NCQC talks money

By Staff, 10/13/21 10:52 AM

PRESCOTT – October’s meeting of the Nevada County Quorum Court, Tuesday evening, consisted mostly of talk about money.

As there was only one item of new business on the agenda, an update on the Nubbin Hill Bridge project, the court devoted most of its time to discussing money, primarily funds from the American Recovery Plan Act, along with the $412,000 the county received as recovery funds from COVID-19.

As to the Nubbin Hill project, Nevada County Judge Mark Glass said the city has moved the water line and he’s talked to the state’s department of transportation about when bids will be let. Glass told the court, this project will be let in January and work should begin 45-60 days later, or sometime in March. The existing bridge, he said, is OK as the state inspects it regularly, adding it should hold up until construction begins – unless something drastic happens to it, in which case traffic will be diverted around it as the county won’t be putting any more money into it.

He said it’s a good thing construction won’t be starting soon, as there will be a lot of traffic in the area when deer season starts.

Justice of the Peace Pat Grimes asked to see where the Covid money has gone as there’s only $69,929 left.

Glass said there’s a paper trail showing where the money went. He invited Grimes to come to the courthouse and see. The county, he pointed out, had to put money in the jail and road and bridge to help them make payroll. Glass added things are getting better and should until the end of the year as tax money is coming in. He said none of the $801,000 of ARPA money has been spent.

County Treasurer Lisa Loe said those funds can only be spent for certain things, and the county will have to keep track of every penny to avoid a federal audit.

Glass reminded the panel the county will receive another $800,000 next year, and funds not used must be returned. However, the county has until 2024 to decide how to spend the funds and 2026 to get them spent.  The $412,000, he said, could be used however the county determined necessary.

The problem with the ARPA money, it was agreed, is no one really knows how it can be used. There are only certain things these funds can be used for.

Mary Godwin, executive director of the Prescott-Nevada County Economic Development Office, said her office has been asked to help in this matter and has attended Zoom meetings weekly. In effect, she said, everyone is being told to wait until the federal government comes out with its final report before doing anything. She has also been working with the Southwest Arkansas Planning and Development District on this, and suggested waiting till they hear from the SWAPDD.

As one of the areas approved is improving broadband access, the question was brought up about the Walnut Hill project in the Falcon area. Glass said the company has obtained a grant to help offset the cost of the project and the county won’t be contributing anything financially, which means the county will save $500,000.

In the interim, the money is in an interest-bearing account. All interest generated by these funds can be kept and used by the county.

Godwin presented census numbers for the county. The figures show the county lost 687 people over the last 10 years, with Prescott losing the most at 195. Surprisingly, the next highest loss was in Emmet with 103. Rosston, though, showed an increase in population of 11. Otherwise, all communities in the county lost population.

However, Nevada County fared better than Hempstead County, which lost 2,544 people, with Hope losing 1,143. Clark County saw a decline of 1,549, with Arkadelphia losing 334 and Gurdon losing 372. Ouachita County dropped 3,470, with Camden taking the largest loss at 1,571. Miller County didn’t do badly, losing 862, with Texarkana showing the largest loss at 532. Little River County lose 1,145 with Ashdown seeing 462 move elsewhere. Lafayette County went down 1,337, with Stamps taking the biggest hit at 435, and Dallas County dropped by 1,634, with Fordyce losing 904 residents over the last 10 years.

Questions were raised about the redistricting of the JP districts. Nevada County Clerk Julie Oliver said the court has been working with a company and the JP districts will be changed, somewhat. New boundary maps should be ready by the end of the month.