City fires employee for theft

A Clarendon city employee was terminated last week and will face fines in municipal court for theft of city services.

Disciplinary action on public works employee Nathan Jaramillo was the subject of an hour-long closed session during last Tuesday’s meeting of the Board of Aldermen.

When the board reconvened in open session, aldermen voted unanimously to fire Jaramillo.

Sources have told the Enterprise that Jaramillo was discovered to be bypassing the city water meter at his house. Mayor Larry Hicks said following the meeting that the city would pursue action against Jaramillo in municipal court.

Disciplinary action on Public Works Director John Molder was also discussed in the closed session, and the board voted to require him to get supervisory training.

In other city business, aldermen approved purchasing a new trash truck at a total cost of $184,618.

City officials also discussed regulating eight-liner gaming devices. Mayor Hicks said deputies had asked the city for help in the form of an ordinance on the subject, and City Secretary Machiel Covey presented draft rules based on a Childress ordinance.

Alderman Doug Kidd said he was not in favor of any part of the proposal. “If they are breaking the law, the law can take care of it,” Kidd said.

Alderman Will Thompson said he was “on the other side of the fence” compared to Kidd.

The board took no action on the subject.

The board also took no action on water rates in the city. City Hall is still working on a proposed new tiered rate system that would protect low usage customers from the rate increase and possibly bring some rate relief to small commercial customers. A proposal will be before the board on April 24.

Molder reported progress on the Fifth Street waterline project. He said city crews were ready for taps to be made at Collinson Street and Bugbee Avenue ahead of laying six-inch line. The project will also include replacing two old fire hydrants along the line.