Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

JPs Hear Reports On Courthouse, Attornies

By RICKY RAGSDALE

Nevada County Judge James Roy Brown received approval from JPs to continue looking into what is needed to repair rusted support floor beams under the Nevada County Courthouse.

Further action will be taken by Brown after he received the go ahead from JPs during the regular monthly meeting of the Nevada County Quorum Court Monday, February 9.

Brown told JPs the damage is located under the mechanical room and jury box. The mechanical room is on the north side of the courthouse close to the County School office.

Some of the metal support framing is rusted through on the ends while the main I beam has several layers of rust on the sides and on top.

Brown said preliminary costs look to be about $3,500 for engineering and as much as $16,000 to repair the damage.

Courthouse maintenance budget is $5,000 for the year.

Brown said he would check with the county's insurance carrier to see if this type of damage is covered.

It is believed the damage occurred by a former heating and air unit leaked or drained under the area.

JPs decided that the budget committee will meet with Hempstead County's budget committee and plan a budget for indigent defense fund.

During January's meeting, JPs approved a second budget that was to exist with budget already approved.

Attorneys Danny Rodgers, Marsha Basinger and Jim Pedigo met with JPs and urged the two committees to meet.

Rodgers and Basinger will be handling cases for Nevada and Hempstead counties, while Pedigo currently oversees these two counties as well as Miller and Lafayette counties.

Pedigo told JPs Lafayette and Miller counties reached an agreement where Lafayette county would pay Miller county its share of expenses, based on the percentile of work load.

It is hoped Nevada and Hempstead counties can do the same.

All three attorneys agreed that Nevada County's share would be about a third.

Prescott-Nevada County Economic director Chandler Russ told JPs about work planned by the city of Prescott on an industrial park.

Prescott City Council members purchased acreage on Highway 200 between Exit 44 and 46 on I-30.

Russ told JPs the council approved funding from the city's one-cent sales tax would be used over the next several years to develop the park and build a spec building.

Nevada County had visits from 17 industrial prospects in 1997 according to Russ, while counties with spec buildings had considerably more prospects.

Russ said Hempstead county had over 100 visits due to their spec building, which has been empty for 18 months, since it was built.

JPs approved a sheriff's office equipment budget for $5,220. Estimated revenue for this budget is $5,800 for1998.