PRESCOTT – For a meeting with nothing on its agenda, the March meeting of the Nevada County Quorum Court was a busy one Tuesday.
The meeting began with Nevada County Judge Mark Glass telling the court the Road and Bridge Department may go over budget because of repairs. He said a truck has had to have a transmission replaced and one needed a new engine. On top of this, he continued, a grader also needed a new transmission. If anything else happens, he added, the department will go over its budget.
The question was raised about how the trash fees. Interim County Collector Ricky Reyenga said the money is coming into his office and is disbursed to the county treasurer at the end of the month under solid waste. There was also a question about residents using debit cards or paying on-line. Reyenga said this is possible, but the state says debit cards can’t be used. The problem, he told the court, is the county would be charged a transaction fee each time a debit card is used which means 100 percent of the fee would not be used for the purpose intended.
Glass lauded the Nevada BlueJays for making it to the finals of the state class A basketball tournament for the second year in a row. He said the team will be playing in the Hot Springs Convention Center at 1:45 p.m. Thursday.
He told the court the county has received court orders for property on the right side of Nubbin Hill Road going North, so work on the bridge could begin in the near future. The City of Prescott will have to move a water line. Glass said he’ll talk to Mayor Terry Oliver about this. He told the court he’s been assured by the state’s transportation department once the city starts moving the water line, the Cold Run Creek Bridge project will be put on the next letting. The project will be bid for 30 days and could come in when the weather is more conducive to the work being done.
The court also displayed a 96-gallon trash can residents can buy at a reduced rate through the county. Glass said people can buy these garbage cans for $60 each, and they’d cost around $150 if purchased at Lowes. He pointed out the trash would have to be bagged inside the cans when they’re picked up, adding the county could help get rid of old trash bins.
Jerry Jones, a local resident, said he’s been trying to figure out if the road he lives on is a county road as it’s never been bladed nor has the county picked up trash there. He told the court he has two houses on NC 148 and the road is in bad shape because of diesel trucks using it, getting in the ditch and stopping the ditches up.
He said there’s also an issue on NC 6 which is so narrow two vehicles can’t pass one another because of washouts, adding the grey rock the county uses damages the tires on passenger cars.
Glass said the county is working on dealing with logging and has talked about requiring logging companies to post bonds before they start cutting. This issue is being checked out with the Association of Arkansas Counties as to its legality. He told Jones this issue will be discussed at future quorum court meetings.
Jones asked for permission to put gates up on NC 148, which forms a horseshoe around his property. As this affects no other county road or traffic, Glass said it would be no problem, but the county wouldn’t grade it.
Regina Irazari, from the Falcon community, talked about emergency response time to the area. She said a community meeting was held to address it and the residents are looking into grants. However, the area is unincorporated and has no mayor, so any grants would have to be approved and signed off by the county judge.
She was told to check with the Southwest Arkansas Planning and Development District about grants, which would be managed through the judge’s office.
She said the community would also like to look into a grant for a community center. One of the problems, she told the court, is there’s no cell service there as it’s in a gray area, and something needs to be done about it. She said they have internet access, but it’s no good when the power goes out.
JP Bob Cummings said because it’s in a gray area any provider can come in and provide services. He suggested residents contact the Public Service Commission, and their elected state officials.