Most of the Nevada County Quorum Court meeting at the courthouse Tuesday night was taken up with a discussion that was begun at the last meeting, about how to avoid the county being flagged again by a state audit for providing sanitation services to those who had not paid for them.  The meeting can be seen below this story in its entirety.

At the court’s January 9th meeting, it passed an ordinance that it hoped would address problems identified by a state audit last year.  But at the meeting last night County Attorney and District Prosecutor Ben Hale said the ordinance passed January 9th, which establishes discounted fees for churches and deer camps, is not as clear as it needs to be about what state laws authorize this change in policy, who it applies to and other matters. 

He advised the justices of the peace to set up a small committee to work on the issue with Hale in attendance and to bring a recommendation to the full Quorum Court. JPs Dennis Pruitt, Patricia Grimes and Herbert Coleman volunteered to serve on that committee. JP Chris Fore named them to the committee and the group, including Hale, agreed to meet Thursday in the courthouse at 5:00 p.m. 

Hale then fielded questions from the court and from citizens. In answer to one question about how deer camps would be impacted, Hale said the deer camp’s status as a residence would determine the fee it would be charged.  JP Pruitt said the court had been advised that residents of deer camps needed to come to the courthouse to declare they wanted the service and to pay the fees. 

At the beginning of the meeting Tuesday night, members of the court asked County Treasurer Ricky Reyenga about the financial report showing dwindling funds for the Sheriff’s Department.  Reyenga said that two payments due from the state had not come in yet, resulting in the likelihood of that office being in the red after it makes payroll.  JP Pruitt said a special meeting of the Quorum Court might be needed to transfer some county funds to address the issue and that Reyenga should let the court know if one was necessary. 

The court also heard a report from Prescott-Nevada County Chamber of Commerce Director Jamie Hillery about upcoming events. Planning is underway for an Easter Egg Hunt as well as the chamber’s annual banquet, which will be in April. She said she is also working with business owners on finding new locations and expects a couple new businesses having ribbon cuttings soon. 

County Extension Agent Stacey Stone told of his office staging a Get Real program at Nevada Schools to educate young people in financial responsibility.  On February 23rd two teams of students are scheduled to compete at beef quiz bowl. Livestock judging teams are also going to compete this week and next week.  He also explained that a Career Development Event is to take place on March 1st at the county fairgrounds and at the Prescott schools campus. About 900 students are expected, which would be the largest attendance for the event ever. 

Stone said several entities are involved in helping to manage the event, including SAU, the National Resource Conservation Service, Arkansas Game and Fish, 4-H, FFA Farm Credit and the University of Arkansas judging team. The event starts at 9:30 a.m and involves several contests. “It’s a good educational thing, but it’s also it’s our main fundraiser that we do for our 4-H that allows us to be able to travel and go to contests,” Stone said. He added that one team from California was expected to attend and he hoped they would learn the difference between Prescott, AZ and Prescott, AR. 

After the appearance of Hale and the discussion of trash pickup policy, the court turned to Public Comments.  The only person to speak was Shane Horn, who is running now for the Justice of the Peace District 4 seat Curtis Lee Johnson plans to retire from. James Roy Cornelius is also running for that seat. He said, “It's my understanding that the county over a two-year period you got $1.6 million. My question is, where's that money going? And what does the county have to show for that?” 

JP Pruitt said, “We purchased equipment with it. If I remember correctly, that money could only be used for certain things.” 

JP Eric Jackson said, “We sat on that money a long time.” “Yes we sat on it,” Pruitt resumed, “Because we didn’t really know what we could use it for. And then eventually we bought equipment with it.” 

JP Kenneth Bailey began, “We put out some premium pay—” 

Pruitt agreed. “Yeah, we paid out some premium pay to the employees.” 

JP Fore said, “And all the money is not gone. There is still some in that fund.” 

Horn then proceeded with a comment, asking that the court not present and then vote on ordinances in one meeting but go through a succession of readings in three meetings, which would allow for public comment. He also asked the JPs if long term capital outlay planning had been done, naming the 56-year-old courthouse as a subject for such planning.  JP Pruitt mentioned that the county is considering the use of solar power for the courthouse and sheriff’s department offices. 

JP Herbert Coleman said he had discussed with Judge Otwell the need for a committee to do this and that the lack of such planning helped explain “the predicament we’re in now.” 

Ben Hale spoke of the county’s Hot Check policy. He said those who write checks without having sufficient funds to cover them can be prosecuted and that funds recovered from the perpetrator would be provided to the business that took the check. He also said the numbers of these have diminished with the predominant use of debit cards. 

JP Fore then moved to consideration of a bill for road work that State Aid had covered 90 percent of the total $486,000 expense for.  Fore said the original quote the county received was that the ten percent the county had to cover would be $35,900, but the new bill was $48,647.93.  Fore said an amendment of the vote by the court to cover the original amount would be needed. 

JP Bailey asked what had changed to raise the price. JP Coleman said costs had risen after the original bids were accepted. He made the motion to approve the paying of the new amount. Bailey seconded. The motion carried unanimously. 

After this, the agenda provided time for Larry Jones and Bob Cummings to speak. JP Fore asked them to come forward but both said the discussion during Ben Hale’s presentation on trash pickup policy had addressed their concerns. 

At this point, the members of the committee to discuss trash policy and Hale established their meeting time.  This done, there was a call to adjourn and a unanimous vote in favor.