Roger Estlack

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.”

Clarendon College recently hired Mark Simmons to be the new Director of Industrial Maintenance.

Simmons comes to the college to with more than 40 years of experience in construction, welding, maintenance, and teaching. His areas of expertise include focusing on quality control, quality assurance, construction management, and field supervision and safety.

Simmons also specializes in welding, mechanical and civil aspects including oil and gas pipeline (mainline and gathering systems), petrochemical/fossil fuels, cryogenic facilities, compressor stations, manufacturing, nuclear, drilling completion, education and training, and safety and loss control.

Simmons has a wealth of teaching and industrial experience, having taught at TSTI, Clarendon College, and Frank Phillips College; as well as working at Fluor Daniel, Brown and Root, WHM Custom Services, 3i Inspection, Agrium, QDB Consulting, and OneOK, among others.

This work took Simmons throughout Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Missouri, California, and other states where he completed jobs in oil and gas as well as nuclear power plant construction. Simmons is also a licensed fixed wing and helicopter pilot as well as holding a CDL.

Simmons is enthusiastic about being part of Clarendon College and is looking forward to working with the students.

CC President Tex Buckhaults said he is excited about the opportunity for students to learn under Simmons due to his wealth of experience, enthusiasm toward his field, and passion for education. He believes Simmons will have a very positive impact on the college, particularly with the students that will benefit from his teaching.

This fall, Simmons will be teaching welding in Clarendon in the mornings and in Pampa during the evenings. He will also be developing Industrial Maintenance options in Pampa.

For more information, contact Mark Simmons at [email protected] or at 806-665-8801.

The Saints’ Roost Museum will hold its Member Appreciation Day in conjunction with the Clarendon Chamber of Commerce’s quarterly Shop Donley County drawing on Thursday, June 16, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.

Refreshments and heavy hors d’oeuvres will be served, and door prizes will be given away for those in attendance.

The Chamber’s $500 Shop Donley County giveaway awards Chamber Cash to a lucky winner who shopped in one of the participating merchants each quarter. You do not have to be present to win, and you can sign-up at any of the participating merchants.

Shop Donley merchants currently includes: Cornell’s Country Store, Outpost Pharmacy, Henson’s, Every Nook & Cranny, A Fine Feathered Nest, Loaded Nutrition / Ramblin’ Ranch, Country Bloomers Flowers & Gifts, Floyd’s Automotive Supply, J&W Lumber, Mike’s Pharmacy, Saye’s / Flying ‘A’ Tack, Speed’s Tire Unlimited, and the Whistle-Stop.

Donley County Commissioners will be talking about health insurance and a possible way to get more grant funds for local communities when they hold their regular meeting next Monday.

County Judge John Howard says the county’s health insurance has gone up $93,000 in the last seven years, and commissioners are facing another 5.9 percent increase in premiums in the new budget, which takes effect in October. Some counties have seen increases of 14 percent, he said.

On Monday, June 13, commissioners will be looking at the amount of money county employees are expected to pay for their insurance as they try to balance the needs of the employees with the needs of the taxpayers.

Commissioners will also be talking about conducting community surveys to boost the ability for the county to apply for certain grants.

Howard said the American Community Survey currently reports that 42 percent of Donley County households are of low to moderate income. The survey is a figure that HUD gives to the US Department of Agriculture, which in turns uses it as a litmus test for Community Development Block Grants – either in scoring grants or sometimes whether a community can even apply for a grant.

The judge says local officials believe that the number of low to moderate income households in the county is significantly higher than the American Community Survey reports. Communities do, however, have the option of conducting their own survey. The City of Howardwick has done just that and opened the door to some CBDG funds, Howard said.

In the county’s case, the focus would be on securing a grant for the Donley County Hospital District to replace three aging ambulances. The district alone can’t apply for the grant in question. The county could apply for the grant funds, but only if 51 percent or more households are classified as low to moderate income.

On Monday, commissioners will discuss working with city officials in Clarendon and Hedley to get volunteers to conduct local surveys, the judge said.

“It makes a difference if someone from the federal government comes to your door or if it’s someone local who can explain how completing a survey can help the county,” Howard said.

If the effort is successful, the county could apply for up to $750,000 for the hospital district to buy three new ambulances, and the match from the hospital district would only be $7,500.

Howard said the survey data collected locally would be good for five years, allowing local cities and the county more eligibility for other grant opportunities during that time.