At the Prescott City Council meeting Tuesday night, available in its entirety in the above video, Mayor Terry Oliver announced there is again a vacancy at the city attorney’s post, as James Stayton has resigned.
Oliver said Stayton had cited an increase in his caseload from his private practice and from his role as public defender and expressed willingness to help in the transition to the next city attorney. Procedures for gathering resumes and evaluating candidates will follow shortly, Mayor Oliver said.
Also in the night’s business, the council passed an amendment to the ordinance calling for a special election to approve a one cent sales tax. Mayor Oliver said the amendment ordinance clarifies language in the first and third paragraphs of the prior ordinance. The amendment passed unanimously by roll-call voice vote after a series of votes to present the ordinance, then skip second and third readings or the ordinance in its entirety.
The tax is meant to finance the payment of a $2 million Southwestern Electric Power Company bill that the city incurred during the winter storm of February of 2021. When the bill is paid by proceeds from the tax, the tax will no longer be collected. The ordinance does not specify when the special election will take place.
The mayor also announced his selection of Tim Stockton to take Felix Wiley’s place on the Prescott Parks Commission. Oliver praised Wiley for his service on the commission as well as for volunteering his time as a coach. He said Stockton is also a coach in the Parks Department and has three children and several nephews playing in Prescott Parks Department programs. The City Council accepted Mayor Oliver’s appointment of Stockton by unanimous roll-call voice vote.
Economic Development Director Mary Godwin gave a report in which she said sales tax proceeds are up over last year for May. She also announced that grants are available through the USDA for small businesses and farms on a 50-50 basis for improvements that lead to greater energy efficiency. She told the council to encourage people to apply for these.
Godwin also reported the success of the jobs fair that took place Thursday June 22. Twenty-six businesses were represented and about 115 people attended. Four agencies were also present offering training opportunities. Godwin said another jobs fair would take place to coincide with Love’s Trucking Plaza opening its additional building around October. Sixty-seven jobs will need filling for that addition, Godwin said, which will include positions involving a tire shop, weigh scales, a restaurant and convenience store.
Mayor Oliver announced awards made to city council members during the recent Arkansas Municipal League Convention: the Jack R. Rhodes Sr. Distinguished Service Award went to Council Member Susie Meeks for 25 years of service to the city, the Adrian White Municipal Leadership Award went to Council Member Howard Austin for six years of service to the Municipal League. Council Member Satarra Williams received a certification from the League.
Council Member Austin said his work with the Arkansas Municipal League was helpful because it allowed him to learn from other city officials in the state how they worked to solve problems similar to those in Prescott.