Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

JPs Plan Courthouse Dedication

Open house and dedication for the renovated Clark County Courthouse and the new complex will be held on Sunday, December 12 at 2:00 p.m.

John Howard, justice of the peace, commented the complex is "basically" complete now.

Minor finishing touches include a missing bracket on one chair, two doors, and an uneven blind.

The court passed an ordinance to amend budgeted appropriations.

Funds were appropriated for the construction costs of the new complex pending a charge order from Jim Wood and Co. in the amount of $20,000.

Clark County Sheriff Troy Tucker was appropriated funds for prisoners food to finish out the year in the amount of $28,000.

The modular buildings which housed the court through the renovation of the courthouse are to be auctioned off. The court agreed with Clark County Judge Floyd "Buddy" Manning on stipulations for the sale, such as a deadline for moving the buildings at the winning bidder's expense.

Discussion over just a few points of the proposed ordinance concerning 'rules of procedure for quorum court meetings' brought out the antagonist in JP Dick Batson.

Cark was asked by the court to look into rules of procedure so there would be less confusion over issues such as the number of members on any specific committee, who will choose committee members and how long the members will be required to serve on a committee.

The brief debate over legal wording and practical meanings of the rules proved to be frustrating to the court.

JP Bill Conine suggested the ordinance should be sent to committee. The court voted to send it to a committee consisting of JP's Kirksey, Howard and Jonathan Huber.

Conine commented "Bring us something we can vote on, not something to work on."

Taylor King, attorney for the county, informed the court the county was named in a suit due to a mortgage it holds against the BF Goodrich building, in the industrial park in Gum Springs.

The nature of the lawsuit requires the county be named, but King commented, "The only impact on the county should be the time it takes me to work on it."

An ordinance to levy taxes on real property and personal property for 1999 collectible in 2000 was passed. The state requires the court pass the ordinance which shows the mills going to the schools, cities, county general fund, county road fund, and the county library.

The mills are unchanged from last year, and this is not a new tax, but one rolled over annually.

Tucker has requested changes to the renovation of the old municipal court. Construction of two interrogation rooms and an evidence storage room in the space currently being used as a hallway was approved by the court.

Manning and Howard concurred, the remaining purchases of furniture (two swivel podiums and four tables) for the new complex should be made locally.

The court voted to purchase the furniture for a total of $6,300. The funds left for furniture purchases totaled $2,000. The court transferred the additional monies from the construction fund.

Manning, State Representative Percy Malone and DeGray Fire Chief Orville Buck returned from Little Rock Nov. 5, with a grant check for $15,000 going to the DeGray Fire Department.

The grant comes from the Department of Rural Services.

A proposed ordinance covering creation of a township for Amity was withdrawn by JP Billy C. Kirksey for further study. In the judge's report Manning said a low water bridge was constructed on the West end of DeGray road. Also, Manning commented the county is winding down on paving for the year, but resurfacing of roads will continue.

Compliments on the recently completed Smithton Road and Old Whelen Highway were passed on to the court.