The City of Clarendon ended fiscal year 2021 in very good financial position in addition to completing major improvement projects, according to information presented at the October 14 City Council meeting.
Mayor Sandy Skelton, in discussing the year-end financial reports, noted that the city finished the fiscal year more than $420,000 in the black, and City Administrator David Dockery reported that sales tax collections came in at an all-time high, totaling $477,790.77, up 12.92 percent from $416,043 at the end of fiscal year 2020.
Dockery said if the sales tax collection trend continues, the city will bring in more than $500,000 in sales taxes in the next fiscal year.
Skelton said city leaders intend to use part of the city’s gains to fund further street improvements.
The mayor noted that the city had managed to finish the year in a strong position even with big projects – such as the completion of the new aquatic center, the completion of the USDA water infrastructure improvement projects, and resurfacing several blocks of streets – thanks to the hard work of the city staff, department heads, and the administrator.
The USDA project also was completed with approximately $250,000 left in those allotted funds, and city engineers are working to develop a plan to use those remaining funds to replace additional cast iron water lines that are as much as 80 years old. During last week’s meeting, the council approved a supplemental agreement with KSA Engineers to perform that design work.
The city also has approximately $220,000 in funds from the American Rescue Plan (COVID-relief) that it can use for certain infrastructure improvements, and city leaders are considering the best way to utilize that money.
In other city business, city aldermen were informed during the Code Enforcement Report that the house at 602 S. Bugbee, which has been a problem property for more than seven years, has been purchased and the new owners have plans to repair the home.
The council approved a request by Larry Hicks to abandon parts of Allen Street and the alley between Fifth and Sixth streets at Allen after a buyer’s survey revealed improvements were in the city’s right-of-way. The council also required that the abandoned areas be resurveyed and added to the property deed.
Aldermen also approved the annual contract for property tax collection with the Donley Appraisal District and adopted the annual resolution designating The Clarendon Enterprise as the city’s official newspaper of general circulation.
The council considered and approved the annual budgets of the Clarendon Economic Development Corporation and the Hotel Occupancy Tax Fund budget of the Clarendon Chamber of Commerce.
The FY 2022 city fund investment policy was approved, and the city administrator and city secretary were named as the city’s fund investment officers.
Aldermen approved a request to close a portion of Kearney Street for a block party at the Mulkey Theatre on November 6.
Dockery also updated the board on warranty work that is needed at the aquatic center and his discussions with the general contractor to see that the work is done in a timely fashion in order for the center to open on time next season.
The Donley County Community Fund is taking applications for grant applications.
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