Archives for August 2017

The Howardwick Board of Aldermen called for a special election to fill two vacant offices during their regular meeting last Tuesday, August 8.

The election will be held November 7 for the purpose of filling the unexpired terms of former mayor Mike Rowland and former alderman Sam Grider.

Rowland resigned and walked out of the city’s July 11 meeting after public comments reportedly got out of hand. Grider resigned from the Board of Aldermen three days later.

Citizens have until 5 p.m. on September 6 to sign up for the special election. Howardwick City Hall said Monday that no one has yet signed up for the mayor’s position, which expires in May 2019. Donald Holladay has signed up to run for Grider’s term, which expires in May 2018.

Holladay was the city’s maintenance worker, but he also resigned the same day Grider did. Mayor Pro-tem Eric Riddle said last month that friction between Holladay and Code Enforcement Officer Will Jordan resulted in name calling at the July 11 meeting.

In other city business last week, Riddle thanked citizens who volunteered to patch roads and announced a $500 donation from resident Charlie Davis to go towards the roads. Riddle also thanked Jordan for volunteering his time to install the new door locks at City Hall.

The board approved motions to approve bids on lots in Howardwick as presented and authorized Foster & Lambert to conduct the city’s annual audit.

Efforts to revitalize downtown Clarendon were ratified and supplemented last week when the City Council blessed action taken by the Clarendon Economic Development Corporation and also authorized borrowing $350,000 for renovations to the Mulkey Theatre multi-purpose venue.

During their regular meeting August 10, city aldermen passed a resolution approving the CEDC’s August 7 action to borrow $650,000 on a 20-year term with the funds going to the city’s water recreation project and the Mulkey multi-purpose facility. The note will be paid for by economic development sales tax revenues that are already being collected.

The city council also approved a resolution authorizing the city to borrow $350,000 on a 20-year term secured by the Hotel Occupancy Tax, which is paid by lodgers staying in local hotels.

The combined actions of the city and CEDC will give community leaders $1 million for the two downtown projects. Half the money would be used for the pool project, which combined with other donations and pledges will more than cover a $500,000 challenge grant put up by an anonymous donor two years ago. That will give the city just under $1.3 million for the project, which puts it in a good position to apply for funds from the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department to bolster that effort even further.

The second half of the borrowed funds would put $500,000 earmarked for the completion of the Mulkey Theatre project, which will serve not only as a movie theatre but also as a multi-use facility for live performances, public meetings, conferences, and other activities.

Also at last Thursday’s city meeting, Jack Moreman and Dick Bode with the Donley County Soil & Water Conservation District addressed the board with concerns about the proposed location for the water recreation facility on city-owned land at Fourth and Kearney east of the Clarendon Post Office. Specifically, Moreman and Bode were concerned about possible flooding in that location.

City Administrator David Dockery presented information on engineering surveys and said that by the time flood water reaches the site of the proposed facility, the Post Office, the senior citizens building, and USDA’s own offices will be flooded as well.

Bode and Moreman expressed their support for the pool project, but also stressed the importance of maintaining levees south of town, which protect downtown from major flooding.

Dockery also updated city aldermen on the status of the USDA-funded water system improvement project, which is waiting for rights of way to be signed off on by all parties before going out for bids.

A Clarendon woman was sentenced to prison last week when the District Court heard two Donley County cases among 31 pleas in Childress August 10.

District Attorney Luke Inman, assisted by Harley Caudle, prosecuted the cases for the State of Texas with the Honorable Judge Stuart Messer presiding.

Tammy Delaine White pleaded true to allegations listed in the State’s Motion to Adjudicate and was sentenced to six years in the Institutional Division of TDCJ for the third degree felony offense of forgery against an elderly person.

White, 53 from Clarendon, originally pleaded to the charges from the November 14, 2012, offense in Donley County on June 3, 2013.  The State filed the motion to adjudicate on June 7, 2017, alleging five violations of community supervision.

White is also required to pay $473 in court costs to Donley County.

Miguel Angel Padilla was placed on probation for a period of two years for the Class A misdemeanor offense of unlawful use of a criminal instrument.  Padilla pleaded guilty and was placed on deferred adjudication for the offense.

Padilla, 26 from Houston, was arrested by Donley County Sheriff’s Deputy Miranda Betts in Donley County for the offense that took place on November 10, 2016. Padilla pleaded to an information filed by the State on January 12, 2017.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, Padilla was required to pay an upfront fine of $4,000 to Donley County, $458 in court costs, $180 drug lab restitution, and successfully complete 100 hours of community service. If Padilla violates probation, he could face up to one year in the Donley County Jail.

The court also heard four Donley County cases last Tuesday, August 8, among 34 please in Panhandle.

