The meeting in its entirely can be seen on video below this story. 

Cornish told the council members he was speaking on behalf of Prescott school district about an issue that arises on Martin Street. “We've been having a little bit of traffic issues on Martin Street.  On days like today, when it’s raining, the ditches on both sides fill up the water, which forces kids to have to walk the street with vehicles coming both directions,” he said. He added that even on dry days kids “’are dodging vehicles” and this led last week to a near accident. 

“I'm coming to the council to see if we can work out a sidewalk or something along those lines to help with the safety of our kids as they go to and from the school,” Cornish said. 

Councilman Howard Austin asked whether Martin Street was the same street whose residents were asked permission to use part of their yards to create a sidewalk in the past but turned the city down. 

“Hopefully, we have some different landowners, maybe because at that time, 90 percent of them were against … One person was okay,” Mayor Terry Oliver said. He also added that the houses on Martin are very close to the street. 

“Do you think maybe the superintendent of the school and the school board members could kind of help us with the landowners learning what the problem is?” Austin asked Cornish. 

“I can pass that along,” Cornish said. 

“Pass that along and see what they can come up with. And then we can pursue it,” Austin said. 

Councilman Ivory Curry suggested research should be done to see how much room was needed for a possible sidewalk.  Other suggestions from the council included the use of more officers or Prescott school personnel to supervise the students on Martin Street and other places where students have to contend with traffic. 

Cornish said one of the district’s principals does help direct traffic but traffic still remains a hazard. 

Also brought up in the discussion was the idea to make Martin Street a one-way street. Councilwoman Patricia Roberts asked for the city staff to look into the issue and bring a proposal back to the council in next month’s meeting, which will take place October 21st. Cornish agreed to attend that session. 

In the night’s business, the board unanimously approved the renewal of the five mill property tax the city has been collecting. The city’s accountant, Carl Dalrymple presented an amendment to the 2024 budget to account for a $50,000 expenditure not on that year’s projected budget.  This was unanimously approved by the council.  Dalrymple also updated the council that $230,000 has been paid to SWEPCO of the $2 million debt the city incurred during the 2021 winter storm. He told the council members that the process of compiling the projected budget for next year is under way and that he is legally obligated to present this budget to them by December 1st.

In addition, the council voted to approve a resolution for the condemnation and removal of a dilapidated house at 930 Rosston Road that has posed a nuisance due to its harboring of bees and snakes.  

Mayor Oliver commended Councilwoman Roberts for being reappointed by Magnolia Mayor Parnell Vann, the President of the Arkansas Municipal League, to the league's Advisory Council for Cities of the First Class for 2024 and 2025. He also noted that Councilwoman Satarra Williams serves on the AML's emergency services committee and Councilman Howard Austin serves on its economic development committee. Oliver said there are few cities with three members of its council serving the AML.

Councilwoman Susie Meeks raised concerns about a case in which she had seen young people playing Pokemon Go and entering church property to do so.  She said a call to city police about the players, who she said became hostile when asked to leave the church property, went unanswered. 

City police sergeant C. McKinnon said the call had been responded to, but by the time a patrol person arrived, the Pokemon Players were gone. She said Prescott Police were dealing with another call that was an emergency at the time the call from Meeks was received. She also made clear that the police have no control of where the makers of the Pokemon game sends its players and that as long as the players did not encroach private property they were acting legally. 

A question also arose from the council members about the progress of dealing with the flashing red lights at the intersection of Highway 67 and Elm which often go unobserved by drivers. In Arkansas, flashing red lights at an intersection are to be treated as a four-way stop, but many drivers simply drive right through.  Mayor Oliver said the process of changing the intersection to a two-way stop on Elm Street and unobstructed traffic flow on Highway 67 would likely take another six months as the state Department of Transportation processes Prescott's request.

Council members also brought up episodes in which a motorcyclist playing music too loud was observed and four-wheeler using the city streets was seen.  Sergeant McKinnon said these were illegal. Those stopped riding four-wheelers would receive one warning, then receive tickets on being caught the second time.

The meeting adjourned at 7:05, about 35 minutes after it was convened.