Complaints dominate QC meeting

PRESCOTT – There was a “blast from the past” at the April meeting of the Nevada County Quorum Court on April 10.

Harold Vines returned to court, again with his litany of complaints about the lack of law enforcement in the county, especially the southern part, and how the court doesn’t care and is doing nothing about it. He offered nothing new in his complaints, nor did he provide anything other than hearsay evidence.

Vines said Eighth Judicial District North Prosecuting Attorney Christi McQueen had said no other agencies would work with the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office. This brought an immediate rebuttal and denial from McQueen, who said she’d never said any such thing.

When he was finished, Vines said he wouldn’t be back. However, before leaving he threatened to sue the county for putting the voluntary $10 donation on his property tax, saying he’d never pay it.

In other business, Mary Godwin, executive director of the Prescott-Nevada County Economic Development Office, said the courthouse is now old enough to be listed on the National Historic Register, which could make more improvement grants available. She said the county wouldn’t be limited on what can be done with the improvements.

Jamie Hillery, executive director of the Prescott-Nevada County Chamber of Commerce, reminded the court the annual Chamber Banquet is April 26 and there are few seats left. At the time the figure was 21. She said it could easily be sold out. This year’s theme is “Farm Fresh”.

Judy Duke, curator of the Nevada County Depot and Museum, said 71 people visited the museum last month and a membership was drive, increasing the number of members to 50. The drive, she added, brought in $2,020.

The museum received two grants. One for $3,700 to be used for Arkansas Heritage Month in May. The theme this year is “Off the Beaten Path: Explore and Enjoy Arkansas’ Natural Heritage”. Duke will travel the county taking pictures of five areas for a display to be moved to different locations in town. The areas to be photographed, she said, are – White Oak Lake, Dockery Site, Hwy. 355, Falcon Bottoms, Watts Cemetery, Elkins Ferry and Prairie D’Ane ending at Moscow Church. Duke invited anyone interested in making the tours, which will be done on May 10, 17 and 23, to let her know as space is limited on the bus.

A second grant, for $3,200 was used to replace the lighting in the museum with LED lighting. This, she added, will reduce the cost of electricity by 60 percent.

She told the court the archival room is being cleaned up and will be used as a community room once it’s finished. The museum, she added, is in the process of acquiring a pre-Civil War dog-trot log cabin. Bids are being taken to have the cabin moved to Prairie D’Ane. The moving process, she said, will require another fundraiser, but, once moved, it will add to the site for tourists.

William Mullins was recognized as Citizen of the Month for JP District 6.

A crew from Survival Flight was on hand letting the court know the company is operating in Nevada County. The court was told family rates start at $50 per year, while individual rates are $45 annually. Businesses or governments, it was said, can get a discounted rate of $40 per year, which includes the families of all employees.

Nevada County Judge Mark Glass said the $10,000 grant for the Nevada County Health Unit won’t be enough to do all the work required. The county’s portion of the 90-10 grant is $1,000. The purpose was to get the inside of the unit painted and repair and replace the floor. Bids on the floor, he said, ran around $23,000. Part of the work could be done this year with the rest done next year, he said.

Preston “Pep” Glenn addressed the court on the need for a storage building for the new jail. He said when the new jail was built it didn’t include enough storage for foodstuffs. He presented plans for a 12×20 foot storage shed, he said could be bought new for less than $5,000, adding the court would have to appropriate funds for it. The building, he added, will be placed against the fence at the back of the old Nevada County Jail.

When asked why not use the old jail for storage, Glenn said because it’s full of records and files. The jail, he told the court, orders a three-week supply of food for the inmates, but doesn’t have room for all of it. The jail was recently visited by the Jail Standards Committee and written up for having boxes of food in the hall.

It was suggested to look into a more permanent solution as details on the proposed building didn’t include building materials. This issue will be addressed at the May meeting of the court.

Joyce Banks, a resident in the Reader community, complained to the court about deputies with the NSCO saying she’s been told they’re tired of coming to her home and using profanity when they do.

JP Curtis Johnson told her the court has no authority over the NCSO and this issue would have to be taken up with a higher authority, such as the Arkansas State Police. He said if she doesn’t like how the NCSO is being operated, she should try and get an opponent for Sheriff Danny Martin in the next election.

Don Callicott asked the county to close a portion of NC 406, saying it cuts across his land and isn’t properly maintained. The road is only used by deer hunters and logging companies, he said, adding there are three other areas that could be accessed instead of using his land.

McQueen said this is a statutory situation and there are procedures to be followed, including getting petitions from neighbors agreeing to allow the road to be closed and having it published before going before the county court for a decision.

Donnie McGuire asked the duties of the court and was told the duties were to manage the county’s money for the different offices. He said a member of the court has tried to interfere with his business by having the NCSO take M&M Wrecker off its rotation.

JP George Smith said he spoke to Martin about M&M, but never asked the NCSO to remove the business from its rotation. Smith then talked about being arrested for harassment, admitting he took pictures of McGuire’s business from the right-of-way on Hwy. 67, adding he didn’t know where the business was located until someone told him as he doesn’t go that far down.