Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

EDA Grant Approved

Though an Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant has been approved for the City of Prescott to make water and sewer improvements in the area proposed for annexation, local attorney Gene Hale still has questions.

Prescott Mayor Howard Taylor confirmed the approval of the grant, for $690,200, Friday afternoon. "This is a tremendous boost to our economy and future development plans for the city," he said. "Now we can provide full service (water and sewer) to an area targeted for commercial and industrial growth."

On the other hand, Hale is asking where the plans for the utilities are (this is for water, sewer and electricity), what the people are actually buying, how much it will cost, when it will be delivered and where the money to pay for it is coming from?

According to Hale, the EDA funds are to provide water and sewer services to a proposed truck and travel center off Highway 24 near Interstate 30. He said the grant money will be used to provide water and sewer to a 100 acre tract of land owned by a private individual.

Hale said the city will use $300,000 of its funds to match the grant money, and will put up another $120,000 to pay for getting electricity to the area for the truck stop. He said the 100 acres may be annexed into the city, but the area for the truck stop is separated and divided by the interstate.

This particular parcel of land, he said, is near the Gum Grove area and is on Prairie DeAnn.

Hale also questions the overall cost of the project, getting water and sewer to the annexed region. He said it will cost more than $3 million to do the job.

Jim Sharkey, director of the Nevada County Economic Development Office, and Taylor agree Hale's questions are serious and deserve answers. Sharkey, who took over after Gene Monk accepted a new job in Mt. Ida, said there are detailed maps of the proposed projects (water and sewer) available for anyone who is interested to look at. These plans are at the NCEDO office, and were drawn up by NRS Engineering of Texarkana.

The sewer plans call for four lift stations, along with the lines, at a cost of $1,301,700, while the water plans show anticipated costs of $1,195,000 with a 550,000 gallon water tank. However, Taylor said these plans are segmented and will be done in a series of projects and not all at once.

The mayor also said plans to get electricity to the proposed annexed area are at Lawrence Electric in El Dorado at this time, but will be on hand for examination at the public hearing for the annexation. This hearing is set for 10 a.m. Sept. 29 at the Nevada County Courthouse.

Taylor said there are some territorial overlays with the annexation and the rural water project, but no funds for the rural water project will be used for the annexed land. He said these are two separate projects with two different funding agencies, and the funds cannot be overlapped or commingled.

Sharkey said the annexation is pure economic development. "We're trying to create jobs the area needs," he said. "We must have the infrastructure to do this. We want to be able to provide a better quality of life to the citizens of Prescott and Nevada County."

He reminds citizens Prescott is working toward certification as an Arkansas Community of Excellence, and said part of the requirements to be an ACE communityinclude such developments as the water and sewer project.

"We are developing a product to sell," he said. "Prescott is a great community and a good location. With everyone's help we will see business and industry develop in the area. With a lot of luck and hard work, we'll see tremendous development along I-30. We're taking steps to make this a reality."

Gary Allen, with Fly Wheels Pies, located near Exit 46, said it would be foolish not to annex if it benefits the people of Prescott and Nevada County. However, he's not 100 percent behind it because of the way the tax for the defunct Nevada County Hospital has been handled.

Allen said the tax should have been removed from the rolls after the hospital closed. "I won't stand in the way (of the annexation)," he said. "Taylor is trying to make this work, and I'm willing to go with him. I see it as no big deal."

But, he said he can see his taxes going up with the annexation. Regardless, he said most people in the area of Exit 46 are in favor of being annexed into the city.

In seeking approval of the EDA grant, the law firm of McKenzie, Graves, McRae and Vasser wrote a letter to Sen. Dale Bumpers, D-Ark., asking for his help. The letter stated Prescott has been subjected to strenuous economic pressures resulting in numerous retail businesses closing, along with a public utility closing and governmental offices being moved.

The letter states: "The approval of this application is an economic necessity for Prescott." It further states the city will use it to install water and sewer lines which will be compatible with industrial and commercial demands, at a total cost of $1 million.

According to the letter, a heavy commercial facility has taken an option to purchase about 25 acres at the intersection of Highway 24 and I-30 for a truck and travel center. However, the location is dependent on the area having adequate water and sewer.

With the approval of the grant, the letter states, it will mean the employment of 100 people at the center once it is built.

The project, the letter states, does not serve just one location, but will enhance the water and sewer capacity at different geographic locations in the city.

"The end result will be the creation of new jobs for our citizens and a better standard of living," Taylor said of the grant's approval. The city, though, must match the EDA grant with $295,778, which the mayor said will be no problem.

The public is encouraged to attend and participate in the hearing scheduled for Sept. 29.