Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Council delays actioin on condemnations

The question of two specific properties in Prescott being considered for condemnation has been put on hold for two months.

The building formerly housing Christopher Oil Company on Highway 371 Rosston Road and the former Prescott Hardware building on East Elm Street were slated for public discussion during the Prescott City Councils May meeting. But the board heard from a representative of Christopher Oil and agreed to put off that decision for two months, giving the owners an opportunity to begin repairs on the building.

On the subject of the hardware building, the board heard from Prescott City Attorney Glenn Vasser.

Vasser said there is some question regarding ownership of the building and predicted the condemnation process would be complicated.

Vasser told the board they should consider what steps theyre willing to take if they condemn the building and the owner still doesnt take steps to repair or remove the structure. He said the city could be taking on an expensive demolition project.

Vasser was instructed to do the research on ownership.

Vasser said he expects no action from the owner, but said, I could be mistaken.

Jimmy Baditt Barrios addressed the council on behalf of Christopher Oil.

Barrios said he expects to have workers addressing the condition of the property on Highway 371 Rosston Road within two months.

Were going to take care of it in the best way we can, he said.

Barrios then told the council he hopes the community will remember the benevolence of the Christopher family and permit them time to make repairs.

After some additional discussion, the board agreed to table the resolution that would have begun the condemnation process and to reconsider the matter in July. Council member Jerry Wilson said he expects there to be significant progress on the Christopher Oil property by that time.

If you havent started something by then, were going to take up the resolution, he said.

The board was also asked about the progress of cleanup of a house that burned early this year.

Dwight Dixon owns the property next to the burned house and said the debris, brush and weeds are quickly forming a hazard as well as an eyesore.

Its going on four months now, he said.

Prescott Mayor Howard Taylor said the city would ordinarily have done some clean up on that property by now, but said he hasnt gotten permission from the owner. Taylor said theres also an issue with a dump site for the debris.

The discussion ended with Wilson asking Dixon to get the owners contact information for the city.

In other business, the council heard from citizen Gayle Young regarding the Highway 24 widening project. Young cited information from a public meeting and said she is still concerned that utilities wont be placed between the sidewalk and street as was mentioned at that meeting.

Prescott Water Department Manager Perry Nelson said his recommendation is to put the water lines along both sides of the street, and to place those on the side of the sidewalks away from the street.

Thats the practical way of doing it, Nelson said.

Taylor said the Arkansas Highway Department is currently redesigning the project and said he doesnt yet know where utilities will be placed. The highway department representatives have said that placement of the utilities isnt usually allowed that near the street but said they have applied for a permit in this case.

In other business, the board briefly discussed methods of bidding projects. Specifically, the board has addressed the contract for spraying vegetation and pests over the course of several meetings. At this point, the city requires the mayor to get council approval only if the project is more than $20,000. The question now is whether local contractors have the opportunity to bid on those jobs.