City nears completion of looping project

The City of Clarendon is close to completing a project to loop water lines on the south side of the city, according to a report made to the City Council’s regular meeting March 10.

City Administrator David Dockery said the project ties lines along Browning Blvd. from Carhart Street to Parks up to Barcus and then west to Bugbee Avenue.

“This will help take care of the biggest part of the red water in that part of town,” Dockery told the council. “I want to compliment the public works crew for accomplishing this job while stilling taking care of their usual tasks.”

Public Works Director John Molder also spoke on the looping project, agreeing with Dockery that the works should “just about alleviate the red water” and noting that the city is receiving good water from Greenbelt.

“We’re delivering a good product with bad lines,” Molder said, referring to cast iron lines that were put into service early in the 20th century.

Dockery also reminded the council of the Town Hall meeting that will be held Tuesday, March 29, in the Bairfield Activity Center at 7 p.m. to discuss further improvements to the water system at a cost of about $4 million through a USDA grant/loan program.

In other city business, the council opened sealed bids on a city-owned hanger at the Smiley Johnson Municipal Airport. John Morrow bid $1,200 on the hanger, and Gary Campbell bid $1,203.99. The council accepted the high bid.

Aldermen also discussed the bylaws and articles of incorporation for the Clarendon Economic Development Corporation. Mayor Larry Hicks said discrepancies had been discovered in how the CEDC is operating compared to what the bylaws actually call for. The chief discrepancies are a requirement in both the bylaws and the articles of incorporation that requires board members to be residents of the City of Clarendon and a provision in the bylaws setting the date of the regular monthly CEDC meetings.

City officials say the bylaws need to either be followed or changed to fit current practice. The CEDC will discuss the bylaws at its next meeting.

Also at the March 10 meeting, Aldermen gave final approval to Ordinance 451, finishing the process of closing a portion of Fourth Street west of Collinson Street.