Cisco, and Boo) waxed poetic while outfitted in her Clarendon Enterprise tee-ball tee shirt, saying that she thinks that LaVelle’s is very pretty and looks like a good place to eat.

The home-made bread pudding was a huge favorite with everyone who tried it. Other tasty pastries are available for those with a sweet tooth. All items are priced very reasonably.

Seriously, LaVelle’s Coffee Shop has a delicious menu. Michelle and her staff have done a wonderful job of creating a place where we can gather to enjoy each other’s company, good food, and good beverages.

Give LaVelle’s Coffee Shop a visit. Who knows, we may end up in a chess match or penté match while enjoying excellent fare.