Animal control fines increasing

PRESCOTT – Pet owners need to know letting their furry friends run loose could be an expensive proposition as the Prescott City Council voted to have the animal control ordinance amended and increase the fine.

This was done at the July council meeting Monday night. The current fines are $5-$25 for a dog or cat being loose without a collar; the same for not showing proof of vaccination, which requires dogs and cats to have a collar with the vaccination tag; dogs and cats running at large and disturbing the peace face the same fines. The council proposed increasing the base fine to $50 with the upper end at $100. This will be addressed when the amended ordinance is presented at the August meeting.

There was a lot of discussion over the animal control ordinance, with everyone agreeing it’s a problem. Councilman Patricia Roberts said the fine should be more, with Councilman Susie Meeks asking if it should be $100. Local resident Kenny Forest chimed in asking for the ordinance language to be changed to animals instead of dogs and cats because of a pig running loose recently. City Attorney Eric Hughes pointed out there’s an existing ordinance for livestock. In the end, the council agreed the first offense should be a $50 fine with the second being $100. Meeks asked if this would apply to all dogs without a collar or just the ones that attacked people. Prescott Mayor Terry Oliver said the city has an ordinance concerning vicious animals.

Mary Godwin, executive director of the Prescott-Nevada County Economic Development Office, presented the council with a lease agreement needing to be approved. The agreement is between the city and United Careers and Education, LLC, owned and operated by Brittany Moss. Hughes told the panel this is a standard lease agreement with a few changes made concerning maintenance, utilities and liability insurance. Godwin said there are no problems with the building, other than having to add Freon to the air conditioning units each summer. She pointed out Moss wants to buy the building within the two-years of the lease agreement if the council and city would approve it. A resolution was read and approved allowing the lease to continue.

During her report, Godwin said the unemployment rate is 3.5 percent, but there’s a problem with the numbers concerning the low-middle income of the county, which can affect the ability to get grants. The numbers presented show significant drops in the numbers, which were based on the American Community Survey. Under the new survey, no city in the county is above the required 50 percent mark. Bluff City’s figures plummeted from 60 to 7.9, according to the survey, which was the biggest drop in the county. Prescott went from 69.59 to 41.8. She told the council it won’t be easy to correct this, but her office is working on it.

She also talked about the Rotary project to help clean up properties in town, saying one property has been mowed already. Rowe Stayton, a Rotarian, said all civic clubs want to get involved, adding people will be hired when necessary to do the mowing. He pointed out this isn’t sponsored by the city, but is strictly through the civic clubs. The clubs, he added, will work to help those who need it get brush removed from their homes. This project is primarily for the elderly and those who are unable to do the work themselves.

The meeting began with Oliver presenting five positive accomplishments in the city. First he said, was Haybarn Wrestling which started with 30 or so fans and has grown to more than 300, with people coming from all over, spending money and helping the economy. Next, he lauded the Prescott-Nevada County Chamber of Commerce and Jamie Hillery for the fireworks show, saying it was a safety first program overseen by the Prescott Fire Department, with the Prescott Sanitation Department cleaning up afterward. Third up was accolades for Mary Godwin being named president of the Southwest Arkansas Development Alliance. He said this is an honor. Fourth, he gave a shout-out to his daughter, Tessa, for working with young people at the youth center this summer. Finally, Shanta Wiley was recognized for taking over the youth center’s Facebook page.

As the meeting came to its end, Councilman Phyllis Hicks said something needs to be done about the Duane White property, which is overgrown and needs to be mowed.

Councilman Howard Austin voiced concerns about the drainage project, saying there needs to be concrete lining on the sides and bottom of the ditch or there will be an erosion problem. Oliver said he’s talked to the contractor and invited Austin to walk with them and look at the project before the city signs off on it.

Satarra Williams asked about the Split Rail project and was told the plans are almost finished and construction should start soon.

Ivory Curry said the July community feed is July 27, and he’ll be hosting a back-to-school bash on Aug. 9.