Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Council Seeks Grant; Hears EDO Report

A resolution was passed so the City of Prescott could get federal aid to renovate the Depot Museum.

This was done at the regular monthly meeting of the Prescott City Council, Monday, April 17.

The money will be coming from Surface Transportation Enhancement funds in an 80-20 match.

Councilman Karen Ward wrote the grant for $166,000, with this resolution being one of the first of 48 steps which must be done in order for the city to get the money.

Jon Chadwell, the executive director of the Prescott-Nevada County Economic Development Office, said while several of the steps could be done at once, the requirements won't allow this to be done.

Chadwell held the floor most of the night, telling the council what has been going on with the EDO.

He told how the Fish Nest restaurant had to delay its opening a week because the weather prevented the owners from getting the parking lot paved on time.

However, it is open for business at this time and will have a ribbon cutting in the near future.

The recent rains have also delayed work on the Rip Griffin Truck and Travel Center, he said.

However, this delay may work out for the best in the long run, according to Chadwell, as now the parking lot and road to the center can be built simultaneously.

The city has received a grant check for $150,000 to do this project, with Marlar Engineering to handle the design phase.

Chadwell said meetings for the rural water project have been going well. A recent meeting in the Nubbin Hill area had 30-40 people present.

Some signed up for water, others got copies of the information to take to their neighbors. Meetings have been scheduled in all of the area's rural communities.

Deadline to sign up for the project, he said, is Oct. 15, 2000.

A grant for the city's streetscape plans has been approved as well. Prescott was one of 12 cities to get a portion of the $147,000 grant money divided equally by the Arkansas Historical Preservation Society.

Each of the cities getting part of this money will receive $12,316.25.

Prescott had sought $125,000 for its project, but the AHP decided to divide the money it had equally between the 12 projects it partially funded.

Chadwell said he is working on a website for Prescott and it should be ready by this summer.

It will contain information on Prescott, Nevada County, data on the labor market, unemployment rate and amenities offered.

The Prescott-Nevada County Chamber of Commerce and EDO will pay for the upkeep on this Internet site. Chadwell said anyone with a website locally can put a link on the city's site.

Students with the University of Arkansas School of Architecture will be in town from May 16 through June 30.

Food and lodging will have to be provided for them, as will a storefront downtown. Chadwell said these students will be looking at all of the buildings in Prescott, determining which are worth saving and which aren't.

This is part of the city's Main Street-style project to improve downtown.

The students, he said, also want input from the public to see what the community wants as well.

Several churches and civic groups have offered to help feed the students during their stay.

Getting this information, Chadwell said, will be important in trying to get grants in the future.

A leadership board is being put together to help keep a supply of leaders for the area.

Chadwell said this board will provide the city and county a pool of people who can be put on boards and committees to help get things done.

He told the council four prospects had been talked to about coming to the Prescott area, and all look good.

Three of the prospects have been looking at existing structures, while the other plans on building to meet its needs if it locates here.

One of the prospects came from the work done at a recent trade show Chadwell attended, while another just walked in off the street.

It's getting close to time for the annual EDO Golf Tournament. Plans are to host the tourney Thursday, May 25 at the Prescott Country Club.

Prescott Mayor Howard Taylor gave an update on the library project.

He said all the money has been received for the project and the landowners have been contacted.

However, the property owners will be talked to again to see what they want to do.

One owner in the proposed area is in poor health and has concerns about being able to move his business as well as find a new location.

Taylor said several people have offered to help with the move once a new location has been found.

Councilman Dick Bright asked about the progress on the Christopher Building.

Taylor said hearings have been held to condemn the property and the owners have been notified as to the city's intentions, but have not been heard from.

It was suggested to impound the antique cars on the property to see if this would get the owners' attention.

The city does have an ordinance on the books concerning old cars being abandoned. However, as these are antiques, they will be stored at the city shop when room can be made for them.

At one time, the city was interested in this property, but it was sold before the city could do anything.

A preconstruction meeting has been held about the new Senior Citizen's Center, with construction set to begin May 1.

The project should be completed by Oct. 24, according to Taylor.

Montgomery Construction of Nashville got the bid on the building, while the city will remove marked trees from the property.