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Swing, batter!
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The Clarendon Enterprise - Spreading the word since 1878.
Greenbelt Water Authority’s planned $18 million project to develop groundwater resources for its member cities hit a snag last Thursday when it came before the Clarendon City Council.
City aldermen were asked to approve a supplemental contract with Greenbelt but instead took no action after meeting behind closed doors with attorneys for more than 40 minutes before discussing issues with water authority representatives and saying the contract was unacceptable to the city.
Attorneys for Greenbelt this week were working on language revisions to address city concerns, according to Greenbelt General Manager Bobbie Kidd, and were confident an agreement could still be reached before a July deadline to issue bonds.
“I think it’s going to work out,” Kidd said Tuesday.
At the meeting last week, Alderman Eulaine McIntosh spoke of her concerns about diminishing water availability over a widespread area, and she, along with Aldermen Tommy Hill and John Lockhart, also voiced thoughts about the fairness of the proposed 30-year contract.
The Texas Water Development Board in April approved more than $18 million for a new water supply project for the Greenbelt Municipal and Industrial Water Authority. The project would develop 2,800 acres of groundwater rights the water authority acquired in northern Donley County in 2017. Greenbelt would construct three water wells, well field piping, electrical distribution equipment, and a 12-mile transmission line to transport water to its existing water treatment plant. (Click here to read more about the project.)
Ten million dollars of the project is fully funded by the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, and $8.11 million would be financed with Clarendon paying about six percent of that cost.
Alderman Larry Jeffers raised questions about the cost of the project over the 30-year term. Kidd said the city will end up paying less for water because the current Greenbelt bonds will be paid off in 2027.
Some aldermen expressed interest in making changes to the original Greenbelt contract, which was signed in the 1960s and reworked in 1975. Under the contract, the member cities of Clarendon, Hedley, Childress, Quanah, and Crowell and other customers of the water authority pay Greenbelt based on how much water they use. Clarendon’s portion of Greenbelt’s budget is about eight percent.
Kidd told the city council that right now Greenbelt has about three years of water in it. That’s not the life-expectancy of the lake, but rather how long the water would last if no more water was accumulated.
“This project is to make sure we don’t run out of water,” Kidd said. “We’ll never get another $10 million gift to do this. Without this project, I don’t know where you get water.”
It was mentioned during the discussion that the city has contracted with OJD Engineering to study groundwater resources in the city limits and the possibility of developing those resources.
In April, the council approved hiring attorney Marvin Jones to review the city’s obligations to Greenbelt.
At last week’s meeting, Kidd said Greenbelt had been working for 12 years on this project. He also said Clarendon could not develop its own water system without being in the state water plan and said the next state water plan won’t be approved until about 2028.
Alderman Jeffers objected to that comment, calling it a threat and saying he was done with the conversation.
“I didn’t threaten you,” Kidd said. “I’m just telling you reality.”
Clarendon is represented on the Greenbelt board of directors by Walt Knorpp.
Kidd said Tuesday that Knorpp doesn’t always make every meeting but that he had been at every meeting where an important vote had been held on this project and had supported it.
Greenbelt’s board must meet July 20 to give final approval to the project after bond ratings are set. Clarendon’s next regular city council meeting will be July 13.
Greenbelt representatives were planning meetings with other member city’s councils this week, and Kidd was optimistic the plan would ultimately move forward.
Read More: https://www.clarendonlive.com/2023/04/state-okays-18-million-for-greenbelt-project/
Donley County Commissioners lifted the ban on outdoor burning during their regular meeting Monday, June 12.
County Judge John Howard said he had received over nine inches of rain at his house west of Clarendon in recent weeks and recommended lifting the ban.
Commissioners can easily reinstate the ban at a future meeting if dry conditions return, he said.
In other county business, officials discussed rising health care costs for employees as the county works to prepare its 2023-2024 budget. Health insurance will be going up about $1,000 per person on the county payroll, an increase of about 6.5 percent. The county is also expecting an increase in the cost of providing AirMed coverage for county employees in the amount of $10 per month per employee.
