Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Prescott City Council Told Of Clean-Up Efforts

Cleanup from the Christmas Day ice storm is in its final phase within the Prescott City Limits and should be done by now.

Terry Don McKinnon, the logger the city hired to do the cleanup work, told members of the Prescott City Council, at its regular monthly meeting Monday, Feb. 19, his crew is entering the final phase.

Though the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) granted a 60 day extension to get the work done, McKinnon's contract with the city requires the cleanup be finished by Feb. 27, FEMA's original deadline.

McKinnon said the extension wouldn't be needed in this case, as his crews began the third and final go-round in the city last week.

Councilman Dick Bright said there could be people who have damaged trees in their yard with limbs needing to be cut back.

The problem, he said, is in getting people to get this done. After the deadline passes, Bright continued, what are the people to do with their debris?

McKinnon said they would probably have to hire someone to cut the damaged trees, and should make a deal with them to remove the debris at the time the work is done.

Prescott Mayor Howard Taylor said the city doesn't have the manpower to pick up garbage on a daily basis, adding people have had plenty to time to get the debris cleaned up from their property. An exception he noted was with the elderly.

McKinnon said he's seen big piles of debris from where some have waited till the last minute.

But, he added, after his crews have made their third pass throughout the city there will be no further pickup of the debris.

Jon Chadwell, executive director of the Prescott-Nevada County Economic Development Office, said the preliminary plans for renovations to the Depot Museum are in, with the bid plans to be in soon.

John Teeter, museum curator, made suggestions for some of the work.

When the renovation work begins, Chadwell said, a building will have to be procured for Teeter and the displays until it's done.

It would be easier to move everything at once, he said, instead of moving a few items at a time from one room to another.

Some of the displays may have to be put in storage until the work is finished if a large enough building can't be found.

Prescott was one of four communities in the state visited by a site consultant recently.

Chadwell said the consultant was brought to Prescott by Entergy, with other cities visited being Little Rock, Pine Bluff and Hot Springs.

According to Chadwell, the consultant enjoyed his visit, especially getting a home-cooked meal by Lanore Dalrymple.

When the weather warms up, he said, work will resume on the Streetscape Program. Thornless honey locust trees will be bought for the downtown area. The trees to be purchased will be larger trees, already able to create some shade.

At the same time, he said, matching lights, costing about $700 each, will be purchased for the downtown streets. Some of the aluminum street lights will have to be removed so the other lights can be installed.

The new lights poles will be a dark green, with the wiring underground to eliminate the overhead wires and improve the overall appearance of the downtown area.

The cosmetic firm, he said, is still interested in buying the defunct Nevada County Hospital building, but a second business has expressed interest in it as well.

The second group is interested in turning the old hospital into a resident care center for those elderly citizens who don't want to care for a home, but don't want to live in a nursing home.

This center, he said, would give them the freedom they're used to, while providing for their basic needs, including having medical personnel available round-the-clock.

The prospect making this proposal has done this in other places and on a larger scale.

The only concern the prospect has is getting enough referrals to make the venture succeed.Changing topics, Chadwell said more than 400 people signed up for the rural water project. The only problem now is procuring the necessary easements for the construction phase.

Parks Director Steve Crow said two fences have been put up, with the fencing company back at work on Livingston Field.

The pee wee basketball season is nearing its end, with softball and baseball season at Prescott High School getting underway.

The Wolverette softball team will play at its first few games at the James Johnson Complex while work continues on the high school softball field.

He said the pee wee basketball program is self-sufficient, paying for itself. Players must buy their own jerseys, with ticket sales paying the other bills.

This, Crow said, is done to keep from having to ask businesses to foot the cost of the program. The season has been successful, he added, as about 100 fans have been at games regularly.

Any money left from the basketball program, he said, will be used to help offset the cost of the football program.

Taylor said the senior adult center is about 95 percent complete, with sidewalks still needing to be built.

Inclement weather caused delays in getting this project finished on schedule.

However, he said, it should be ready for occupancy by April.

The Whistling Gopher restaurant owners asked permission to use the alley by it as an outdoor restaurant.

The council made no decision on this, as the land was donated to the city by the old Breadbasket organization.

Taylor will check with Prescott City Attorney Glenn Vasser to see it the property can be used in this manner.