City considers higher building permit fees

The Clarendon Board of Aldermen held a public hearing on proposed changes to the rates the city charges for building permits when it met October 12.

Ordinance 353 would amend Ordinance 143 and set the price for building permits at $10 for all construction costing between $250 and $1,000. The city would also charge $1 for each additional thousand dollars or fraction thereof.

If approved, a building permit for a $50,000 home would cost $59.

Under the exisiting ordinance in Clarendon, building permits cost $1 for the first $250 to $1,000 and 25 cents for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof.

A second reading and another public hearing will be held on this proposal on October 26.

In other business, aldermen accepted the bid of FirstCare for health insurance for city employees.

Tarell Dyer and Chris Ballinger addressed the board on behalf of Centramedia Online Services concerning leasing space on the city radio tower to deploy wireless Internet service in Clarendon. A lease document will be presented at the next meeting.

A bill from the Associated Ambulance Authority was presented, and board members approved paying the revised total of $378.25.

Alderman Janice Knorpp discussed a topic known as Project LA, which is a California-based manufacturer of kit aircraft looking to relocate in Texas or elsewhere in the United States.

Knorpp will work with the Panhandle Regional Planning Commission to file a response to the project and express the city’s interest in attracting the business to this location.

The board approved the fund investment policy with the city secretary remaining as the fund investment officer.