Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Rosston Sewer System Put On Hold

Rosston's city council decided to hold off on getting a sewer system for the city.

During its regular monthly meeting Thursday, Oct. 1, the council discussed the possibility of a sewer system for the city. This idea had been brought up at the August meeting, with Mayor Lewis Jackson looking into the matter.

He told the council the city would not be able to get a 100 percent grant for such a system.

Jackson said the cost of a sewer system would depend on the number of families using it. In addition, he informed the panel sewer systems cost more than water systems and the sewer bills are higher.

The best grant Rosston could get, he said, would be 75-25. This means the city would have to borrow the rest of the money and then pay it back.

In order to pay back the loan, he said, the city would have to go up on the water rates.

The council decided to table the matter until a future date.

In other business, a water main broke in the wee hours of the dawn Friday, Sept. 25, with Jackson and water superintendent J.D. Luck working to get it repaired.

This put the city under a boil order, which has since been repealed. Still, some residents have complained their water is murky.

Because of the break, Jackson and Luck realized the city needs a power saw to cut through the eight-inch PVC pipe. It was suggested the city purchase a power saw that can also be used as a circular saw so limbs can be cut as well, with the council concurring.

The council also approved the city's 5-mill tax on real and personal property. This is not a new tax, but one rolled over annually. It simply must be approved by the council before Nov. 1 so it can be taken to the Nevada County Quorum Court for its approval.

Along with the water main break and ensuing problem with the boil order, the city wound up needing to purchase a new pickup truck as Luck was in an accident Friday, Sept. 25, totaling the other truck.

The wreck, Jackson said, occurred in a bad blind curve with the police finding neither driver at fault. Shortly thereafter, it was learned the city only had liability insurance on the truck.

Jackson then investigated and found the other city vehicles could stand more insurance as well. He suggested the council approve getting full coverage on all city vehicles, including the two firetrucks.

This coverage, he said, can be purchased through the Arkansas Municipal League for 1 percent of the vehicles' cost per year and will cover all items in the vehicles.

He said a 1992 three-quarter ton Ford truck was found at Robin Melloy's and can be purchased for $8,500. This truck has side toolboxes already on it and will pull the city's tractor better than the old truck.

The council agreed to buy the truck if it's in good mechanical condition.