News

The Clarendon CISD Board of Trustees extended the contract of Superintendent Mike Norrell during their regular meeting July 11.

Trustees met for over an hour behind closed doors to evaluate Norrell’s performance before returning to open session to accept his contract and compensation package unanimously.

Norrell started with Clarendon schools in April 2015. His contract will now run through the 2022-2023 school year.

In other personnel matters, the board acknowledged the resignation of teacher Cobette Riza and approved offering a probationary contract to Christi Benson.

In other school business, Norrell presented the STAAR and EOC scores to the board, and Elementary Principal Mike Word delivered an Early Reading Report.

Trustees approved a contract with Johnson & Sheldon for auditing services. Region 16 ESC Contracts for 2019-2020 were approved as presented, and policy updates recommended by TASB Policy Service were approved.

The board also approved the tax deeds for Trust Property in the City of Howardwick as presented.

The Clarendon City Council last week deliberated the fate of a proposed aquatics facility and discussed using city funds to help make up a shortfall between the low bid and money dedicated to the project.

A&S General Contractors had the lowest price of $2,716,838 when bids were opened on July 9. Funds currently dedicated to the project through donations and grants, however, total $2,253,055, leaving a shortfall of $463,783. City officials would also like to have a five percent contingency fund of $126,842 in the event of change orders or cost overruns.

The city has until August 23 to accept or reject the bid submitted by A&S.

“Things have changed dramatically over the last four years,” Mayor Sandy Skelton told the council. “I’m feeling okay about investing city funds into this project.”

Skelton told the council that the cost of building the swimming pool had gone up from $500 per square foot of surface water in 2015 to more than $800 per square foot today. City officials had initially said four years ago that no public funds would be spent on constructing the facility, but he said they had no way of knowing then what was going to happen with the prices of steel and concrete. The mayor also said a strong economy has pool builders busy and not hurting for work, which leads to higher prices.

The project has now been bid three times, coming in over budget each time. The most recent low bid has come the closest to the funds available but only after the size of the project was reduced from about 4,200 square feet of water surface area to 3,160 square feet.

“We highly recommend not bidding again,” Skelton said, noting that he and City Administrator David Dockery have been meeting with A&S to find ways to cut costs.

One proposed way to save about $180,000 would be to use gunite (or sprayed concrete) instead of cast concrete walls for the pool. City officials note that there is a trade-off in using the cheaper method, however, in that it leads to increased maintenance costs down the road and is considered not as strong as traditional building methods.

The city also has about $1.1 million in general and capital reserves and could tap some of those funds to help make up the short fall as well as pursue additional donations.

“We’re going to have to put in some city funds if we want to go forward,” Dockery said.

Clarendon Economic Development Corporation Secretary Roger Estlack and CEDC President Robert Riza both addressed the council about the water recreation project. The CEDC gave $25,000 initially to the project and also financed bonds of $500,000 to help pay for its construction.

Estlack urged the city to accept the current low bid, negotiate as much savings as possible, and use city reserves to make up the difference in order to start construction and open the aquatics center in 2020 rather than further delay the project.

Riza said the time has come to finish the project and that if the city fails to do so, it would never be able to go ask for donations for this kind of project again.

Alderman Larry Jeffers said he was not opposed to using city funds to support building the pool, and Alderman Nathan Floyd agreed.

“I feel good about it,” Floyd said.

Alderman Jacob Fangman asked about other costs associated with opening a pool, such as equipping lifeguards, signage, and other expenses. He said he worries about putting too much of the city’s reserves into the project.

“I think a pool is a great thing, but we need to think about the big picture,” Fangman said.
Skelton warned against considering scrapping the pool project and said the city would be in the hole with design and other costs if the project is not pursued.

“Personally, I think it would be a terrible mistake to scrap this project,” the mayor said. “Donors don’t want their money back. They want a pool.”

The city council took no action on the pool last week but will take up the issue again during its next two meetings in August.

“I was pleased with the thoughtful discussion the City Council had at its July 25th meeting regarding the financial details for the proposed swimming pool,” Mayor Skelton said after the meeting. “Over the next three weeks, we will be working diligently to cut costs and raise additional funds. The Economic Development Corporation and the Donley County Commissioners Court have contributed to the proposed pool, but the City of Clarendon has not done so thus far. However, the City Council has discussed the possibility of contributing in the next two or three weeks.

“In my personal opinion, it would be a huge lost opportunity for the residents of Clarendon and Donley County to not go through with this project,” Skelton continued. “How often does a city receive a large amount of donated funds for any project? If we do not construct the pool, the City would have to return 100 percent of the donated funds to many, many donors. I talked to a gentleman not long ago and he said ‘just use those donated funds to pave our streets.’ I reminded him that the donors gave funds exclusively for the pool and nothing else. Street paving is an entirely different issue. We all want more streets paved but that issue will need to go to the voters after the replacement of the old cast iron water pipes, a project that is currently underway. City Council members want streets paved as much as anyone else, but it doesn’t make sense to pave streets before the water pipe replacement project is complete.”

Editor’s Note: Next week the Enterprise will publish an updated drawing of the pool design as well as list the features currently planned for the facility.

Clarendon Aldermen proposed dropping the city’s ad valorem tax rate by almost 26 cents per $100 valuation during their regular meeting last Thursday, July 25.

The proposed tax rate is $0.4999 compared to the current rate of $0.75868, according to City Administrator David Dockery.

“That puts our rate under 50 cents and generates less than $500,000 in revenue, which makes the city a small taxing unit,” Dockery said.

