The City of Winslow has numerous projects in the works this year that will improve the appearance of neighborhoods and the services offered by the city. City Manager Stephen Pauken explained the larger of those projects and the benefits of those projects to the citizens of Winslow.
“We will continue our initiative to clean up blight and dilapidated signs. We removed 10 signs in 2014 and five blighted structures,” he reported. Pauken also said that the city’s goal would be to remove six more structures this year and 10 to 20 more signs. “We will also be looking at a project similar to one in Albuquerque where old signs are being converted into public art. I will be asking the council for a larger amount of money next fiscal year to accomplish all of this,” he added.
The capital improvements program will focus on finishing up numerous projects that are already in the pipeline. “We will finish renovating the senior center, the Girl Scout House and the animal shelter, do another phase of the 9/11 Memorial, continue dredging the McHood Park lake and patching the levees. We will also continue with the Renaissance Projects, finish designing the Route 66 Plaza and complete improvements to the indoor pool that have been delayed,” Pauken explained.
The city also plans to have an organized group working to start a community garden this spring on the city farm located on North Road east of North Park, where Brigham City is situated.
Pauken hopes that overdue funds from the Federal Aviation Administration will arrive to allow for the paving of the main runway at the airport. “We have been waiting for FAA funding for two years so that the USDA Air Tanker Base can continue to operate safely and efficiently. Hopefully, the funding will break loose this year,” he commented.
The city is also looking to purchase a new 3,000-gallon fire pumper/tender and has received eight proposals from seven vendors, with hopes of having it delivered in late spring or early summer.
“We have just hired two new firefighters to fill vacancies and we will be requesting funding for two more. Also in the fire department, we are funding additional training opportunities and have a grant application at FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) for new radios, new breathing apparatus and more advanced training,” stated Pauken.
The city also plans to conduct another Citizens Academy starting in early spring.
In addition, a group of citizens has begun working with the city staff and the Northern Arizona Council of Governments (NACOG) to develop some form of public transportation in Winslow and with surrounding cities.
