Paving project begins

Work began on Clarendon’s 2005 paving project this week after months of anticipation.

B&B Solvent, a division of Jordan Paving, moved equipment into town Monday and began the project, which will curb and pave an estimated 60 city blocks.

Sixth Street is first on the agenda, starting between Cottage and Collinson streets and progressing three blocks at a time, putting down base and pouring curb.

The finished streets will be 30 feet wide inside the curbs and the project will cover the following streets: Third Street from Collinson to McLean, Fourth Street from Collinson to McLean, Sixth Street from Cottage to Koogle, Seventh Street from the western city limit to Koogle, Eighth Street from Leroy to Bugbee Avenue, Leroy Street from Fifth to Eighth, Johns Street from Sixth to approximately one-half block past Eighth, Collinson Street from Clarendon Avenue to Eighth Street, McLean Street from Clarendon Avenue to Eighth, and Bond Street from Sixth to Eighth.

The $974,485 project is anticipated to be finished by November.

In other city business, the Board of Aldermen met in regular session July 26 and heard from Linda Hill, activities director at Medical Center Nursing Home. Hill discussed a planned poker run to benefit the residents of MCNH on October 1 of this year.  The board voted to take $1,000 from the Motel Bed Tax fund for the run.

Ruth Robinson addressed the board on behalf of the Saints’ Roost Museum and requested funds to promote the annual Col. Charles Goodnight Chuckwagon Cookoff. The board approved $3,000 for this purpose.

Dee Dee Autry presented a resolution of support for a “Texas Yes!” grant for a proposed travel guide to be produced by Texas Prairie Rivers. The resolution was adopted.

The board discussed the city’s seat on the Greenbelt Water Authority Board and voted to reappoint Charles Deyhle, Sr., to that post.

Aldermen discussed delinquent taxes owed to the city and the possibility of advertising in the newspaper the names and amounts due of people owing taxes. No action was taken pending more information.

City Administrator Sean Pate presented Ordinance No. 271, which amends Ordinance No. 201 and creates the position of City Administrator/Superintendent. The first reading of the ordinance was unanimously approved.

Pate also thanked the board for the opportunity to serve the City of Clarendon. The mayor and aldermen expressed their appreciation for the job he had done over the last two years and wished him well as he moves on to Poteet, Texas. Pate’s final day in Clarendon was last Thursday.