Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Council passes resolutions on water, police

It was resolution time for the Prescott City Council at its April meeting.

The council passed four resolutions, two dealing with the rural water system, one for the industrial park and the other for force used by police officers.

The first resolution was required by the Soil and Water Conservation Commission so money can be borrowed for the system.

Overall, the system is expected to cost about $3.3 million. The funds will go through the city and be paid back by the customers on their water bills over a fixed period of time.

Jon Chadwell, executive director of the Prescott-Nevada County Economic Development Office, said the Soil and Water Commission will, in effect, have a lien against the water system until the debt has been repaid.

A little more than half of the money for the system is being borrowed, with the rest coming from grants. The grants will not have to be repaid.

The city, Chadwell said, will have to pass a rate ordinance to establish the primary water bill for customers. However, he added, the initial bill will most likely not be the actual rate being paid.

This, he said, is because portions of the project have been removed, which will bring down the cost. And, historically, once people see construction start, they tend to sign up for the service. This will also reduce the monthly rate.

After the project has been completed, Chadwell said, the council will adopt a final rate ordinance.

Currently, there are 382 people signed up for the rural water service.

The second resolution required the city to submit a letter of conditions to adjust the minimum rates. This was done because the interest rate on the bonds were lower than anticipated.

The council had no problem approving both resolutions.

For the industrial park, the resolution stated the city received a grant from the Arkansas Department of Economic Development for the construction of a speculative building.

The city owns the property involved, with the building under construction at this time for the new Prescott Rubber, Inc., industry.

The city and Nevada County Industrial Development Corporation entered into an agreement for the purpose of building the new facility.

Should Prescott Rubber not be able to meet its contractual obligations, the building reverts back to the NCIDC.

The fifth resolution sets the parameters for how the Prescott Police Department can use force. This resolution is updated periodically to meet with the issues of today's changing world.

Under the new law, officers are allowed to fire their weapons to protect themselves or others from what is reasonably believed to be an immediate threat of danger; or to prevent the escape of a fleeing felon whom the officer has probable cause to believe will be a significant threat to human life if the escape occurred.

The only other times an officer is allowed to fire their weapon is during range practice or competitive sporting events, or to destroy an animal that represents a threat to public safety, or as a humanitarian measure.

For non-deadly force, officers may use other means to protect themselves from physical harm, to restrain or subdue a resistant individual or to bring an unlawful situation safely and effectively under control.

In non-deadly situations, officers may use their police batons, side-handle batons, flashlights, pepper mace, the K-9 unit or weaponless defense/arrest tactics.

Officers are also required to report all uses of force.

In other business, Bob Cummings, a member of the Nevada County Quorum Court, addressed the council on concerns about dispatching done by the Nevada County Sheriff's Office.

There had been instances where problems occurred with getting city employees dispatched where they were needed.

Cummings said when the 9-1-1 emergency telephone equipment was installed, the radio in question had been moved, the volume turned down and it was on the wrong frequency.

This, he said, has been corrected, as has the personnel problem involved as well.

Now, he said, a radio check is done each morning to make sure everything is working properly.

Local resident Sammy Flemons asked the council why she couldn't get a tree cut down in her yard at East Fourth.

She said the tree needs to be cut down, and the city had cut down three trees in her neighbor's yard.

Prescott Mayor Howard Taylor said crews have been over there several times to cut limbs, but knew nothing of any trees being cut.

According to Flemons, she's been trying to get the city to cut this tree down for 20 years.

Chadwell, in his report, gave members of the council drawings of the proposed fire station/parks office on the east side of town.

He said the money is in the bank to do the project, and the city could save money by not hiring an architect.

It was decided the building committee will examine the plans and get back with Chadwell on starting construction.

Mary Godwin, executive director of the Prescott-Nevada County Chamber of Commerce, said the Chamber is working on beautification projects around town, with plans to renovate the back of the old city jail in the works.

The first step, she said, will be to paint the building and do cosmetic work.

The purchase of playground equipment from a 50-50 matching grant, she said, has been put on the back burner, but not forgotten.

A pre-construction meeting will be held, with Godwin to return to the council in May so the funds can be transferred for the equipment.

She said the Easter Egg Hunt was successful with 500-600 children participating.