County, CC walk away from security deal

Donley County and Clarendon College are walking away from a security agreement between the two that has been in place for more than ten years.

With both parties in the midst of working on their new budgets, all involved said the decision was mutual to let the contract lapse when it expires this fall.

Donley County Judge John Howard said the sheriff’s department had more reserve deputies on its roster when the county agreed to provide security for the college campus, dorms, and athletic events.

Howard met with Sheriff Butch Blackburn and CC President Robert Riza recently to discuss the contract, which had changed little from when it was first approved in 2002. Clarendon College was paying a little more than $20,000 per year for the service.

Dr. Riza said the county was concerned about its liability under the current contract and the college was wanting to do somethings different with security.

“We’ve changed how we staff our dorms, and we’re exploring options for security during games,” Riza said.

The county and college did enter into a Multi-hazard Emergency Operations Plan this week, a formal agreement to render mutual aid in times of need.

County commissioners continued working on their budget this week, and Howard said the court is looking at several items specifically – salary structures, equipment and vehicle fleet, and improving roads. Howard said a slight increase may be possible in the County Special or road tax to help with those improvements.

The judge said he hopes the court will adopt a five-year plan for these expenditures and really focus on roads.

“We need a concerted effort to use our resources to improve roads,” he said. “People in the country depend on our roads for police, EMS, and fire protection, and they deserve them to be well maintained.”

In other county business, the court approved a contract from Texas Panhandle Cyber Medics for the coming year, accepted a bid on tax delinquent property in Howardwick, and agreed to pay its share of the regional 911 budget.

Judge Howard updated the court on the Salt Fork Wind Farm project in the northwestern part of the county.

Cielo Wind has sold out to EDF Renewable Energy, but the 200 Megawatt project is still scheduled to break ground in 2016 and be operational by December of that year.