Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Council Hears Reports; Approves Prison Resolution

In the continuing effort to attract a minimum security prison to Prescott, the Prescott City Council passed a resolution showing the city's support.

Meeting in regular session, Monday, July 19, the council was unanimous in approving the resolution. This, Prescott Mayor Howard Taylor said, shows the city's desire to have the prison locate here and the city supports the facility.

He said Prescott will donate 400 acres of land to be used as the construction site, with this land to be annexed into the city limits at a later date.

Jeff Haynes, representing the Prescott Baseball Association, thanked the council for its support of the district baseball tournament and work done on the field at the Johnson Complex.

Haynes brought the trophies the teams earned, and told how the different local teams did in their age groups.

He told how the 11-12-year-old team beat Fordyce for the first time ever in the tourney, as well as capturing the district title for the first time in Prescott baseball history.

According to Haynes, visitors praised the facilities, parks department and city sanitation crews for the way the fields and complex were maintained during the tournament.

He said if the PBA had a second field Prescott could host a state tournament. Haynes concluded saying the PBA will bid on the 9-10-year-old district tourney for next year.

Parks director George Odom informed the panel work on McRae Field is in progress. At this time, he said, the infield hasn't been scraped, but with the season over his crews can now get to work on it.

Odom is gathering information, materials and prices to see how best the department can build a new softball and little league field for next season. Should everything go according to plan, he said, there will be two fields for softball next year, and these fields are needed.

Joyce Ammons said if whoever is in charge contracts with a soft drink company, the company could foot the bill for a new scoreboard.

With baseball out of the way, Walt Denton, executive director of the Prescott-Nevada County Economic Development Office, took his turn at the plate.

Denton said NRS will let bids for the entranceway for the industrial park soon and make a recommendation as to who the contractor should be. Once this is done, he added, ground for this project can be broken.

He told the city's governing body representatives with the Arkansas Department of Corrections (ADC) will make a site visit to Prescott this week, examining the city's offer of property and proposal for the medium security facility.

By Aug. 19, he said, the ADC will cut the list of contenders down even more, and, should Prescott make the cut, a presentation will be made to the ADC board.

A decision, Denton said, could be made on which community gets the jail either after the Aug. 19 meeting, or at the ADC's September meeting.

This, he said, will depend on what the ADC representative learn on their site inspections.

"We've been working on information for the proposal," Denton said, "because we need to be prepared for anything. I appreciate the resolution and your show of support."

The ADC, he continued, wants to put the facility in a community where it's wanted and will be appreciated. At this time, there are six communities still in the running for the project, with Russellville having dropped out.

One of Prescott's advantages, Denton said, is it's the lone community in Southwest Arkansas with interstate access seeking the prison.

Additionally, he said, Prescott has the support of surrounding communities, is in an excellent location and has medical facilities nearby.

Denton then told the council Love's truck stop is now open, with the Hardee's restaurant to open by the middle of August. At this time, Hardee's is working to get the kitchen equipment in place and hire employees.

One of the final items on the list of business for the council was a request for a raise.

Ed Birdsong said he had been promised, by former Mayor Jorge Nassar, his salary would never be more than $1 less than the superintendent of the department.

"I'm responsible for line work and engineering," he said, "but I'm not getting paid for it."

Birdsong said he had been promised a bonus by a former mayor if he saved the city money, yet when this occurred, no bonus was forthcoming.

He also told the council he was to be paid extra for any electrical plans he drew, but this didn't happen either.

Birdsong said other employees have gone to schools and were given raises when they returned, but others have gone for more education for the job and didn't get any extra money.

Taylor said the superintendent of the electric department is Larry Jones and it is Jones' decision on who is sent to school and gets recommended for a raise.

Taylor said Birdsong's job is vital and important to the department, but his current salary is $1.34 per hour less than the superintendent's pay. He pointed out Birdsong's position isn't the same as a supervisor.

Councilman Karen Ward pointed out this kind of issue should be decided by the mayor, because the council could easily wind up micro managing the city if it got involved in raise disputes.

When Taylor brought up new business, he recommended all city employees be given a 2 percent cost of living raise, with the council approving the measure.