Police to get raise

PRESCOTT – Most of the June meeting of the Prescott City Council, Monday night, dealt with citizens concerns.

However, the primary business on the agenda was wages for the Prescott Police Department. The council was told the last raise officers received was in 2018, and this year’s budget had $365,000. Three ranking officers are already making the salary proposed in the budget, which leaves a sergeant, four full-time certified officers and three part-time certified officers. The PPD, though, only has two full-time certified officers at this time. Additionally, there is the administrative assistant.

Prescott Mayor Terry Oliver proposed using roughly $345,000 for raises and the rest for overtime pay. He said this needs to be done so Prescott can be more competitive and keep its officers. The council agreed and voted 6-0 to give the raises. Oliver pointed out certified officers are those who have attended and completed the courses at the Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy (ALETA). “I’ve been working on this with the chief for a year and a half,” he said, “We have a good bunch of officers now and this will help.”

Jamie Hillery, executive director of the Prescott-Nevada County Chamber of Commerce, talked about the upcoming July 4 fireworks show, saying the fireworks and tee shirts have been ordered. The event will be held at Cummings Stadium with the fireworks shot off from the Johnson Sports Complex. Hillery said food vendors will be at the stadium and the concession stand will be open at the baseball field.

Brad Glass was the first citizen to address the council. Representing Park Baptist Church, he said the church is still interested in buying two parcels of land from the city for expansion purposes. This was initially addressed in 2020 with the parcels being appraised and offered to the church for $20,690. There were 15 trees on the property that would cost $7,500 to remove. The church, at the time, wanted to do the removal and pay the difference to the city. Glass said he was authorized to offer $10,000 for both parcels and the church would deal with the trees.

Perry Nelson, water and sewer superintendent, said there is a sewer line running across the property. This sewer line, he said, serves two properties and the city would need to maintain an easement.

City Attorney Eric Hughes said the city shouldn’t sell public property for less than the appraised value, and since the last appraisal was four years ago, another would need to be done. He added, with the sewer line, the city wouldn’t want to get rid of the property.

Oliver said the city would get the property appraised and address the issue in a future meeting.

Next up was Debbie Crowder, with Rotary and PSE. She said there’s a problem in town with harborage on property not being taken care of or dealt with. She said the club members want to help, but don’t know what they can do. The problem, she added, will only get worse if the area continues having mild winters like it’s been having. Crowder described harborage as brush four-feet or taller around houses that hasn’t been cut back for years. This, she said, provides a refuge for rodents. She continued, saying PSE needs to know what it’ll take to deal with the problem, adding the club wants to help, but don’t know where to start.

Hughes said he will look into the city’s ordinance and go from there.

Hillery said the Chamber has a list of people who do mowing and yard work the club can have.

Rowe Stayton followed, echoing Crowder’s comments, adding the club will help the elderly take care of their yards. From there he talked about the different places needy people in the community can get free food. He said the club will put a food information package together to let people know.

The final citizen comment came from Jessica Box, who reminded everyone of the Juneteenth celebration Wednesday at the Nevada County Courthouse. She said there will be bounce houses, a snow cone machine and BBQ. The event starts at 11 a.m.

As the meeting neared its end, Councilman Ivory Curry reminded everyone there will be a Summer Fun Day at his place on Greenlawn June 26 from 4-7 p.m. and the monthly community feed will be June 29.

Councilman Howard Austin talked about the drainage project, saying the ditches need to be concreted to prevent the erosion of the street.

Curry said the city needs to prioritize its money and the situation on Wildcat Road is getting worse as toilets continue to back up into homes when it rains. He said funds are available through the state for water and sewer projects.