Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Financial report questioned

Gurdon's City Council met at it's regular meeting time, every third Monday, on Monday, November 17 at the Gurdon City Hall.

As the council looked over its packets City Councilman, Sally Tarpley questioned why a financial report for the city was not presented. Tarpley was told it was due to a computer problem where City Recorder/Treasurer Tambra Smith was not able to print the report.

Tarpley said the council had not received one for four out of six months. Mayor Clayton Franklin didn't seem to think it had happened that much, however, some other council members agreed with Tarpley.

"If it is a computer problem, then we need to get it fixed. I know everything is fine and I am not trying to say that it isn't, but I like to look at it with my own two eyes. I just don't think that it looks very good when we as a council can't look at it on our own," said Tarpley.

"We will get it fixed as quickly as possible. Point well made and taken," said Franklin.

All financials and bills were then approved for the city and the water department.

No reports was made from the police department as David Childres, Virginia's husband and Don's brother was in the hospital believed to have had another heart attack, but was later told he had not and is now at home.

Jimmy Caldwell and the street department had no update, although it is Christmas time and the department has been working diligently to get Gurdon's Christmas lights up.

"Of course no one from the housing authority or the airport commission. It is kind of embarrassing when we are being audited and the auditors want to know who is in charge of the airport commission and what it does, and I have no idea. This may be something we need to look into," said Franklin.

"We sent out a letter a few months ago requesting they be present at our meetings," said councilman Danny Paull.

"That is taxpayers money going out to the airport and they do receive grants. It would be nice to know what is going on out there. We are entitled to know what monies they have, where it came from, and where it is going. We are going to have to take a more active roll with this airport commission, because obviously just sending a letter didn't phase them much," said Franklin.

Parks and recreation reported doing some repairs, but mostly running fine.

Carroll Martin, who is in charge of the park said he would like to place a bridge over an area at the park where water tend to stands. The council told him to get some estimates.

City's health insurance rate has been raised to a class 7. It was placed as a class 3 last year.

"There's not much to complain about since we paid $66,500 in premiums last year and they paid out $214, 000 in claims. Now we see why they need to come up with a raise in our premiums." "The city doesn't pay all of the employees premium, they pay some of it too. However, we are going to have to take a long hard look at our benefits at the beginning of the year. Needless to say our premiums are going to be out of sight next year. It would have gone up 15 percent anyway, whether we had claims or not.

"Some employees have shown concern as to whether or not we will have a health benefits plan. No matter what we will have one, it just may cost them some more," said Franklin.

"I attended a meeting about the = cent sales tax proposed to the county. County Sheriff Troy Tucker was catalyst of the meeting I guess you could say. He is wanting to use the funds to build a bigger jail. I agree he needs it.

"There is no way the quorum court is going to raise property tax for a jail, but we need one," said Franklin.

It has been estimated that the tax would bring in more than $1 million per year to the county.

However, Tucker said the rural fire departments needed to be included, so he suggested taking 1.5 percent of the unincorporated portion and distributing it to those departments, leaving $386,221 for the unincorporated areas.

That would provide $2,364 for each of the county's seven rural fire departments. Those are: Kansas Road, Beirne, Hollywood, DeGray, East Clark County, Curtis and Alpine fire departments.

"I would like to know veryones thoughts of this. Would it be something you all are interested in," said Franklin.

"I would want see it in black and white that Gurdon would get their share," said Tarpley.

"Would you be in favor of it at that point?" asked Franklin.

"Yes, after I looked at it," said Tarpley.

The meeting then went to the subject of the Cox Communications cable contract.

"We are paying the same as Arkadelphia and not getting the same programming they are," said Tarpley.

"Does anybody know what Arkadelphia gets and we don't? I'm not sure that is much different, but I do think we get BET and they don't and they get MTV and we don't," said Franklin.

Franklin also pointed out, the Arkadelphia cable has a calender that continuously tells what is going on in the community. He told the council if it wasn't too hard to get, he would like to have it.

"I will get back with Cox people and have something new for you next month," said Franklin.