Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Gurdon Council Disbands Ambulance Commission

There is no longer an ambulance commission in Gurdon.

The Gurdon City Council made two decisions affecting the commission during its regular meeting Monday night.

Discussion began when commissioner Johnny McGuirt asked the council to approve leasing the city's two ambulances to Baptist Medical Center.

He also said the commission had $32,000 in the bank, and asked it be left alone in case Baptist pulled its ambulance service out of Gurdon.

McGuirt said these monies could be used to help attract another service to Gurdon in case Baptist left.

Gurdon Mayor Rick Smith, however, agreed with the leasing of the ambulances (a 1991 and a 1986 model) to Baptist for $1 the first year and on a month to month basis thereafter, but said the money should be placed in the city's general fund to be used on two important city projects.

Under the lease agreement, Baptist will provide unlimited ambulance service to Gurdon, operating the equipment as if it is the sole owner.

In addition, Baptist can use these particular ambulances anywhere in the county necessary. The hospital will also maintain the ambulances and be responsible for their insurance as well.

Smith said while the ambulances have some value on the open market, he wasn't sure what it was.

He continued saying because the commission feels with Baptist being the city's ambulance provider this is a way of showing the city's support to Baptist.

Funding for the ambulance commission, he said, came from the Clark County Quorum Court and was specifically earmarked for the ambulance service. Because of this, Smith said, these ambulances should continue being used for their intended purpose.

On the other hand, he said if Baptist does pull out of Gurdon, there should be little, if any, problem getting another ambulance service to come in.

When St. Joseph Hospital bought the medical clinic in Gurdon, officials had offered to put in an ambulance service as well.

Smith said the city had an agreement with Baptist and didn't need the additional service at the time. However, he informed the council St. Joseph would most likely step in should Baptist leave. Or, he continued, the Nevada County Ambulance Service may be willing to provide the service to the community.

The council agreed with Smith and the commission on leasing the ambulances to Baptist.

Smith then began discussing the $32,000 the commission has in the bank.

He disagreed with the idea of letting the money stay in the account on the off chance Baptist would leave Gurdon, and said these funds should be in the city's general fund.

In addition, he said this amount of money isn't enough to attract another service to the area, and a new ambulance would cost $50,000, with a paramedic highboy going for about $70,000.

Smith suggested using the money to help get street signs and maps done for the city's part of the enhanced 911 emergency telephone system.

At this time, the city doesn't have the money to buy new signs, posts and equipment for the 911 service. Smith said the Arkansas Department of Corrections has agreed to make the signs for about $9 each.

With two signs per intersection and 245 intersections in Gurdon, along with the cost of the posts and other hardware, Smith said it would cost about $18,000 for everything.

However, with Gurdon's general fund so tight, he said the city will never have the money to do this.

In addition, Smith told the council this is the best time for the city to look at annexing more area into the city limits.

He pointed out the city park, the new Gurdon High School, Lowe Field and Rose Hedge Cemetery are not in the city limits.

Gurdon's Police Department has no jurisdiction at GHS, Smith said, but will respond to calls and take control of any situation which may arise until deputies with the Clark County Sheriff's Office arrive.

Smith pointed out this is an election year, and the annexation issue can be placed on the ballot at no cost to the city.

He said if it's not done this year, Gurdon will either have to wait two more years, for the next elections, or hold a special election specifically on annexation at a cost of about $7,500 to the city.

"I'd like to see this money earmarked for these projects," he said.

Councilman Roy Quillen agreed, saying he doesn't want to see this money just sitting in an account. "I have confidence Baptist will be here a while," he said.

He then moved to use the money for the 911 enhancement project and for annexation research, along with disbanding the ambulance commission.

The rest of the board agreed.

Smith said it will take an ordinance to disband the commission and this will be done at the March meeting.