Clay Council members approves $30,000 street paving project

Project won't touch what officials call the “worst street in town”

by MATT HUGHES
J-E Editor
Last Tuesday, Clay Council members voted to proceed with a paving project, but tight funding and needs in other areas resulted the approval of fewer improvements than they were originally seeking.

Ware Trucking of Providence will handle the approximately $30,000 project, which will West Short Street and roughly half of Nall Street resurfaced. The original job bid called for all of Nall Street to be repaved, along with West Short and First Street, but that was going to cost the city in excess of $80,000.
City employee Frank Rienhart told the council that First Street was ‘the worst street in town’, but council members were worried about water lines in that area.
“We have a lot of water line breakages on First Street,” said councilman Paul Cowan. “If we put blacktop down, we’ll continue to have breaks and within two or three years we will be back where we are now.”

Clay city council looks to increase taxes, save money on water

by MATT HUGHES
J-E Editor
Clay council members will attempt to offset a tight budget by approving a four percent increase to city taxes for 2015. The increase, if approved at a special called meeting later this month, will move the tax rate from 2.86 cents per $100 of assessed property value to 3 cents per $100.

For a property valued at $100,000, that increase will amount to $14 a year.
With the city already struggling with a tight 2015-2016 budget, another problem the city faces is delinquent taxes. Over the last several years the council has taken steps to collect on old debts, getting city attorney Ben Leonard in the pursuit of much needed funding.
Director of Public Works Paul Stone told the council that city workers had recently discovered a leak that had troubled the city’s water department for years.
“For years we have been using 145 to 155,000 gallons a day,” Stone reported. “We’ve had a thirty percent water loss for years. That’s a little over a million gallons a month.”

Clay concerned about speeders

by MATT HUGHES
J-E Editor
According to talk at last week’s Clay City Council meeting, one of the major problems facing the city is speeding Several council members reported receiving complaints from residents about cars driving too fast down their street. Among the problem areas were:

Dear Mr. President.....

by MATT HUGHES
J-E Editor
A group of Clay Elementary fifth and sixth grade students made a trip to the Clay Post Office last Thursday to mail a very special package. It was not the sort of package one sees everyday, and it is certainly not the sort of package that get’s handled often by our local post office employees. The ultimate destination: 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington D.C.

Another rate increase for Clay residents?

City Auditor thinks so...

by MATT HUGHES

J-E Editor

Clay City Council heard result of the annual city audit last Tuesday night. The results of which showed the city’s water and sewer operating at a loss of $101,500.

Clay council meets

by MATT HUGHES

J-E Editor

Clay Director of Public works Paul Stone appeared before the city council last week to request the purchase of a new hand-held unit for reading meters.

Clay Council holds first meeting at new Fire Station

by MATT HUGHES

J-E News Editor

Clay City Council held their October meeting last week following the open house at the newly constructed Clay Fire Department. 

Clay awards generator bid

by MATT HUGHES

J-E News Editor

Clay city council met in a special called meeting on Thursday night to make a decision on bids for an emergency generator for the new Clay Fire Department. 

Clay Postmaster to retire

by MATT HUGHES

J-E News Editor

On Friday the citizens of Clay will bid farewell to longtime Postmaster Larry Campbell. Campbell, who has been at the Clay Post Office since 1996, will be retiring from the postal service as of Friday, September 26, 2014.

Clay residents facing one very foul smelling invader

by MATT HUGHES

J-E News Editor

The city of Clay is facing one very smelly problem.

“I’ve been talked to about a skunk problem,” said Mayor Rick Householder. “People want to know what we can do about it. We’ve even had a lady come to meetings and talk about that in the past, but there is nothing we can do as a city.”

Clay looks at job bids for new fire department generator

by MATT HUGHES

J-E News Editor

Clay city council members voted to award a bid on Tuesday night, only to call an emergency session only moments following the conclusion of their meeting to reverse their decision.

Clay settles differences with fire department building contractor

by MATT HUGHES

J-E News Editor

Clay City Council members sat down last Tuesday night to speak candidly with the contractor who had designed their new fire department and the contractor who built it.

USPS to cut office hours of Clay Post Office

by MATT HUGHES

J-E News Editor

Clay City Clerk Julie Ryhe reported at last week’s council meeting that they were informed at a recent meeting that changes were on the way for the Clay Post Office.

Clay council approves tax rate hike

by MATT HUGHES

J-E News Editor

Clay council members approved the first reading of a measure last week that will increase the city’s tax rate by four percent. Such an increase is not a four percent per resident increase, it means the overall revenue generated will go up by about four percent. The four percent raise will require a pubic hearing.

Clay Council demands answers on Fire Department delays

Councilman Todd Vanover (L) and Engineer Duke Gaston
discuss some of the issues at the new Clay Fire Station

UPDATE

by MATT HUGHES

J-E News Editor

When members of the Clay City Council voted to accept a bid to construct their new fire station back in January, they did so believing that they would take possession of the structure no later than June 30, 2014. Actually, according to the contract, that was the deadline for the construction to be completed.

Clay prepares for new Fire Department

by MATT HUGHES

J-E News Editor

While Clay officials planned on being in their new fire station almost two months ago, they continue to wait for the building contractor to hand them the keys. 

Clay fire department could be finished this week

by MATT HUGHES

J-E News Editor

Clay City Council handled a brief agenda last Tuesday night, quickly approving the second reading of three budgetary ordinances and voting to renew the city employees’ insurance plan for the next fiscal year. But the biggest new of the night was the announcement that contractors were only a week and a half away from finishing construction of the new Clay Fire Department building.

Clay council approves $1.78 million budget for next fiscal year

by MATT HUGHES

J-E News Editor

During it’s monthly meeting, members of the Clay City Council addressed the issue of properties that were in violation of the city’s nuisance ordinance. In all there were 20 properties named that needed to be mowed or repaired.

Clay to examine future of gas pipe line

by MATT HUGHES

J-E News Editor

Clay City Council met in a brief session on Monday to open bids for the proposed reconstruction of a problematic gas line creek crossing on Caney Creek.

Clay council votes to replace troublesome gas line crossing

by MATT HUGHES

J-E News Editor

Clay City Council met in a special called meeting last Tuesday night to approve a project to replace a portion of gas line that crosses Caney Creek near the town of Wheatcroft.