Commissioners agreed to adopt a back-up call system for emergency situations. If the county judge is unavailable, a commissioner will be on call to handle emergency situations.
The court approved ordering a new motor grader for Precinct 1 at a cost of about $390,000. Howard said it will take about a year for the new machine to be delivered to the county.
An interlocal agreement with the Department of State Health Services was approved for the county to continue to provide access to vital records such as birth certificates.
A proposal from CTSI was also approved in the amount of $9,863.14 to purchase three new computers for the clerk’s office and one for the treasurers office along with other computer equipment.
Seeing as next Sunday is Father’s Day, I decided I would like to write my article this week about him.
My dad is one of my biggest fans and is one of my best friends. He’s always there for me and, like my mom, he spends most of his time working for his family. As well as working for his family my dad spends lots of time volunteering in the community.
My dad is one of my biggest role models and I am so glad to get to hang out with him, whether we are working in the yard or watching our shows, I love getting to spend time together.
My main reason for writing this article is just to say, thank you dad, for everything you do for me and our family. I’m sorry I am leaving and will be gone on Father’s Day, but happy Father’s Day, I love you.
Governor Greg Abbott signed House Bill 8 (HB 8) into law last week, codifying an innovative new model to fund Clarendon College and other community colleges in Texas. The new model moves to an outcomes-based approach and rewards colleges for awarding degrees, certificates, and other “credentials of value.”
“The State of Texas continues working to ensure our public community colleges remain competitive and able to fully support the needs of our growing, diverse workforce,” said Gov. Abbott. “House Bill 8 will be an important tool to help enhance the role of public junior colleges in workforce training and preparation for high-demand careers. I thank the Texas Legislature for sending this bill to my desk to reward community colleges based on positive student outcomes and allow students to enroll in dual credit courses at no additional cost. The future of Texas remains bright thanks to the educational opportunities provided by community colleges and the hardworking students who will help build the Texas of tomorrow.”
CC President Tex Buckhaults said it’s too soon to know exactly how the new funding model will impact Clarendon College.
“While the current projections would indicate a significant increase in funding for Clarendon College, the details of negotiated rule-making could quickly lower the final figure,” Buckhaults said. “I anticipate three rounds of negotiations until the final adopted rules governing community college funding are complete.”
Buckhaults said he is one of five college presidents sitting on a committee of about a dozen people who will draw up the new rules, and he will be speaking on behalf of small community colleges. The first round of rule making will be held in July followed by a second round this fall.
The legislation, sponsored and championed by Rep. Gary VanDeaver and Sen. Brandon Creighton, was the culmination of months of work by legislators, community college leaders, and the business community, and expands upon the year-long efforts of the Texas Commission on Community College Finance (TxCCCF).
“I’m incredibly grateful to our legislators and to Governor Abbott for their commitment to advancing higher education in our great state,” said Chairman of the Coordinating Board Dr. Fred Farias. “Texas’s economic competitiveness depends on an educated workforce and our community colleges serve a critical role in giving more Texans the opportunity to earn credentials of value.”
With the passage of HB 8, Texas will reform its community college finance system to align policy and funding incentives with the rapidly changing needs of the workforce. It also puts dual credit students in high schools on pathways toward meaningful credentials and expands opportunities for adult learners.
The passage of HB 8, and the allocation of $683 million in the state budget, positions Texas as a national leader in tying funding for community colleges to measurable student-focused outcomes. These include:
“Texas community colleges are uniquely positioned to play a key role in helping more Texans earn the credentials required for high-demand, well-paying jobs,” said Commissioner of Higher Education Harrison Keller. “By signing HB 8 into law, policymakers have marked a commitment to fund community colleges in ways that align our state’s emerging workforce needs with strategic funding, resources, and postsecondary opportunities that lead to a credential of value.”
