Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Council's motives questioned by new manager

Gurdon's City Council approved Ben Williams as the new manager for the Gurdon Water and Sewer Department.

However, at the city council meeting the Water and Sewer Commission was abolished.

This will not affect Williams' job although his opinion was considered in the council's final decision.

Williams said the only concern he had was not having the commission to help him because he is new at the job.

Gurdon Mayor Clayton Franklin asked, "In what way do you feel the commission would help you the most?"

Williams said, "Well I can't think of anything right off, but these men have been here a long time. I have not had time to gather all of the information that I would have liked before tonight's meeting, however I have talked to some people from the Health Department and other places who say abolishing the commission would not be good for Gurdon. I also worry that politics would take over in the department I do not feel there is any room for politics in the department."

"I take my position seriously and I have had several people from my ward tell me they didn't want to continue having a commission. I have also asked several people in my ward what their feelings were about abolishing the commission and I have found no one in my ward opposed to it," said council member Sally Tarpley.

Franklin said, "These people (city council members and officials) do change, however they are elected by a majority. You would select your next commissioner and then he would only answers to God whereas these people answer to all of us."

Williams said, "That's not the way it has been set up, that is the way it has been handled."

Franklin said, "That is the way it works."

Williams said, "No, that is the way it has been handled."

Council member Karen Parker said, "It isn't working and I don't think it has been working for a long time. There was a lot of comment about the way the water department has been handled. People don't like the water department saying they aren't a part of the city, because you are a part of the city."

"Yes we are," said Williams.

Parker said, "Don Moorehead, Water Commissioner, called me this morning to let me know he wasn't going to be here tonight because he is in Alabama. He did intend on coming. He said he was willing to work with the council to give information in order to keep the commission going."

City Recorder/Treasurer, Tambra Smith, researched to see how many towns in Arkansas with populations close to the same as Gurdon's to see how their water and sewer was handled. Only two were under a commission. Those two were Camden and Hope. Hope's water and electricity are operated under one agency, the Hope Water and Light Commission, whereas Gurdon gets its electricity from Entergy.

Williams asked Smith if she talked to their water and sewer managers. She said no she did not get that detailed.

Williams said, "Well I was just wondering what their feelings were since the Health Department and others didn't seem to think it was a good idea."

Franklin said, "You are telling me that you talked to the Health Department and they told you they didn't think this was a good idea?"

Williams said, "I talked to Steve Waldron, who is in charge of our water samples we send to the Health Department."

Franklin said, "O.K. so he works at the department?"

Williams said, "Yes, he is the one we send our samples to."

Parker asked, "You tell me why you think we should keep the commission as opposed to the council taking over."

"Well I don't have a real good reason other than I just want what is best for the city and the water department. I think there have been problems in the past with council decisions, and I don't want to jeopardize the water department and how far it has come and its monies and such," said Williams.

Franklin said, "I am getting the impression that you and some others feel that the city is fixing to steal all of the money from the water department.

That isn't the case. The fire department, police department, all other city departments are run under the council and we don't touch what money is theirs. We aren't going to take the department's money and do what we want with it, we know that money has its own place or you all wouldn't have it. I think that this is the most asinine statement I have ever heard of. The city is not going to take the money from the department."

Parker and Tarpley both agreed with the mayor's statement.

Parker said, "We don't have any problems working with any of the other city departments, and I don't understand why we can't work with the water department the same way."

Jim Vance, Water Commissioner, said, "If we have a problem fix it, don't get rid of the commission.

I would also like to commend the other commissioners on a job well done."

Smith read the ordinance to abolish the Water and Sewer Commission.

A motion was made and seconded to accept the ordinance abolishing the commission.