The Clarendon City Council appointed a new alderman and discussed several issues ranging from garbage rates to groundwater sales during its regular meeting last Thursday, June 13.
The council met in closed session for about 20 minutes to discuss possible candidates to fill the position left vacant when former alderman Larry Jeffers did not run for re-election last month. Upon returning to open session, the council unanimously elected Ashlee Kidd Estlack to serve in that position until the next election.
Estlack is the third generation of her family to serve on the city council, following in the footsteps of her father, Doug Kidd, and grandfather, Bob Kidd.
With a full council in place, aldermen then unanimously selected Alderman Tommy Hill to serve as mayor pro tem.
Representatives of Waste Connections were present to discuss the company’s upcoming rate increase. Their contract with the city allows for a cost of living adjustment based on certain indices. The company is seeking an increase of about 3.5 percent. The council will revisit this next month. City officials discussed with Waste Connections complaints from citizens who are not having their garbage picked up regularly.
Aldermen reviewed the groundwater sales agreement with Greenbelt Water Authority. The city sells raw groundwater to Greenbelt, which mixes it with lake water and other groundwater sources and treats the water before distributing it to its member cities. The council approved a five-cent increase in the rate the city charges Greenbelt in the new three-year agreement.
The council discussed an encroachment license and agreement that would allow a pergola to be put back in front of Stocking Ice Cream Parlor on the city-owned sidewalk in the 100 block of South Kearney. No action was taken, however, as city officials reported the property owner had not yet agreed to sign the agreement.
An interlocal agreement was signed with Donley County to allow the county to use the city’s monofil to dispose of material from four houses. The county intends to demolish the houses to build an emergency command center at some point.
The city’s cyber security policy was updated as presented, and the council approved allowing members of the Clarendon Volunteer Fire Department and their immediate family members to have a free swim night at the aquatic center.
Changes were approved regarding the employee handbook and compensation for certain footwear, and streets closures were approved for upcoming celebrations in July.
OJD Engineering was selected for groundwater project engineering services.
The council performed the annual evaluation of City Secretary Machiel Covey and approved a 5.1 percent increase in salary and extended her contract by one year. Discussion was held on how new overtime rules from the US Department of Labor might affect Covey’s position as an employee exempt from overtime, but the council agreed more information was needed about that.
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