Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Quorum Court supports Amendment 2

Nevada County's Quorum Court joined the growing list of supporters of proposed Amendment 2.

This was done at the court's October meeting. The issue was presented by Jon Chadwell, executive director of the Prescott-Nevada County Economic Development Office.

He said if the measure is approved by the voters in the November General Election, scheduled for Nov. 9, it would allow the state to compete for what is termed "super projects". These projects, according to Chadwell, must offer a minimum of 500 jobs and invest at least $500 million. Most such projects, he said, are either pharmaceutical or automotive.

Arkansas, Chadwell said, is one of two southern states without an auto manufacturing plant, and this is because the state doesn't have the money to attract this kind of industry.

A 10-year study was done in Kentucky where the state funded a super project. Overall, Chadwell said, the project wound up creating more than 45,000 jobs with the state receiving $548 million in taxes alone. The taxes more than paid for the initial project.

"This is not raising taxes," Chadwell said. "The state can't commit to spend more than 5 percent of the state budget for a project." This 5 percent is the total amount the state can spend. The money must be paid back before Arkansas could commit to another super project.

A system of checks and balances is in place to make sure everything is done on the up and up. First, the Arkansas Department of Economic Development (ADED) and the Arkansas Department of Finance Administration (ADFA) must qualify the project to make sure it meets all the criteria. It is then referred to the governor, who signs off on it then refers it to the Legislature for a vote.

"Taxes will still be raised the always are," Chadwell said, "but we need this to compete. If Arkansas landed a project it would help the entire state."

Normally, he said, such projects are auto assembly plants. These are set up in a tier format based on product, need, cost and distance.

The Prescott City Council passed such a resolution, Chadwell said, as did the Prescott-Nevada County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and the EDO's board.

"We need to get the word out," he said. "This is important for the future. We need to put ourselves in the position to get jobs."

Chadwell updated the court on the walking-jogging trail, saying the stakes have to be found so the trail can be laid out. As the stakes are metal, a metal detector will be used to find them. Otherwise, the site would have to be surveyed before work could begin.

Bids for the housing program the court approved will be opened Nov. 2, and work could begin shortly after the first of the year, he said. There will be 10 houses involved, nine needing to be completely reconstructed.

However, he said, the rules were changed giving a maximum amount of $80,000 for rebuilding a house. Half of this will be in the form of a grant, with the rest being a low-interest, long-term loan. "Several people in Emmet have expressed an interest in this program."

Discussing the street project, Chadwell said the paving started a couple of weeks ago. The project is to be finished in 365 calendar days.

The sidewalk project, he said, is almost done, but the contractor has to be "pushed" to get the job completed.

On the topic of the new fire station/parks office, Chadwell said the building is in place, with Potlatch having donated the structural lumber for the inside and International Paper, Gurdon, donating the plywood. This, he said, will save $11,000 overall.

In other business, the court approved the Circuit Clerk's Office to spend $3,500 for a new computer system. The money will come from the automated fund for technology.