Archives for May 2017

The Clarendon City Council approved a three-year plan to bring City Hall into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) when it met in regular session last Thursday, April 27.

City Administrator David Dockery presented the plan by Pioneer General Contractors, which is estimated to cost $61,650.

Dockery outlined the changes required for City Hall, noting that he exterior ramp will have to be changed because it is too steep, the outdoor payment box will have to be moved because it extends into the walkway, handrails will have to be replaced, and the exterior steps at the building’s west entrance will have be replaced because they are uneven. The main entrance to City Hall will have a push button door opener added.

Inside the building, light switches will have to be lowered, changes will be made to the service counter to accommodate customers in wheelchairs, and the bathroom will have to be reconfigured.

The building’s compliance with ADA requirements is necessary because of federal funding the city will be receiving to undertake a $3.9 million water infrastructure project.

In his administrator’s report, Dockery said projected costs on the water infrastructure project are now at $4.3 million and the city is working to “value engineer everywhere we can” in order keep the project on budget.

“It is the staff’s intention to do the whole project even if we have to do some of the work ourselves,” Dockery said.

Also last week, aldermen discussed the city’s rules on paying utility bills after Alderman John Lockhart received several complaints from customers who received late fees after Easter. City Hall was closed on Good Friday, April 14, and payments were due April 15.

Customers who did not come in the office April 13, did not leave a payment in the city’s drop box over the weekend, or make other arrangements – such as pay online or pay by bank draft – were subject to a late fee on Monday, April 17.

Lockhart asked for the item to be considered, but after meeting with city personnel and studying the situation he believed no changes needed to be made to the city’s rules.

Dockery said extending the time for late fees would impact when late notices would go out and could result in people being cut off before being notified.

Alderman Doug Kidd sympathized with those who received late fees.

“I would have assumed I had to Monday to pay,” Alderman Kidd said. “I feel for these people because we’re the ones who chose to close on Friday.”

The council also discussed a possible exemption from distance requirements for businesses wanting sell alcohol near a school or church.

A variance request is still expected soon for one property, and the city administrator is hoping to get away from dealing with variance requests on this issue. More information is still being gathered on the idea of an exemption for the council’s future consideration.

Dockery presented a bill to the council for a new septic system installed by a couple in the northeast part of the city. Donna Barnes reportedly told the administrator that her parents had been promised city sewer service some 40 years ago and the family had again been promised service eight years ago.

Dockery said there is no sewer line in that section of town, affecting over a dozen households, because of the expense of laying a line across Clarendon Creek and the necessity for a lift station in that area. Such a project would likely cost between $1.5 and $2 million, Dockery said. Barnes and other residents without sewer service do not pay a sewer fee. The council took no action.

A busy weekend is in store for Clarendon and should generate several visitors for the city.

Trade days, a rough stock rodeo, and college commencement activities will be drawing people to Clarendon.

Hundreds of people will be attending graduation exercises at Clarendon College Friday as students receive associate degrees and certificates during three ceremonies at the Harned Sisters Fine Arts Center over the course of the day.

Commencement for those graduating with an Associate of Science degree will start at 10 a.m., the Ranch & Feedlot Operations ceremony is at 1:30 p.m., and Associate of Arts, Associate of Applied Science, and certificates of completion will be awarded at 6 p.m.  Doors will open one hour before each ceremony.

The monthly Whistle-Stop Trade Days will be open Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and features more than 100 different vendors carrying a wide variety of goods along with food booths, live music, and a beer garden located on the north side of the building.

Also on Saturday, the Clarendon Outdoor Entertainment Association is hosting its second annual Saints’ Roost Rough Stock Challenge rodeo. Activities will begin at 1 p.m. with a washer pitching contest that will run most of the afternoon before the rodeo begins at 6 p.m.

The Rough Stock Challenge will feature Ranch Bronc Riding and Bull Riding. The Buster Bledsoe Band will entertain on the COEA Slab after the rodeo.

Admission for the Rough Stock Challenge is $10 for adults and $5 for kids ages six to 12.

Clarendon High School students will also hold their prom Saturday night.

The sign-up period for Clarendon’s 12th annual “Trash To Treasures” garage sale event is underway, this year’s sale is slated for Saturday, June 3.

Garage sales in Hedley, Howardwick, and the surrounding area are also welcome to sign up for the big day.

Residents who wish to participate in this year’s “Trash To Treasures” are asked to come by the Enterprise before 5 p.m. on Friday, May 26, to sign up for the promotion.

For just $25, each household will get a 50-word advertisement in the Big-E Classifieds and the exclusive “Trash To Treasures” garage sale signs. In addition, the Enterprise will print a city map the week of the event indicating the location of each sale and will promote the citywide garage sale in area newspapers and with local radio ads.

“The more people who have garage sales during Trash To Treasures, the better everyone will do,” said Roger Estlack, publisher of The Clarendon Enterprise which sponsors the event. “Sign-up fees are what cover the cost of area advertising, so we can reach more people and have better attendance if we have a larger number of sales.”

For more information about the Trash To Treasures garage sale event, call 874-2259 or come by the Enterprise office at 105 S. Kearney.