Alva Review-Courier -

The members of the Avard Rail Authority met Tuesday night and reviewed the financial reports. The entity has $5,342,302.71 in assets and liabilities of $1,055,010.39. A report was given that Chaparral Drilling Fluids has filed for bankruptcy and it would be wise to remove their debt of $14,499.99 from the asset list to more accurately reflect the current situation.

Todd Holder brought up the need for some rain maintenance work at the rail park. As rock has been hauled in and out of the rail park, some of the gravel-sized rock has fallen between the rails and in some cases has accumulated as high as the flanges on the rail car wheels. He said rock is in between and on top of some of the ties and that is causing some deterioration of the ties. Holder described a firm that has specialized equipment that will lift the ties and the rails, letting the rock fall underneath where it is swept away.

Randy McMurphy wondered if a skid loader might be modified in such a way so the county commissioners could handle the job. After other discussion, Sonja Williams was instructed to do some cost research and put the item on the next agenda.

Williams also mentioned the Lt. Governor Turkey Hunt is coming up and she asked the board members to plan on helping out.

The board spent about a half-hour in an executive session discussing developing a proposal to entice other companies to locate or expand in Woods County. No action was taken after the executive session.

Members present: Chairman Stan Bixler, Todd Holder, Joe Royster and Bob Firth. Ed Sutter was absent. Also attending were Sonja Williams, Randy McMurphy and Shelley Reed.