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

After the approval of the minutes and the financial report, Valarie Cobb, newly hired to lead the chamber, said her first committee meeting will be held Tuesday and that Southwest Arkansas Regional Medical Center, the hospital run by Pafford Medical Systems in Hope, is joining as a member.  She handed out a schedule of upcoming events.

Next, a resident spoke to the council about difficulties with paying her electric bill, including the taxes added to it.  She also said paying her bill on the third week of the month, before receiving a paycheck, also meant having to pay a late fees.  Mayor Oliver said electric bill due dates are staggered so that thirds of rate-payers have different due dates. This guarantees a stable flow of funds for Prescott Water & Light. 

City council member Howard Austin asked if any new information had been received about the city’s looking into reducing its electrical costs by using stored battery power and installing solar panels.  Mayor Oliver said a meeting had taken place with a SWEPCO representative but no answers are forthcoming yet about what size battery SWEPCO would allow to be used. 

Mayor Oliver commended City Council member Patricia Roberts for attending the Arkansas Municipal League Annual Convention and serving on the league’s statewide housing council for six years. She was applauded by the members and attendees.

The City Council then passed the motion to adjourn. 

Above photo: A Prescott resident speaks to the city council of her concerns about late fees and due dates on Prescott Water & Light bills.