Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Sewer Meeting Held, No One Attends

A public hearing, sans public, was held concerning the proposed sewer rate increase.

As no members of the public showed for the meeting Monday, Sept. 11, no comments were made.

Gurdon Mayor Rick Smith told members of the Gurdon City Council, as the council meeting began after the hearing, the ordinance was placed on its first reading in August, and read for the second time at the Sept. meeting. It will be read for the third and final time at the October meeting.

The city, he said, entered into an agreement with the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality, borrowing money for sewer improvements. This was done in 1991.

One of the requirements was for the ADEQ to examine the Gurdon Water and Sewer Department's audits on an annual basis to make sure enough money was coming in for maintenance and operation of the system.

The ADEQ has examined the department's audits and determined the sewer rates need to be increased. If this isn't done, the city will be considered to be out of compliance with the 91 agreement, and the ADEQ could, if it wanted, take control of the department.

In essence, the city has no choice but the raise these rates.

From there, Smith told the council the city needs to inventory items it has in storage and either auction them off or sell them by sealed bids. Auctions, he said, bring more money than sealed bids.

For the most part, the items in storage are office furniture left over when city hall was renovated and redecorated.

Smith said council member Johnny McGuirt is putting in an auction house and these items could be sold through him. Both McGuirt and Rodney Marsh are working toward becoming licensed auctioneers.

Gurdon City Marshal David Childres said the state will be taking bids on new police cars in October.

He reminded the council the Gurdon Police Department is supposed to get a new car every other year, and this is that year. By getting on the list in October, he said, the GPD could get the car in by January.

A new vehicle would replace the 1994 Ford currently in use. Childres said it's on its last legs, needing a new transmission and the driver's side door not staying shut. In fact, he said, the door flies open when rounding a curve if not shut properly.

Smith said he would get the information needed, find out what a new car will cost and bring it back before the council at the October meeting, Monday, Oct. 9.

Childres said some of the things said about Delton Simpson at the August council meeting were taken wrong. "I didn't say anything against him. I know he tries to get kids jobs. I'm talking about those letters to the editor.

"You can't say anything, it gets turned around and comes out wrong. You'd better watch what you say."

The old Gurdon High School property was discussed by the council. Smith said a letter was sent to the new owner, Mike McKenzie, telling him to secure it.

It's been inspected, Smith continued, but the work isn't completely done, though they are working on it.

The council also passed a resolution to charge funeral homes $50 per funeral for clean up work at Rose Hedge Cemetery.

Under terms of the resolution, the fee is in addition to any other fees already imposed and payment of this fee doesn't remove the responsibility of the initial clean up and dirt removal provided by the funeral home following burial.

This resolution will become effective Jan. 1, 2001.

Funeral homes in the area are to be notified of this fee by letter from the city.

Currently, burial plots at the cemetery are $100 each.

There is also a potential problem with the city shop. While the shop itself is owned by the city, the land it's on is owned by Pete Rudolph.

A video store used to be behind the city shop, and, according to Smith, Rudolph may be wanting to sell the land.

Rudolph, Smith said, has offered to break the property up and sell the city the land with the shop for $15,000.

But, he told the council, the city needs to examine all its options. Proposals and alternatives are to be examined at the October council meeting.Under the animal control portion of the meeting, Carroll Martin, animal control officer, said he's still using Arkadelphia to house Gurdon's stray dogs.

In addition, Martin has been varying his schedule, working some at night, to see if people are letting their dogs out during these hours. Dogs picked up, having collars, are taken home with their owners given a warning.

A second offense will result in the animal being sent to the pound and owner fined.

Martin said he checked into the price of getting a pound built in Gurdon. Smith, though, wouldn't say who Martin got his information from, nor give an exact price on it. He did say a 20 by 30 foot building could be constructed for around $15,000.

This building, he said, would be metal with block walls and drains in the floor.

His reasoning for not telling everything is if the city decides to go through with building its own dog pound, other bidders would have an unfair advantage over this person by knowing the bid in advance.

A possible site for a dog pound would be near the city's sewer plant at Smithton, Smith said. The city owns the land and there's water and sewer available.

In the mayor's report, Smith told the council the city will need to do the dirt work on planned renovation projects to cut costs.

The architect's estimate, he said, was close to the amount the city has on hand for the job, but Smith prefers having a larger buffer.

This project would see the parking lot paved and lighted, a drive-through window installed at the Gurdon Water and Sewer Department and two bays added to the Gurdon Fire Department.

This project is being done with grant money from the state.

Smith also brought up the sales tax issue again, saying the Clark County Quorum Court would be discussing it, though the city has been quiet about it.

"We're still doing research," Smith said, "and putting our strategy together."

One proposal put forth by the county, he said, was instead of amending the ordinance would be for the county to provide "grants" to the various street departments.

"My answer is no," he said. "It's not only the street departments that need help. We need something chiseled in stone and tied to the economy of Clark County. We won't settle for less.

"The issue is still alive."

Smith also brought up the situation with only two members of the council having filed for reelection by the Friday, Sept. 8, deadline.

Karen Parker and Glen Flowers were the only two to get their petitions in on time.

This leaves four vacancies, though, Smith said, some of the current council members have expressed a desire to remain on the panel.

As of Dec. 31, 2000, these seats will be considered vacant. Anyone interested in being considered for a council position in Wards 1, 4, 5 and 6 should contact Smith and let the city know.