Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Easements Slow Water Project

Easements are the major holdup for the Gurdon rural water project.

This is what Harold Hurst, superintendent of the Gurdon Water and Sewer Department told the Water and Sewer Commission during its regular meeting Monday night.

To date the project has 189 easements signed, while 245 are needed before it can be advertised for bid.

He said a check for $3,500 has been written to Southwestern Bell Telephone for the property on Red Springs Road and the deed should be returned soon. This property will have a pumping station installed for the water project.

Last month the panel had discussed taking deadbeat customers to small claims court in an attempt to recover bad debts. However, Hurst said this wouldn't be feasible because the filing fee is $35 per case and a judgement may not result in the department getting paid unless the person owing the bill is working and then their checks can be garnished for payment.

These bad debts are kept on the books for several years, Hurst said, and if the customers return to Gurdon they have to pay these bills before they can get water hooked up to their residence.

He also suggested going ahead with a $10 collection fee when department personnel have to go to residences to collect on bills.

Utilizing a collection agency was discussed by the panel, but most bad debts are less than $100 and collection agencies charge about 50 percent of what they recover.

Hurst said he will talk to Eric Hughes, the city's attorney, before implementing the $10 collection fee.

He informed the commissioners the department was one-one thousandth of a part per billion out of compliance with the compound Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate in the airport well. This chemical is commonly used in the production of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe.

Hurst said the Arkansas Department of Health thinks this problem will take care of itself, as the amount of contaminant has been steadily decreasing with each test done.

However, if the problem doesn't clear up, the ADH will examine the oil used to lubricate bearings in the well. If any of this oil is getting into the water supply, Hurst said the department will have to use a more expensive vegetable grade.

Customers will be notified of the situation with a post card included with their water bills.

ADH officials, though, informed the Gurdon City Council, at its regular meeting July 8, the residents are in no danger because of the situation.

Hurst told the panel two computers, two printers, a radio base unit, modem and lights had been damaged by lightning striking city hall on July 2.

He said the city is insured, with a $1,000 deductible on the policy. The carrier has told Hurst to save all equipment destroyed by the strike.

At this time, he said the radio is working, the light has been repaired and one of the computers is working.

However, neither of the printers is operational yet. The panel, after hearing from secretary Rhonda Spruill, decided to use the insurance money to purchase a new printer instead of taking a chance on repairing one hit by lightning.