City to partner with county on surveys

The City of Clarendon will partner with Donley County in an effort to open more grant opportunities for the community following the June 9 meeting of the city council.

County officials are working to more accurately report the average income of local households, which is used as a determining factor for state and federal grants.

The current federal survey that says 42 percent of Donley County households are of low to moderate income. Local officials believe the number is under reported and are pursuing doing an independent survey because some grants are only available to communities with 51 percent or more households are of low to moderate income.

City Secretary Machiel Covey said about 700 surveys need to be completed, and the city will split the $7,000 price tag of conducting the surveys with the county.

In other city business, the council approved retaining the Panhandle Regional Planning Commission to conduct a search for the next city administrator to replace David Dockery, who intends to retire next spring.

The search will cost $3,500 to $7,000 and will begin in October. City officials want the new administrator’s service to overlap Dockery’s by 90 days.

The city will also retain the PRPC to file the necessary reports for the city’s ARPA funding. The federal COVID-relief funds come with very complicated reporting requirements. PRCP will charge the city $20,000 for that service, and the ARPA funds can be tapped for that expense.

Alderman Larry Jeffers was selected by his fellow council members to serve as the city’s mayor pro tem.

The city also approved the airport board’s request to purchase a windsock structure with a beacon for $5,680.77. The money is available from funds raised for the airport, and the city can apply for a RAMP grant to recoup half of that amount.

City aldermen also met in a called session on June 17 to consider paving options for this season. The council set a maximum amount of $125,000 to spend a project with those streets to be identified later.

The council agreed to abandon 1.7 feet of Allen Street along the former residence of the late Frances Skelton with her family bearing the cost of that correction.

A similar action was taken about a year ago with a neighboring property. Poor surveys in the distant past resulted in improvements being built on what was really city right of way.