Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Franklin updates council on 2002

Gurdon Mayor Clayton Franklin gave his report on how city operations had been for the year 2002 and gave insight as to what he expected for 2003 at Monday, January 20 meeting of the Gurdon City Council.

Franklin laughingly said he hoped his report wasn't as long or as upsetting as Governor Mike Huckabee's had been.

Franklin started out his report by commending all departments on following the budget as well as they had for the year.

"Thanks to Tambra, she does a great job at projecting the budgets and figuring revenues", said Franklin. "Unfortunately due to the economy and other set backs we did have to make a 7 percent budget cut across the board. Luckily no one lost their job because of this and we did not cut anyone's salary as the rumor has been around town. We are hoping the economy will change and we can adjust the budgets back to what they were by the middle of this year. However, that is just what we would like to happen.

"In the past year we have completely reconstructed our water department. We had the resignation of our water manager, Harold Hurst. The position was then taken on by Ben Williams who has done an excellent job. Our water secretary also resigned. Her position was filled by Virginia Childres. We added the drive-thru window in the water department for convenience of paying bills and handling other water business.

"We have adopted a new clean-up Gurdon program along with our newly approved nuisance ordinance. We hope these two efforts will make Gurdon look better and give the citizens a new sense of pride. To date we have cleaned up 15 houses along with the Hoo-Hoo Theater also being torn down due to safety reasons. We already have 15 more houses ready to go this year.

"We are extremely proud to have our animal shelter completed. We are the only town in our area capable of destroying our own animals with the incinerator. Arkadelphia and Prescott do not have one to my knowledge.

"At this time we are finishing up the paperwork on buying a new city shop from Randy Weems. This will help the town out. We were renting the building so it only made sense to buy it when it was offered. We have purchased both a new police car and a big yellow truck for the street department. We were also glad to finish the parking lot project, it is really nice and something we needed.

"We are still opposing the proposed landfill. I have been against it from the beginning and I am still opposed. I would like to thank Frances McGill for her efforts on the Quorum Court. Due to several efforts the Quorum voted unanimously against the landfill. We still have a long way to go, but we are determined to stand behind what is best for Gurdon; and that is to keep the landfill out."

Gurdon citizen Betty Torgerson asked Franklin if he felt it would do any good for the people of Gurdon to attend any of the meetings concerning the proposed landfill.

Franklin said, "Yes I do. The more that is said the better off we are. However, you may attend a meeting and then you might not even be allowed to speak, but it is the effort that counts."

Franklin also reminded everyone to contact anyone they knew such as the Hot Springs mayor, Mayor of Malvern, or county judges from Garland and Hot Springs counties.

In other business the council announced the opening of Ward Three. This is ward currently held by Karen Parker who due to medical reasons can no longer fulfill the duties on the council.

Franklin laughingly said anyone who wanted the position should remember the pay is good and you have the opportunity to make lots of friends.