Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Prescott Mayor Attends Conference

Prescott Mayor Howard Taylor recently attended the National League of Cities Conference in Washington, D.C.

While there, such major issues concerning municipalities as electric utility deregulation and the reauthorization of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) were discussed with members of Congress.

Mayors from across Arkansas converged on Washington to demand federal actions take the needs and priorities of local governments into account when making decisions.

The National League of Cities board adopted a five point action program including: reducing the federal deficit and controlling entitlements; preserving the nation's transportation systems; halting unfunded federal mandates; electric utility restructuring; and building safer cities.

Taylor and others met with Sen. Dale Bumpers to discuss these problems. "We urged him to protect and ensure a municipal role in any efforts to restructure the nation's last great monopoly, the electric utility industry," he said.

"Sen. Bumpers said the restructuring could reduce electricity costs to local governments and businesses by more than $20 billion."

Should this issue be approved, Taylor said, it could ensure the preservation of the state and local revenue authority and retention of municipal franchise authority.

Taylor also visited with Rep. Jay Dickey, along with representatives Marion Berry, Vic Snyder and Tim Hutchinson.

One of the local issues Taylor talked with these leaders about was the need for an overpass in Prescott. He said they told him they weren't aware there was no overpass in the city and access to both sides of Prescott weren't available at all times.

Ed Fry, administrative assistant to Snyder, said he was familiar with the problems cities have in getting the money for such projects as building overpasses, promising Snyder's cooperation and help.