The meeting can be seen in its entirety in the video below this article.
A finance report was presented, a Nevada County Extension Office update was heard and one JP gave a briefing on new legislation pertaining to Quorum Court member meetings and other regulations while another brought attention to cruelty to animal law.
When the report was brought up for discussion, a JP asked about the jail account being down. County Treasurer Lorelai Hale said this was because the state was behind in sending reimbursement checks.
“It’s short almost $31,000 but the big checks are usually 40, 50, 60 thousand.”
JP Dennis Pruitt announced during New Business developments applying to Quorum Courts from recently passed state legislation. He said that members can now meet with one another outside meeting sessions, which are public, as long as they do not disclose how they would vote in an official meeting.
He also said Quorum Courts are now barred from passing two kinds of ordinances that would have immediate negative impacts on many Nevada Countians. “We cannot come up with an ordinance to tell people what kind of lawn mower they can use. We also cannot tell people that they cannot have a garden.”
JP Patricia Grimes said a recent newspaper article published April 10th described a cruelty to animals case in which a puppy had died.
She said state law against animal cruelty requires that animals be provided with sufficient food, water and shelter. She also read to the JPs from the law’s penalty section which says convictions for a first offense receive no less than $150 and no more than $1,000 and jail for up to seven days. The second offense fine is no less than $400, no more than $1,000 and those convicted can serve from 30 days to one year in jail, or 30 days community service.
For third offenses the penalty is a fine of no less than $900 no more than $1,000 and imprisonment for no fewer than 90 days and no more than one year or orders to comply with 90 days of community service.
Grimes said she would like to see the law enforced in Prescott and the rest of the county.
Before JP Pruitt’s announcements, Coleman asked for reports. Dana Fincher of the Nevada County Extension Office rose to commend the 4-H Senior Quiz Bowl team. It had won the top slot in Fayetteville against other state teams. The top four teams who competed there have been invited to compete at a regional 4-H Quiz Bowl event in Hot Springs. “They're going to be competing at the Cattleman’s Association, August 9th,” she said.
Over 30 entries will be competing in the county 4-H O’Rama this coming Friday. “Our numbers are steadily climbing. We're getting the word out there, and trying to get kids back involved. And as one of the big treats that we're doing, we'll be going to White Oak Lake on the 30th,” Fincher said.
Fincher named several pastimes 4-H students would be involved in. Among them were bait casting, boat safety, livestock showing, BB gun safety and even impromptu speaking.
The meeting adjourned at 5:15 p.m.