The legislation also transfers the Texas Adult Career Education (ACE) program from Austin Community College to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) and creates the Financial Aid for Swift Transfer (FAST) scholarship program for low-income dual credit students.
“The passage of this historic bill is a direct result of the consistent and dedicated effort from our 50 community college districts, our education partners, business and industry, and, of course, our lawmakers who made this a top priority this legislative session,” said Texas Association of Community Colleges President and CEO Ray Martinez III. “Our Texas community colleges look forward to leading the nation in higher education innovation.”
HB 8 was based on recommendations laid out in the TxCCCF report, submitted to state leaders in advance of the 88thlegislative session. The report offered three sets of recommendations for a new model in support of the goals in Building a Talent Strong Texas, the state’s strategic plan for higher education:
“Texas’s community colleges enroll and serve almost half of all students pursuing postsecondary education in our state, so they are an important engine that is propelling our future workforce and economy,” said TxCCCF Chair Woody L. Hunt. “This innovative funding will help community colleges make strategic decisions about how they best prepare their students to successfully enter the workforce or successfully transfer to a four-year university after graduation and ensure that all students are set up for success. This will strengthen our state and workforce for generations to come.”
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) was created by the Texas Legislature in 1965 and serves as a resource, partner, and advocate for Texas higher education, resulting in a globally competitive workforce that positions Texas as an international leader.
Once again, your community newspaper has been certified as “The Best Little Newspaper In Texas” by winning the Sweepstakes Award for small weeklies from the Texas Press Association.
The Clarendon Enterprise is proud to claim that title as the laurels resulting from the hard work that goes into our publication week after week. It’s a tradition that dates back 145 years – delivering the news the people of Donley County want and need while recording the history of our local communities.
Past longevity, however, is no guarantee of future success. For our news organization to survive to its 150th anniversary and beyond, we have to embrace technology and new ideas while still delivering the news.
When we reported winning the TPA Sweepstakes Award last year, we had also learned that The Iowa Park Leader had closed its doors that same week. A few months ago, we delivered the sad news that The Canadian Record was suspending publication, and this week we learned The Ozona Stockman in Crocket County is closing this month.
These weekly newspapers were among the best in the state. Although they each closed for different reasons, their communities now share the distinction of being part of the growing news deserts appearing in rural America – places where there is no press to report the news, to keep watch on local governments, and to record their peoples’ history.
We don’t have a crystal ball to see our future, but we are determined to fight like hell to keep publishing your newspaper. Our community needs it. You need it. And we’re going to utilize every possible tool to keep spreading the word just as we have done since 1878.
Last summer, we were given an opportunity to apply for a program to help small news organizations adapt and embrace new technology. We had participated in small workshops from the Google News Initiative – an effort from the tech giant to help small- and medium-size news publishers. The GNI Foundations Lab was going to be different though. It would give us access to resources we could never afford and put industry experts in our corner as we figure out how to navigate the future of news publishing.
The application was a longshot, but we filled it out and sent up a prayer. When word finally came last fall that the Enterprise had been selected for the lab, we realized what a unique opportunity this was. There were only 34 lab participants in the Western hemisphere, 14 in the US, and two in Texas.
It would be impossible to list everything we learned from the lab over a nine-month period. It was like drinking from a firehose, and we’re still trying to process some of the information. Much of it was technical information, but, in a nutshell, it was about how to effectively deliver the news in a digital format in ways that – hopefully – you, our readers, will appreciate and support and thus create sustainable news business for an ever-changing world.
As we go forward, we know that ultimately the keys to our success are still dependent on two things – business and organizations willing to back us with their advertising dollars and readers willing to buy subscriptions. We’ve been blessed in those terms for a century and a half, and we will continue to work to be worthy of that even as we implement the ideas that sprang from the GNI lab.
