Chamber issues address, speed limit at TA halved

By Staff, 07/21/20 10:02 AM

PRESCOTT – “Things are different with the Chamber of Commerce now,” said Jamie Hillery, Chamber director.

Hillery said this to the Prescott City Council at its July meeting Monday night. She told the group there’s been a lot of questions concerning the annual Chamber banquet and fall festival, but, so far, there aren’t many answers. The banquet, she reminded the panel, has been postponed, but needs to be held as there are a lot of local people who should be recognized for what they do and have done. She said the awards may be done online, with presentations made to the winners and made into a “movie” of sorts. Further delays, she continued, will interfere with the Chamber planning next year’s banquet.

As to the festival, Hillery said with the restrictions currently in place by the governor, it can’t be held. She will be talking with Prescott Mayor Terry Oliver on how it can be handled as the festival is important to the people of the community and businesses. If the festival has to be cancelled, she said, vendors will either have to be given their money back, or have it applied to next year’s event.

The Chamber, she said, has applied for a State Farm Neighborhood Grant for $25,000 with the idea of having an electric marquee placed uptown. This, she added, would allow for more than 100 messages to be placed on it. However, only 40 towns will get money for their projects from this grant.

The community guide is being updated and should be ready by January 2021, she added. Hillery said she wants the guide to grow and get bigger and better. She asked the council to let her know of any changes needing to be made.

Four new businesses have opened in Prescott, Hillery said, though ribbon cuttings haven’t been held due to the virus situation. Those businesses are: the Beasley Law Firm at 120 E. Elm; Barks and Bubbles, at 1304 W 1st N.; The Barn and Willow Oak Acres Wedding and Event Venue at 2073 Hwy. 371 W; and Gory Bound Gyros Food Trailer, next to the Sonic on Hwy. 67.

Hillery said once restrictions are lifted, there will be a lot of ribbon cuttings held.

Going off topic, Councilman Howard Austin asked Prescott Police Chief Joey Beavers if the Prescott Police Department will be fining people who don’t wear masks in public.

Beavers said under the current law officers can’t detain people who don’t wear masks. However, if they are in a business and asked to leave, they can be charged with criminal trespassing,  loitering or some other misdemeanor charge and fined accordingly. The law, he added, needs to be clarified on the police’s ability to detain those not wearing masks.

It was pointed out the first offense is a verbal warning.

The council approved lowering the speed limit on section of the city street north of Hwy. 371 adjacent to the Travel Centers of America (TA), from 30 to 15 miles an hour.

Oliver said  he and Mary Godwin, executive director of the Prescott-Nevada County Economic Development Office met with engineers and TA about this. The engineers said the speed limit needs to be lowered to reduce wear and tear on the city’s street and cut the city’s costs on resurfacing it. He said trucks fly over this road and slam on the brakes causing more damage.

The ordinance includes a fine of no less than $50 or more than $100 per offense, along with court costs. The city will put up new speed limit signs and the law goes into effect immediately.