Vicious animal ordinance approved

PRESCOTT – An ordinance concerning vicious animals was approved by the Prescott City Council at its June meeting Monday night.

The new ordinance repeals prior ordinances concerning vicious dogs. This one does not specify dogs in particular, just vicious animals in general. Under terms of the ordinance, such animals must be muzzled when out on a leash and the leash can’t be more than four-feet long. Said animals can’t be kept chained, but must be in an enclosed pen or kennel outdoors with secure sides, a top and bottom. It must also be kept clean and sanitary and meet all zoning requirements.

Such animals are not to be kept on a porch or inside a house if the only security is screen windows and doors. Signs must also be put up saying “beware of vicious animal”. The owners must also be insured with $50,000 coverage should the animal attack other animals or people. The policy can’t be cancelled without a 10-day written notice to the Prescott Police Department and Arkansas Department of Health. Any such animal attacking people or other animals can be put down.

The exceptions to this ordinance are service animals for the handicapped, certified therapy animals and animals used in law enforcement. Fines for violating this ordinance can be from $50 to $500 and refusal to pay the fines can result in jail time from three to 30 days.

In other business, the council approved a resolution for a street aid grant to do overlay work on sections of Greenlawn, West Olive and Whiteside. The grant will be for $300,000 with no match required from the city. A similar grant was obtained five or six years ago for Hines Blvd. The Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department will do the engineering, contracting and handle the bid process as work must meet AHTD specifications. Once the work is done, the city will be responsible for maintenance of the right-of-ways and utilities.

Mary Godwin, executive director of the Prescott-Nevada County Economic Development Office, said the city has applied for $574,000 from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), and will get half this year and the rest next year. There are four or five specific categories the money can be used for and a final ruling on the grant status will be done in July. Godwin said the EDO has helped other cities and the county apply for ARPA funds as well.

When questioned about the sidewalk project, Godwin said there are two places where owners need to give permanent easements because the sidewalks need to be moved further onto their property. As to when construction will begin, Godwin said she doesn’t know.

She told the council work on a grant for a community fishing pond is being done, though mostly virtually. Meetings will have to be held with engineers and the charitable foundation will have to approve selling the land to the city. The property in question is near Baptist Clinic. Godwin said the deadline to apply for the grant is Aug. 27 and the city should know if the grant is approved by October.

Jamie Hillery, executive director of the Prescott-Nevada County Chamber of Commerce, said more than 4,000 pounds of trash was picked up during the latest cleanup event, with the City of Prescott taking first place, the mayor’s team finishing second and Farmer’s Bank and Trust third.

Hillery said the annual fireworks show is set for July 1 at Cummins Stadium and the band will be live streamed for those who don’t want to attend in person. The fireworks show will be the same as in past years and last roughly 25 minutes. There will also be a food truck. Gates will open at 7 p.m. with the fireworks show starting at dark.

She added there’s a lot coming up with some ribbon cuttings and coffees scheduled. The annual Chamber Banquet will be held on Aug. 31 starting at 5:30 p.m.

The council approved a resolution to lease a compact tract loader for the street department.

Councilman Ivory Curry expressed concerns about foxes in town, saying people of New Town are afraid to go walking at night because of them. There are landowners, he said, who live out of state, and don’t keep their property up.

City Attorney Glenn Vasser returned to the tower issue from the public hearing. He told the panel he didn’t hear a motion to approve rezoning for the tower, which must be done, and the city has to have an ordinance drawn up to change the zoning map. A motion was made and approved.

Vasser continued saying all rezoning applications must be addressed and stressed the importance for the city to appoint a Planning and Zoning Commission to hear them. “You can’t continue to disregard it,” he said, “You need to nominate five people and approve them for a commission.” With a commission, he added, when zoning issues come around they can handle it and make recommendations to the council. If one isn’t appointed, he concluded, it could result in serious problems as such commissions are mandated.