The TPA contest proves the Enterprise is a leader among weekly newspapers in the state when it comes to providing digital news coverage and printed news coverage. We’re not going to change that. Instead, we’re going to keep bringing you the news you need and want whether it’s on paper or on your phone. With Google’s help, we’re going to be reaching even more people with the news and bringing more attention to what’s happening here in terms of education, business, life, and culture.
You can help your local newspaper in the same way you always have. Buy a subscription for yourself, for a friend, and for a family member. Patronize our advertisers and tell them you saw their ad in the Enterprise. Send us news tips and photos. Encourage your friends to read the Enterprise either in print, on the web, or on social media. When it’s time for your fundraiser, don’t ask us to just run a blurb for free but instead include us in your advertising budget. At the end of the day, the future of your hometown newspaper is in your hands as much or more than it is in ours.
Meanwhile…
Your editor would be remiss if he missed this opportunity to thank those who are responsible for the success of the Enterprise. Our senior staff – Tara Allred assisted by Ashlee Estlack (in her free time) – is second to none, and our junior staff – Ben and Ella Estlack – fill in wherever necessary and play important roles with columns and photos. And then there are our freelancers and contributors – Sandy Anderberg, Kari Lindsey, Lisa Grahn, and Adelita Elam – each of whom makes my job easier and provides us with photos and information to make this paper truly the best in the state. Thank you all and thank you also to our advertisers and readers. We couldn’t do it without you.
High-speed fiber broadband internet will be available for most residents of Clarendon and Howardwick this fall, according to Kinetic by Windstream.
Responding to information requests from the Enterprise, Gerry Harrington with Kinetic’s Public Relations confirmed Monday the company will be rolling out the new service starting in Clarendon in August.
“Kinetic is indeed laying optical fiber to provide residential high-speed fiber broadband in Clarendon,” Harrington said.
Kinetic told the Enterprise it is laying more than 200,000 feet of optical fiber in Clarendon and Howardwick to make approximately 1,700 households eligible for high-speed fiber broadband.
Kinetic trucks and employees have been seen around Clarendon for a few weeks stringing the optical cable on existing Windstream telephone poles. Howardwick officials also say they have been seeing activity there by the communications company.
The first area that will be eligible to receive the fiber service will be most of the southwest portion of Clarendon, south of the railroad and west of Sully Street. Kinetic expects to equip more than 600 households in that area by the end of August.
Another 600 households should have fiber available by the end of September in the southeast portion of the city, south of the railroad and east of Sully Street.
By the end of October, Kinetic expects to be able to provide fiber broadband to 500 households in Howardwick on the east side of Carroll Creek.
Internal Kinetic maps provided to the Enterprise do not show fiber availability planned at this time for north of the railroad in Clarendon or west of Carroll Creek in Howardwick. The company said this week there are no plans to expand the fiber service into beyond the initial 1,700 households at this time.
Customers will be eligible to get Kinetic fiber broadband as soon as their homes are equipped for it. They can sign up at windstream.com/fiber-form.
When completed, nearly three-quarters of Clarendon and Howardwick households will be eligible for Kinetic’s fiber broadband.
Kinetic rolled out its fiber internet service in Hedley in November of 2022. According to the company website, Hedley residential customers can get 500 megabit service for $39.99 a month, 1.0 gigabit service for $69.99 a month, and 2.0 gigabit service for $169.99.
This past week, the Enterprise got some great news. We won multiple state awards from the Texas Press Association.
My Dad and I together won 3rd place in column writing, and my sister won first in sports photography. My Mom’s work on online reporting, and Tara’s work on page layouts were also recognized.
We also won an award for the best website; and not to toot my own horn, but that is one of my babies. I’m so proud to be working for the Enterprise, and I hope that we continue to have more years of winning.
Outside of work, I also had something awesome happen! I got my braces off after 28 months of having them! I love my smile, and it was so worth the years of wearing them to have such an awesome smile!
This past week has been quite exciting, and I’m so optimistic for the rest of my summer and all of the fun I am going to have!
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