During the time for discussion of the financial report, County Treasurer Lorelai Hale stated that an anticipated revenue report showed the county jail was down $200,000 compared to last year because it could not house inmates due to a failed cooling system. 

The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office has paid part of the $85,000 cost for repairs to the system, but still owes the county about $50,000, Hale said.

County Judge Mike Otwell said the units that had been repaired are working now, but two of them need to be replaced.  He said the new units will arrive between two and four weeks from now.  About the timing of the first payments for the unit, Otwell explained, “I think they'll go ahead and get us our units and then give us time to get that money in before we have to pay. So it'll be December 23 when that money's supposed to be released. They couldn't go any longer than that.”

December 23rd, Otwell explained, is when the disbursement from the bond issue based on the sales tax that was passed by Nevada County voters this past spring, is expected to be made. It is expected to be about $350 thousand.  “There'll be enough money to pay for the air conditioning units, fix the roof and all that.”

Otwell also explained that in the county’s Solid Waste department, bills had to be paid that coule be put off no longer, which is the reason its budget is also down this month. He prompted Hale to explain to the court that a $54,000 certificate of deposit from the Bank of Delight that was purchased with unclaimed property taxes could be cashed and used to pay for two air conditioning units needing replacements in the courthouse.  

The leftover funds would be used for purchasing a new CD next year.  Justice of the Peace Willie Wilson made the motion to cash in the CD and the remainder not used for AC repair to be placed in the county general budget until appropriated.  The court voted in favor on a roll call vote.

Paul Ridgell of Prairie D’Ane Battlefield Park and Jamie Simmons of the Nevada County Depot Museum presented information and a request.  They requested $35,000 a year, to pair with what the city of Prescott would spend, to make the Depot Museum location more like a visitor’s center that is open daily.  

Simmons made the case that tourism is a worthwhile investment because of its continuing growth.  She pointed to Hempstead County’s Depot Museum, which remains open throughout the week, as an example of what could be done in Nevada.  “If we could be open five, six days a week, we could do more for visitors, we would reach more of those visitors. We would be able to actually devote part of our budget to making sure that we had the information to hand out to visitors we could promote through the use of interpretive materials, brochures … as well as continuing with our programming, increasing our programming, giving them a reason to stop.”

JP Wilson asked if sufficient traffic would be coming through Highway 67, on which the Depot Museum is located.   Simmons said that 67 is being recognized as a historic route and is gathering more motorists.  Prairie D’Ane, meanwhile, being located just off I-30, would take advantage of higher volume interstate traffic.  She said signage could increase numbers of visitors at both locations. 

Concerning Prairie D’Ane, Simmons said, “I've been emphasizing all the outdoors connections, because at Prairie D’Ane we have four fishing ponds.”

Asked how many visitors came to the museum last year, Simmons said 1,200, with 200 of those being at the prairie.  She said she is sure more visitors stop by than are recorded.   Infrastructure improvements there will eventually enable the use of the site by campers and RV owners.

Ridgell suggested the making of a trail for sightseers to hike to see the Iron Bridge, otherwise known as the Nachitoch Bluff Crossing, which was used for the crossing of Old Highway 67 over the Little Missouri River.  It was closed in 1996 but remains a tourist attraction and even has its own website. It is only accessible to sightseers on the Nevada County side.

Judge Otwell said a committee of the Quorum Court would be formed to discuss the matter of additional funding and asked for time to consider a decision. JP Eric Jackson asked what it would take to make the Depot Museum self-sustaining.  Simmons said work toward becoming more self-sustaining has been ongoing for the past two years at both the Depot and Prairie D’Ane but more development of infrastructure is needed to make it so.  Ridgell added that they plan to begin an endowment to which donations can be made. 

Discussion arose about the possibility of the county buying land near Prairie D’Ane, with Simmons and Ridgell making clear that could only be done if there was a trade of the land for land of the same value.  

In committee reports, Valarie Cobb from the Prescott-Nevada County Chamber of Commerce said over 70 booths came to this past Saturday’s fall festival.  The basketball tournament took place thanks to volunteers Brandon Walker and Brian Cook.  The festival featured a pumpkin patch and a motorcycle show.  A coffee took place last week for Lance and Associates and one is planned for Thursday at 9:30 at the Prescott-Nevada County library for Chad and Tiffany Moody’s takeover of a laundromat.  Next Tuesday a coffee will be held at the First Methodist Church Youth Center.

With mid-October, Cobb said, the focus turns to Christmas celebration planning. “we want to try to bring back Christmas on the square, like we used to do, where the parade ends here. And we [will] have kids sing, churches sing. We want to bring that back. And so we're working on that, working on breakfast with Santa and The Giving Tree.”

David Gummeson, County Emergency Operations Manager and Prescott Fire Chief, assisted the justices of the peace in interpreting a report on the finances pertaining to road and bridge repairs.  County Judge Otwell said a culvert and bridge project at the landfill are at the point of starting work.  He also answered questions about particular road and bridge repair projects. 

A reappraisal of the library’s value along with a request by the library staff for a higher amount of coverage will cause an increase of premium payments.  The new premium per year is $97,900.  Last year’s cost was about $62,000.  This will be incorporated into next year’s budget.

An ordinance to reappropriate a FEMA reimbursement for the county’s costs of $384,382.16 for storm debris cleanup was read in total, read by title only twice and then approved by the court by unanimous voice vote. 

Otwell took volunteers for service on the budget committee.  Tommy Poole, Eric Jackson, Herbert Coleman and James Cornelius agreed to serve. Coleman is a veteran of many years service on budget committees.  

JP Jackson asked, just before adjournment, about an email received regarding a personnel matter.  

JP Grimes said she had received calls that motorists on County Roads 260, 40, 16 and 441 were complimentary of the quality of work done to improve them.

Adjournment occurred at around an hour and five minutes after the meeting began at 5:00 p.m.

Above photo: Paul Ridgell and Jamie Simmons present a request for funds to help the current Nevada County Depot Museum stay open for more hours to accommodate the needs of those stopping by Prescott looking for places to visit.