Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Council Hears Complaints About Flooding

When it rains, it floods. And this is a problem for residents on Wildcat Road.

Celia Durham, who lives on Wildcat Road, brought this complaint to the Prescott City Council at its regular monthly meeting Monday, March 19.

When it rains, she said, the water flows downhill, floods ditches and gets into the sewer, thereby causing toilets to overflow in homes.

The rushing water also leaves trash in yards, she said, because the ditches are filthy and haven't been cleaned, though they used to be.

The problem, Prescott Mayor Howard Taylor said, is the culvert in the area isn't large enough to handle the flow of water during a heavy rain.

But if the city installs a bigger culvert the water will then go into a neighboring pasture.

Taylor said he has talked with the owner of the pasture, who doesn't want the water running into it. The owner, who wasn't named, would prefer a ditch be dug out to give the water somewhere to go.

As far as the toilets backing up, Taylor said, this has been happening in different parts of the city, because the sewer system isn't large enough to handle the demands placed on it by heavy rains.

Taylor agreed the ditches along Wildcat Road are filthy and need to be cleaned up. He promised to get started on this project once the weather dries things out a little more.

Jon Chadwell, executive director of the Prescott-Nevada County Economic Development Office, updated the council on what's going on with the EDO at this time.

The cosmetic company, he said, is still interested in buying the defunct Nevada County Hospital building. This project is moving quickly, the council was told, as representatives from the company will soon be making their third visit to Prescott.

The Prescott Rural Water Project is moving along with officials working to get easements signed so plans can be drawn and bids let.

As it stands, Chadwell said, the easements being signed are what's holding up the project.

Work is getting underway on the Railroad Depot Museum. Display items will be moved into the old Nevada County Health Unit, where they will be stored while the renovation work is done at the depot.

The preliminary plans have been approved by the Arkansas Historical Society, but the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department, along with the Americans with Disabilities Association, must also sign off on the plan before work actually begins.

The idea, Chadwell said, is to keep the museum partly open with some displays available for public viewing.

In other areas he said the streetscape grant funds should be in sometime in the next three weeks.

Lights for downtown Prescott have been ordered as part of the downtown improvement project. These lights will be shorter than the existing lights are and they will be of an antique design. As the existing lights are replaced the new ones will be installed in their place.

Later this spring trees will be planted in the downtown area, he said. The trees are a thornless honey locust variety.

Chadwell said larger trees have been ordered so they can better stand the changing weather conditions. But, he reported, if another ice storm hits like the one the area is still recovering from, the trees may not survive.

When they arrive the trees will be 10 to 12 feet tall so they can provide some shade and make downtown appear more friendly.

He gave an update on the leadership program, saying it's going well and three sessions have been completed.

Under old business, Taylor said weather problems have again slowed down getting the new senior adult center completed.

Each time the contractor has tried to pour concrete for the sidewalk it's rained. Nothing further will be attempted until the weather dries out somewhat.

Taylor said several local clubs and organizations have volunteered to help with the physical moving of equipment from the old center to the new one.