Roger Estlack

Clarendon City Secretary Machiel Covey has been named the Clerk of the Year by the Panhandle Chapter of the Texas Municipal Clerks Association.

Covey has served TMCA for 13 years in different offices. In addition to her work with the association, a large factor in Covey’s recognition was the proactive protocols she helped implement during the COVID-19 pandemic. The City of Clarendon was in out in front during the pandemic, and some of the things implemented here were later duplicated in other Panhandle cities.

Covey will be recognized this Thursday during the Panhandle TMCA chapter meeting in Amarillo. Her nomination will then be forwarded for a chance to win the state title at the association’s annual meeting in Georgetown in October.

The City of Clarendon will partner with Donley County in an effort to open more grant opportunities for the community following the June 9 meeting of the city council.

County officials are working to more accurately report the average income of local households, which is used as a determining factor for state and federal grants.

The current federal survey that says 42 percent of Donley County households are of low to moderate income. Local officials believe the number is under reported and are pursuing doing an independent survey because some grants are only available to communities with 51 percent or more households are of low to moderate income.

City Secretary Machiel Covey said about 700 surveys need to be completed, and the city will split the $7,000 price tag of conducting the surveys with the county.

In other city business, the council approved retaining the Panhandle Regional Planning Commission to conduct a search for the next city administrator to replace David Dockery, who intends to retire next spring.

The search will cost $3,500 to $7,000 and will begin in October. City officials want the new administrator’s service to overlap Dockery’s by 90 days.

The city will also retain the PRPC to file the necessary reports for the city’s ARPA funding. The federal COVID-relief funds come with very complicated reporting requirements. PRCP will charge the city $20,000 for that service, and the ARPA funds can be tapped for that expense.

Alderman Larry Jeffers was selected by his fellow council members to serve as the city’s mayor pro tem.

The city also approved the airport board’s request to purchase a windsock structure with a beacon for $5,680.77. The money is available from funds raised for the airport, and the city can apply for a RAMP grant to recoup half of that amount.

City aldermen also met in a called session on June 17 to consider paving options for this season. The council set a maximum amount of $125,000 to spend a project with those streets to be identified later.

The council agreed to abandon 1.7 feet of Allen Street along the former residence of the late Frances Skelton with her family bearing the cost of that correction.

A similar action was taken about a year ago with a neighboring property. Poor surveys in the distant past resulted in improvements being built on what was really city right of way.

Signs thefts are on the rise in Donley County, and that puts public safety at risk, according to the Texas Department of Transportation.

TxDOT Donley County Supervisor Brian Miller says they are seeing a rash of sign thefts across the county. The vandals are taking all forms of highway markers – stop signs, LED stop signs, deer crossing, FM roadways, and more.

At the intersection of FM 2471 and SH 273, local TxDOT employees have replaced a stop sign there at least three times in a year.

“When signs are stolen or vandalized, it can result in serious consequences for the traveling public,” said Childress District Engineer Darwin Lankford, P.E. “Traffic signs communicate important information to travelers.”

If someone isn’t familiar with an intersection and the stop sign is gone, the likelihood of a collision at the intersection increases.

Those responsible for the sign theft can be held liable if the collision results in injuries or fatalities. While some might see it as an opportunity to collect memorabilia for their room, garage, or dorm room, it is illegal, irresponsible, and a serious issue that puts lives at risk, TxDOT officials say.
Statewide, it costs Texas taxpayers millions of dollars to replace signs, including those damaged by gunshots.

Damaging, destroying, or stealing state property or state traffic control devices including road signs is a Class C misdemeanor if the damage is less than $100; a Class B misdemeanor if the damage is between $100 and $750; a Class A misdemeanor if the damage is between $750 and $2,500.

The Class A crime is punishable by up to $4,000 in fines and up to one year in jail. If the damage is between $2,500 and $20,000, the crime is a state jail felony and is punishable by up to $10,000 in fines and between 180 days and two years in state jail.

In Donley County, TxDOT employees are taking a new approach to helping deter the theft. Signs are now being engraved with the date of replacement and the location where the sign was installed. If signs are found in the possession of someone, that sign can now be identified.

Depending on the type of sign, replacement can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars.
If a driver notices a sign missing, they are encouraged to contact TxDOT so that sign can be replaced as soon as possible. When calling, give the county and location where the sign is missing. Drivers can make their report by calling Ginger Wilson, Public Information Officer at 940-937-7288.

Donley County Commissioners on Monday approved a plan to employ survey takers in an effort to expand local eligibility for several grants.

As reported last week, federal agencies currently operate with a survey that says 42 percent of Donley County households are of low to moderate income. However, some grants are only available to communities with 51 percent or more households are of low to moderate income. Local officials believe the number is under reported and are pursuing doing an independent survey.

Commissioners approved a measure authorizing $4,000 to employ high school students this summer to conduct the survey.

Donley County Judge John Howard said the cities of Clarendon and Hedley are also participating and will help fund the effort.

Commissioners also discussed rising health insurance costs and the ongoing effect of that on the county budget. The court moved forward with a plan to make employee health benefits an 80/20 split with the employee covering 20 percent of their own health insurance. That will amount to about $200 in the coming budget yet, and Howard said the county would be increasing the employees’ pay by that amount this year to cover the cost with the understanding that a portion of future health insurance increases would be borne by the employee.

County officials discussed payroll in their budget workshop and noted that county employees have seen progress in their salaries over the last several years. However, inflation is eroding those gains, Howard said. Commissioners are grappling with how to protect those gains.

County fuel costs were also a topic of commissioners’ budget discussions as were upcoming maintenance projects on the courthouse that are expected in the coming fiscal year.

The court heard a report from Tax Assessor/Collector Kristy Christopher on the ongoing effort to process voter registrations, and the court approved trainings for the county clerk. New furniture for the clerk’s office in the amount of $2,604 was also approved. That office has recently received new paint and new carpet.

The clerk’s office was also authorized to hire help to organize records in storage.

The county’s mileage reimbursement rate was increased from 51 cents per mile to the state rate of 5.8.5 cents and the trailer rate was increased to 62.5 cents, up from 54.5.

The court voted to advertise for bids for the county’s bank depository.

Commissioners approved the audit for Fiscal year 2020-2021 as presented by Tracy Lambert.

Judge Howard was authorized to apply for unclaimed capital credits through the state, which he says usually amounts to the county receiving “a couple of hundred dollars.”