Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

For Annexation: It's Hurry Up And Wait

It's a case of hurry up and wait for the Gurdon City Council on the issue of annexation.

The city has been following a prescribed time-line for annexation, with all being left to count ballots after the Aug. 31, special election.

Gurdon Mayor Rick Smith said there have been no new developments concerning the annexation, though a committee has been formed to support the issue.

This group, he said, is seeking volunteers and donations to help get the Gurdon school complex annexed into the city limits.

"The city's done all it can since the ordinance has passed," he said. "Now, we're waiting for the outcome of the election."

In another annexation matter, those people living in the Rose Hedge area will be assigned to a ward for future voting purposes.

The council passed the annexation ordinance to bring in an area of property along Highway 67 South into the city limits. This was done at a special meeting June 28.

On June 29, a certified copy of the ordinance and map of the proposed annexation site was sent to the Clark County Clerk and Clark County Election Commission.

Notice of election was printed in the local paper to let the public know of the special election on Aug. 31.

On July 12, a list of those residents in the annexation area was provided to the county clerk.

Now, the clerk must give notice of voter registration by Aug. 11. This is to be done by mail.

Should the issue pass, the lands adjoining wards in the annexed area must be attached by ordinance of the city council no later than Sept. 13.

The city must notify the county clerk of voter precinct assignments no later than Oct. 13, letting the clerk know who will be in which voting ward.

One of the primary reasons the annexation is to get the Gurdon school complex into the city limits. By doing this, the Gurdon Police Department will be legally allowed to enter the school grounds and handle any problems which may arise.

As it stands, the GPD must be asked by the Clark County Sheriff's Office to go to the schools along Highway 67 and take control of any situations underway.

This occurred during the past school year when a Cabe Middle School student brought a weapon to school. The CCSO asked the GPD to handle the situation until a deputy could arrive. The deputy arrived about 20 minutes later, well after the GPD officers had the incident under control.

Additionally, as it stands, the GPD will not be able to have officers on hand at Gurdon Go-Devil football games at the new stadium being built, as it is outside their jurisdiction.

FRAMES IN The frames for the bleachers at the new football stadium are in and being installed. However, construction crews have no idea when the seats will be in, or when the project will be finished. They said the framing should be in place by the end of this week, and installing the seating won't take more than a couple of weeks, once the materials come in. The delay, they said, was caused when the company furnishing the steel backed up most of the small orders in to accommodate the construction of stands for NASCAR racing. Still, once the stadium is complete, if the annexation issue set for special election Aug. 31, fails, the question remains who will provide adequate police protection during ball games?