Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Smith Discusses Annexation

By JOHN MILLER

Gurdon voters will be deciding the fate of the annexation issue Tuesday, Nov. 5.

This will be the absolute last item on the lengthy general election ballot.

Its placing concerns Gurdon Mayor Rick Smith, because of the number of items on the ballot and the wordiness of them.

"The people need to know," he said, "if they favor annexation they should vote for Proposed Ordinance 96-005. If they oppose it they should vote no."

The annexation issue has been a hot potato for the Gurdon mayor and City Council since being brought up during the summer.

To clarify what annexation is and how those in the proposed area would be affected, Smith outlined the issue.

Annexation defined is the adding of property to an existing city's corporate city limits. Only an imaginary line is moved.

Cities are built by annexation under Arkansas statute.

There is nothing unusual about cities outgrowing their corporate limits and needing to take in more property. When this occurs, annexation is how property is taken in.

Along with giving cities more property for businesses to come in, annexation also provides city services to the annexed region. These services include police and fire protection, along with street maintenance.

However, annexation also requires those brought into the corporate limits pay the same city taxes others living in the city pay.

Smith said Gurdon has a 5.4 mill tax on real and personal property within the confines of the city limits. This equals $1.08 per $1,000 of actual value of real and personal property.

A home valued at $50,000 would see an extra $54 per year added to its tax burden.

The 5 mill tax is used by the city to pay bonded indebtedness and for the general operation of the city. The other 4/10 mill is dedicated to the Gurdon Fire Department.

Currently, the 5 mill tax generates about $1.1 million in revenue for Gurdon. Of this money, the general fund, Street Department, Gurdon Police Department, city parks and administration are funded, including all salaries.

Should the annexation be approved, Smith said, Gurdon will be eligible for more state turnback funds because of the extra population taken in.

Turnback funds are based on a city's population and vary from year to year. Smith said an estimated amount received is around $62 per head.

However, these funds are earmarked. Approximately $42 is dedicated to the street department, while the remaining $20 is placed in the city's general fund.

Smith said the city could receive about $14,000 more in turnback funds if the annexation issue passes.

At this time, the GPD has no legal authority at the new Gurdon High School. Officers with the GPD will respond if called and will work to get any situation in hand, but must then wait for deputies from the Clark County Sheriff's Office to arrive before any arrests can be made or citations issued.

This is because the school is outside the city limits, and, therefore, outside the GPD jurisdiction.

In addition, the GPD does not patrol the school grounds at night. This is also done by the CCSO.

The proposed area for annexation, Smith said, includes part of the airport property, Airport Road, West Miller, down Highway 67 to GHS, tying back to the city limits near the old sawmill site on Front Street.

A map of the entire area is on display at city hall.

One of the most important aspects of annexation could involve the county's new 911 emergency telephone response system.

At this time, the GFD will respond to fires outside the city limits, but bills the homeowner for the call. This amounts to about $700 per call.

Because of the first responder issue under 911, the city rescinded the sale of GFD subscriptions to residents outside the city limits.

When 911 goes into effect in November, the homes on the west side of Highway 67 will still be covered by the GFD, while those on the east side, including GHS, will be protected by the Beirne Volunteer Fire Department.

This will have a definite effect on homeowner fire insurance rates, because insurance rates are based on first responder classifications, according to the Insurance Service Organization.

The Gurdon Fire Department has a Class 7 rating, while Beirne's is a Class 10. In some cases, insurance rates could almost double.

Under the 911 system, when a call is received from the east side of Highway 67, the dispatcher will automatically notify the Beirne VFD because of the emergency service number (ESN) displayed on the terminal screen.

This number is based on the geographic location of the property.

The only way the GFD will respond is if the caller specifically requests this department. And, in addition, they will be charged.

However, Smith said, if the property in question is annexed into the city limits, the GFD would then be the first responder and the ESN numbers would be changed accordingly.

When research into annexation was being done earlier this year, many in the area complained they were not contacted individually.

Smith said because of the number of people in the area it would have been difficult to talk with each and every one.

Had the city organized volunteers to canvas the area and talk with residents, erroneous information could have inadvertently been given out to those in the annexed region, he added.

The council, therefore, chose to place the ordinance on a first reading in open meeting as a means of letting the public know of the city's intention because of the resulting publicity in the media.

This method allowed all who would be affected to come to council meetings and let their voiced be heard. It also became a matter of public record for future references.

Smith said should the annexation issue pass, the city will be responsible for paying for street lights in the region. Gurdon maintains street lights on corners inside the city.

In addition, he said, there could be a reduction in property insurance premiums, but homeowners are urged to contact their insurance carriers on this matter.

The city would realize an increase in its tax revenue as well as turnback funds, because the city's population would be increased by about 10 percent.

While there are 109 registered voters in the area being considered for annexation, the entire city will be allowed to vote on the issue.

Should the measure pass, opponents will have the right to appeal and take the issue to circuit court.

"There's been a lot of research and study go into this," Smith said of the annexation issue. "I know if I owned property there, I would vote for Ordinance 96-005."