Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Mayor offers copies of animal ordinance

The Gurdon City Council passed the animal control ordinance on the second reading Monday night, June 19, with no opposition.

Tambra Childres, city recorder and treasurer, told the small crowd the only additional change she would suggest was to not limit Gurdon residents to four dogs.

"If they take care of their dogs, comply with the shots, and keep them confined like the ordinance says to do, I dont think it is fair to ask someone to get rid of that fifth dog," Childres said.

Council members agreed and struck the line in the ordinance limiting residents to owning four dogs. The ordinance, if passed on the third reading in July without further changes, will allow residents to have as many dogs as they want.

Gurdon Mayor Clayton Franklin said, "We changed some things last time at the suggestion of Tommy Potter. But I have not heard any more suggestions or complaints on this ordinance.

"If somebody wants to make some more suggestions, we still have next months meeting for discussion. And if they would like a copy of the ordinance in its second reading, I will be glad to furnish them a free copy."

The council will meet again at 7 p.m. on July 17.

Strategy meeting

In other business, Franklin reported that he had attended Clark County Strategy Committee meetings and his intention to keep up with that effort to make sure the group serves Gurdons best interests, not just the interests of Arkadelphia.

"Representatives from Henderson State University, Ouachita Baptist, the Cabe Foundation, and the Ross Foundation are at the Arkadelphia meetings," Franklin said. "I have gone to two meetings so far. This group says they are planning a strategy for the survival of Clark County over the next 15 years."

Franklin said he had planned to attend another strategic planning meeting on June 22.

"They have been kicking around a 1-cent sales tax idea to expand the Clark County jail and to fund some other projects throughout the county," Franklin said. "If such a tax passed and Gurdon could count on $150,000 to $200,000 a year, I would back it 100 percent. I believe the key to success is to not get greedy. If there was such a tax in effect, they should also give at least $5,000 to $10,000 a year to our smaller rural fire departments, such as Curtis, Beirne or Whelen Springs."

Franklin said others who attended the strategic planning meetings at Arkadelphia include the mayor of Amity, the mayor of Caddo Valley and the presidents of both Henderson State University and Ouachita Baptist University. He said he would keep the council updated on the project.

"Id like to see them do something for Gurdon like bring back our medical clinic," he said. "If they do, and they attach it to Baptist Hospital or the Little Rock medical centers, I believe it would get a lot of use."

In other business, the council members discussed the Whelen Springs water bills, which have gone up now that their new system on Kansas Road is operational.

Virginia Childres, of the water department, said the system is now fixed and should level out soon. It had a few leaks at first.

"Whelen now pays their monthly user fee and larger bills from expanding the system," she said.