The reduced rate was made possible by the city paying off bonds that were issued in 2012 for street and water line improvements.

Aldermen also conducted a budget workshop, and Dockery said the tentative budget for fiscal year 2020 totals about $2.544 million, which is an increase over usual expenses budgeted for 2019. Dockery said the new budget includes a three percent cost of living adjustment for city employees.

In other city business last week, aldermen approved the city’s quarterly investment report and voted to support Eddy Edwards of Borger to serve on a board with the Texas Municipal League.

In a called meeting Monday, July 29, the city council also approved a bid from Panhandle Striping & Seal Coating to stripe and seal coat the Smiley Johnson Municipal Airport runway and tarmac for $49,999 as part of a state RAMP grant project.

A grassfire at Greenbelt Lake kept Clarendon volunteer firemen busy for three days this past weekend, and Fire Chief Jeremy Powell is urging everyone to be cautious about outdoor burning.

The Clarendon Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched shortly after 11 p.m. on Friday, July 19, to a fire on the west side of the lake. Powell said the fire was burning between homes and the shoreline of the lake and consumed 25 acres before being brought under control.

The department worked with Greenbelt Water Authority, the Donley County Sheriff’s Department, Texas DPS, and the Associated Ambulance Authority.

No structures were lost, and units remained on scene until after 4 a.m. and returned after 8 a.m. on Saturday to make sure the fire was still within containment lines.

The fire continued to burn within the containment area, and then on Sunday afternoon, the fire jumped a guard line, bringing the total acres burned to at least 35.

Powell reminds the public that after the recent 100 degree days, grasses and weeds have cured or dried to the point that they will burn from just a spark.

“We need to be very cautious,” Powell said and reminded folks to be careful with any activities that could result in a grass fire.

Powell said Clarendon volunteer firemen were also called out Sunday morning at about 6 o’clock to extinguish a locomotive fire on the BNSF tracks near County Road 6A and US 287.

Five Texas Panhandle communities have come together to host a multi-day, family friendly event along Highway 83 this summer.

The towns of Canadian, Wheeler, Shamrock, Wellington and Childress have each scheduled four days full of fun from Thursday, August 1, through Sunday, August 4.

Some of the things on tap for Wild & Free on 83 include live music, art exhibits, scavenger hunts, helicopter tours, clay shoots, cookouts, block parties, golf tournaments, star watching, wine tasting and much more.

Area residents are invited to discover the rich heritage of these communities by visiting points of interest in each town, while enjoying events scheduled throughout the day.

“It’s an easy drive over for most people in the Panhandle,” says organizer Kristen Moudy with the Wheeler Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Center. “We hope our friends from neighboring towns will come experience what we have to offer along highway 83 and learn not only about our rich history, but experience what makes up the fabric of our towns.”

A full calendar of events for the five towns is available at WildAndFree83.com. There, you can also find a full list of hotels, restaurants and shopping options.

Representatives from each town will spend the next two months visiting neighboring communities to help promote the event, with the goal of expanding it each year to include more stops along Highway 83.

The City of Howardwick this week approved a settlement with the Howardwick Volunteer Fire Department bringing control of the city’s fire protection back under the authority of the City Council, and named former city alderman Brice Hawley as interim fire chief.

In special meeting Monday night, the city approved the terms of the agreed judgment by which all monies, titles, gear, vehicles, and other property of the department have been returned to the city.

Volunteer firemen in Howardwick formed their own non-profit organization on March 26, 2018, and had been at odds with city officials for several months. City officials said the HVFD displaced the official fire department as defined by ordinance and formally titled the City of Howardwick Volunteer Fire Department.

The formation of the non-profit came about four months after a November 2017 special election in which Greta Byars was elected mayor.

Prior to that election, the fire department had a service agreement approved by the city council, establishing the department’s independence from the city.

In April of this year, the city filed suit against the HVFD, saying in part that the department had improperly transferred vehicle titles from the city to the non-profit department.

During its regular meeting last Tuesday, July 9, the city council approved a proposed settlement with the department, and firemen unanimously approved the offer in a special meeting on July 11.

This week’s agreement effectively dissolves the HVFD and reaffirms the function of the City of Howardwick Volunteer Fire Department defined by the city’s code of ordinances.

“The City will move forward in operating the City of Howardwick Volunteer Fire Department (CHVFD), which is an unincorporated department of the City that has been in existence for at least 33 years,” a statement from City Hall said. “The CHVFD will, at all times, remain under the authority, control, management and supervision of the City and its governing body, the City Council.”

In a 4-1 vote Howardwick, the council named Hawley as interim fire chief, with Alderman Mary Grady opposed.

Hawley said Monday that his immediate goals are to get advice from state and local officials, such as the Clarendon Volunteer Fire Department, Amarillo Fire Department, the Donley County Sheriff’s Office, the state fire marshal’s office, and others.

Howardwick residents age 18 and over, as well as those working in Howardwick or living within 20 miles of the city, are welcome to apply for membership on the fire department through City Hall.

The interim chief said a fish fry fundraiser is being planned for August 24 to help raise money for the department.

While the CHVFD is getting up and operational, the Donley County Sheriff’s Office, Clarendon VFD, Hedley VFD, and Claude VFD will provide fire protection services to the community.

The city gratefully acknowledges the efforts and cooperation of these entities in keeping residents safe.

“This is all positive,” City Secretary Sandra Childress told the Enterprise. “The city is protecting our citizens and moving forward.”