Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Sales Tax Issue Discussed

There's nothing like a sales tax issue to bring people together.

The Gurdon City Council, in its regular monthly meeting Monday, July 14, discussed a proposed 1/2 cent sales tax for the purpose of installing an emergency siren system, animal control and for the Gurdon Police Department.

Gurdon Mayor Rick Smith reminded the council the city is limited in what it can do with the funds and how it can raise money by state statute. He said there could be problems with dedicating the tax proportionally. This is because the siren system will cost about $20,000 to install initially, but the cost of operation will drop considerably.

Additionally, it will be expensive to get an animal control system in place, but, it too, will cost less with the passage of time.

On the other hand, the GPD expenses will continue to rise because of cost of living raises, the purchase of equipment and fuel for the vehicles.

The council debated placing the tax monies, should the measure pass in a special election, in a special account so the public can see exactly where these funds are going and how they are being used.

Councilman Glen Hughes was adamant about making sure the people understand where the money will be going and how it is being distributed among the three issues.

In other business, the council agreed to apply for a 75-25 matching grant for further renovation at Lowe Field, Gurdon's airport.

The total grant will be $80,156.45, with the city's part being $20,039.11.

The airport commission contacted the Horace Cabe Foundation for assistance with raising the city's portion, and was approved for the project. However, the Cabe Foundation Board of Directors won't meet again until October. The deadline for applying for this grant is July 24.

What the council agreed to was use funds the Cabe Foundation had approved for renovation at City Hall, as the renovation is in the planning stage, as matching money for the grant. The foundation granted the city $200,000 to upgrade city hall.

Smith said it was unlikely the money would ever be taken out of the renovation account.

He also said this money is not tax money and will not cost residents of Gurdon anything.

Solid waste is another major concern the city has, and is working on.

Smith said for the first six months of the year, the solid waste budget has spent 52.3 percent of its revenues. This means, he said, the revenue is not adding any money to the account as the expenses continue to rise.

"This is a serious problem for us," he said.

As a member of the solid waste board governing Clark, Garland and Hot Spring counties, Smith said the panel will hear a suggestion from its landfill committee to go ahead with plans to build a landfill.

The idea of merging with the Upper Southwest Solid Waste Management District had been considered, but, he said, the best idea for long-term consideration would be for the district to build its own landfill.

Smith added the City of Gurdon will continue having pick up days for large items in conjunction with the county in an effort to help people get rid of unwanted large items and help save money.

Discussing the city's various departments, Smith said there has been a complaint from a resident over a tree in an alley.

He said the person in question claims a large tree was killed several years ago when the sewer lines were put in, but the Gurdon Water and Sewer Department doesn't want to do anything about removing the tree.

Smith said it is a large tree and agrees it could have been killed when the sewer was installed and the root system damaged.

The issue at hand, he said, is which department pays for removing the tree. Smith said the street department should not be responsible as it did not damage the tree, and feels the water department ought to handle the situation.

He informed the council he will be at the July 21 meeting of the water commission, inviting any others interested to show up as well.

Glen Hughes said he has heard complaints about young people playing basketball late at night in the city park. The complaint is the people nearby can't sleep with the racket.

Smith said he'd rather see children playing ball at the park than wandering the street at night in town. "I'm opposed to closing the park at night," he said. "People go there and fish late at night on the lake."

Don Childres, with the GPD, said the police have been called to the park and have ran the youths off. However, those young people simply left the park and began walking the streets in town.

The council made no decision concerning closing the park, as the members agreed it is better the children be playing basketball than walking the streets looking for something to get into.

Smith suggested the possibility of installing a light at the basketball court so the youths could play.