Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Peter Lawson Is New CCIC Director

A new executive director has been hired by the Clark County Industrial Council.

In the council's regular monthly meeting Thursday, CCIC President Brown Hardman said Peter Lawson will assume the director's duties on Aug. 20.

Lawson was not present at Thursday's meeting. However, Hardman said the search committee and executive committee approved of the selection, with the entire board voicing its approval as well.

Hardman said he has been in touch with Bill Wright concerning the proposed Exit 73 satellite industrial park. He said the City of Arkadelphia has asked for some changes to be made in the plans, and these changes are being complied with.

Charles Summerford has been employed to do the engineering work on the project. He is in the process of survey work, which could take three to five weeks to complete.

Hardman said the monthly meetings of the CCIC are a good idea, but more members need to show up and get involved.

Water Department Audit Is Clean

An audit update report shows the Gurdon Water and Sewer Department to be in good shape.

Ronny Rodgers, with the accounting firm of Taylor, Rodgers, Turner and Malone, Ltd., gave this good news to the Water and Sewer Commission during its regular monthly meeting Monday night.

He said when dealing with federal funds, the reports require more information, but Gurdon received a clean opinion on its audit.

The cash flow is up over last year, Rodgers said, with the same being said for the department's certificate of deposits and meter deposits. The fund equity also rose during the past year, with operational income rising because the department having a full year under the rate increase of 1995.

In addition 33 new customers were picked up by the department. Rodgers said the assets exceed liabilities by $2 million.

The department, he said, wrote off $5,700 in bad debts, and the increase in depreciation was caused by the new treatment plant going on-line.

According to Rodgers, the department gets its bills paid on time and has been assessed no penalties for late payments.

Also, he said, the CPA firm did spot check meter readings, making sure customers are billed correctly and according to the city's formula.

"There's nothing you need to do differently," he said of the department's accounting procedures.

In other business, Harold Hurst, department manager, said they are losing two employees and need to replace them as soon as possible.

Normally, he said, applications are taken, interviews are granted to all applicants, with those making the cut getting called back for further interviews. At this point the best applicant is hired.

Hurst said there are four applications currently on file, but one of these people has a job now.

The commission considered hiring a temporary employee until the two slots could be filled, but, Hurst pointed out, it would be unfair to asked the man with a job to work on a temporary basis and possibly not get hired permanently.

Gurdon Mayor Rick Smith said the city's personnel committee needs to be involved in the hiring process during the interview stage. He said the committee would most likely follow the department head's recommendation in hiring.

"I don't like your system," Hurst said. "If you have hiring and firing procedures, all departments need to abide by them.

"I'm the one who has to oversee the employees, and am looking at my history."

Hurst said he's been with the department for 17 years and has had few bad employees.

In other business, Hurst said he's heard the deed to the Red Springs property is back, but hasn't been formally told this yet.

The department is still undecided on how to proceed on collecting bad debts and past due accounts.

Hurst said he's been told nothing from city attorney Eric Hughes as to the legality of the department imposing a collection fee to late bills.

The well near the airport will be tested again to check and see if the chemical found earlier is still there. Hurst said all customers have been notified, and the situation has been properly advertised.

The department, he continued, has also changed to a mineral based oil for lubrication purposed at the site.

Computer problems are still being worked on after city hall was struck by lightning in July.