Nubbin Hill project progressing

By Staff, 06/10/20 9:13 AM

PRESCOTT – With a little luck, work on the Nubbin Hill bridge will start this fall.

This is what the Nevada County Quorum Court was told at its June meeting Tuesday afternoon. Ben Hale, deputy prosecuting attorney, said he’s drafted a motion to vacate the previous condemnation order and those who’ve responded, so far, have agreed with it. Basically, he said, the project will be starting from scratch, but should go quickly.

The Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department will have to redo the plans and the overall project will be shorter than initially proposed and will also cost less overall and for the county. Hale said he’ll have a better idea on when things will get started on June 16 and is now waiting on the revised plans. Once the plans are ready, he’ll file a petition of condemnation, notify the landowners and go from there. The goal, he told the court, is to have all this done by the end of summer so work can begin before bad weather sets in.

The meeting was brief as there was nothing on the agenda. Nevada County Judge Mark Glass told the justices of the peace the Road and Bridge Department received disaster money from May 19 and is doing OK at this time. He said the county opened a Certificate of Deposit for $50,000 at Farmers Bank and Trust which gives a better interest rate.

The county, he said, is holding its own financially.

However, he asked the court to consider purchasing another trash truck as the county only has one at this time. He said it’s not in the budget, but is something the solid waste crew needs and the cost will be less than $20,000. He told the court he’d have the figures on the truck for the July meeting.

Nevada County Treasurer Susie Key said the county received its sales tax money Tuesday, but there wasn’t time to amend the budget presented to the court. She added state aid hasn’t been as bad as expected.

Glass said the state aid was predicted to be 50 percent  less, but hasn’t been. Last month, he added, it was only down $2,000.

At the end of the meeting Glass reminded everyone of the COVID-19 test clinic at the Nevada County Fairgrounds from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. on June 16. The event is free and open to everyone. Glass suggested everybody get tested.