Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Sides Square Off In Gurdon Annexation

And so, the battle lines are drawn.

Those citizens living outside the Gurdon city limits, but in the area for a proposed annexation, voiced their opinion at a special meeting of the Gurdon City Council Monday night.

The mayor and council also made their position clear by passing the annexation ordinance on its third reading, thereby placing it on the Nov. 5 general election ballot. The measure was approved by a 4-1 vote, with Gene Flowers the lone voice of dissension.

In the end, however, no minds were changed on either side, and some animosity was shown from all involved.

Jackie Rhodes again acted as spokesman for the residents along Highway 67. Again, his message to the council was simple -- the people in this area do not want to live inside the city limits and do not want to pay the city's 5.4 mill tax.

Rhodes, before the meeting began, gave each council member copies of a petition with 109 signatures of people in the area stating they don't want to be annexed into Gurdon's city limits.

"We weren't asked by anyone," he said "about what we thought. No one in the city asked our opinion.

"We're asking again for this not to be put on the ballot. It will make a drastic change in representation if it is put on the ballot."

Rhodes said of all 109 who signed the petition voted against the issue, and 10 percent of the registered voters in Gurdon vote for it, they will be unfairly annexed into the city.

"We'll be overruled, and this isn't fair representation," he told the council.

It was again pointed out the people living in the region knew what services were available when they moved there, and were satisfied with them.

Rhodes said these people didn't ask for city water and sewer, but agreed to it for the school's sake. He again told the council neither the school superintendent nor the school board president were asked their opinion on the annexation. "It's (Gurdon High School) is irrelevant as far as we're concerned."

The biggest problem Rhodes and the others in the proposed annexed area seemed to have, though, was their opinions weren't considered up front.

Several people said they were never approached by a member of the council, nor the mayor about the annexation. Their feelings were this is being "shoved down their collective throats," and they have no say in the matter.

Rhodes brought a story from Thursday's issue of the state paper concerning an annexation issue in Higginson. He said the mayor and council of this town backed down when residents of an area to be annexed voiced their opposition.

"They respected the citizens opinions and views," Rhodes said. "A clear majority of the people there signed a petition saying they didn't want to be annexed.

"We feel we're being forced into something we don't want. It's up to the council to vote if it wants it on the ballot or not. It's still not a fair vote for the people in the area."

He further stated the council had the authority to keep the issue off the ballot if it so chose, and needed to consider the opinions of those involved.

According to Rhodes, it would save the city money, time and effort to keep the annexation issue off the Nov. 5 ballot.

Councilman Roy Quinney said he would feel the same way if he lived in the area to be annexed. "But I'm on the other side of the fence," he said. "This will be good for the city, and you in the long run."

Rhodes countered saying these residents will be forced to pay higher taxes (the city's 5.4 mill tax), and still don't want the city services. The garbage pickup from the county, he said, is cheaper than Gurdon's.

Quinney said GHS needs to be inside the city limits for proper police protection.

"The people don't want it," Rhodes responded. "The people and school board knew it wasn't in the city limits up front before it was built. They haven't asked the city to be annexed in, and you can't assume they want in."

Gurdon Mayor Rick Smith said the ordinance is being placed on the ballot to let the people decide. "Granted," he said, "the other wards have you outnumbered, but no one knows how the vote will go."

Smith lauded the effort of those citizens in the affected area for the work they've put in campaigning against the annexation. He said this kind of effort is needed inside the city limits as well.

Smith continued, saying the school is not irrelevant, as had been said, and does need the Gurdon Police Department to be able to not only respond, but take action when they go out there.

He said the only changes to be made will be moving the current city limits sign to the end of the school property; the land itself will not be changed.

"We don't want to be annexed because of taxes," Rhodes said when asked why there was such opposition. "No one wants to pay higher taxes."

He also said this issue will do more harm than good as it will split the people in the area on both sides.

"If we're voted into the city limits," he said, "I will leave. Gurdon will lose two students and one business."

The council, Smith said, represents the people of Gurdon, and is the governing body for the City of Gurdon.

The city, he continued, has spent money on feasibility studies and research. If the annexation process were stopped now, this would be money thrown away.

"If it's (the annexation) such a bad thing, the people of Gurdon will vote against it," Smith said. "We know you feel strongly about this, but the council represents the people of Gurdon."

Should the annexation issue be approved by the voters of Gurdon, those opposed to being annexed will have 30 days after the Nov. 5 election to file suit in protest.

Charles Bullard, the 911 coordinator for Clark County, was also on hand at the meeting.

He informed all present, some 35 people, of how 911 operates and about the fire district boundaries.

Bullard said Clark County Office of Emergency Services (OES) coordinator Jim Burns met with all fire chiefs of the counties fire departments and worked up coverage boundaries for all.

However, he told the audience, if they live within five miles of a fire department, their fire insurance rates shouldn't change.

Those on hand were told their fire district is coded into the 911 system by an emergency service number (ESN), which also dictates other emergency services provided.

Talking about the area on the south side of Highway 67, Bullard said it is in the Beirne district, but the Gurdon department can respond if asked. However, he added, the GFD is not the responsible department.

911 services are based on specific geographical areas, Bullard said, with the purpose of getting emergency personnel where they are needed in the quickest possible time.

Earlier in the year, the council had voted to