Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Council Unable to Agree On New Member

Prescott's City Council was unable to reach a consensus on who the new councilman should be at its regular meeting Monday, Sept. 18.

This means anyone interested in applying for position 1 ward 1 still has a chance to get a letter to the city and be considered.

Seven people had applied for the seat left vacant when Steve Crow accepted the job as Prescott Parks Director in August.

Whoever is chosen must get at least four votes from the council. However, this didn't happen as three members wanted John Brannon Jr., one abstained and two other hopefuls received support.

The council will have to try again at its Oct. 18 meeting. Any of the seven wishing to have their names removed can contact City Hall, while others wanting to be considered must submit a letter in writing to City Hall.

Prior to the start of the meeting, a public hearing was held concerning the closing of Paradise Lane in the Walker addition. But, no one was on hand to voice an opinion on the matter.

A section of Paradise Lane, then, will be closed as a plot has been purchased in the addition with the landowner wanting to build his home in a manner requiring it to literally cross the street.

Barber said other residents in the area have no objection as the closing to part of the street will not affect traffic flow.

On another street topic, the council voted to make School Street one-way from 7:30-8:30 a.m. and 2:30-3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, along with part of Martin to the head start school.

The Prescott School District made the request at the August meeting of the council, with Superintendent Ron Wright saying having part of School Street open in the mornings creates a hazard for buses as they can't negotiate the "S" curves without crossing the center line.

Now, during the aforementioned hours, this street will be one way from Prescott High School to East Main Street. Anyone caught violating the one-way law faces a fine from $10 to $100 plus court costs.

The council amended the city's budget, though it will have to do so again in December.

City accountant Carl Dalrymple told the panel it needed to add $87,914 to the current budget, but said the utility income isn't counted in this and could be $200,000 less than originally projected when the budget was done last year.

He said the electricity rates were lowered and the weather also affects the utility revenue. Early in the year the temperatures were cooler than normal, and in June it was wet and moderate.

But, July and August were extremely hot, causing people to use their air conditioners more.

Councilman Howard Austin said people have contacted him concerned about their electric bills.

Dalrymple also said all grants the city has received must be shown in the budget.

Prescott Mayor Howard Taylor brought forth news of concern, saying the city's water system has reached its capacity and needs to be updated, especially in the area of storage.

He said the city has been working with engineers to update the system and cost estimates are now being worked up.

John Chadwell, executive director of the Prescott-Nevada County Economic Development Office, said four prospects have been giving the area the once over.

One of these companies, should it locate in Prescott, would employ 125 people and is looking for an existing building.

Another is looking to build in the new industrial park and, if it decides to set up shop in the area, would employ 40-50 people.

Entergy, Chadwell said, is helping the EDO work with two of the prospects.

One of the other companies would employ 18 people, but pay $21 per hour. It, he said, is looking for an empty plot of land to build on.

The fourth company is in the beginning stages and little information is known about it.

On the topic of the privately owned prison, Chadwell said the EDO is keeping its hands off and letting the company court the Arkansas Department of Corrections, trying to get the ADC comfortable with company officials and the idea.He said it could take until after the Legislature meets next year before a decision is made. Normally, Chadwell continued, the Legislature funds two or three new prisons during a session, but with Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee calling for a freeze on all department budgets, the new construction may not happen as planned.

Huckabee is calling for the freeze after promising the state would raise teachers salaries across Arkansas by $1,500 a year.

Updating the council on the library situation, he said all of the property has been bought for the facility.

The business owners involved are working to move to other locations and should be done in 60 days, or in early November.

Then, he said, the razing of the existing buildings can commence.

The council also passed an ordinance approving a 5-mill tax. This is not a new tax, but the city's existing 5-mill tax. Under state law, it must be approved on an annual basis.