City gives old house more time

A condemned house got a brief reprieve from the Clarendon Board of Aldermen last Tuesday, November 18, after the property owner said she would address code issues.

Linda Lewis presented plans and estimates to the board to demolish two dangerous outbuildings on her property at Sixth and Bugbee and promised she would secure the house at that address. Dangerous exterior balconies on the house will also be removed, she said.

Lewis said family health issues had caused her to neglect the property, but she also said she hopes to renovate the old house and operate a bed and breakfast after she retires in three to five years.

Aldermen expressed their concern that the house might fall back out of compliance after the outbuildings come down, but Lewis agreed to periodic inspections by the city’s code enforcement officer.

The board voted to lift its previous condemnation order and give Lewis six months to carry out her plan of removing the outbuildings and balconies and securing the home.

In other city business, aldermen approved Ordinance 440, authorizing the Clarendon Economic Development Corporation and the Clarendon Chamber of Commerce to administer the city’s Hotel Occupancy Tax funds. The CEDC will oversee 75 percent of the funds, and the Chamber will administer the remaining 25 percent. The board also approved a quarterly report on HOT fund usage from the CEDC.

The board listened to a presentation from city engineer Clayton Scales and approved making a pre-application for USDA funds for water system improvements of up to $3 million. The pre-application process determines what percentage of grant funds the city might be eligible for but does not obligate the city to the project. The project, if approved, would construct a new standpipe on the east side of town and install new waterlines in that area.

The board voted to return the city librarian’s job description to full time status. Aldermen then met in closed session to discuss the positions of city administrator and city secretary, but took no action following the closed session.