Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Council addresses utility issue; passes medical ordinance

Prescott's City Council met Monday, Nov. 19, discussing and approving of the work done on Hanson Road.

The city will award the county $103,733.85 on the work completed. Another item discussed was the recent news of Governor Huckabee announcing huge cutbacks in the state budget. More than $142 million will be subtracted from state funded projects.

The Mayor's Office announced the majority of the grants and aid the city is using, or trying to acquire, will not be affected by the deductions.

Also, another area covered was amending Ordinance No. 6 of 1984. This was the most interesting of all the material covered because of the delinquent electric utility bills in the city for long periods of time. Some of these people have special concerns the city feels needs to be met.

The Ordinance covers billing, deposits, reconnecting fees of delinquent customers, interest on accounts, termination of services, and even deferred payments. An important part of the ordinance deals with "Medical Hardships." The City's definition of a medical hardship is defined as: "any serious medical condition as diagnosed by a duly licensed medical doctor that the condition requires the continuation of the utility service for the patient to avoid a substantial risk of death or to avoid a serious physical impairment to the health of the patient".

The language states that customers will be waived any payment of utilities if approved by a medical practitioner and the city. A person must go to City Hall and request a medical hardship application, and a Medical Certificate to be signed by the treating physician. It is important the doctor specify the severity of what can come if the utilities were terminated.

After both forms are turned in the city will review the material and, within three days of filing, shall inform the applicant of the city's decision. If the person is approved he/she shall have a hardship for an additional 30-days. It can be extended to as many as 60-days with the medical certificate.

However, the ordinance does not explain who will decide if the applicant has a legitimate hardship or not. The "Medical Hardship" of the approved amendment may be re-discussed during next month's City Council meeting.

It is possible the amendment can cause more harm than good. It ventures into a sticky area where whomever determines if a person will or will not receive hardship consideration becomes a moral issue. Whomever is selected to make the decision must remember to be fair and just. Currently the language of the amendment doesn't clearly state how many times a person can apply.

This opportunity is only made available to those who have a legitimate necessity for assistance due to their medical position. In theory, this is to protect any persons who may have a hard time in making any payments toward their utilities, and have been threatened to have their utilities cancelled.

If a person has to have some type of medical device that is to be used in their home [and are unable to pay toward their utilities] this part of the ordinance will give them an opportunity.

Another area discussed was the need to have redistricting of the wards.

This would make it possible for councilmen to be elected by a majority out if their wards and have alderman s selected through a city-wide election. The ordinance was approved although it was not unanimous. One council member didn't agree it was a good ideal.

But the practice is within the parameters of both the U.S. and Arkansas constitutions.

The economic future of the city was covered as well.

Jon Chadwell, executive director of the Prescott-Nevada County Economic Development Office told the council two businesses closed their doors and the process of finding future enterprises to fill the void is underway.

In the meantime, the companies are allowed to keep their belongings in the structures to show future businesses what it might look like for them. If the space is ever sold the former businesses will have to vacate the are area.

Also, material will be moved from the Depot Railroad Museum to the defunct Nevada County Hospital. This is for the renovation process to the historic site of the city and county. Precautions will be taken to ensure the material will be safe while being housed on the old hospital.

The city police will make extra rounds over the area and extra locks will be used to zone off the rooms used.

Recently, there has been a rise in vandalism to the old hospital where juveniles have broken windows and broken into the old building.

For anyone who wishes to keep up with the city council first hand', the meetings are every third Monday of the month beginning at 7 p.m.