City okays CEDC deal to bring in restaurant

The Clarendon City Council met in called session last Wednesday, February 22, to consider engineering firms for upcoming projects and to consider an economic development agreement for a new downtown restaurant.

Aldermen scored High Plains Engineering as the highest ranking firm to handle the city’s next proposed CDBG grant for water and wastewater systems improvement. City officials also selected OJD Engineering as the highest ranking firm for the second phase of Downtown Revitalization improvements.

syringe,” said Caudle. “I guess methamphetamine degrades critical-thinking ability so much that the subject actually thinks law enforcement will believe it.”

After all the evidence, Gunnels was convicted of the evading offense and acquitted on two other charges before the evading took place.

Juries get to hear the testimony and see the evidence presented at trial and make an informed decision from there, according to Inman.

“We appreciate all of [the jury’s] hard work and attention during the trial,” said Inman. “When we get the same type of punishment we are asking for in these evading cases from a jury it makes us and law enforcement feel like we are looking out for everyone’s best interest.”

The enhanced seconddegree felony, which Gunnels was convicted for, had a maximum of 20 years.

The selection of engineering firms is part of the process in applying for grants to fund those projects.

City aldermen also discussed the Clarendon Economic Development Corporation’s proposed agreement with Ricardo Santillan to open a second location of his Guymon, Okla., based REFZ Sports Bar & Grill to CEDC owned property at US 287 and Kearney Street in the former Clarendon Steakhouse building.

CEDC Vice President Taylor Shelton answered questions about the agreement, and the council gave its unanimous approval, clearing the way for Santillan to take possession of the property and begin renovations.

Santillan plans to have REFZ open for business here this October.

Attracting a new downtown restaurant has been a priority of the CEDC Board of Directors for several years.