Court discusses transfers, fuel tanks

PRESCOTT – With nothing on the agenda, the Nevada County Quorum Court took 40 minutes to discuss other things at its September meeting Tuesday.

The meeting began with Justice of the Peace Pat Grimes asking about the transfer of $196,000 to the road and bridge, solid waste department and Nevada County jail. She said last month the county transferred $100,000 to those departments and asked to see where all funds transferred go.

Nevada County Clerk Julie Oliver said the August transfer wasn’t included in the budget until this month.

Nevada County Judge Mark Glass said more had to be transferred this month, adding there is a paper trail showing where the money goes. He told the court the money came from the first CARES Act funds and the county is caught up on its bills now.

He added there have been a lot of mechanical problems, including replacing a transmission in a grader, putting two rear ends in dump trucks and a new transmission in a county pickup. He told the court these were expensive breakdowns that weren’t included in the repairs budget. Glass reminded the court it’s hard to budget for repairs because no one knows what will break down or when it will happen. “We do what we can,” he said.

The vehicles needing repair had to be sent elsewhere to be fixed as the county doesn’t have the capability to do them. The rear ends for the dump trucks, he continued, cost around $7,000 for labor and transporting them to Little Rock as they were still under warranty.

He added fuel prices have been rising, which has also affected the county’s budget. Now, he said, it costs more than $20,000 for a tanker load.

JP Bob Cummings said he’s talked to Nevada County Sheriff Danny Martin about putting in a fuel tank for the Sheriff’s Department to save money, with Martin being in favor of it.

Glass said this would cut their fuel bills, adding the county gets a discount when it buys 8,000 gallons. The county, he continued, currently buys from Hendrix Oil and will contact the company about putting in a fuel tank. He pointed out the NCSO is paying around $4,000 in fuel and having a tank of its own could reduce this by $1,000 a month. The tank would be an above ground model capable of holding 1,500 gallons.

JP Dennis Pruitt said the Prescott School District has its own tank, but the problem has been getting fuel.

JP Chris Fore said the judge could call the Prescott and Nevada schools to see who they use to get fuel.

Changing topics, Cummings said he was at Nubbin Hill Friday and the pipe had already been placed. He called Perry Nelson, supervisor of the Prescott Water and Sewer Department, who said the water line should be in place and tested by the end of the month.

Glass said he’ll call the Highway Department and, hopefully with the pipe in the ground, it will have the project on the next bid letting.

Cummings said Nevada County Coroner David Gummerson expressed his gratitude for the county purchasing a body chiller as it’s saved the county a lot of money and has been used quite a bit this year.

Cummings also questioned President Joe Biden’s mandate concerning Covid vaccinations. He was given permission to call Mark Whitmore, with the Association of Arkansas Counties, to see how it will affect the county.

Fore asked what the county was doing for its veterans as he’d been asked about it by a county resident, especially Delbert DuCharme, saying a lot of people don’t know how significant DuCharme was as he fought in World War II, VietNam and was one of the original Seals.

Grimes said Prescott High School used to have a program in the past, and churches did something for veterans as well. Cummings added there used to be a parade as well, and veterans are offered access to transportation to the VA hospital in Little Rock.

Glass added the new VA agent is hard working and has been going to trainings. He’s in his office Monday and Tuesday, but also visits the home of veterans who can’t get to the courthouse on his days off.