Archives for July 2015

The old Neece House at 602 Bugbee Avenue is no longer in imminent danger of condemnation after the Clarendon City Council reviewed progress at the property last week.

During the council’s regular meeting July 9, aldermen recessed from City Hall to visit the property and see for themselves what work had been done.

City Administrator David Dockery said this week that the city council felt property owner Linda Lewis had met her obligations for Phase One code compliance issues. Mrs. Lewis now embarks on Phase Two of compliance issues, which involves a three-year rehabilitation of the property.

When aldermen resumed their meeting at City Hall, the council approved a $30,500 task order with KSA Engineers for engineering services to improve drainage on Third Street, including design, topographical and boundary surveys, and bid and project administration.

The council approved a request from the Clarendon Senior Citizens Meals on Wheels program and authorized $2,000 for that program.

The council also approved engaging Foster & Lambert to conduct the city’s 2014-2015 annual audit.

In his administrator’s report, Dockery said Christi Sims had been hired as a part-time office assistant at City Hall, he reviewed the proposed budget for fiscal year 2016, and he continued discussion on a demolition plan, focusing on efforts to open a Type 4 pit at the former city landfill for possible use in disposing demolished structures.

 

Taxable sales in Clarendon have shown little growth this calendar year according to figures released by Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar last week.

The city’s July sales tax allocation dropped 7.64 percent from the same period one year ago with a monthly payment to the city of $28,027.09. Last month, Clarendon was up 8.57 percent for a June allocation of $34,897.06.

The July allocation sales tax figures represent monthly sales made in May by businesses that report tax quarterly.

In the first seven months of 2015, Clarendon has seen three months of positive allocations and four months of allocations that fell below 2014 numbers.

For the year-to-date, the city is almost even with last year with total sales tax revenues of $222,143.71, down 0.67 percent.

Hedley and Howardwick are also behind 2014 figures.

Hedley’s July allocation of $181.07 is 26.5 below the same period last year, and that city is now 15.87 percent down for the year-to-date at $3,476.75.

Howardwick’s allocation rose 22.44 percent for the month of July with a figure of $1,161.02, but that city is also behind for the year at $7,553.61, down 3.17 percent.

Statewide the comptroller said state sales tax revenue in June was $2.2 billion, down 1.4 percent compared to June 2014.

This marks the first decline in state sales tax revenue following 62 consecutive months of growth.