Discussion of the plan, proposed by Mayor Terry Oliver, concerned whether or not the first offense fine could be imposed without a warning. The mayor said it was becoming necessary to add some bite to the ordinance by raising the fines. Prescott Police Department Officers said their practice was usually to provide a warning for the first time a dog is observed loose without a leash in the city and a copy of the ordinance. 

At one point during the discussion, Prescott-Nevada County Economic Development Director Mary Godwin called Sanitation and Street Superintendent Chris Hopper, who is also in charge of enforcing animal-related ordinances, who stated to the council that dealing with dogs running loose was using more and more of his time. 

Prescott resident Kenneth Forrest suggested that the amendment also include language to count an ID chip implanted into the dogs as equivalent to identifying information on the dog’s collar, but it was pointed out by a councilman that this was already accounted for in a clause in the original ordinance. 

The ordinance was approved by roll-call voice vote with Council member Susie Meeks voting against. 

The meeting began with Mayor Oliver tallying a list of accomplishments in the city. He praised Haybarn Wrestling’s owners John and Samantha Hayes and Billy Hall for taking the company from audiences of 30 when it began to up to 300 people coming to an event this weekend. He also congratulated Fire Chief David Gummeson for putting on a fine and safe fireworks show that Mayor Oliver said compared well to a show he had seen in a larger town. 

Oliver also congratulated Godwin for being chosen as president of the South Arkansas Development Alliance, which covers a region of the state from DeQueen to El Dorado. Tessa Oliver, a special education teacher and the mayor’s daughter came in for some praise, too, for her work at the Prescott Youth Center.  He also thanked city officer manager Shanta Wiley for taking over the youth center’s facebook page. 

Godwin gave a report on economic development matters. She raised a concern that the state is relying on incorrect numbers apparently derived from the American Community Survey in which questionnaires were sent to residents. Godwin said these numbers are showing a decrease in low to moderate income households from 60 percent to 7.9 percent in Bluff City, from 69 to 41 in Prescott and from 60 to 32 in Emmet. 

Because of indicators like this, Godwin said, the county would be ineligible for grants that would go to counties and communities with at least 50 percent of households making low to moderate incomes. She said she had contacted Southwest Planning and Development District about the issue and was told Nevada was the only county showing numbers like that. Godwin said she would keep the council informed about her efforts to get these numbers corrected. 

Next, Godwin said she had spoken to the Prescott Kiwanis and Rotary Club about their efforts to clean up and mow yards in the city. “They're wanting to help mow some of the yards we have in town with people that are senior citizens, that do not have the ability, that are maybe really sick and are not able to or just other people that have special circumstances,” she said. 

Rowe Stayton, who is involved in the effort, spoke briefly about the need to make sure it is defined whether insurance would cover any liability issues. (He would confer with City Attorney Eric Hughes after the meeting was adjourned.) He also talked about the motivation behind the work. “What it’s about is this making us the best community we can make it and a place where people will be able to say with pride that they’re from Prescott. We take care of each other in Prescott,” Stayton said. 

Godwin said there were three yards that will be mowed in this project soon. 

Godwin also presented a lease agreement in which Brittany Moss agrees to lease for two years a city-owned former dental clinic to use for the headquarters of United Career Center, which offers courses and certifications for Certified Nurses Assistants. The council voted in favor of a resolution to accept the lease. 

After the passage of the amendment to the animal control ordinance, Council member Howard Austin raised concerns that a ditch in the current drainage project being worked on in the city would likely need to be concreted to protect it from erosion. Mayor Oliver said he would have Austin speak with the project engineer about the ditch. 

Council member Meeks asked about stakes that had been left in her and in other residents’ yards. Mayor Oliver said he was sure these were from one of the internet companies working in Prescott. Council member Ivory Curry announced that the Back to School Bash at Curry’s Outreach Ministries on 606 Greenlawn and a community feed will take place there July 27th. 

A motion to adjourn was seconded and accepted.