Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Mayor: 1996 Good Year For Gurdon

Last year was a good one for Gurdon, according to Mayor Rick Smith's State of the City Address.

Smith, who presented this report at the recent meeting of the Gurdon City Council, said operations ran smoothly, though the city needed more money in its general revenue fund.

The city, he said, was fortunate in being able to procure funds through grants, which allowed it to complete several projects.

Smith said the childcare facility was finished, because of a $150,000 grant from the Arkansas Industrial Development Commission.

Gurdon's Housing Authority also benefited from a $243,000 grant, which was used for energy and security improvements.

Lowe Field, the Gurdon airport, got a grant from the Arkansas Department of Aeronautics for $75,000 to help with much needed runway widening and other improvements.

The city received a grant from the Cops More program. These funds helped pay for overtime to the officers.

City Hall also received aid from a grant. Smith said the city was able to replace the worn out heating and cooling units because of a $29,604 grant from the Arkansas Energy Commission with the help of State Rep. Percy Malone.

There was more good news when the city learned it would receive a grant for $200,000 from the Horace Cabe Foundation to renovate City Hall.

Another grant, for $22,000, went to the city's park. This money was used to purchase new playground equipment, renovate the restrooms and put pea gravel beneath the playground toys to prevent injury.

The Clark County Quorum Court bestowed $10,000 on Gurdon to help the city establish a rescue unit for Gurdon and the south portion of the county. Smith said additional funding will be sought this year to allow the project to become a reality.

Good news continued when the city was recertified as an Arkansas Community of Excellence. Smith said this designation is important in the way the city conducts its business and the way state government looks at Gurdon when determining assistance in funding and industrial recruiting.

The rural water project has been slow, and was one of the few problem areas for Gurdon in '96. Smith said the main problem is getting residents to sign easements so the project can get underway.

At this time, he said, enough easements have been obtained to allow bids to be sought for the project.

The rural water project is another example of how Gurdon has worked to get grants. This project will cost an estimated $4,000,000 when finished.

A problem the city's general fund had was the Gurdon Police Department. Smith said the department went over budget by more than $18,000.

He explained there were a number of unforeseen emergencies arise with the department, including the engine in the newest car having to be replaced.

But, because of this, the city's "cushion" money was completely drained, leaving Gurdon with no contingency fund for 1997.

The other two departments operating out of the general fund, parks and administration, were both under budget for '96.

"This year," Smith said, "marks my fourth budget to prepare for the city, and it is very evident to me the major problem with the general fund is the way revenue coming into the fund is set up.

"The major contributors of revenue to this fund do not coincide with inflationary increases. Previous administrations have taken countermeasures to bail out the general fund from time to time, but, unfortunately, these measures have been nothing but temporary `band aid' repairs."

Gurdon's fire department also went over budget. This department was over by $5,147.96 because, Smith said, of a rash of fires in the area during the early part of '96.

He said the department collected $3,025 more than was budgeted for fire insurance reimbursements, which dropped the deficit to $2,122.96.

But, he pointed out, the department is owed about $10,000 for fires fought outside the city limits. This, he said, is an issue the council will be working on for '97.

Solid waste is an area the city will be watching closely as well. Smith said Arkadelphia has increased its charges for compaction and transportation. The expenses were $444.51 more than budgeted in '96, with revenue falling short by $2,095.25.

Smith said there are three things needing to be done to insure the stability of this department.

First, the city must continue having the large items and junk cleanup campaign. Next, he said, the city needs to make sure all businesses are paying their fair share for trash pickup. Finally, the city needs to institute a recycling program.

The city has $6,000 from the Arkansas Department of Pollution Control and Ecology which must be used to begin a recycling program.

Getting one off the ground, Smith told the council, will be slow and take years to educate the people as to the benefits of recycling -- financially and environmentally.

He said for every ton of recycled garbage Gurdon has, the city saves the solid waste ratepayers $92.50. This figure, he added, will continue rising annually.

Smith heaped praise on the Gurdon Street Department for its efforts in '96.

He said along with its daily street repair work, the department raised the roadbed of South 10th Street by six inches. It also oiled the street in getting it ready to be surfaced this year.

Sections of Seventh, Eighth and Seahorn streets had drainage improvement work done, along with widening and surfacing with pea gravel.

He said the department also finished the parking lot for the new childcare facility, with its employees working to install the new playground equipment at the park.

"We must strive to be excellent as the ACE award proclaims," Smith said, "and must continue to establish good working relations with our county and state governments."

Smith urged the citizens of the city to get involved. He said if they have questions or ideas, they need to get in touch with their representative on the council.

"As a whole," he said, "the City of Gurdon saw a very successful 1996. Let's hope and pray we surpass those accomplishments in 1997 and meet the challenges with positive outcome and provide for those that we've commissioned to represent."