Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Construction Continues At Gurdon City Hall

Construction work at Gurdon's City Hall is moving along, when weather permits.

Interim Mayor Clayton Franklin told the Gurdon City Council, at its regular meeting Monday, May 14, about the projects underway.

He began by saying the city received three bids for the projects and went with Seale, the low bidder.

The projects are to pave the parking lot and add lighting, build two new bays for the fire department and a drive in window for the Gurdon Water and Sewer Department.

All three projects are underway at the same time.

Franklin said had Seale's bid not been what it was, $198,600, the projects would have either had to be changed or rebid.

The city had $200,000 in grant money to do the work. The other bids were from Hargett Construction at $245,000, and Re-Store It, with a bid of $237,371.

Franklin praised the Gurdon Police Department for working to keep fuel costs down and holding down mileage as gasoline prices continue to climb.

He said when any of the city's departments go over budget, the first step will be to make adjustments within the department. If this can't be done, other areas will be investigated to bring the budget back in line.

Department heads will be called into a budget meeting on July 10, he said, to see how things are going.

When asked why the city hasn't appropriated any money for the cemetery, Franklin said the commission showed a balance of $16,000 at the start of the year, adding the city has never budgeted funds for the cemetery's maintenance.

"We don't want to shortchange the cemetery," he said, "and will do what we can to make sure everything gets done."

The main source of revenue for the cemetery commission is dues paid by family members of those buried there. However, there has been problems in collecting the dues, even though people are sent notices reminding them the fees are owed.

The city, Franklin said, will help collect dues by sending letters explaining why it's important for people to pay them. The letters will also tell how the money is used for the cemetery's upkeep.

A lease was signed between the city and Cindy McClure for upkeep at the city park.

McClure, who lives in a trailer at the park, will be policing the park and making sure the restrooms are clean for the public.

Residents will be getting notices in the mail reminding them to do more recycling. These notices will be on the water and sewer bills.

Currently, it costs the city $100 per ton in tipping fees to have the garbage buried in a Little Rock landfill.

Darryl Potratz, who heads the recycling program, said it's critical for the city to do more recycling, as the state will be requiring all municipalities to recycle 40 percent of their waste stream in a few years.

In the mayor's report, Franklin said the city hasn't collected any money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for street repair. However, this is because the city will be reimbursed for money spent on making the repairs.

Franklin said it will cost between $50,000 and $70,000 to correct the damage done by the Christmas Day ice storm.

FEMA, he said, paid $136,000 for debris cleanup in Gurdon. TAG Grinding received $126,232 of this, while the city had $3,869 in labor, $815 for the fire department and about $2,600 in administrative fees.

The city recently held an auction to get rid of old equipment and furniture, and made $1,260. "We're now out of the storage business," Franklin said.

A group from Arkadelphia, he said, is working to get grant money to finance the building of new homes.

The group is trying to get money from the Department Housing and Urban Development for the projects.

Many of the houses to be built will be on sites where dilapidated structures now exist. Franklin said the city has photos of these houses, along with burned out structures, to be used in trying to get the money.

But, those who qualify for a home under the program won't just be handed the keys to a new house. They will be required to put in sweat equity and help build the house themselves.