Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Council extends cable franchise for 25 years

City Council members voted unanimously Monday, Dec. 20, to renew Cox Communications cable television franchise for another 25 years.

Mayor Clayton Franklin said, "This ordinance you have passed also means more income for the City of Gurdon, as our franchise tax on the cable company goes up from 2.5 percent to 4.25 percent.

"Plus, Cox is putting more than $2 million into Gurdon so we will have state-of-the-art, fiber optic cable."

Although not at the Council meeting, Robbie Lee, system manager for Cox Cable out of Arkadelphia, Malvern and Hot Springs Village proposed the contract renewal at the November meeting. He said the new contract gives his company the right to do business in Gurdon.

The old contract ran from 1977 until 2002. Mayor Franklin said the new contract does not give Cox an exclusive. If the city wants to do business with another cable company as well, that is permissible. However, the contract does mean Gurdon can not cut out Cox Communications from this area for 25 years.

Lee said in November, "For those just wanting the basics of television, this new contract means the monthly bill will go down to $14.29. This price gets you about 21 stations."

Franklin said the new package will come with the option of a $4 rental box, gateway device, option to access digital.

In other business, the Council approved the minutes from November, the treasurer's report for the city and the water department, and approved the bills for both.

Franklin said, "The year's budget is 92 percent over. We are about $5,000 over at the Street Department, but that is due to our paving project and it will come out OK.

"There are some things we need to fine tune for next year. For example, the cemetery needs to stay within the $5,000 or so we get on dues, as the donations and excess were not as good this year."

The mayor said the Water and Sewer Department was running way ahead of income projections for the year. He warned the Council that the police department may need to finance a new police car in the near future, as all of the vehicles have more than 100,000 miles and maintenance expenses are getting higher than what financing a new car would probably be.

"It is something to think about," Franklin said. "We paid for our last car with fines from uninsured motorists, and we may need to do that again."

As to streets, the mayor said there is $300,000 earmarked for the second round of street paving when the weather breaks. Street Superintendent Jim Caldwell is also collecting pea gravel for pot holes with monies from the old budget.

The mayor said, "With what is left for round two of paving, we will be doing more streets, but smaller ones, as the big ones got knocked out in round one."

On fire, no ISO update has come back for the insurance rating status, he said.

"We would like to thank our new animal control officer, Matt Dickerson, for the fine job he is doing. The city does have some puppies out there now that would really make great gifts," Franklin said.

In other business, Councilman Sally Tarpley, who has served Gurdon for four years, ended her service as of the December meeting.

"I have enjoyed my time on the Council," she said. "And I will be getting back with you if I find anyone interested in my position."

The Council will appoint someone to fill Tarpley's position and then an election will be held in November. Other Council members in attendance were: David Buck, Danny Paull, and Gene Flowers.

The Council tabled the proposed rate hike in solid waste pick-up, as the mayor said his proposal needs work but will be ready by January. The problem, as stated last meeting, is that the there has been a 10 percent increase in solid waste costs, due to a tipping fee increase in Arkadelphia.

The Council also tabled the Municipal League health insurance issue. Franklin said recent increases in health insurance means the employees will have to share some of that increase, "but we don't intend to lose our health insurance."