Keaton Kenneth Maher was placed on probation for a period of three years for the third degree felony offense of possession of a controlled substance. Maher pleaded guilty and was placed on deferred adjudication for the offense.

Maher, 24 from Century, Fla., was arrested by DPS Trooper Justin Dillman in Donley County for the offense that took place on October 17, 2016. Maher pleaded to an information filed by the State on July 10, 2017.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, Maher was required to pay a fine of $3,000 to Donley County, $458 in court costs, $180 drug lab restitution, successfully complete 200 hours of community service, and a $500 probation transfer fee. If Maher violates probation, he could face up to ten years in the Institutional Division of the TDCJ.

Eduardo Francisco Rocha was placed on probation for a period of two years for the Class A misdemeanor offense of unlawful use of a criminal instrument.  Rocha pleaded to an information filed by the State on July 18, 2017 and was placed on deferred adjudication for the offense.

Rocha, 45 from Keller, Texas, was arrested in Donley County by DPS Trooper Lynn Mays for the offense that took place on November 3, 2016.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, Rocha was required to pay an upfront fine of $4,000 to Donley County, $458 in court costs, $180 lab restitution, and complete 100 hours of community service. If Rocha violates probation, he could face up to one year in the Donley County Jail.

Ettore Andrew Visco was placed on probation for a period of two years for the Class A misdemeanor offense of unlawful use of a criminal instrument.  Visco pleaded to an information filed by the State on July 18, 2017, and was placed on deferred adjudication for the offense.

Visco, 29 from Watauga, Texas, was arrested by Mays in Donley County for the offense that took place on November 3, 2016.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, Visco was required to pay an upfront fine of $4,000 to Donley County, $458 in court costs, $180 lab restitution, and complete 100 hours of community service. If Visco violates probation, he could face up to one year in the Donley County Jail.

Sahid Hiram Purentes was placed on probation for a period of two years for the Class A misdemeanor offense of unlawful use of a criminal instrument.  Puentes pleaded to an information filed by the State on January 18, 2017 and was placed on deferred adjudication for the offense.

Puentes, 31 from Houston, was arrested in Donley County by DPS Trooper Kendall Styles for the offense that took place on November 1, 2016.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, Puentes was required to pay an upfront fine of $4,000 to Donley County, $458 in court costs, $180 lab restitution, and complete 100 hours of community service. If Puentes violates probation, he could face up to one year in the Donley County Jail.

Clarendon ISD has enrolled with STOPit, the leading technology platform for schools that deters and controls harmful or inappropriate conduct.

STOPit empowers students with an easy app to safely and anonymously report anything of concern to school officials – from cyberbullying to threats of violence or self-harm. STOPit empowers students to stand up for themselves and others while giving our schools the insight we need to keep students safe.

“I am excited about this program. I hope it allows our students to feel safe in reporting situations like bullying, including cyber-bullying, to help themselves or others,” stated Jenae Ashbrook, school counselor.

With STOPit, students can submit anonymous reports containing text, photos, or video. Administrators are then able to manage incidents in a backend management system called DOCUMENTit.

DOCUMENTit provides efficient and powerful investigative tools to our staff, including the ability to message with the reporter, which will allow us to address issues instantly.

STOPit does more than just help schools address incidents and mitigate risk. STOPit will also help us go beyond reacting to bullying and inappropriate behavior, and instead start deterring it.

As young people continue to engage more with technology every day, we are taking a proactive step to empower our students to become Upstanders in our community in the way that they feel most comfortable. We believe our adoption of STOPit is an important step in our continued effort to provide a positive school climate and a safe learning environment for our students.

Our STOPit program launch is scheduled for August 2017.

STOPit is the leading technology company providing a comprehensive software platform that mitigates, deters and controls bullying, including cyberbullying, harassment and other harmful or inappropriate conduct. To learn more about STOPit, please visit www.stopsolutions.com.

The Clarendon Economic Development Corporation gave a boost to downtown revitalization Monday night, approving measures to secure the challenge grant for the city’s water recreation project, put the completion of the Mulkey Theatre project on track, and remodel an eyesore building at the intersection of US 287 and Kearney Street.

CEDC board members approved borrowing $650,000 on a 20-year term with the funds going to the water recreation project and the Mulkey multi-purpose facility. The note will be paid for by economic development sales tax revenues that are already being collected.

The Clarendon City Council is expected to follow the CEDC’s action Thursday night by approving a 20-year loan of $350,000 secured by the Hotel Occupancy Tax, which is paid by lodgers staying in local hotels.

The combined actions of the city and CEDC will give community leaders $1 million for local projects. Half the money would be used to for the pool project, which combined with other donations and pledges will more than cover the $500,000 challenge grant put up by an anonymous donor two years ago.

