Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Court updated on activities

Jon Chadwell, executive director of the Prescott-Nevada County Economic Development Office, dominated the Nevada County Quorum Court meeting.

He first updated the court on what's been going on with the office, then answered questions the Justices of the Peace had during the regular session, held Monday, June 14.

Chadwell began by talking about the home renovation/rebuilding programs in Prescott and Nevada County, saying about 60 people showed up at a public meeting Monday, June 7, to learn about them. He said several applications were filled out at the meeting, and there have been people who were unable to attend who have dropped by the Partnership to pick applications up.

The programs are virtually the same, with different organizations operating them. Qualified people can get a grant up to $25,000 to renovate their home, making it more habitable and energy efficient, or, if the structure can't be renovated, they could receive a low-interest loan up to $65,000 to have a new home built. For those who get the loan, the first $25,000 is considered a grant, making amount to be repaid $40,000.

Nevada County Judge James Roy Brown signed an agreement with HOME for the county, while Prescott Mayor Howard Taylor signed one with South Arkansas Community Development (SACD) for the city.

"I feel optimistic this will help people in the county," Chadwell said. "It's something the quorum court can be proud of."

From there, he updated the court on the progress of Prescott Rubber, Inc. Equipment, he said, has been moved in and is being put in place. Once the equipment has been tested, hiring will begin.

Sidewalks in downtown Prescott are getting closer to being completed, he said. Most of the corners are in, and all are handicap accessible.

While the recent rains have helped people's wells, he said, many are ready for the rural water project to be completed.

The rural water issue was visited again after Chadwell's report, when JP Bob Cummins asked when repairs would be done by the crews.

Brown said the contractor is supposed to have a crew following behind the one installing the pipe to clean up as they go, but this hasn't happened.

Chadwell said some residents have talked about paying to have the mess cleaned up themselves, but they are being told not to do this, as the contractor is required to do the clean up work. This is stipulated in the contract signed. Anyone paying to have their property cleaned, he added, would be rewarding the contractor for not doing his job. He pointed out the county judge has to sign off on the project before the company gets its final check, and unless the clean up work is done, the check could be held up.

Questions were also asked about how many people have signed up for rural water. Chadwell said people have dropped by the Partnership to sign up, but have been sent to City Hall where the forms are. He had no specific answer as to how many customers there will be for water system.

During his report, Chadwell said the new fire station/parks office is nearly done on the east side of town. While only one bay was needed, he said, the building has two, in case it's needed for future growth.

The building is big enough, he said, for two-and-a-half stories, with larger classrooms for training sessions. The Prescott Fire Department, he added, is working to host training classes for other area fire departments.

In talking about the overpass project, he said people shouldn't get in a hurry expecting it even if the bill is signed soon. This is because the Arkansas Highway Department tends to wait until all of the money is available before starting the construction work, such as property acquisition and right of ways.

Paperwork has been sent in for the walking-jogging trail by the Nevada County Health Unit on Highway 67, Chadwell said. Now it's a waiting game to see if it will be approved. Once approval has been granted, there won't be a lot of work to be bid out, he said, this is because the city and county can provide most of the work as in-kind labor.

Brown talked about getting help for the storm damage from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). He said there are 13 counties involved and the requirements are for there to be a minimum of $2.9 million in damage. "I think we'll have enough damage to get federal help."

With FEMA aid, 75 percent of the funds will be from the federal government, 12.5 percent will be from the state, and the remaining 12.5 percent will be provide by the county. But, he said, without FEMA help, the state will pay only 35 percent, requiring the county to pick up the rest of the tab.

Residents who suffered property damage from the storms and who are either uninsured or under-insured could qualify for FEMA assistance. Businesses damaged could get a loan from the Small Business Administration as well.

County crews, he said, have already began repairing the roads, but photos are taken before any work is done. This is to document the damage for FEMA. The county, he added, is still waiting on FEMA's decision.

County crews have worked on county roads since the two storms hit, while volunteers, Brown said, primarily concentrated their efforts on the state highways to get them cleared for traffic. Currently all county roads are open and most have been patched. But, the county had to hire outside help to haul gravel for the patching.

JP George Clary asked about the emergency sirens and why they don't work.

Brown said the county is trying to get the wiring diagrams for the sirens, and when they arrive, the sirens will be repaired. Bolling Communication of Texarkana will be doing the repair work when the diagrams come in.

Clary said the sirens need to be waterproof, adding the county has been dragging its feet on this issue.

Brown said the only siren with water in it was in Emmet, and no one is sure how it happened.

The county, though, is working to get the sirens functional for severe weather situations.