Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Newton questions council on cemetery fence repair

Gurdon's September meeting of the city council, began with Recorder/Treasurer Tambra Smith explaining why Mayor Claryton Franklin was absent and why she would be acting as mayor.

"Clayton recently had surgery and still recovering at home. He wanted to be here tonight, but we both decided that maybe he shouldn't chance it so soon after his surgery," Smith said.

Smith also introduced the city's newest employee, Amy Stroud Whitworth, who took Donna Giles' place after her resignation. Whitworth will be assisting in the mayor's office as well as in the water department.

"Teet" Newton asked if Smith thought there would be enough money to fix all the damage done at the cemetery due to the recent tornado.

Smith said, "We had $500 left from the fence fund. We also have around $6,000 in the actual cemetery account. I don't think we are going to have to worry about any funding problems."

Newton said, "David Turner, who originally put the fence up for us is coming down to give us an estimate on the repairs. I will let you know what he says."

Gurdon's Street Department played a huge roll in the clean up of the debris in the cemetery. On Monday the crews worked all day trying to clean up limbs, fences and set tombstones back into their correct positions.

Citizen Betty Torgerson was recognized as she said she had a question for the water department.

"I was wondering if Gurdon's water was tested on a regular basis and if so, when we do get a good report back, why can't it be published in the paper. I would be proud to know we have safe drinking water. We publish it in the paper when it is bad. We don't always want to hear the bad. Let's hear some good," said Torgerson.

Ben Williams with the Gurdon Water and Sewer Department said, "We send off samples on a monthly basis. I am glad to say that we passed this month and we do not have a problem with letting it be known in the paper when it does test good."

Williams also said, ADEQ had visited with the department recently and did an inspection. There were a few things, nothing major, found that needed to just be updated. Therefore the department is going to have to spend a little money on some new equipment.

Smith gave the police report to the council.

"The police department is proud to have new signs in place at the primary school. These signs state that 10th Street is a one way street during the hours of 7:30-8:30 a.m. and 2:30-3:30 p.m. in order to make it a safer place for the school children to be," she said.

Smith also said neither the school nor the police department had heard anything else about the grant they applied for to pay an officer for a certain amount of years, to be placed in the schools during school hours. This would also help with the primary school's traffic issues.

Gurdon Fire Chief, Jake McBride was unable to attend the meeting due to a fire drill the department had on Monday night.

Jimmy Caldwell with the Gurdon Street Department said he did not have anything to report at this time.

However, Smith disagreed saying she would like to brag on Caldwell and his men for the fine work they had been doing and for helping with the cemetery cleanup.

Caldwell then added he and his men had finished installing the new chain length fence around the new street department shop that was recently purchased from Randy Weems.

Caldwell also said he and his men had completed taking out the old wooden bridge next to the underpass in Gurdon and replaced it with a huge culvert. Caldwell said they would be placing guard rails on either side of the bridge as soon as they could.

Parks and Recreation manager, Carroll Martin reported everything being fine at the Gurdon Park.

Smith reported the Gurdon senior citizens are still using the city's recycling trailer to gather goods for recycling.

"We pay them $100 a month to do this deed for us. It really helps everyone out; the city, the senior citizens and everyone willing to recycle," said Smith.

Smith also added that $1,000 was being sent to the city from a grant it had received a while back. The grant was to help buy equipment to better Gurdon's recycling. However, money was left over and it will be given to the city anyway. Smith said the funds will be used to help pay the senior citizens.

Animal Control reported no complaints to the department and the dog situation seeming to be under somewhat of control.

Under the mayor's report, Smith explained that she had received a memo from the Department of Finance and Administration saying they were thinking of possibly closing the Gurdon office.

"I don't think this is a good idea. We have several citizens who cannot travel to Arkadelphia to go to the Revenue Department. It is a nice convenience. The lady who runs it does not feel the office is inefficient by no means, unlike the memo states," said Smith.

The council suggested to make a request to citizens along with the council members, to call Mike Ross, Percey Malone and Tommy Roebuck, to let them know how Gurdon feels about possibly losing it's office.

Mike Ross can be reached at (870) 887-6787, Percy Malone (870) 246-4141 and Tommy Roebuck at (870) 246-8500.

In old business, Smith talked to attorney Travis Berry who assisted with the closing of a street last year when the Pine Ridge Apartments were being constructed.

Apparently there was an unobstructed street in that area of town also that needed to be closed in order to continue construction.

Smith said, Berry was working on getting her the proper information and would try to have everything by next month's meeting time.

Smith also said she had recently looked back through the city's ordinances to see if one was passed to prevent people from putting trash into bins.

"I did not find an actual ordinance, but they are not supposed to put trash into bins and the trash people know not to pick it up if they are in bins," Smith said.

She went on to say that Whitworth, the city's latest employee, had come up with the idea of handing out letters to all new residents when they come to hook up to the city's water and sewer. A letter was written and the council approved it.

It reads: "The City of Gurdon has a right-of-way on all city streets that extends beyond the curbside of the street. If there is a sidewalk in front of your residence the right-of-way will extend appoint near the inside edge of the sidewalk. (the edge nearest your home) If there is not a sidewalk in front of your home you can use the general rule of thumb of about eight feet from the roadside's edge. For specific details contact us and we will identify the right-of-way boundaries for you.

Also, it must be noted that the company that has the contract to pickup household garbage will not come onto your property to pickup your garbage so you will have to place your garbage at curbside on the day of pickup. If you have a trash bin or other container to hold your garbage for pickup it must be moved from the right-of-way within 24 hours of pick-up.

It is suggested that you obtain portable covered containers to store your household garbage so they can be moved easily to the curbside the day of pickup. Permanently located trash bins are not allowed. The trash bins located on the right-of-ways are not only unsightly to the appearance of our city, they also pose a safety and health hazard.

Your cooperation in this matter will be greatly appreciated. If you have any questions, please contact City Hall at 353-2514."

As part of the normal business of the city, millage ordinances were passed.

Smith explained that this is something that has to be done each year.

"Nothing has changed, this is the same stuff as usual. We just have to pass them each year at this time."