Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Resolutions, Budgets, Audit Keep City Council Busy

Gurdon's City Council had a full plate for its regular monthly meeting Monday night.

The meeting began with councilman Mickey Jones questioning what would happen if the city went over budget for animal control.

Gurdon Mayor Rick Smith said this hasn't happened yet, and should it occur the council will have to amend the city's budget accordingly.

In fact, he said, the city's budget needs to be amended and he's been working on it so the city can get through the remainder of the year financially .

Gurdon City Marshal David Childres checked on the price of a new patrol car, learning it would cost $19,967 for a 1999 model.

Smith said the Gurdon Police Department was budgeted $15,000 for capital improvements and this wouldn't be enough to purchase a new car outright.

However, he told the council proposed Amendment 1 for the Nov. 3 General Election deals with allowing cities and counties to enter into short term lease agreements and pay interest.

Under the terms of the amendment, a government entity could lease equipment up to five years. Most city and county governments in the state are backing this proposal as it would allow them to obtain equipment when it's needed instead of having to wait and make special arrangements.

Should it pass, Smith said, it will allow the City of Gurdon to purchase a new car at the first of the year and every other year subsequently as was originally planned.

As it is, if the GPD spends all the funds in its capital improvement budget for a new car, there will be nothing left for other potential needs later on.

If the amendment fails, he said, the city will have to move money into the GPD capital improvement fund to cover the cost of a new car.

The council agreed to table this issue until after the Nov. 3 General Election.

From there, the council went into executive session to discuss a GPD personnel matter.

It seems a member of the department is looking to quit and is seeking the accumulate sick leave the officer has yet to take.

However, under Arkansas statutes, the only way sick leave can be obtained when an officer leaves a department is if the officer retires or dies. According to the Arkansas Municipal League, Smith said, if an officer quits they get no accumulated sick leave.

The council agreed to go with statutory law and the Municipal League's advice and deny sick leave to the officer in question.

Childres thanked GPD Chaplain Gene Edwards for helping with traffic problems at Gurdon Primary School, especially during the afternoons.

Traffic around GPS is hazardous during the afternoons, Smith said, particularly on 10th Street.

Smith, Edwards, Street Superintendent Jim Caldwell and Childres met with GPS Principal Rita Roe to see what could be done.

A proposal was made to move the current teacher's parking lot behind the new physical education building and construct a covered walkway to the main building. The existing lot could then be used by parents to drop off and pick up their children.

In other street department business, Caldwell said a new bush hog should be in soon. It will be a six-foot rear mount model.

The one the department uses now doesn't mow low enough and has had a lot of problems with its gear box.

According to Caldwell, the Clark County Judge may help Gurdon get a side mounted bush hog, which would make clearing ditches easier.

On the topic of clearing ditches, Smith said the city isn't supposed to clear the railroad right of way, but the rail company hasn't been doing it.

A letter has been sent to the railroad office stating the city will no longer clear the right of ways without being paid. "They haven't been good neighbors," Smith said.

Returning to the topic of animal control, Smith said a total of 27 dogs were picked up last week by the animal control officer, with another seven this week.

One of the animals has been adopted, while another gave birth to a litter of 14 puppies.

The city has an agreement with Waymack Animal Clinic of Arkadelphia to provide veterinary services for a flat fee of $125 per month.

At this time, the animal control officer is answering complaints after hours and is not yet patrolling for strays. He doesn't have an official vehicle or radio.

However, plans are to buy a truck with a radio from the Street Department when a new vehicle is purchased for Caldwell.

From there, the council was given a report from the Legislative Joint Audit Committee. Several minor infractions had been registered by the auditors for the years 1995 and 1996, but by and large Gurdon got a clean report.

The only problem could be missing cash from the GPD in the amount of $187.25. The money was apparently taken late in the day and deposited in the Water Department's vault. However, these funds were not shown to have reached the city recorder's office.

"I feel there was no intent to remove the money from the city," Smith said. "It's up to the prosecuting attorney to pursue the matter. I'm confident the money wasn't stolen."

But, the way money received by the GPD has been changed with the city recorder initialing a receipt to show the money came in.

Once renovations on City Hall are completed, Smith said, the city needs to look at buying a safe for the GPD so any cash coming in would be placed directly into it.

Two resolutions were passed by the council.

One will be to apply for an energy grant to buy a new air conditioning unit for the concession stand at Cabe Field.

The current system, Smith said, is not energy efficient and doesn't cool the stand.

The grant, if approved, will cover the full cost of a new air conditioning system. It is estimated the unit will run about $3,800.

The other resolution was to enter into negotiations for a plot of land by the Gurdon Post Office for the Street Department.

Currently the land is used by the department to store gravel and equipment. The property is owned by the Boy Scouts of America, who have placed it up for sale.

In 1986, the land was appraised for $12,000, but the BSA is asking $9,500 for it at this time. It is listed with an Arkadelphia realtor.

Once an agreement is reached through negotiations, the council must meet and approve the purchase.

The final order of business discussed by the council dealt with sub-leasing the old Gurdon Hospital.

Smith said representatives from HUGS came to Gurdon intending to buy Pineview Nursing Home and turn it into a residential care facility. This, though fell through.

Pineview is now vacant and HUGS is out of the picture.

However, Clifton Coleman, who was spearheading the effort with HUGS is no longer with the Methodist group. He now runs Coleman Research and APEX.

These n