Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

JPs Approve Creating New County Job

The Clark County Quorum Court passed resolutions creating a job, applying for grants and agree research doing away with out dated ordinances.

During the Monday night meeting, discussion took place before the court concerning the new state required auditing system called Fixed Assets Tracking System (FATS). The state will require all property of the county costing more than a recommended $500 limit be inventoried, numbered and placed in the new computer system by the end of the year.

To this end the court approved a resolution creating a temporary job. The employee will be part-time and spend the year assisting in cataloging. "It's more than one person can handle," County Judge Floyd Manning said.

Arkansas Rural Development Commission will be receiving a grant application submitted by Manning. A resolution was passed gave permission from the court for the judge to submit the grant application. The grant could mean $15,000 in financial support towards construction of a playground and recreation area for the Alpine community.

The Alpine community has raised $10,000 through donations for the project. Land, labor and consultation services are included in the matching support. The playground-recreation area would consist of basketball court, volleyball court, swings, horseshoe pit, tetherball set, walking trail, lighted pavilion and a $30,000 play unit.

Bobby Pritchard of Curtis and Darryl Laws, public engineer with NRS Consulting Engineers of Benton, spoke to the court about a water projects for the area. Judge Manning was given the court's permission to begin paper work for the proposed water improvements for Gum Springs and Curtis.

The Water Association Committee (WAC) is a state committee made up of representatives from the Arkansas Department of Economic Development (ADED), Arkansas Department of Soil and Water Commission, Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) and the Arkansas Department of Health. These representatives are the first sieve for grant applications requesting funds for projects.

Manning was asked to have the county file on behalf of the Gum Springs and Curtis communities. With the county filing on behalf of these two areas the county would be responsible for managing the funds once received.

Manning said he would be willing to assist this and other cities and entities in the county with grants.

Law commented on the red tape which forces the communities to separate the proposed water project from the original proposal of a water and sewer project.

Repeating a pledge made by Pres. George W. Bush to "fund the clean-up 100 percent" Judge Manning commented on the expense of the clean-up so far. The expense, already in the $500,000 range, will only increase within the next two weeks when crews are anticipated to be finished.

An ordinance committee will be set up by Manning from JP members. The committee will be asked to examine ordinances on the books and to choose those that may be outdated. These will be brought to the attention of other members. Those deemed outdated could be deleted or changed by the JP's in the after a thorough research.

During the judge's report, Manning requested information on the search for assumed drowning victim David McCaskel.

McCaskel, 61, of Arkadelphia-Dalark area, was reported missing Feb. 26 at 5:15 p.m. by his wife. Clark County Sheriff Troy Tucker reported to Manning the search had be scaled back.

JP John Howard conveyed his and the court's thanks to the Sheriff, members of the various volunteer fire departments and all other volunteers who assisted in the search for McCaskel.