Clovis to reassign positions on lower boards

CLOVIS — The Clovis city commission officially replaced Ladona Clayton as District 1 commissioner last week, when David Robinson was sworn in for the final eight-plus months of Clayton’s term.

On Thursday, the commission will take the next step in reassigning Clayton’s positions on lower boards and committees.

Prior to her departure to Dallas for an educational administrative position, Clayton was the District 1 representative for the Public Works Committee and the Chamber of Commerce’s railroad committee, in addition to serving as chair of the water policy advisory committee.

While Robinson could fill in all three positions, conditions make it unlikely he will succeed Clayton in the water committee chairmanship. Before Clayton became chair, Mayor David Lansford served in the position to allow Clayton to both get acclimated to the committee and work on the city’s master water assurance plan. Additionally, Robinson has said he does not intend to run for another term, and the commission may prefer a chairman that will still be on the commission after the March municipal elections.

Other items on the agenda for the 4:45 meeting at the Clovis-Carver Public Library include:

• Sale of the Levine’s property to Red Door Brewing Company for $5,000.

The property located at 412-414 Main St. drew five initial bidders, with Red Door Brewing Company ranked second behind Foote/Hyder in January. The top-ranked proposer has recently withdrawn that proposal, and a request for proposal committee recommends Red Door — which has since established operations in Clovis at Mainline Bowl on Mabry Drive.

Matt Biggs, managing member of Red Door, said there are no plans to change operations at the current Mabry location, and that the vision is for some type of outdoor taproom and community space on Main Street.

“My philosophy on that space is if you have an area where people are showing up and taking photos in that space,” Biggs said, “you shouldn’t change that space. You’re already drawing people there.”

• Final approval of the 2019-20 city budget. The budget is $62.994 million, up from last year’s $53.713 budget with much of the difference reflected in capital projects.

• A request for a variance to allow alcohol sales in Hillcrest Park during the Under Over Art Festival from 3 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 6.

• Approval of awarding a $262,640.30 project to Nick Griego and Sons for Main Street sidewalk and Americans with Disabilities Act improvements. Nearly $225,000 of the project cost is covered through state transportation department dollars.

• A waiver for any potential business activity with the city by Lansford through his Roden-Smith Pharmacy. The city holds similar waivers for Commissioners Chris Bryant, Sandra Taylor-Sawyer and Gary Elliott. Lansford, who only votes to break ties, must abstain from voting on the resolution or any future contract in which he is a prospective vendor.

• Implementation of a program to maintain the city’s warning siren system at an annual cost of $11,000.

• Appointment of Madeline Howalt to the Clovis-Carver Library Board as its student representative. Howalt, who is the daughter of City Manager Justin Howalt, was the lone applicant. She would succeed James Burroughes, the son of Assistant City Manager Claire Burroughes.