Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

City is working to lower fire insurance rating

Lower insurance rates may be in the picture for Gurdon residents Mayor Clayton Franklin announced at the City Council meeting held July 16.

In 1986 the city was rated as a class seven. This reflects how the city stands with fire protection.

Since the last Insurance Services Office rate was given in 86, the city has added new trucks, new wells and firemen who now have better equipment.

The city is hoping to receive an ISO rating of five. This would result in a reduction for most people's insurance premiums at least $100 a year.

The only down side to the new rating is it may take up to a year to get the ISO to come down and rate the city. One of the hold ups would be the completion of the new fire truck bays.

Franklin said he would like to have those finished and in working order before they were inspected.

Another topic for Monday nights meeting was the proposed landfill. In the past it has been discussed some land would be purchased from International Paper Co.

The topic has resurfaced and Franklin wanted to know what the council thought about the landfill.

Franklin said he knew Clark County Judge Floyd "Buddy" Manning was in favor of it as well as Arkadelphia City Manager Barbara Copeland.

Council members all had concerns over the short-term and long-term affects of having the proposed landfill located just three miles out of Gurdon city limits and so close to the Smithton community.

Franklin also said he is against the landfill and did not have a problem voting against it any time he had the opportunity.

Franklin also discussed the matter of the old Hoo-Hoo theater located on First Street across from the depot.

Franklin said he had received many concerns from citizens who wanted to know what was going to be done with the structure.

For many years it has been discussed to restore the old building.

Recently Franklin gave a letter to Billy Wells asking three questions: What organization owns the old structure? Does anyone have the money to fix it? When are they planning to fix it? Franklin said at this time he has not received a response.

Franklin is concerned the old building may fall out onto the sidewalk or street and injure someone.

"No one wants to see the building torn completely down, but something must be done," he said.

It was decided put the topic on next month's agenda in order to get more contacts and as much information on the topic as possible.

The city is also interested in purchasing some land in two different locations.

The first location being the property the city is currently using to store it's equipment.

This land is located on Haynie Road. Randy Weems is the current owner of the property and rents it to the city for $600 a month. He has offered the property to the city for $60,000.

The council agreed it would be a good idea to purchase this land if they could get payments at the same amount as they pay for rent.

Franklin reminded everyone the city could not be in debt for more than five years at a time. "It would be possible to do this if we had the loan set up on a five year balloon note."

Franklin plans to gather more information from local financial institutions in order to fully inform the council on the topic.

The second piece of land the city was proposed to purchase is an acre of land owned by Entergy located beside the Rose Hedge Cemetery.

L.C. Newton, superintendent of the Rose Hedge Cemetery said he had received a letter from a lady questioning the ownership of the land. The lady was disturbed because the land is brushy and was unattractive to the cemetery.

Newton told the council he believed the property belonged to Entergy.

Franklin said he did not have a problem looking into the purchase of the land since it would benefit the cemetery.

The next meeting of the Gurdon city council will be held Monday, August 13, at the Gurdon Municipal Building at 7 p.m.