Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Sewer rates questioned

Commissioner Glenn Hughes questioned high sewer rates in Gurdon at the regularly scheduled meeting of the Gurdon Water and Sewer Commission held Monday, July 16.

While reviewing pay-outs made by the water department on June's operation check list, an Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) permit payment, made annually by the water department, of $5,016 was explained by department manager, Harold Hurst.

Hurst told how the department is required by federal law to meet regulations of the ADEQ for the dumping of treated waste water into the low flowing Caney Creek.

Hurst also told the panel about the loan taken out to provide the rock re-filtering treatment plant to meeting pollution level requirements before any water is dumped.

Prior to the treatment plant's construction, the $2.1 million in cost would have to be paid by borrowing the money or with a sales tax. The department borrowed the money .

Hughes said a number of people were wondering why Gurdon's sewer rates were so much higher than others in the area.

The answer came down to a proviso in the loan agreement with the Rural Development Agency, formerly the Farmer's Home Administration, and other agencies the department has borrowed from to provide these services.

For example, not only does the department get audited annually to make sure the rates are sufficient to pay back the loans, but many of the loans require the department to set aside a specified amount, depreciation funds, equal to the cost for replacing equipment, pumps, pipes, various materials, and systems.

Hurst and secretary, Debra Shaver provided complete loan information from payment amounts, to interest cost, and other information for the commissioners viewing.

Commissioner Don Morehead recommended the commissioner be presented a page of information on a routine basis from which they could explain rate cost to sewer customers.

The Pizza Barn's insurance company has failed to respond further to the department's lawyer concerning it's reimbursement of their settlement with Pizza Barn owners, Ken and Sue Harris. As far as the department and it's lawyer are concerned the matter is now closed.

The Harris's original complaint was a city water main had burst, with water flowing underground and ruining their parking lot. At first, they wanted the city to pay for a new parking lot, even though the lot was more than 10 years old.

The drive-through window will not be finished for some time as the department waits on bricks, brick layers and ground work. Hurst expects the project to be finished late fall or early winter.

Hurst will be viewing a generator in Okolona as an example of one the department may be seeking to buy. Specifics for the generator's purchase are incomplete at this time.