Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Potter addresses Gurdon council on restoring Big Timber Lake

Tommy Potter addressed the Gurdon City Council at it's regular meeting Monday, April 21, about getting Gurdon and the council involved in the restoration of the Big Timber Lake located past the old mill and across the railroad tracks down Front Street in Gurdon.

Potter said, "It is a huge pond. It is a 95-acre plot with a 55-acre lake area on it. It used to be one of the best fishing spots around here. Gurdon residents enjoyed the lake for many years until 1990 when the levy on the lake was broken and the water was drained. At that same time the lake on 67 highway was redone, but nothing ever came of Big Timber lake. It was promised both lakes would be redone, but we are still waiting.

"According to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, other projects have taken higher importance over the lake and funds are low."

According to Potter, all the lake needs is a control gate which would cost around $150,000 unless purchased used, and then the AG&FC would have to restock the pond.

Potter said, "It isn't a hard project to start. We just need the people to show interest and contact people to let them know they are interested. It wouldn't take a lot of money to get the project going since the levy is still intact."

Potter has talked to Clark County Judge Ron Daniel, who has said it would not be a problem to use county equipment to build the road into the lake and several grants can be obtained to help do so.

The Gurdon Chamber of Commerce has sent a letter to the AG&FC to show it supports the possibility of refurbishing the lake along with some other programs.

Gurdon Mayor Clayton Franklin said, "I know the lake used to be well fished. I as well as other Gurdon citizens have fished out there. I would be glad to help by writing a letter to whomever and let them know we think it is a good idea."

Potter said he would like to see a primitive camping area at one end of the lake for groups and citizens to enjoy.

In other discussions the council was told by the mayor that a proposal had been sent to the Southwest District Solid Waste to see about receiving $50,000 to set up a solid waste transfer station, similar to those seen in Hot Spring County.

Franklin said, "Gurdon has a problem with it's trash. Say you go and buy a new refrigerator. What do you do with it? Either you sit it out on your front porch or you go and dump it somewhere in IP's pretty pine plantations. That isn't what we need to do by no means, but it is what many people around here do.

" I am hoping to hear something good from them so the people of Gurdon will have somewhere to put their junk."

Gurdon's Street Department Manager Jimmy Caldwell reported being busy with ditching and patching city streets. Although Caldwell said, the department is mostly busy at this time with the curbside pick up.

Franklin told Caldwell he had been to the Central Arkansas Development Council/Senior Adult Center earlier that day and had heard good compliments to the street department.

Gurdon citizen Betty Torgerson was given permission to speak to the council.

Torgerson said, "Mr. Frances needs many, many roses for the job he does on the cemetery. I visit out there regularly because I have several loved ones out there. He takes extra special care of the cemetery and if you look at it you will see it looks better than most yards in Gurdon do. I appreciate and I am sure anyone else who has a loved one out there appreciates it also."

Franklin informed the council $3,800 had been received towards cemetery dues so far. Franklin said this is already an improvement from last year.

Carroll Martin with the parks and recreation reported some late night mischief taking place at the Gurdon City Park.

Martin said, "We've had several things torn up out there. Someone destroyed the coke machine. I was wondering if we wanted to replace it or not."

Franklin said the machine is well used and it would be nice to be able to buy a drink in the summer. The council agreed with Franklin.

Franklin said he needed Martin to send in for a grant in order for the city to receive rubber stripping from old tires to place around the playground equipment in case children fall off maybe they won't be hurt as badly.

Franklin also reported the Gurdon Chamber of Commerce discussing the possibility of moving the red caboose from the old Chamber of Commerce Park in town to the Gurdon City Park and possibly fixing it back up so it would get more use.

He asked the council members and guests if they would encourage the moving of the caboose to any Chamber member they talked to.