Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Gurdon Leaders Attend Seminar

Gurdon was well represented at the Arkansas Municipal League Convention in Little Rock recently.

Mayor Rick Smith and city recorder/treasurer Tambra Smith both attended the function.

The two, upon arrival, split up to attend as many workshops as they could to gather as much knowledge as possible under the conditions.

Rick Smith said there were six workshops held daily on a variety of topics related to municipalities, including juvenile violence and crime, attracting industry, tourism, bonds, streets, understanding the new election laws, public safety, drug testing for commercial drivers and tax reform.

The mayor attended a session on public pensions and developing model street ordinances and maintaining streets, along with attracting industry and tourism and using volunteers.

Tambra Smith sat in on a session concerning workplace safety and worker's compensation, along with the parks and recreation fun grant seminar.

However, he said the most informative sessions were roundtable discussions officials held with one another. This is where, he said, the real work was done.

Officials from other cities in Arkansas talked about the problems they face, how they are handling them and looking for any help in dealing with them others may have had success with. They also talked about the successful programs they have going on and shared this information with others as well.

The day began at 6:30 a.m. with a run, Rick Smith said. The run was followed by breakfast and registration for exhibits and suppliers of government products. These booths were set up at the Little Rock Convention Center.

He and Tambra took a ficus tree and floor plants made at M&M Enterprises in Gurdon to be put on display and used as door prizes.

During the convention, Smith said various state officials showed up and talked with the city leaders, who were not shy about bending the elected officials' ears with their desires and problems.

At Wednesday's award banquet, the featured speaker was James Witt, director of the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA).

Attorney General Winston Bryant headlined Thursday's speakers, while Lt. Gov. Mike Huckabee spoke at a luncheon Friday.

Tambra again won a scholarship from the Arkansas Clerks, Recorders and Treasurers Association. This scholarship, for $400, will help pay tuition, room and board at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville Sept. 15-19.

"I was shocked," she said. "I didn't expect to win it again." Normally, the scholarship is awarded to a first-term recorder/treasurer/clerk.

She also brought back a certificate of appreciation for serving on the AML's advisory committee.

But her passion is improving Gurdon's park. "I brought back information on grant programs from the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism," she said. One grant is a 50-50 cash match, with no in-kind labor or services possible.

If possible, Smith may work to get this grant and raise matching funds to construct a softball diamond at the Gurdon city park by the basketball courts.

"We have the land for a softball diamond," she said, "with room for one field." The property was donated by the Cabe family.

Even if the grant is not feasible or possible, Smith said she will work with the Gurdon Softball Association to raise the needed money and build the field. Along with the dirtwork and fencing, a concession stand and scorekeepers booth will have to be built.

She said the concession stand and scorekeepers booth can be a single two-story unit located at the corner of the field.

The AML is composed of 480 cities from the state of Arkansas. Only eight cities are not members of the league.