Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Water Project Making Progress

Paperwork for easements along Highway 53 has been delivered to the City of Gurdon, according to Harold Hurst.

Hurst, superintendent of the Gurdon Water and Sewer Commission, told the commission the next step in the process to complete the parent portion of the rural water project is to get these papers signed.

He said, during the commission's regular meeting Monday night, more easement papers will be coming, and a group of volunteers needs to be schooled so they can go door-to-door and inform those residents involved.

Bill Dulin, commission chairman, asked if it wouldn't be less expensive to install water lines along Highway 182 (Sticky Road) as the road is being rebuilt.

Hurst said the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department won't let the city do this, which means the project will be required to bore beneath the road's surface and have encased pipe installed.

Another problem, Hurst said, is the project most likely won't be far enough along by the time the road work is done to even attempt to install water line while road construction is occurring.

However, he said he would talk to project engineer Charles Summerford about it and see what he said.

The main water line in the region is on the south side of the road, and the new lines would be installed along the northern sector.

Hurst said a few more customers have hooked onto the sewer line on Highway 67 South, but his department has been receiving complaints about unfinished dirtwork by the construction company.

However, he has been in contact with Bobo and Bain of Hope, who installed the water and sewer lines to the new Gurdon High School, and representatives of the company have promised to finish this portion as soon as the ground dries up enough.

Gurdon Mayor Rick Smith said there has been no progress on purchasing a plot of land from Southwestern Bell Telephone.

He told the panel the city council has authorized him to negotiate the contract and sign it on the advisement of the city's attorney.

He said paperwork for about one-third of the easements necessary has been done. Now it's time to get the volunteers out knocking on doors and getting this first batch of papers signed.

A $100 deposit for water service was made in the name of the Town House Restaurant. Hurst said a minimum care facility is supposedly going to be put in this location.

Smith said he has met with those involved and learned the property has seen a change in management.

He told the commission the people involved have mentioned plans of opening a restaurant to go along with the minimum care facility as well.

There was a little more than $3,000 left over from the funding from the Arkansas Soil and Water Commission on phase I of the rural water project.

Hurst said the ASWC doesn't want the money back, and has asked his department to spend it on a sewer related project.

Because of the amount, Hurst said there is little he could spend the money on. However, he said the department could use a trailer to haul equipment (such as a backhoe) to different sites.

But, he continued, a new trailer with brakes would cost about $5,500. On the other hand, he said a used trailer could be purchased for about $3,000.

In fact, Hurst told the panel, a used three axle trailer with a pendulum hitch could most likely be found for this amount.

He suggested waiting to see if any funds would be left over from phase II of the rural water project. If there are any, he said, they could be used to purchase a one or two ton truck to pull equipment.

Smith said there may be a way the city's street department could carry the backhoe where it's needed. Spending money on a two-ton truck would be unnecessary just to pull a trailer, he said.

Hurst said he would run the idea of a used trailer by representatives with the Soil and Water Commission to see what they thought of the idea.

If the S&W people approve of the concept, Hurst will see if he can find a good used trailer.

Smith said when the city buys used equipment it passes an ordinance approving making the buy because getting bids, most of the time, is out of the question.

Before the meeting closed, Smith said the dedication for phase I of the rural water project has been set for April 26 at about 2 p.m. Ceremonies will be held in the GHS cafetorium.