Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Clayton Franklin Named Gurdon Mayor

Gurdon now has a new mayor.

At the March 12, meeting of the Gurdon City Council, Clayton Franklin (above, left) was appointed the city's mayor, replacing Rick Smith, who resigned the post in February.

City Recorder/Treasurer Tambra Smith acted as mayor for the meeting, as she was the highest elected official in the city at the time.

She said only one person voiced interest in the position, Franklin, with the Henderson State University Economic Development Department.

Franklin addressed the council, saying he considers himself to be a Gurdon boy and lives on Maple Street at this time.

"I'm a graduate of Gurdon High School and bleed purple and gold," he said.

Franklin received a bachelor's degree from Southern Methodist University in banking and has been with HSU for 12 years as director of the economic development center, where he works with small businesses in the state.

The center, he said, is not funded through HSU, but operates on grants and contracts. It's current operating budget is $500,000.

"I'm not interested in leaving HSU," he said. "I'm under contract there, but I can do both. It will be no problem."

Franklin said he has an administrative assistant at HSU who does most of the office work, while he works primarily to secure money to keep the center going.

"Gurdon has always been my home," he said. "I would like to help, as I have a soft spot for it."

Franklin will approach the job with no agenda and no axes to grind. "I'm not mad at anyone," he said.

"The former mayor and council did an excellent job. I see the mayor's job as being overseer and working to bring harmony to the organization and bring money in."

Karen Parker, a member of the council, said she was impressed with Franklin, adding he will do a good job. She then moved to appoint him as mayor.

A second came quickly, with the vote unanimous to seat Franklin as Gurdon's new mayor. He will serve the term remaining left by Smith.

The mayoral election will be held in 2002 at the general election.

Jim Caldwell, street superintendent, told the council the streets are a mess because of the ice storm and subsequent rains, but his crews aren't able to work much on them because of the rain.

Once it dries out, the street crews will work to fill the potholes as a band-aid approach until more permanent repairs can be made.

The cleanup from the winter's ice storm is in its final stages within the city limits, he said. Crews with TAG Grinding are going through town cutting the hanging limbs.

Smith said the city is supposed to be reimbursed for the storm cleanup by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), but as yet the city has received no funds.

Representatives from the cemetery commission asked the council to increase the cemetery budget by $6,000 so equipment can be purchased to maintain the graves.

When the council passed a budget in February, Smith said, it didn't evaluate the expenses. With the new mayor in office, she added, a new budget will be a top priority.

It will be up to the council, she continued, to appropriate the requested funds if the panel thinks the money is there. However, nothing can be done until the budget has been reworked.

When the former mayor left, the council passed what amounted to the budget for 2000, with no changes for revenue or expenses.

The council reinstated Jimmy Hilton to the Gurdon Housing Authority. Hilton's term had expired, and he requested being placed back on the commission.

Smith had some bad news for the council in the area of solid waste. The City of Arkadelphia passed an ordinance increasing its tipping fees from $32 to $40 per ton on hauling Gurdon's garbage to the landfill.

Gurdon's garbage contract is with A&M Equipment, and its rates have not changed.

Smith said the solid waste fund may have enough in its budget so the city doesn't have to raise the garbage rates for local residents.

"I think the fund is solid enough there won't be any need to go up on people's bill," she said, "unless the fees keep going up."Animal Control Officer Carroll Martin said the animal control department is going well and there are few strays in town.

Gurdon's animals were removed from the Arkadelphia shelter on Feb. 20.

Martin said the site for Gurdon's shelter is coming slow because of the weather. Bids are being taken for the building at this time.

Smith said the city applied for a grant to buy the land where the city shop is, but was turned down.

The city was invited to apply for a grant, she added, for the animal control shelter.

"We have a tax for this purpose," Smith said, "and we will apply for the grant again in April."

The city has a year's lease with an option to buy on the property where the city shop now is. With a law passed in the November General Election, she said, the city could enter a long-term agreement to buy it.

Meanwhile, the council has nine or 10 months to think about what it wants to do, while alternative methods are examined on how to finance the building.