Holbrook Ramps Up Fun And Tourism With Its Fall Events

The course features lots of small hills and has a net altitude loss of about 400 feet from start to the finish line. There will be 15 aid stations situated along the route. (View the course map at http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/461913732).

City Community Affairs Director Kathleen Smith says this year’s roll of runners is already twice the number of participants who ran the race last year. She also notes that it includes an exciting indication that the Holbrook area is attracting new tourist interest.

“We’ve got three people coming from Italy, two from Canada and we’ve also got someone coming in from Japan,” Smith advised the council.

The balance of the 77 persons enrolled so far includes 41 Arizonans, four persons from the District of Columbia, three from California, two each from Florida, Indiana, Texas, Virginia and Washington, and one each from Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, South Dakota and Utah. One runner is registered from an unspecified U.S. state.

“The nice thing about race events is that they all spend the night (in Holbrook), because they have to be at the Petrified Forest at 5:45 a.m. (on race morning) to catch a bus,” she said.

During her presentation to the city council last week, Smith expressed that the current response is a testament to the benefits that such events yield for city tourism, and that her goal is to broaden advertising efforts to double the number of participants again for next year’s race.

“I really see this taking off. Once they get here, we can send them to our (soon-to-be-relaunched) website and say, ‘Now that you’re here, why don’t you stay a few more days, and we’ll show you what (other activities to enjoy in Holbrook),’” she continued.

Only 150 runner slots are available for the race, so entrants are encouraged to register now before they’re gone. Registration is $115 for ages 14 and older. Call Smith at (928) 524-6225 or email kathleens@ci.holbrook.az.us to sign up.

The race will begin at 7 a.m. Runners will park their cars at the south end of the park and be bussed to the north end for the start of the race. Busses will load at 6 a.m. from the south parking lot. Parking is limited, so carpooling is encouraged.

In other business Oct. 13, the council:

* Held the first reading of Ordinance 15-07, amending the city code, Chapter 2, Business, Article 2-1, Transient Merchants amending Sections 2-1-2, 2-1-3 and 2-1-4 establishing an effective date and providing for repeal and severability.

The amendments propose that transient vendors who are non-government entities are no longer permitted to conduct business within Holbrook city limits without a valid city permit of sale and a state retail sales tax license.

The council moved to request further discussion on the language of the ordinance.

* Approved extension of participation in the Environmental Protection Agency Brownfields Assessment Coalition intergovernmental agreement between the City of Flagstaff and the City of Holbrook through October 2017. The agreement provides funds for use in abating sites and properties containing hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminant items such as lead-based paint, gas and asbestos.

* Heard a report from Vice Mayor Wade Carlisle, who represented the city at the Priority Planning Advisory Committee of the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) Sept. 29.

The vice mayor supported a resolution on the city’s behalf urging ADOT to increase capacity to accommodate more commercial trading traffic from Mexico at the Mariposa port of entry in Nogales.

* Heard comments from Holbrook resident Jim Hudgens regarding his complaints stemming from street surface and lighting issues on Mission Lane.

Hudgens cited the disrepair of the street, which he expressed was promised by the city to be addressed per an annexation agreement 27 years ago, and also noted that only one of the three street lights he requested was installed at his Mission Lane frontage during this time.

* Heard comments from Holbrook residents Monty Flack and Jared Ghormley regarding recurring animal control, sanitary, vermin infestation, and loitering nuisance issues with their adjacent neighbor in the 400 block of West Arizona Street.

The matter is currently under investigation and the city has asked for legal advice regarding its resolution.

* Received an update from Assistant City Manager Randy Sullivan on Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Incident Management System training, for which all city employees will be scheduled for enrollment to complete to meet FEMA compliance.

* Received an update from Sullivan on the construction of new public restrooms at city parks. Construction has been completed at Lewis Park. Restroom facilities construction at Hunt Park has begun and is targeted for completion by Oct. 24.

* Received an update from Sullivan on street department projects. The streets crew is completing storm drain cleaning and has abated several dilapidated residential lots throughout the city.

* Tabled action regarding the requested sale of decommissioned service pistols to Holbrook police officers for $300 each, pending the advice of legal counsel.

* Tabled action regarding the city’s requested purchase of a bucket truck owned by City Manager Ray Alley for $13,000 including installed auxiliary equipment ($11,000 without the equipment), pending the advice of legal counsel.

* Heard comments from Smith regarding plans to recruit potential intrastate, interstate and/or international sister city tourism relationships as proposed during the Oct. 6 city council work session. Smith will work with the council to outline objectives and directives for the program.

* Approved disbursement of city council event funds requested in the amount of $600 for Holbrook’s Halloween Bash on Saturday, Oct. 31.

* Heard marketing updates from Community Development Co-Director Michael Nilsson on Holbrook tourism metrics and the city’s forthcoming redesigned website currently under construction.

* Proclaimed October 2015 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

* Heard comments from Mayor Bobby Tyler, who extended condolences on the city’s behalf to the families of LeRoy Scott and Karen DeMarse.

* Heard a report from the mayor on the success of the Arizona Public Service Co. Cholla Power Plant/Arizona Department of Environmental Quality free household hazardous waste collection event hosted Oct. 3 in Holbrook. A total of 5,600 lbs. of paint, 1,900 lbs. of motor oil, 800 lbs. of pesticides, 400 lbs. of household cleaners, 300 lbs. of fertilizers, 160 lbs. of batteries, 125 aerosol cans, 10 lbs. of mercury-containing light bulbs, six pounds of propane and 200 tires were collected.

* Received an update from Police Chief Mark Jackson on the build status of two recently purchased patrol vehicles, and the enrollment of a single department staff member in Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organizations (RICO)-funded advanced photography training course during November at a cost of $450.

* Approved the consent agenda, including payment of claims for Sept. 3 through Oct. 7 in the amount of $371,224.02, and minutes of the regular meetings held July 28 and Sept. 8.

Councilmen C.J. Wischmann and Tim Dixon abstained from the vote on minutes of the regular meetings held March 25, July 22 and 29, and Dec. 9, 2014, and Feb. 10 and 24, 2015, which predated their election to the council.

* Approved payment of claims to Walt’s Hardware in the amount of $2,721.96.

* Approved payment of claims to The Tribune-News in the amount of $811.

The council will hold its next regular meeting at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 27.