Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Plans for Industrial Park Told

Prescott City Council got a brief report from Prescott-Nevada County Economic Director Chandler Russ during its meeting Monday, January 19, at Prescott City Hall.

Russ told council members about plans for the spending of the $260,000 his office will receive from the collection of a one-cent sales tax.

$125,000 will be spent on development of the county's new industrial park on Highway 200 between Exit 44 and Exit 46 on Interstate 30.

Blueprints for a speculation (spec) building are expected to cost about $20,000 while another $20,000 will be allocated for site work in 1998 with construction to begin in 1999.

Nearly $5,000 will be spent on marketing the spec building to prospective industries and services already in place by the city of Prescott at the site.

Around $90,000 of the of expected sales tax funds will be held until 1999 when it is expected nearly $400,000 will be needed for the construction of the building.

The sales tax is expected to generate nearly $300,000 for Russ' office in 1999.

He told council members more than $100,000 will be needed to finish the spec building.

Additional funding would have to come from private donations or possibly financing through local banking institutions.

Work in 1998 on the industrial park will hopefully begin in February with removal of current fences on the property.

In addition, timber (valued at $5,000 to $7,000) would be sold and stumps would be removed.

March will hopefully see a contract approved for clearing and grubbing the 50 acres.

Bids are expected to be let in April for 800 feet of entrance including a well-lit granite entrance sign.

Additional work at this time would include cutting roads into the property and graveling them.

Russ said by putting the road and sign in place would give the area an actual industrial park feeling to prospects and show potential industries what the park will look like when they move.

This work would hopefully be finished in July or August.

Russ said the office will explore all options of a spec building, utilizing contractors, local banks, state economic and development offices, local supporters and utility providers.

A tour of spec buildings throughout the state may be in order, according to Russ, to get a feel of what other communities are doing to attract business.

In September 1998, Russ' office plans to let bids on engineering and architect to develop 50,000 sq. ft building with 26-30 ft. ceilings.

It is hoped, according to Russ, the construction can actually begin on the spec site in May, 1999.

Russ told council members the building would probably not be filled with an industry immediately and could take several months to find a prospect needing the services Nevada County offers.

The council expanded the basic budget of Russ from $25,000 to $30,000 for 1998 in other action.

In addition the council approved a plan to expand the economic board from seven to nine members since the office combined office space with the Prescott-Nevada County Chamber of Commerce.

Russ said one board member should be from the chamber's office or board while the second position should be an at large position.

The council approved final changes to the 1997 books so they will finish the year lawfully under state requirements.

This change is one of four the council does during each year to keep its books in order.