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Margaret Turnbow
TUESDAY, July 19, 2016 / Vol. 2 Issue 27 / 75 cents
Council looks at rate hike proposals The Clinton City Council heard two proposals for water rate increases at its meeting last week. One proposal would raise everybody's basic minimum bill by $20 per month. The second would raise it by $15 per month and increase the cost for every 1,000 gallons of water after minimum usage to $4.75. Mayor Richard McCormac and Water Department Manager Todd Burgess both said they favored the
$20 increase. Twenty-five percent of water customers are minimum-use ratepayers. "I understand that's a sizable increase," Burgess said. But, he said, the department cannot continue to operate in the red trying to decide which bills to pay each month as it faces a shortfall each month of as much as $40,000. By moving money from one account to another to cover bills each month, "We're depleting our savings," he
said. "We're about out of ways to move money around," McCormac added. The mayor stressed that there was nothing to be gained by finger-pointing. "This is not the time for complacency, blame or Band-Aids," he said. "We can't keep delaying this." Burgess had other bad news for the council -- the cost to get the recently vandalized West Treatment Plant operation-
al again has been estimated at $600,000 to $700,000. The cost to keep the plant idle and continue to pay the necessary permits for it is about $25,000 per year, and if the department decided to let the permits lapse, it would have to pay to clean up the ponds. Burgess doesn't know what that would cost. He also said his best estimate to finish up the clarifier project is $250,000. CouncilSee City Council on page 2
Hear ye, hear ye! Clinton Mayor Richard McCormac has called a Town Hall meeting for 6 p.m. Thursday, July 26, 2016, at the Clinton Senior Center on Yellowjacket Lane. The topic of the meeting will be a proposed increase in rates for the Clinton Water Department. There will be a
chance to ask questions, and McCormac plans to have a speaker present who can explain the department's bond issues, which are part of what is driving the necessity for a rate increase. The meeting, McCormac said, will be "very helpful," and he encourages everyone to attend.
Parish wrapping up final days as chief
Toney Parish watches over the crowd last month during his final Archey Fest as police chief. (Photo by Robert Snyder)
Notes We know it's supposed to get close to 100 degrees out there this week, but here at The Voice, we're thinking about Christmas. First, we are looking for volunteers. This holiday season, we want to shower gifts on one special person who goes above and beyond the call of duty for his or her fellow man. For the next several weeks, The Voice will feature Van Buren County volunteers, so send your suggestions to us at voiceeditor@artelco.com or call 745-8040. In December, readers will decide who they want to see honored. Another decision we'll be calling on readers to make later this year is to pick a teacher from one of our county schools to receive a passel of holiday gifts. We're asking teachers and school staff to submit articles and/or photographs exclusively to The Voice, and those who do will be on our ballot for readers to choose from this December. The items must be published only in The Voice from August through November. Don't forget about See Notes on page 2
After 19 years as Clinton's top cop, Toney Parish is stepping down on Aug. 3. At his final City Council meeting as chief last week, Parish gave his usual summation: "You have my report. I'll answer any questions you have." Then he made a request -- for one of his officers. The officer would like to attend a two-day training course in Dallas on how to stay safe on a traffic stop. The officer will make his
own arrangements for transportation and a place to stay, but the course costs $499. The council voted unanimously to let the officer go. At the end of the meeting during the mayor's comments, Richard McCormac thanked Parish for his service and noted this was his last City Council meeting. "Oh, I'll be back," Parish said. At his office Friday, Parish said he isn't comfortable giv-
ing interviews. He clearly is a man who lets his actions speak for him. However, he did outline his work history, which included a stint in the military, working at Lefler Chevrolet, owning a feed store, being a Fish and Game warden, four years with the sheriff's office and hauling produce for Kroger. In all those years, "I never quit one job until I had another. Now I work for Sallie Parish," he joked.
Motorist injured in crash
A man driving a Jeep was injured Monday, July 11, in a wreck with a tractor-trailer in front of the Nazarene Church on U.S. Highway 65 in Clinton. According to Police Chief Toney Parish, a witness said the driver of the northbound Jeep ran a red light, and ended up running up on some grass and a sidewalk on the southbound side of the highway. The truck driver said he tried to get out of the way, but the Jeep hit the side of his trucker and trailer.
Shirley backs off plan to buy bank building
The city of Shirley apparently won't be buying the town's historic bank building after all. At its July 11 City Council meeting, Mayor Johnny Sowell said he had spoken with the city's insurance company and was told it would not insure the building until it was restored. He said he had talked with a bank about financial options and it was noted that if the city bought the building it would assume responsibility for securing the structure. The council discussed the cost of repairs and restoration and it was decided that the city really could not afford to move forward with the purchase at this time. The council also discussed finances when trying to decide if it can afford its employee. The employee resigned to take a part-time job with Community Water and Councilwoman Margaret Earnhart questioned whether the city could even afford an employee as it seemed spending had been high re-
The truck driver was not injured. Parish said he heard the accident from his home and went out in his police vehicle. He said some people from the Nazarene Church as well as others offered their help. Parish said no ambulance was available to transport the injured man to a hospital. The nearest ambulance would have to come from Fairfield Bay, Parish said, and See Wreck on page 2
Parish said he would accompany his wife on some of her travels in the state as she continues work as an education consultant. Parish said he was being truthful in what he told the City Council the evening before. The pay wasn't great and the hours were long, but police chief or not, "I will always do whatever I can for anybody in Clinton. I love these people."
Photos by Dean Beardsley/for The Voice
See Shirley on page 2