City kills plan to raise trash rates

A proposal to raise sanitation rates in Clarendon has been shelved after receiving a cold reception from members of the Board of Aldermen last Tuesday.

City Administrator Lambert Little says the $1.83 million budget he will present for the board’s approval next Tuesday night, September 27, will not include any increases in taxes, utility rates, or service charges.

“I think we will have a budget that provides at least as good and probably better service to the citizens than we have had under the current budget,” Little said.

The new budget does include money for a new code compliance officer position that will also serve as an animal control officer. Little said he hopes that new position pays for itself but even if it doesn’t, the city will benefit from being cleaned up and the tax rolls will be bolstered from improved properties.

All city employees under the new budget will receive a three percent raise, except for Little and City Secretary Machiel Covey, who have opted out of the raise.

Also in the new budget is $10,000 for an improvement project to City Hall. Lambert said he hopes to install a ramp to the second floor and convert an existing training room used by the fire department into new chambers for city council meetings. The remodeled room would include theatre style seats and a raised platform for council seating. Lambert said the room could still be used by the fire department for training and that it would accommodate citizens better during city meetings.

“At the very least people should be able to hear what’s going on,” Little said.

Dropping the proposed sanitation rate increase means the city will likely not make about $30,000 in planned equipment purchases next year, Little said.

The administrator had initially put forth a 30 percent increase in commercial and residential garbage rates.

“I know downtown merchants will holler because they are already paying about $75 a month (on their city bill),” Little said at September 13 meeting, but he felt the city could defend itself because it wasn’t going up on taxes.

Alderman Tommy Hill was the first to raise concerns about the rate increase, saying the city’s rate was higher than some area towns, while Little said an increase would be in line with other towns.

“Our citizens are struggling just like the city is,” Hill said.

Alderman Ann Huey moved to approve the rates, but the motion died for lack of a second.

Alderman Will Thompson said he did not want to hurt local businesses, and Alderman Jesus Hernandez said citizens had already contacted him about their city bills.

“I’ve had citizens complain that they are not comfortable as it is. The rates are too high now,” Hernandez said.

Mayor Larry Hicks suggested not raising commercial rates, but Little said that would only generate about a third of the revenue he was looking for.

Little also said sanitation costs could be brought down if citizens would recycle more. Hill responded that the city needed to make it easier to recycle and also suggested the city’s recycling center be open earlier.

Also at last week’s city meeting, the board:

• Approved replacing water dispensers at the city with water fountain/coolers.

• Approved leaving the 1908 Seventh Street Bridge at City Park and voted in favor of having a new bridge, constructed by TxDOT, placed alongside the existing structure.

• Tabled the issue of what to do with the old Rosenfield Street bridge, which is also scheduled for replacement by TxDOT.

• Appointed Fu Benavidez to succeed Kelly Hill as the city fire marshal.