Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

JPs Receive EDO Update During Meeting

Members of the Nevada County Quorum Court met briefly for its regular meeting Monday, May 8, at the Nevada County Courthouse.

The 35-minute meeting included an update by Prescott-Nevada County Economic Development Office director Jon Chadwell.

Chadwell told JPs of a recent workshop he attended in hopes of receiving future Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grants.

These grants, according to Chadwell, will benefit the elderly and low income who desire to fix-up and repair their homes.

$300,000 is the most a county can secure for use from HUD, with some of the funds being forgiven, while some are paid back.

Chadwell also told JPs of the rural water meetings being held in the northern part of Nevada County.

He related to the group the majority of those attending the water meetings were signing up to the Prescott-Nevada County project, but few were attending the meetings.

JPs heard an update on interest being shown in Nevada County by nine various industrial prospects. These nine companies could employ from two to 175 people, according to Chadwell.

Chadwell also told the group several have looked at the former Nevada County Hospital building, though no one has committed.

University of Arkansas architect students will be working in Nevada County this summer, according to Chadwell.

Two professors (husband and wife) will work with the eight students who will look at the community.

Chadwell told JPs the group will mostly examine the commercial area on Highway 67 from downtown Prescott to the city limits near the former hospital site.

These students will be working in the community from May 22 until June 30, and will be based at the offices of the former Alliance Home Health Care on East Second Street, across from Gilbert Lumber.

The students have already acquired housing for their stay, but the husband/wife team have not.

JPs heard other reports during the meeting, including one from the personnel policy committee.

Committee members met once in April and reported to the rest of the group about a proposal lower the starting salary for most county positions by ten percent and then raising the pay after employees gain experience.

Judge James Roy Brown reported to JPs about his visit with Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD) and Union Pacific Railroad officials about the county's rural railroad crossing.

Brown told JPs the ATHD reported only 42 crossings per day in the Boughton community, but he felt the numbers were too low.

About 2,200 crossings across Arkansas do not have lights or cross arms that lower when trains are coming through, Brown said.

JPs approved an estimated revenue and budget for the Nevada County Sheriff's office after they receive a $5,000 equipment grant. The county will have a small matching portion, and about $200 has been set aside for the separate auditing required by the grant.

Funds were appropriated by JPs for about $5,000 to purchase updated computer equipment for the treasurer's office. These funds are turn back monies from the state.

Brown told JPs the Nevada County Jail got a surprise jail inspection and passed. One jailer needs a basic training course according to Brown.

JPs will examine the top four proposals for health insurance at the June meeting after learning the county's current insurance provider is leaving Arkansas.