Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

City Asked To Build New Baseball Field; Told of Problems

With Current Grounds The Prescott City Council was informed Monday night a small industry was looking at the city.

Getting the unidentified industry hinges on the city getting a grant to construct a building, which would cost around $500,000.

This was according to Jim Sharkey, director of Prescott and Nevada County Industrial Development Commission (IDC). Sharkey, who is leaving June 30, was bidding Mayor Howard Taylor and the council members a farewell.

He assured the council, though, whoever is hired to take his place should have no trouble in continuing the efforts for the grant. He said it may take up to six months to get the grant.

After the meeting Sharkey related the building will require a 30- foot ceiling and have piers under the floor so it would be strong enough to hold the heavy production equipment. The location is close to Interstate 30.

The grant is being sought from the Rural Community Economical Development (RCED), formerly Farmers Home Administration (FmHA).

After the grant is secured the city is to ask for further assistance from the Arkansas Industrial Development Commission.

The proposed new industry will employee from 60 to 75 people, Sharkey said.

Sharkey commended the mayor and the council for the city's efforts in helping him with the progress of the IDC during his tenure as director. He said he would come back to aid the next director if his help is needed.

He praised the city for securing a grant for the new water supply in the newly annexed area along Highway 19 North and along the interstate, and said that this draw more industrial prospects.

He said the ACE (Arkansas Community of Excellence) program, begun by Gene Monk, the first IDC director, is almost in place. The city will have to rezone some commercial property to industrial before ACE can become a reality, Sharkey said.

Taylor said the Zoning Commission will decide first on the proposed sites, but everything should be in place for the council's change in zoning by the July meeting.

Sharkey briefly informed the council:

• he has been informed by the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department an overpass will be built over the railroad tracks within a few years;
• the rural water project will also take a few years to construct (some rural areas in Arkansas have taken up to 6 years);
• a very "good prospect" is looking at the empty Prescott Manufacturing building; and
• there is a prospect for the Nevada County Hospital, but he did not elaborate.

Tommy Glass, connected with the Dixie League baseball teams for youth, said the city will be hosting a district baseball tournament beginning July 13. The tournament is supposed to be at Beamis Field at the Nevada County Fairgrounds.

He told the council members that before the tournament can be held the bleachers will have to be repaired. Just to replace the broken wooden seats will cost around $1,500, he said. It will cost around $7,000 to replace all seats. He said these figures were for the timber only. Labor was not included.

Glass said the tournament could be moved to the Prescott Sports Complex, but some changes may have to be made. If the changes turn out to be major, he said the Bemis Field would be used.

He encouraged the city to construct another field at the complex where the parking lot currently is. Glass suggested that the city build a field with a moveable baseline and portable fences so softball or baseball could be played on it.

Some nights parents and friends have to be move from field to field to see only portions of games they want to see. Councilman Danny Beavert said he also believes all the fields should be at one location instead of the present three. It was suggested the Parks and Recreation Commission look into it.

Glass said he hopes eventually to have 500 children involved in these summer sports.