Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Council Purchases Breathalyzer For Police

Those who drink and drive in the Gurdon area need to know about a new piece of equipment being purchased.

The Gurdon City Council, in its regular monthly meeting Monday night, approved the purchase of a portable breathalyzer unit for the Gurdon Police Department.

Discussion actually began on the topic of bulletproof vests, but turned to the problem of drinking and driving.

Councilman Phillip Giles had mentioned the need for vests in the May meeting, after an officer had approached him on the issue.

Gurdon Mayor Rick Smith said it would cost about $2,500 to buy six vests, but added the city is not responsible for supplying them.

Gurdon City Marshal David Childres said most officers wouldn't wear the vests if they had them available. The city, he said, would be spending a lot of money for what would amount to nothing.

However, Childres said a vest could be kept in each patrol car. "They aren't the most comfortable things to wear," he told the council.

The GPD has two such vests at this time, but they are older and may not be effective.

Most departments, Childres continued, have vests, but it is not a requirement. "There are other places in the GPD we could spend the money."

Smith said if an officer wants a vest, they can come to the council and make a request. But, he continued, the vest would have to be like a uniform and the officer would be required to wear it at all times while on duty.

Childres said he would rather see money spent on a portable breathalyzer. When a drinking driver is stopped, he said, they have to be taken to Arkadelphia for testing.

In borderline cases, this can take as much as two hours, only to find the driver below the legal limit. In these cases, the motorists can only be charged with drinking on the highway.

A portable breathalyzer, Childres told the council, would cost about $259. This amount would be saved in gasoline not used going to Arkadelphia and back, as well as man-hours saved. It would also allow the officer to make immediate decisions on borderline cases.

Smith said there was no money in the general fund for such a purchase, but more than $400 is in the city fines 2 account. This money, he said, can be used to buy supplies.

The council agreed, voting to purchase a portable breathalyzer from the city fines 2 account.

The Gurdon Fire Department had a grant for $7,500 approved from the Rural Advocacy Commission to help with the purchase of a rescue unit.

The GFD earlier had received $10,000 from the Clark County Quorum Court and $5,000 from the Ross Foundation for this project.

Smith said the city doesn't have the money it would like to start a rescue unit, but one of the GFD's trucks could be used as the rescue vehicle until one can be purchased.

In the meantime, the most vital piece of equipment needed will be bought -- a jaws of life unit. This will run about $8,600.

Besides the vehicle, the jaws unit is the largest financial outlay.

Smith said Gurdon will purchase the same kind of jaws unit the Arkadelphia and Caddo Valley rescue units have. By ordering promptly, he said, it could be in next week.

Jake McBride, Gurdon Fire Chief, said Chris Dulin will head up the rescue unit.

In other business, the council approved a mechanical codes ordinance. The ordinance passed its third reading during the meeting. Harold Hurst, manager of the Gurdon Water and Sewer Department, will be the city's code enforcement officer.

Street overlays have been completed on Phillips Drive and Front Street to Miller's Crossing, with some patch work thrown in. Smith said the estimates came in less than expected and bids weren't required for the project.

There is some really good news for city employees. The city's insurance provider has stated the health insurance premiums will not increase for the next year.

In other insurance news, the council agreed to put the Cabe Field baseball complex on the city's policy.

The Gurdon Baseball Association constructed a new concession stand, but didn't have the funds to insure it. The council, though, voted to put this on the city's policy, along with the press box and storage room. The addition will run $143 more per year.

Smith said the city recently had a safety audit completed by the Arkansas Department of Labor with the report being returned. The report, though, wasn't too bad.

The Water Department, he said, has several things to be corrected, such as getting all employees certified in using breathing apparatus.

Additionally, all city employees need to be vaccinated for hepatitis B because of the nature of their work. This is especially true in the case of the GPD, GFD and Water Department.

And, finally, the city will undergo a legislative audit in September, with all accounts being examined.