Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Generator Purchased For Water Department

Water in Gurdon and surrounding areas may be protected from another electricity outage.

Harold Hurst, department manager of the Gurdon Water and Sewer Department, and the Water and Sewer Commission discussed purchasing a generator to provide electricity to any well without power during another crisis.

With $13,167.31 left in the construction account to be used, Hurst had priced a diesel generator suitable for the department's needs. The generator would have to produce 105 amps for the wells to run.

"We came close, almost ran out of water," said Hurst, "and were unable to find one (generator)."

There will be some costs to the department. The one generator priced so far cost $15,000. This leave a cost to the department of $1,832.69.

The extra cost to be discussed at the next meeting will be the required switches which must be installed on every well. The switches will shut off the flow of electricity from the generator to the well when the power is restored.

Plus there will be the need for a trailer to make carrying the generator to the various well possible.

Once again raises were discussed for the department employees. Commissioner Bill Dulan said, "We've lost several on account of pay."

Hurst said, "I'd like to see us go for the $1 per hour raise."

At the previous meeting Commissioner Don Morehead had informed the commission of International Paper's pay rates in comparison to the department's.

Commissioner Danny Paull made the motion to put the $1 per hour pay raise before the personnel committee. Motion was seconded.

April will be the tentative date for construction of the drive through window at Gurdon Municipal building. Hurst expressed his interest in beginning construction after winter had past.

The department has received the expected comments about the changes in rates.