Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

City Council Still Discussing Dogs; Petition Presented

What to do about the dog problem in Prescott?

This question was addressed, once again, by the Prescott City Council at its regular monthly meeting Monday, April 16, as Allen Driver wanted to know what was being done.

Driver presented a petition with 523 signatures on it, saying people are tired of the situation as it is and want something done.

"There has to be a solution somewhere," he said. "You can't shoot the dogs."

"To have an animal control program," Prescott Mayor Howard Taylor said, "you have to have money. We're trying to address it, and have discussed it at each meeting."

Morris Irvin, criminal investigator with the Prescott Police Department, said he's checked with neighboring communities about helping with the problem, but found none as they have dog problems of their own.

"We need to have patience," he said. "There's a joint venture underway between Hope and Nevada County."

The idea behind this is to have a regional animal control shelter for all types of animals. Those involved are working on grants for funding, Irvin said, and have also applied for a license. The City of Hope is donating property for the center.

Taylor said the problem is also a county one, and the county will need to address it at the same time the city does.

The council agreed, to wait and see what happens with the regional shelter concept.

The panel heard a report from the tennis committee, with Austin saying the school district agreed to pay $1,000 for repairs on the courts.

Dick Bright said there is now $3,500 available for the repairs, as the Prescott Tennis Association donated $1,000 and the city chipped in $1,500.

Jon Chadwell, executive director of the Prescott-Nevada County Economic Development Office, said it's time to apply for a parks grant. He will be going to Magnolia for a workshop on how to write this grant.

While there are guidelines, the money, he said, can be used in any way for upgrading the courts.

Continuing, Chadwell said, there are two new prospects looking at the Prescott Industrial Park, with another looking at the defunct Nevada County Hospital.

However, on the old hospital, the cosmetic company is still interested, with Chadwell and the city looking for incentives to attract them.

The beautification and downtown development committees, he said, have been working hard.

Some of the new lights have been installed, and, Chadwell said, it has turned out to be a "real job." The goal, though, it to have all the lights in downtown Prescott be the same.

There is a problem with the downtown renovation project  the supplier won't sell the city honey locust trees because this type of tree tends to die in the climactic conditions the area has.

This means the committee will be looking for trees that will be both attractive and sturdy.

Mary Godwin, director of the Prescott-Nevada County Chamber of Commerce, said the Easter Egg Hunt was a success in spite of the rain. The event was held inside the Potlatch Building at the fairgrounds, with a huge turnout.

However, for the next five weeks, the Chamber's focus will be on the 14th Annual Chicken and Egg Festival.

This year the festival will be held June 1-2, following the same format as past years.

Godwin recently went to Little Rock to pick up a grant check for $20,000. The money is to be used to help with lighting for a prospect being courted.

The check is currently in the bank drawing interest. Should the prospect decide to locate elsewhere, the money will have to be returned to the state.

Godwin said Rep. Sandra Rodgers was instrumental in the Chamber getting this grant.

She said work can't begin on the pocket park at Main and Highway 67 until the mural has been sealed.

Each time the artist has planned on returning to seal the painting, something has happened, usually rain.The sealant, Godwin said, will protect the painting, and is supposed to help repel graffiti.

Once it has been sealed, she said, work can begin on the park. Most items for the park have already been bought.

Taylor, as the meeting was winding down, said some work has been done on Wildcat Road because of the flooding problem the area has.

However, work had to stop because of the weather. But, he said, city crews will return to try and correct the situation.

The library site has been surveyed, but the corners haven't been pinpointed yet, Taylor said. When this is done, the size of the structure can be determined.

At this point, he continued, a group can start visiting other libraries to determine services to be offered locally.