News

Clarendon officials this week continue to work with Waste Connections to resolve issues with garbage collection in the city.

The city council responded to citizens’ complaints about trash not being picked up by meeting with its attorney on October 10 and then authorizing an attorney to write a demand letter to Waste Connections.

City Administrator Brian Barboza said Monday the sanitation company contacted him after they read the Enterprise’s online coverage of that meeting.

“I’m not sure the letter had even been sent yet,” Barboza said.

Waste Connections Amarillo District Manager Bobby Fira sent a letter to Barboza referencing the ClarendonLive.com article and stating that the company strives to maintain good service.

“We do acknowledge there have been some service issues over the last two months, and we want to apologize.” Fira says in the letter obtained by the Enterprise. “There have been some extenuating circumstances though. Our long-standing Clarendon driver retired from WCN on 8/16/2024 which required us to employ a new driver in the city. We have also experienced some truck issues with a very old truck that was primarily being used in Clarendon. We have worked vigorously to resolve these issues.”

Fira said going forward their driver will check in with the city daily to address missed stops, he will have a map to mark his progress in following the schedule, and the driver will have a camera system to record his stops.

Fira also asked for the city’s assistance in resolving issues with low-hanging wires in some areas of town.

“We value open communication with city officials and believe that working together transparently is the best approach to addressing any concerns,” Fira said.

“We would like to work this out amicably, with us immediately sharpening our service level to your standards and having a clear understanding of what your ultimate expectations are.”

Fira also said even though the company’s contract doesn’t expire until September 2025, they would be open to starting the request for proposals (RFP) process to “explore ways to retain this partnership.”

Barboza said he has also been contacted by another member of the Waste Connections staff and was told the company didn’t feel like it had been given a chance to respond to problems and was unaware of the complaints. He said the company is making some changes.

“We’re still getting some complaints [at City Hall] but not as much as before,” Barboza said. “We’re going to continue to work with Waste Connections to get these issues resolved.”

The Texas Department of Public Safety discontinued the Blue Alert for Seth Altman of Memphis last Wednesday, October 16, but the man remains at large.

Altman is wanted for reportedly shooting Police Chief Rex Plant in Memphis on October 3. Donley County Sheriff Butch Blackburn confirmed Tuesday afternoon that Altman has not been arrested or located and remains at large and is considered armed and dangerous.

Blackburn said last week he did not know why the Blue Alert was discontinued, but he did confirm with Hall County authorities that the 33-year-old still is on the loose.

Blackburn said the last trace of Altman’s whereabouts was Monday, October 7, and it appeared he had been in Donley County and crossed back into Hall County.

Also last week, DPS released two computer-generated photos created by a DPS Forensic Artist to show what Seth Altman would look like with a trimmed beard and no facial hair. Blackburn says it’s very possible that he has changed his appearance, and the sheriff reminds everyone to stay on the lookout for Altman and to call 911 immediately if you see him.

Garbage was high on the agenda of the Clarendon City Council when it met in regular session last Thursday.

With some residents continuing to report Dumpsters not being picked up, the council met in closed session with the city attorney for about 25 minutes to review the city’s franchise agreement with Waste Connections for the collection, hauling, and disposal of solid waste.

After the council returned to open session, aldermen approved a motion to retain the Underwood Law Firm and direct them to send a demand letter to Waste Connections.

City officials also heard a presentation from G&H Waste and Recycle Contracting. Clayton Vickers said his company is not in the garbage collection business but instead provides management solutions for trash service. G&H would be a middleman between the city and the current or any future solid waste company. G&H would handle solicitation of bids when the time comes next year, customer complaints once a company is on board, and review the billing between the city and the trash company. Customer billing would still go through the city.

The city council took no action on G&H’s proposal pending an opinion from the city attorney as to whether or not doing so would violate the current agreement with Waste Connections. The council also wants G&H to provide references.

In other city business, the council selected a proposal from Tascosa Office Machines for a new multipurpose printer for the Burton Memorial Library and also approved a motion to confirm AW Broadband for internet services after the company completed trial services.

The city’s fund investment policy was updated, and the city administrator and city secretary were again appointed as fund investment officers. Operating procedures were adopted for the city’s animal control department, and The Clarendon Enterprise was named the city’s newspaper of record for the coming fiscal year.

The city’s contract with the Donley Appraisal District for the assessment and collection of property taxes was approved for fiscal year 2025.

The council approved requests from the Chamber of Commerce to close the 100 block of S. Kearney on October 26 for Halloween activities and on November 2 for a Street Party sponsored by REFZ Sports Bar & Grill.

Spookfest ‘24 will be a fun-filled evening of trunk-or-treating, games, food, movies, and more next Saturday, October 26 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

The Mulkey Theatre Trunk or Treat will start at 5 p.m. along with games and activities hosted by local organizations. Setup for these events will begin at 4:00, and those interested in have a trunk or activity must call the Visitor Center at 806-874-2421 by Friday, October 25, at noon to have a space reserved.

The Clarendon Chamber of Commerce will hold a costume contest during the event. Registration and judging will be at the Chamber booth in front of the Visitor Center from 5:00 to 6:00.

Following the activities, Robertson Funeral Directors will sponsor a free movie at the Mulkey. Casper the Friendly ghost will show at 7:00 p.m.

The Mulkey Theatre will welcome back the Texas Comedies team to present “Bonnie & Clyde: A Musical Comedy” on Sunday, October 20, at 1:30 p.m.

In this irreverent new musical comedy about the notorious Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, a man obsessed with Bonnie pursues the two gangsters relentlessly.

This “mostly true” one-hour show with a live band is based on postman-turned-deputy Ted Hinton’s memoir, as well as newspaper and crime magazine stories of the 1930s.

Tickets for “Bonnie & Clyde” are $15 each and are on sale now at MulkeyTheatre.com and at the door.