Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Cleaning city hot topic for Gurdon City Council

Cleaning up Gurdon has become a hot topic recently.

A partnership between the City of Gurdon and the Gurdon Chamber of Commerce to clean up abandoned and rundown structures, has so far been a success. In total, nine structures have been destroyed and several others will soon follow.

However, Gurdon Mayor, Clayton Franklin doesn't want the clean up efforts to stop with the cleaning up of a few houses and vacant lots.

Franklin presented a city ordinance to the Gurdon City Council at Monday, October 21 meeting of the council.

The ordinance would concern nuisances such as weeds, garbage, rubbish and other unsightly and unsanitary articles; requiring property owners to eliminate, fill up or remove stagnant pools of water or any other unsanitary thing, place or condition which might become a breeding place for mosquitos, flies and germs or otherwise harmful to the health of the community; prescribing a procedure to be followed in such cases to include but not be limited to a lien on property and fines; and for other purposes.

Franklin said, "We are not going to take any action on this ordinance at tonight's meeting; however I would like to hear some comments from the public before our next scheduled meeting."

Franklin also stated how the city didn't have any right to force a clean up of property at this time due to the lack of an ordinance.

Sharon Lasker, a citizen who has worked to encourage a clean up in Gurdon, chuckled as the ordinance was being discussed. Franklin asked if she had a problem or would like to make a suggestion about the proposal. Lasker then smiled as a friend who was present with her said, "she is loving this ordinance."

Another concerned citizen, Betty Togerson, said she would like to commend Sherman Jester on his clean up of the storage area located next to the Red-E-Mart on Highway 67.

The city's and the water departments financial statements were looked over by the council.

Councilman Danny Paull asked why there was a bill from Teletouch on the water departments report.

Donna Giles, a representative from the water department, told Paull one of the departments beepers had been dropped in a hole and had to be replaced.

Franklin pointed out the water department being under it's revenue budget at this time, but right on with the expenses budget.

Two of the department's representatives recently attended classes in Austin, Tex., recently to learn more about homeland security.

Gurdon Fire Chief reported being caught up with the burning of abandoned houses.

No report was made on the animal control in Gurdon due to the absence of Animal Control Officer Carroll Martin. Martin was absent due to medical reasons.

City Recorder/Treasurer Tambra Smith said she had spoken with Martin earlier in the day and he was scheduled for an MRI. Smith said Martin is believed to have an aneurism on his aorta.

Martin will be off of work for awhile. Mark Francis will be taking over Martin's position in his absence.

Lula Roberts addressed the council concerning sewage leaking into her backyard. Roberts said she had spoken with Ben Williams about the problem once before, but was still having some problems.

Franklin told Roberts he would inform Williams of Roberts request and Williams would do what is necessary to fix it.

Belinda Gentry expressed her concern about Linden and Deer Creek Streets in Gurdon. These streets lead into the new housing project.

Gentry's complaint was the condition of the streets since the heavy equipment being used for the building had been driving over the streets.

Franklin said it wouldn't do any good for the city to come in now and rework the roads with the construction still going on.

However, Franklin suggested Jimmy Caldwell, with the Gurdon Street Department, look into patching the holes with gravel until the construction of the new facilities were finished and the road is fixed by the company building them.