City Hall fixes could hit $200k

Clarendon’s City Hall may have to be significantly remodeled to meet the conditions of USDA funding for a water system improvement project, the city council learned during their regular meeting last Thursday, December 8.

In order to bring the 1918 building into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the city could have to spend between $100,000 and $200,000, City Administrator David Dockery told the council.

The administrator tells the Enterprise that ADA compliance for City Hall never came up as the city prepared to apply for federal funding for an upcoming $3.9 million water system improvement project, despite years of planning and USDA officials being in the building during that time.

It wasn’t until USDA officials were in City Hall in September to formally announced that the project was being funded that ADA compliance came up, Dockery said.

After that, the city spent $950 for a complete ADA evaluation of the building which came up with a list of issues ranging from bathroom facilities to office doors to counter heights to meeting space. Now more money must be spent to draw up specific plans for how to address the issues.

The concerns focus entirely on the first floor offices used by the city. The building’s second floor, which has no handicapped accessibility, is used by the fire department, and the basement is primarily used for storage.

Dockery says for the money the city is looking at, it may be better to close the current municipal building and build a new City Hall.

Nothing has been decided at this time. The city is asking for more information from USDA, and the government agency itself wants to review the compliance report.

In other city news, aldermen approved a variance request from Donley County to allow a water well to be placed on the courthouse square.

The council also approved repealing the Dangerous Structure Ordinance and replacing it with a new ordinance governing substandard buildings.

Aldermen gave the go ahead for city officials to prepare an ordinance setting water tap fees at $700 for a ¾-inch line, $900 for a 1-inch line, actual cost for larger meters, and $400 for future sewer taps. The measure will come back to the council for final approval.

Publicity and tourism agreements with the Clarendon Economic Development Corporation and the Chamber of Commerce were approved as presented for two-year terms. The CEDC will continue to manage 75 percent of the city’s Hotel Occupancy Tax funds, and the Chamber will continue to administer 25 percent of those funds.