Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Engine Blows Up On Police Car

There's a slight problem with one of Gurdon's police cars  its engine blew up.

Gurdon City Marshal David Childres told the Gurdon City Council recently about the engine failing on the vehicle as it was being driven back to Gurdon from Arkadelphia.

The car, a 1996 Ford, had been running hot, he said, and using oil, when the engine failed.

Gurdon Mayor Rick Smith said a new engine for the car would cost between $6,000 and $7,000.

However, he said Childres learned the Clark County Sheriff's Office has a couple of patrol cars for sale and the city may be able to buy one reasonably.

If the city can purchase one of the CCSO cars, the engine would have to be rebuilt, but this is less expensive than a new engine.

Smith said it would cost about $3,500 to have an engine rebuilt. He added one of the CCSO cars could be bought for about $1,000.

Childres said it would be worth it to the GPD to get a used car, as the 96 Ford would bring almost nothing if it were sold.

Councilman Johnny McGuirt said stripped police cars at a Texarkana auction were going for about $3,000 each recently.

Childres said the car the council buys will only be used on weekends when two officers are working, this will help keep the mileage down on it.

Smith suggested the council set a ceiling on how much could be spent on buying a new car for the GPD and getting it ready for use. The council approved spending up to $7,000 for this issue.

Vandalism on the City Hall parking lot was reported to the council. Smith said the windshield of the animal control truck was kicked out, while the personal vehicle of a police officer also had windows broken out.

The damage done to the officer's private car was $1,558.75, Smith said, and recommended the city pay the deductible for glass replacement of $100.

Suspects have been arrested in the case and will be going to court soon. Smith said the city will seek recompense from them for the damage.

In other police related business, the council formally hired Michael Daniel as a full-time officer with the GPD.

Jim Caldwell, superintendent of the Gurdon Street Department, brought up the topic of needing a street sweeper for the city.

Smith said this has been discussed four or five years, with nothing being done yet.

What the department is looking to get, he said, isn't actually a street sweeper, but a power broom. It could be used to sweep up after pea gravel is oiled, and also for removing leaves from ditches.

A new one, Smith said, costs about $30,000, but a used one has been found in Mississippi the city can get for $7,500. This broom reportedly has a new diesel engine.

However, someone will have to make the trip to look at it and see if it's worth buying.

Turning to the cemetery commission, the council approved raising Billy Frances' salary to $6.50 an hour, bringing his pay on par with all other departments. The raise will be effective as of Oct. 1.

Talking about solid waste, Smith again said the city does not want any permanent trash bins.

He said the citizens of Gurdon are being educated in an effort to get rid of the bins. This is being done with customer service tags being put on bins, letting the customer know their garbage won't be picked up if it's inside the container.

The bins can be removed, Smith said, during the city's semi-annual curbside cleanup underway this week.

Residents can call City Hall at 353-2514 and let someone know they can come by and remove the trash bin.

The council approved two ordinances for the city's millage. One was for the 5 mill for the city general fund, while the other was a 4/10 mill for the firemen's pension fund.

Neither of these are new taxes, and both must be renewed annually in order to remain on the books.

The final order of business concerned the Aug. 31 annexation election.

The city was billed $2,440.89 by the Clark County Election Commission for its services.

Smith said the council should feel good about the results of the election and for letting the people decide the outcome.

In 1996, he said, 92 people in the area voted, with 68 opposing it. In August, 40 from the region voted, with 29 casting negative ballots.

Next up for the annexation is waiting for the 30 day waiting period to end, which should be in early October.

Until this period is up, the area is technically not in the city limits. However, the GPD is working football games under an agreement with the CCSO.

At the October council meeting, the residents in the annexed area will have to be assigned to an existing ward for future election purposes.

Smith said the area may have to be split and placed in two wards until the 2000 census is completed. At this time, the city wards may be redrawn.

The city is looking to install street lights where possible in the area, and is checking into putting an emergency siren on Highway 67 at the sewer lift station.