Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Annexation Is Opposed At City Council Meeting (cont)

n city limit, and cited the Nevada School District as one.

He was corrected in this situation as the NSD is within the confines of the Rosston city limits.

"We don't want, or need to be in the city limits," he continued. "You won't change anyone's mind. If this is for the city to grow, why not take in other areas. It's because you can't provide the services in a timely fashion."

Rhodes then began talking about how the school got its water and sewer.

Smith pointed out the fact the district had originally allocated $300,000 for water and sewer, but this would not have allowed any residents to hook onto the forced main system.

The engineer, Charles Summerford, suggested the district ride the city's coattails with the rural water project, which did allow the people to hook on.

This, Smith added, also helped the district as it didn't have to pick up the entire tab for the service, and only had to pay $58,700.

Rhodes, along with others in the audience, said they never wanted city water and sewer services. They said they had been quite satisfied with their wells and septic systems, many of which flowed into the pond.

Rhodes said the residents along Hwy. 67 have had to pay dearly for what they've received, and they had been lied to about the easements when the project was in its infancy. However, what the lies were was never brought out in the meeting.

He said the school has police protection from the Clark County Sheriff's Office and the Arkansas State Police.

City Marshal David Childres was asked if the Gurdon Police had ever been called to GHS. He said they received one call, but didn't respond.

Childres added the GPD officers will go to GHS and stand by until a CCSO deputy arrives.

Rhodes also questioned why the map was drawn the way it was, in a dogleg fashion.

Smith said the map follows existing meet and bound lines, which made it less expensive for the city to deal with, than having the entire area surveyed would have.

Freddie Horne, who also lives in the area, said the decision on whether or not people vote on the annexation is in the hands of four people, the city council. He then asked if they would rescind the ordinance and not pass it.

Smith said this response was expected from people living outside the city limits, but getting city services and not paying city taxes for them.

Rhodes responded saying they don't want to live in the city limits nor pay more taxes.

"The bottom line," he said, "is we don't feel our feelings have been considered. We would have appreciated someone talking to us about it before coming up with the ordinance."

Hughes said if the ordinance is passed, it only means the issue will be placed on the Nov. 5 ballot. Nothing will be annexed until the votes are tallied from the general election.

At this time, depending on the outcome, the residents will have 30 days to file a suit challenging the annexation in circuit court.

"All the council is doing," he reminded the audience for a second time, "is placing the ordinance on its second reading to publicize it for those not familiar with it."

When the arguments had finally ceased, Smith said those living in the affected area would receive one other thing they currently don't have -- representation on the city council.

Currently, those living outside the city limits have almost no voice in city politics, but are represented on the Clark County Quorum Court by a justice of the peace.

Smith said the area has enough people (about 200) to justify creating another city ward on its own.

At this point, the council voted to place the ordinance on its second reading. It passed.

Because of time constraints, the city council will meet in special session Aug. 19 at 7 p.m. to address this issue, and others.

Under state law, this ordinance must be passed at least 60 days before the general election in order for it to get on the Nov. 5 ballot. This means the ordinance has to be passed no later than Sept. 6.