Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Resolution Passed To Aid Co. Business

Four resolutions were passed by the Clark County Quorum Court, during its meeting Monday, April 8, to help an industry in the area.

The resolutions had to be passed so the county could apply for a grant from the Arkansas Community and Economic Development Program.

The West Central Arkansas Planning and Development District, Inc. will serve as grant administrator should it be approved. The grant will help Daily Lumber Co. find a new source of water, as two of the company's wells have gone dry.

The resolution has a clause prohibiting the use of excessive force by law enforcement agencies against peaceful civil rights demonstrations. This is a standard clause so the public's civil rights won't be violated.

However, Clark County Judge Grady Runyan said force will be used to protect the rights of individuals or uphold the law when necessary.

Another resolution commits the county to replace all low and/or moderate income homes demolished as a result of activities using state funds. This, too, is a standard procedure.

Any homes destroyed as a result of the grant process and ensuing construction would have to be replaced within three years.

A budget amendment was also approved by the court. It gave $10,000 to the Caddo Valley/Clark County Rescue Unit. This money was appropriated from the county's general fund, leaving a balance of $269,198.

The county was also asked to participate in a project to put every fire department in the county on a Master Fire Plan.

Jim Burns, coordinator of the Office of Emergency Services, said such participation would make the departments eligible for state funds which would pay for their individual needs. He said the funding would be on a "first-come, first served," basis.

The court agreed to take $2,200 out of the county's OES budget for Clark County's portion of applying for the Master Fire Plan. The state will pick up the tab for the remaining $2,200.

One item of business which caused a great deal of controversy was the planned rally by the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan in May.

The Rev. Bobby Marshall of Gurdon, and Charles Bell, president of the state's chapter of National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) spoke against the rally.

Runyan said the county cannot supersede federal law which allows such rallies.

However, he invited the NAACP to rally on the courthouse lawn any time the organization wants -- with the exception of when the KKK is present.