Council approves drainage project

PRESCOTT – Prescott’s City Council made short work of business at its November meeting Monday night.

The panel approved the city entering into a contract with A.L. Franks Engineering of Texarkana, on a drainage project, and approved an ordinance to purchase a new backhoe/loader for $91,600, which was in the 2022 budget. The loader will be bought from Lift Truck Service Center, Inc. under the Sourcewell Cooperative Procurement Program, which means no bids were required.

Mary Godwin, executive director of the Prescott-Nevada County Economic Development Office, addressed the drainage project, which will be paid for with a $300,000 grant. she said the project required responses from bidding companies, with two applying, Franks and Harbor Engineering. A panel of three scored the qualifications of each firm with Franks coming out on top. She added the council needed to approve the contract and Prescott Mayor Terry Oliver signing off on the project.

Kiron Browning, an engineer from Franks, said the company started looking at this last year or the year before. The idea is to improve drainage on several streets, replacing damaged culverts and shaping ditches where needed. He told the council the contractor will regrade the ditches, shoring them up with either concrete or rip rap to provide stability. With good weather, he continued, the project should take between 75-90 days, and it would be best to let the bids in late spring or early summer, which is the best time for such work.

From there, the council approved an amended 2022 budget and was told the biggest problem for the city these days is the cost of electricity. City Accountant Carl Dalrymple added the city’s group insurance has gone up $132,000 a year and the city will need to find the funds for this in the 2023 budget. He said the budget committee has been working on it and hopes are to have a proposed 2023 budget for the entire council at its December meeting.

Chris Harper, sanitation and street superintendent, addressed the council concerning the problem with limbs and brush being left on the curb for the city to pick up. The city’s ordinance states limbs can be no longer than six feet and no more than six inches in diameter. However, he said, people are ignoring this and are pushing limbs into the ditch, which means the ditch is also filled with dirt, causing problems. The council, he continued, could amend the ordinance, saying if people use a contractor the city will have to charge a fee.

Under the ordinance, the property owner is responsible for the removal of limbs and brush, though the street and sanitation department have been picking them up. “It’s a service, but people are abusing it,” he said. There was talk of putting a copy of the ordinance in light bills, but, Hopper said, people don’t pay attention to items included with their bills.

His crews, Hopper continued, try to get limbs, but they’re tangled up and is a mess. He reminded the council the ordinance also states the city doesn’t work behind contractors. He said he’s talked to contractors and property owners, but hasn’t come up with an answer.

Councilman Ivory Curry said the biggest problem is people don’t appreciate what the city does for them.

City Attorney Glenn Vasser asked if property owners are aware of the ordinance. Hopper said he didn’t think so, but contractors are. Hopper added when he tells property owners they have to haul off the debris, they just say fine.

The debate went round and round with the final idea being to have people fill out forms before the city picks anything up. Vasser said ultimately it’s the property owners responsibility and they can be fined $50 per day for violations. “It may not be the most popular thing we can do. A lot of people don’t know what the law is, and the city should give warnings for the first offense. This needs to be publicized.”

Godwin asked what would happen if people didn’t pay the fine. Vasser said that would be up to a judge and they could be given up to 30 days in jail.

In other business, Jamie Hillery, executive director of the Prescott-Nevada County Chamber of Commerce, updated the panel on the Chamber’s activities, saying there were 55 vendors at Trick or Treat on Elm Street and at least twice as many people visiting this year as compared to last year, when 2,000 showed up.

She told the council the Chamber held it’s annual shop local event, which turned out OK, but wasn’t great, though it did showcase what local businesses have to offer this holiday season.

Additionally, the Chamber is working on its Giving Tree program, with all families adopted. This program, she said, provides necessities to needy children, such as socks and underwear, not necessarily toys.

On the topic of toys, she said Breakfast with Santa will be Dec. 3 at the Potlatch Building from 9-11 a.m. Members of the Swamprider Motorcycle Club dropped by the Chamber office Saturday for the club’s annual toy drive. These toys will be used as prizes for Bingo at Breakfast with Santa.

The annual Christmas parade is scheduled for Dec. 8.

Godwin provided an update on the sidewalk project saying it’s going well and it may take a little longer than expected as there was an change order concerning the placement of a culvert.

She pointed out binders for each member of the council saying they were from James Waldon for the city’s zoning laws. The binders include the requested changes from the council, and Waldon’s work with Vasser. She told the council it could throw away the old information, adding the new rules need to be read and addressed in December or January, but December may be too soon.

With no further business, it was down to comments from the council. Councilman Howard Austin asked where the city stood in appointing a new city attorney as Vasser is retiring at the end of December. Oliver said no action has been taken at this time.

There was talk about making other sidewalks in town look better as many are overgrown with grass and weeds. Oliver said replacing them would be costly, but the city can make them look better. He added the city wants to sped more on sidewalks if the money can be found.