City utility, trash rates going up

The Clarendon City Council approved rate increases for water, sewer, and trash services when it met last Thursday, August 22.

Officials said the cost of water and trash services charged to the city has gone up, and City Administrator David Dockery said the increase in the sewer charge will help the city’s application for a grant to improve the sewer system.

“We’ve been told if we didn’t raise our sewer rates, our application didn’t stand a chance,” Dockery said.

Dockery also noted that the utility increases are the first the city has implemented in several years, other than a $10 per month fee imposed three years ago for debt service.

Mayor Sandy Skelton noted the need for the city to maintain its financial position.

“Unfortunately, the city must raise utility rates on occasion so that expenses don’t exceed revenue,” the mayor said. “Effective October 1, garbage, water, and sewer rates will increase. Garbage rates will increase 5 percent due to higher rates charged by the Memphis Landfill (Clarendon transports all garbage to Memphis). Water rates will increase by 7.6 percent due to an increase charged to the City by Greenbelt Water Authority. Sewer rates will increase by 5.0 percent simply because rates have not been raised in the past 12 years.”

The mayor also reminded citizens that the council has worked to lower the tax burden it places on property owners in the city.

“Several months ago, the City Council voted to significantly decrease city property taxes and to eliminate the city’s portion of personal property taxes (vehicles, trailers, campers, RV’s, etc.),” Skelton said. “These reductions will be effective January 1, 2020, and will more than offset the increase in utility rates. All property owners will realize a sizable savings.”

In other city news, the council set September 12 at 6:30 p.m. as the date for a public hearing on its proposed budget for fiscal year 2020.

The council also gave final approval to the purchase of the Lowe office building.

“I am pleased that the City Council approved the purchase of the Lowe Building across the street from the Courthouse,” Skelton said. “The purchase solved two problems, the first being the very crowded conditions at the current City Hall. The second reason is that the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is requiring us to add a handicapped bathroom and make other improvements to the current facility in order to comply with the American Disabilities Act (ADA).

Skelton said the Lowe building was recently appraised at $330,000 by a certified appraiser.

“We were able to negotiate a sales price of $163,000 or $45 per square foot,” he said. “The City will not have to dip into reserves for the purchase as we should finish the current fiscal year at the end of September with revenue over expense by approximately $200,000.

Skelton said the building is in excellent condition and will provide adequate space for all employees and will accommodate numerous citizens for city council meetings and other gatherings. Employee parking will be in the rear of the building which will allow for citizens parking on Sully Street.

“In my opinion, this action made a lot of sense and was good use of public funds,” Skelton said.

Alderman also last week approved $15,015.19 from the airport maintenance fund to match a TxDOT RAMP grant for funding runway lighting improvements at the Smiley Johnson Municipal Airport. Those improvements will cost a total of $29,419.

In his administrator’s report, Dockery told the council that the city’s code compliance officer has completed training on junk vehicles and said the city will soon begin addressing the numerous junk vehicles around town. Aldermen also learned that Greg Price had resigned from the city and that Jacob Lindsey would be moving from part-time to full-time to take Price’s place.