The Justices of the Peace went back and forth during the discussion period about whether or not to charge at all, whether to stop the services and wait for churches and deer camps to register for the services with a payment, whether the discount price charged, $50 a year, which is half what residents pay, would result in residents declaring their homes a deer camp, but finally decided on the $50 a year fee.  

Previously churches and deer camps were not being charged at all, which County Treasurer Ricky Reyenga told the JPs is illegal and would not be tolerated by state auditors. At next month’s meeting the Quorum Court will be presented a changed version of the current ordinance that reflects its decision to charge churches and deer camps $50 per year. The current ordinance did make exceptions so that churches and deer camps paid no fee. 

In other business, the Quorum Court heard an announcement from County Judge Mike Otwell that $359,000 would be provided by the State Aid Road Construction program to do work in the county over the next year.  The court voted in favor of spending a 10 percent match ($35,900) required to receive the funds. 

A $5,000 veterinarian services bill was agreed by the Quorum Court to be paid for by the county for the keeping of horses that the Sheriff’s Department picked up. 

The court also voted in favor of providing $3,000 to each of the county’s fire departments from the American Rescue Plan Act funds the county holds. 

In her report, Mary Godwin, Executive Director of the Prescott-Nevada County Ecconomic Development Office said the effort by the state to get all residents access to broadband internet services is entering a new stage. Inaccuracies on the state map of broadband access will be verified. At the Nevada County Library a meeting is to be held January 19th starting at 11:00 a.m. with representatives from Arkansas Connect, the state agency in charge of broadband expansion, expected to attend. 

Godwin also mentioned that the manager of the Bojangles at the second Love’s store will soon be serving bone-in chicken when the necessary equipment is set up. 

Caitlyn Kirkham, from the county extension office, reported on the success of an educational session in Rosston on the upcoming April 8th total eclipse. Get Real at Nevada Schools will happen starting at 9:30 a.m. February 8th and will be a simulation of financial decisions for students.

Due to technical difficulties the video below starts about 26 minutes after the meeting began.