The remaining $500,000 would go towards the completion of the Mulkey Theatre project, which will serve not only as a movie theatre but also as a multi-use facility for live performances, public meetings, conferences, and other activities. The CEDC has been working on the Mulkey as funds have been available since 2008.

CEDC board members also approved two proposals totaling $21,251 to renovate the former Clarendon Steakhouse building at 118 S. Kearney. The work would include installing new storefront windows and doors and refinishing the stucco façade.

The building was purchased by the CEDC in 2015 after it was heavily damaged by an automobile. A new roof has already been put on the building, and the CEDC hopes to attract a business to that location with a lease-purchase agreement.

Board members also discussed the CEDC’s façade grant program, which encourages local business owners to fix up their properties. No action was taken, but discussion centered on suspending the program at the end of the current fiscal year on September 30 and reintroducing it in fiscal year 2018 with a focus on encouraging more historic renovations to properties downtown.

The services of the Burton Memorial Library were limited following action by the Clarendon City Council during its regular meeting July 27.

According to the city minutes, Sharon Henson Winfrey addressed the council and expressed her concern over declining movie rental sales due to the library checking out movies for free. Ms. Winfrey asked for the library to start charging for movies or to remove them all together. She said she does not believe she should have to be in competition with the city library.

Council members explained that the library belongs to the Harrington Library Consortium and movies are one of the services offered by all the libraries.

Aldermen approved a motion to limit the age of movies checked out at the Library for no charge to five years and older from their release date.

In other city business, Carol Holden reported on the remediation of code compliance issues for her property at 702 S. Carhart. She told Council that she was limited on funds and has tried to come down as often as she could to work on the property. Ms. Holden is trying to sell the property and said she would work on the property as often as she can. Mayor Sandy Skelton asked her to do her best to keep the property mowed.

Aldermen considered and approved an amendment to Ordinance #338 that establishes a non-resident rate for dumping limbs at the Citizens Convenience Center. The minimum charge for a non-resident will be $10, and a trailer load minimum will be $16.

A resolution was approved to engage Government Capital Securities Corp. as a financial advisor for the city.

The city council also approved a motion to claim a lien for reimbursement of costs and expenses incurred in abating the dangerous structure located at 512 S. Sully Street in the amount of $7,488.24

Aldermen discussed the tax rate for fiscal year 2018 and voted to approve the proposed effective tax rate of .733821 per $100 valuation with .278885 being debt rate and .454938 being maintenance and operation rate. The effective rate brings in the same money the city received in the preceding year.

Administrator David Dockery distributed the requested time line he received from Linda Lewis for compliance of the property located at 602 S. Bugbee Avenue.

Mayor Skelton distributed a letter from Walt Knorpp informing Council on how fortunate the residents of the City of Clarendon are to have David Dockery as our city administrator. It is Mr. Knorpp’s opinion that Mr. Dockery is the best administrator the city has ever employed.

Donley County Commissioners will delve into budget negotiations when they convene for their August session next Monday.

County Judge John Howard said the proposed budget posted on the county’s website will likely see some changes during Monday’s meeting, but the $2.6 million proposed budget does have several items the county will have to deal with.

Howard said the county will likely have to raise its tax rate even to stay at the effective rate. The rate would have to go up at least a penny in order to bring in the same revenue as the current year due to declining property valuations.

County officials are also mindful that “legislative hijinks at play in Austin” will likely make it difficult to raise taxes in the future, Howard said.

“The Legislature is diligently considering options to restrict local governments’ ability to raise taxes,” Howard said. “I hope the voters understand that we raise taxes only when necessary and not to feather our nests. The last time I looked, our nest was not particularly feathered. We have been frugal.”

Budget priorities for the county, Howard said, will include covering rising costs of employee health insurance, more help for the Precinct 1 and 2 Justice of the Peace due to heavier workload in that office, addressing facility needs of the Precinct 3 and 4 Justice of the Peace, and ongoing courthouse maintenance issues.

Howard said the county has money set aside to help address masonry and window repairs on the 1890 Courthouse, but more may be needed.

The proposed budget also seeks to give each employee a $100 per month raise, which will cost the county about $50,000.

“If you look, there are seven out of the last 20 years that county employees received no raises,” Howard said. “Eight of the last 20 they received a three percent raise.”

The county will continue to receive a grant to help pay for the highway safety officer program, amounting to $44,861.58. That covers 80 percent of the cost of employing and equipping the deputy patrolling the highway, Howard said.

Donley County will also begin to reap payments from the Salt Fork wind farm during this fiscal year, but Howard said county officials have not included that in the proposed budget, preferring instead to get that money in hand before obligating any of it.

Tax hearings for the county will be held on August 23 and September 5. A county budget hearing will be held  during the commissioners’ regular meeting September 11.