Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

City In Good ShapeBY JOHN MILLER

Members of the Gurdon City Council were recently given a "State of the City" address by Mayor Rick Smith.

The Water and Sewer Department, he said, has been involved with the final portion of the rural water project. "This project," he said, "is a blessing to a great number of people who don't have abundant and safe drinking water."

A new development in the project will see residents in the Greenville community getting a second chance for water, and appear to be taking advantage of it.

"If all goes well," Smith said, "they, too, will be serviced by our rural water system."

The total project has created more work and responsibility for the water department, he said. All involved, however, have worked hard and diligently to make this project happen.

Turning to the Gurdon Police Department, Smith said 1997 was a busy year. The GPD made a total of 530 misdemeanor arrests, 18 were ticketed for driving while under the influence, another 19 were arrested on misdemeanor drug charges and nine felony drug arrests were made by the GPD. In addition, one suspect wanted by the FBI for a Chicago murder was also picked up in Gurdon.

"Although these numbers may be alarming to some," he said, "the good news is there were no armed robberies and no murders."

In 1996, he said, there were seven armed robberies and one murder. However, suspects were arrested in each of the aforementioned cases.

"Our police officers have been active in teaching about the perils of drugs and the proper use of the 9-1-1 system to school age children," Smith said.

The GPD, for 1998, will continue to work at keeping the crime rate down, while still educating the public.

At this time, one officer is attending the law enforcement academy to insure all officers meet today's standards in law enforcement, he said.

The Gurdon Fire Department was dispatched to 40 fires in '97, and had 52 drills. Currently, all but three members of the GFD are certified.

Last year, Smith informed the council, the GFD had a protective equipment class, wildland fire suppression class and a rescue extrication class.

By obtaining grants, and with the help of many people, he said, the department was able to purchase a truck now being rigged as a fire/rescue vehicle. The GFD bought a "jaws of life" and other rescue equipment for the unit.

Goals for '98, he said, include getting the GFD reclassified by ISO, the insurance service organization. This, Smith said, will result in the reduction of property insurance costs for all living in the city limits.

In addition, the GFD will be working with the city council in the condemnation of old and hazardous structures inside the city limits, along with getting these structures removed.

"We'd also like to see a subscription program to the fire department for people outside the city, but located within the Gurdon fire district, begun."

The Gurdon Street Department also had a busy 1997, he said. One of the most worthwhile projects completed during the year was getting South 10th Street surfaced.

Street crews have also been busy putting new street signs up all over town. "We plan to complete this project this year," he said, "by placing a sign at every intersection within our city."

The department also had its "normal" day-to-day activities to handle, such as clearing ditches and culverts, pothole repair, trimming trees, removing debris from the streets and rights of way, maintaining the city park and walking trail park, mowing and fighting drainage problems."

Several asphalt jobs were also done in '97, he said. Phillips Drive, Front Street and First and Second streets were all paved.

A second coat of pea gravel and oil was laid on Seventh Street and Seahorn, along with part of First Street, while a chip and seal job was done on Clark, Fielder and West Miller streets.

The department also did the subgrade work for the new runway at Lowe Field. The runway is 4,600 feet long.

Cabe Field saw landscaping and gravel work done by the department to turn water away from the concession stand.

Fill dirt was hauled to Rose Hedge Cemetery, while bridge railings, parking spaces and crosswalks were painted.

The department participated in two city-wide curbside cleanup details, and spearheaded one litter pickup campaign.

It also had to deal with the temporary truck route down Stone Street.

Plans for 1998 include extensive work on drainage projects and installing a new bridge on Front Street near the underpass.

Once the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD) completes the Caney Creek bridge project, he said, the city's street department plans to build up the roadbed, install new culverts and surface Stone Street. This will be done as by agreement with financial aid from the county.

Smith said '98 will see the department concentrate on labor intensive projects, but don't require a great deal of financial expenditures for materials. "We feel this is necessary to allow us to build up a reserve in funds for future street improvements."

Several cleanup projects are also planned by the department for 1998, with the first being scheduled within the next 30-45 days.

A long-time dream was realized at Lowe Field, Smith said, as the runway was widened. "It took a lot of planning and dedication from our airport commissioners."

This project was not only extensive, but expensive, he said, and was made possible by getting grant funding. More improvements are planned for 1998, he said, including a complete overlay of asphalt of the entire runway.

Work has also been done at the Rose Hedge Cemetery, Smith said. The storage building has been repainted and had a new roof put on, with plans for '98 to get more property for grave sites.

A new volleyball court and horseshoe pit were installed at the Gurdon City Park, he said, while new playground equipment was also installed. Tennis courts were resurfaced, with the restrooms made handicap accessible, with new fixtures installed.

Solid waste, however, has been a problem, he said. The solid waste department has seen a decline in fund balances for '97.

The city entered into a new contract with the haulers with no increase, but there was an increase in the amount charged for compaction and transportation to the Saline County landfill. There has also been an increase in the amount of garbage collected in the city, with no more paying customers coming on board.

Gurdon, Smith said, pays for disposal of its trash by the ton. The increased amount of garbage being collected is the reason for the decline of funds in the department.

A recycling program, he said, needs to be instituted so less refuse will be hauled away. "My plans are to form an advisory committee for the sole purpose of mo