Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Annexation Nearly Complete

Annexation in Gurdon is almost completely done, but it has been a struggle throughout.

Monday, Oct. 11, the Gurdon City Council, meeting in regular session, officially brought the Gurdon Primary School into the city limits. This was done with no fuss, muss or bother.

However, when it came time to assign the annexed area along Highway 67 into voting wards, councilman Philip Giles had questions.

An ordinance had been drawn up to split the areas into wards one and two so those in this region could vote in city elections.

Residents on the north side of the highway, with Gurdon High School, would be in ward 1, while those on the south side of the road would be in ward 2.

However, councilman Philip Giles remembered it differently. He said the council had originally promised to put those in this area in a separate ward altogether, thereby creating a new ward.

Gurdon Mayor Rick Smith said the area was split because of the upcoming census. He said it is likely after the census has been done the entire ward map will have to be redrawn.

By waiting, he said, it will save the city the expense of having to redraw the boundaries twice. After the census, though, this area could be placed into a ward on its own.

Smith also pointed out to make this a separate ward another election would have to be held to get a representative from the area on the council.

He said the annexation work on this area needs to be completed by Dec. 31, in order for the residents there to be considered inside the city limits for the census.

Giles, though, argued the city made a promise to put this region into a ward of its own. The ensuing debate wound up with the meeting being temporarily halted so the minutes of council meetings concerning the annexation could be found.

The only time wards were mentioned in connection with this particular area was in the April and May meetings, but the discussion then was about doing the annexation by petition methods.

According to the minutes of all meetings involved, the city made no promise to put the area into a ward of its own, though it was discussed a new ward could be created or this region be put into existing wards.

When all was finally said and done, the measure passed with Giles the only nay vote cast.

In other business, the council approved looking into building a 16 by 20 foot metal building to be used as a dog pound for Gurdon.

Animal Control Officer Carroll Martin brought a rough drawing in showing the floor plan.

Part of the reason the city is looking at building a "pound" is because of the cost involved in having the animals housed in Arkadelphia.

Smith said the city paid $198 last month to the Arkadelphia animal control for housing animals, along with $125 to Waymack Animal Clinic for euthanizing them. The city, he added, also pays for any medicine used on animals.

Martin has passed tests and will work at the Hot Springs shelter to earn his certification and be legally allowed to euthanize animals.

The building design includes a room for this purpose, along with housing dog food.

It would have individual pens for eight adult animals which would make it easier for people to either claim their pets or to adopt a dog as a pet.

Martin suggested putting the shelter near the sewer plant on Smithton Road as the area is already fenced and it would be easy to keep locked and secure. The city could also tie into the sewer system there with no trouble.

Smith said a metal building is the way to go, as they are easy to put up and cheaper to build. The hardest part would be the dirt work involved.

The shelter, he said, wouldn't be air conditioned, but would have vent fans to circulate the air.

Martin and Smith will look into the cost involved and get this information back to the council.

Smith then turned to the topic of finishing the renovations of city hall, saying with the work already done it is something for the people of Gurdon to be proud of.

However, there is still much work to be done at city hall. With the aid of a grant from the state obtained with the help of Rep. Percy Malone, the city plans to widen the street in front of city hall and put in a drive-through window so people can pay their water bills.

Smith said plans also include expanding the fire station by adding two more bays. This would give the city five bays for four trucks with the extra bay used for storage.

Other improvements include a new phone system that can handle 13 speaker phones, with a console unit able to display the caller and do paging.

With this system, Smith said, the computers can be networked.

New furniture will also be purchased for the administrative offices and meeting room. The mayor, city recorder/treasurer and administrative assistant will all get to pick out what they want, as long as the cost doesn't exceed $5,000.

When the cost reaches or exceeds this amount, bids must be taken.

The meeting room will get new aluminum tables and different chairs as well. It is likely these items will have to be let for bid.

A special meeting will be called to open bids on the meeting room furniture.

The council also discussed requiring a cleaning deposit for use of the meeting room.

Some groups using the room have failed to clean up after they were finished using it, leaving a mess for someone else to take care of.

Prices of cleaning the carpet will be obtained to help set the cost of deposits required, with a resolution to be brought forth in November with rules and regulations for using the room.

Smith informed the council a new engine was bought and has been installed in the police car. He said the city got a good price from the mechanics at $3,686.

Work on old Whelen Road is coming along, Jim Caldwell, street superintendent said. The county brought the pea gravel spreader down and other sections have been wet down on the project.

Smith suggested putting door hangers on homes when the department is oiling roads to let the resident know what's going on.

There was also discussion concerning the railroad right of way and who is responsible for keeping them mowed. The city has been mowing this area as the rail company allows it to grow up, becoming unsightly and unsafe.

Smith has tried repeatedly to contact officials with Union Pacific to find out who should be doing this work, but his calls have gone unanswered.

Caldwell said his crews picked up more items than ever on the recent city-wide clean up effort. This event is getting bigger each time, with more people getting involved.