At the October regular meeting of the Prescott City Council last night, Prescott Detective Casey Autry requested the council make room in next year’s budget for the purchase of a new communications system for use by the Prescott Police.

The meeting can be seen in its entirety in the video below this article.

At a total cost of about $80,000, the AWIN (Arkansas Wireless Information Network) system would allow Prescott Police to communicate instantly with other Arkansas police and emergency agencies.  As Autry explained it, if a police chase were coming toward the city from Hope, Prescott’s police officers could instantly be informed over AWIN radios rather than having to wait for Hope to phone the Prescott dispatcher and the dispatcher have to then relay the message to Prescott officers.

As Autry explained, the AWIN radios can be set up pretty quickly by ProCom, based in Texarkana, and the expense can be financed.  “What they're willing to do for us for five years is finance this $80,000. The annual payment, which is yearly, is $18,914.28. That breaks down to about $1,576 a month. The good thing about this is, if we do this, and if you all say yes, we can do this, we can call them tomorrow, probably have them up here within the next week, have these radios installed and taken care of, and we don’t have to make a payment till the next year in October.”

Autry told the council, “It’s something that we need.  I wouldn't come to you all just because I want something. … This is something that is kind of imperative for us, especially if we get an emergency.  We can talk with paramedics on these radios. We can talk to the state police on these radios. Right now all we can talk to is our dispatch.”

Autry said the problem with the digital radio system being used now, in addition to it not being able to reach surrounding towns or more distant agencies that use the AWIN system, is that it has required frequent maintenance.  

Chief Ann Jordan, who was attending the meeting after absences related to her treatment and recovery from breast cancer, asked Autry to continue his presentation with a report on recent Prescott police activity.  Autry said the PPD handled 110 service calls in September, made 50 traffic stops (40 of which resulted in reports), nine accident reports, 14 misdemeanor arrests (which include eight misdemeanor warrant arrests) and three felony arrests.  Thirteen warrants have been served, 44 citations written and 63 warnings given, Autry said.

The month of October, the PPD will be embarking on its campaign against distracted driving.  Officers will be paid from a grant from the state of Arkansas to enforce the law against driving while distracted by devices.  “They'll be out looking for people who are on their cell phones and not paying attention and stopping them and hooking them up with you know,” Autry said.

Autry also reported the return of an officer to PPD who had been out of action due to injury, even having to be in intensive care immediately after for three weeks.  “I can report that she is doing a lot better. She today was at the department on light duty.”  He added that the department expects one recruit to complete academy training in three weeks and that the cars recently purchased for the department have been doing well.

Council member Ivory Curry asked what could be done to keep children riding scooters from running stop signs in town and endangering themselves.  The discussion on this topic considered whether passing an ordinance forbidding the use of scooters on city streets might work and how word could be gotten to children about the necessity of observing traffic rules. City Attorney Eric Hughes said he would research the matter and report back to the council.

In other business the council did the following:

·       Renewed the city’s 5 mill tax on real and personal property as required annually by state law.

·       Approved a resolution for the adoption of a policy that would prohibit the misuse of AI technology by city employees.  The resolution refers to a law passed by the Arkansas Legislature and signed by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders that requires municipalities to adopt an AI policy.  Mayor Terry Oliver said the policy adopted by the city will be included in the employee handbook.  Under the Act all decisions regarding AI must be made by humans.  AI cannot be used by municipal employees in the writing of an opinion to a city official, for lobbying efforts or for getting around network security. Training in the use of AI must be provided from the Arkansas Municipal League.  Disciplinary procedures for violations must also be adopted.  The council voted in favor of a motion adopting the resolution.

·         Heard Valarie Cobb, Executive Director of the Prescott-Nevada Chamber of Commerce provide her report, which included the success of the annual Fall Festival, which included over 70 vendors, a basketball tournament and a pumpkin patch.  Cobb met with the Retired Teachers of Nevada County and attended Friday a Breast Cancer Awarness Luncheon. Upcoming events include a coffee Tuesday morning at the First United Methodist Church, Cobb attending a meeting in Magnolia with other area directors of chambers of commerce.  Trick or Treat on Elm Street will welcome 55 vendors on the evening Thursday, October 30th. The Neighborly grand opening and ribbon-cutting will take place Friday, October 31st at 5:30. “They're going to offer free ice cream tasting for new flavors. They have ice cream in the store. They’re offering dollar kids scoops all day long, and they're going to have all kinds of drawings and specials throughout the day.”

·       Heard one citizen asked the council to consider rezoning a current residential address to allow for a baking and barbecue business.  Heard another ask that a neighbor be spoken to regarding upkeep of his yard.

Mayor Oliver reported that Economic Development Director Mary Godwin had had successful cancer surgery that morning.

Adjournment occurred about an hour after the meeting began.