Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Firework discussion continues

Progress was made towards an ordinance to help control fireworks within the city limits of Gurdon at the September 16 meeting of the Gurdon City Council.

Mayor Clayton Franklin asked council members if they had any new suggestions as to what should be done to control the firework problem. No one commented and Franklin proceeded with his suggestions.

"I have a few ideas we can toss around and maybe help us make some decisions," said Franklin.

"First of all let's establish something. The council wants to control the firework situation not abolish it, right? So my suggestion is to find the best way to do this."

Council members agreed with Franklin they did not want to take the fireworks funds away from organizations making money off of them, and they did not want to take away the fun for children in the town.

Franklin's suggestions were:

(1) Don't abolish them; control them;

(2) Limit the sale and use of fireworks to two holidays a year (New Year's Eve and Fourth of July);

(3) Sale of fireworks can only be sold a week in advance of those holidays in accordance to how they fall; and

(4) No fireworks can be discharged after 10 p.m. in the city limits with the exception of 1 a.m. on New Year's.

The council agreed for Franklin to present these suggestions at next month's meeting as an ordinance.

Betty Torgerson, a local resident, asked Franklin if there was any way possible to use some type of sales tax in the future to give employees a retirement plan.

Franklin said he wished he knew, but there just wasn't any guarantee.

Torgerson has been asking Franklin and the council to look into the possibility of a retirement fund for some time now. In fact, she began talking to the council about this issue while Rick Smith was still mayor.

Franklin reported he had not forgotten about Torgerson's request; however there weren't many options and things were at a stand still for the time being.

Franklin commented on were Clark County's tax base was. "Most of the money spent in Clark County is spent at Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart brings in the majority of Arkadelphia's tax revenue. Where do you guy's spend most of your money? Wal-Mart. We all do. Therefore maybe we need to be working on business in Gurdon to help the tax revenue and look into our future."

Council member Sally Tarpley said, "We need to look into the future of business in Gurdon. I think by cleaning up the town it will help with attracting people and business."

Franklin announced the new cable rate from Cox Cable. Cable in the town of Gurdon will be $31.54 which is almost a $4 increase from the original rate.

Council member David Buck said, "Well time to get a satellite."

Franklin also read a few ordinances from neighboring town's dealing with nuisance of trash, grass, etc. Franklin said he thought it would be a good idea to see how other town's are working with the problem and see how Gurdon could possibly benefit from an ordinance pertaining strictly to the problem of run down and unsightly property.