Rotarians discuss yard work

PRESCOTT – Yard work was the main topic of discussion for the Prescott Rotary Club Tuesday.

Club members were informed Dennis Pruitt mowed two yards yesterday and wants to do more. They were also told Mary Godwin, executive director of the Prescott-Nevada County Economic Office, sent two more yards needing to be done – one on Gee Street and the other on Greenlawn. Bo Young, club president, suggested the club do something to show its appreciation for Pruitt mowing yards. The club agreed to buy dinner for him and his wife at a later date and set $50 aside for their meal.

Rotarian Rowe Stayton said he talked with Debbie Crowder about buying equipment for the club so others don’t have to use their personal equipment. He said it could be used, adding Jimmy Batemen, with PSE, has a zero-turn mower for sale.

Young said if people want to pay to have their yards mowed, the club needs to set up a separate fund for this money. The club agreed.

Stayton said he talked to the Prescott City Council at it’s meeting Monday night, about being more active in code enforcement. He pointed out Godwin told the council about what Rotary is doing. Stayton added there is an ordinance concerning people not keeping their yards up and a process on getting things done. First the owners are notified by a letter from the mayor or his agent. At this time, Stayton said, Police Chief Ann Jordan sends out some letters, but isn’t trained in the ordinance. Godwin, though, identifies violators, takes pictures and has the mayor sign the letters. The owners are warned, then cited if they do nothing. If the owners persist on not cleaning their property, a lien is placed on it. For absentee mortgage companies, he said, getting a letter about a lien will get them moving to clean their properties as they don’t want liens against them.

The club also discussed food boxes, saying the program is going well. Stayton promised to bring wood to build boxes, adding most of what he has is cypress. Young said the problem is filling the boxes.

He returned to the mowing issue saying after the council meeting, he talked with the mayor and found the city is responsible for keeping ditches clear.

As the meeting wound down, there was discussion about having a “float” in the Sept. 9 fair parade. Young said the collection of clothes, socks and underwear for students in K-4 will be delivered in about three weeks as school starts on Aug. 12.

They also talked about hosting a joint community feed with the Lions and Kiwanis clubs on Aug. 21. If it works, Young said, it could be a monthly event.

The club is also taking donations of socks for the elderly.