Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

City faces donation dilemma

It may seem an unusual dilemma  the city is being offered a

donation. The problem is the question of how to handle the

money when  and if  its accepted.

The donation was among the issues faced by the Prescott City

Council during the regular September meeting. Jean Jones, the

only remaining active member of the DeAnn Cemetery

Association, told the council that she wants to hand over the

associations fund  something more than $300,000.

Jones offered some background regarding the fund. She said

that a previous city mayor had been concerned about managing

the upkeep of the cemetery. The city of Prescott owns the property

and handles that task, but Jones said that a group of women

feared there would come a time when the city couldnt afford to

adequately perform that duty, based on statements by a previous

mayor.

Jones said that this group was advised that a $300,000 perpetual

care fund would produce sufficient interest to care for the

cemetery forever. With that in mind, the DeAnn Cemetery

Association was formed and its members set about the job of

raising money.

Jones said their goal was that $300,000 amount that had been

cited.

Were at the point, she said.

There are several problems associated with the donation 

including the proper handling of the money after its handed

over to the city. Jones said she wanted to be perfectly clear on

the point that she and the others who originally formed the association

and who raised the funds intended that it never be used

for anything except cemetery care, and that only the interest is

used with the principle left intact. The problem is that the city

cannot limit the actions of a future city council.

Other options were discussed,

including the establishment

of a fund apart from the

city. The problem, according to

Jones, is that there are no longer

any active members of the association

to oversee a fund.

The board did not come to

any conclusion but were

advised that they would have to

enter into an interlocal agreement

in order to accept the

donation. The issue is to be

picked up again at the October

meeting.

In other business, the board

heard a request for a donation

of $5,000 for the SADC Senior

Adult Center. Irma Sue Purtle

addressed the board, saying that

she has overseen the center

since 1975, and that shes never

before been in a position to seek

the citys aid though Nevada

County makes an annual donation.

Purtle said the center provides

meals and activities for

senior adults of the area. She

invited board members to drop

in for a meal, exercise class or

games.