While Nevada County Quorum Court officials openly acknowledged in the July meeting that they are under financial strain, officials assured that they are a lower-income county doing the absolute best they can with limited resources. They remain optimistic about the coming months, according to the Nevada County Clerk Tammie Rose .
The county Extension Agent Stacey Stone told the county officials that “cattle prices are way up.” He said people are testing soil and hay at a rapid pace. “4-H is strong and active”,” Stone said. He also reported successful participation and awards in Quiz Bowl competitors from the county youth.
County representatives detailed the impact of maintenance issues on the local jail, and the efforts to secure grants to help with storm and road issues. They are anticipating the arrival of disaster relief funds to balance the solid waste budget which was “operating in the red”, according to Rose. Rose said Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee declared Nevada County a disaster area. This declaration allowed the county to receive disaster relief funds to reimburse the unexpected expenses and delays that resulted from the storm’s shutdowns. Officials are confident that the arrival of these delayed funds will clear the current deficit in the solid waste budget.
”This time of year is always a struggle, but after taxes start getting paid and coming in it levels out,” Rose said. She added because the facility could not house its normal number of inmates, the resulting drop in headcount put additional strain on the jail’s budget. However, officials report that the air conditioning units are being addressed and the facility’s headcount is returning to normal capacity Rose reconfirmed this will also help stabilize the budgets. Additionally, officials clarified that inmate food costs are currently managed at approximately $2 per meal, totaling roughly $6 per day per inmate. Nevada County Judge Mike Otwell commended efforts to reduce these costs. When asked if this has been negative for inmate conditions, the officials said the jail facilities in Nevada County are good and invited the Hope-Prescott News to tour. Otwell said he had contacted officials in charge of the route an influx of 18 wheelers had been taking in the county. The traffic had caused the need to keep repairing the road, which the county was servicing. He did however say they “are going in and out the same way now.”
Beyond the jail, Director of Economic Development Mary Godwin is actively pursuing grants to fund necessary infrastructure projects. A resolution was passed to enable the economic development office to apply for funds through an Arkansas Economic Community and Economic Development program. These funds are earmarked for specific projects, such as repainting the interior and exterior of the local water tower. Officials noted that these are targeted project grants that the county would not have the regular budget to fund independently.
