By Naomi Hatch The Snowflake Town Council awarded a contract last week to conduct Phase I environmental assessments through a Route 66 grant coalition administered by the City of Flagstaff that will reimburse the town through Navajo County. “We have identified two buildings in town,” said Town Manager Brian Richards, noting that they are the swimming pool and an old building on the corner of First Street South and Main Street owned by Redondo Holdings. Richards explained that Phase I is a preliminary step that must be completed to receive further grant funding through Phase II Environmental Assessments and/or Brownfield grants, and would identify known contaminants and hazardous substances that need to be mitigated. A request for proposals was sent to five environmental firms recommended by the consultant, and an ad was in the local paper. Two proposals were received, one timely and the other after the deadline, so there was only one qualified bidder. Richards spoke to Flagstaff officials and was told it was perfectly fine to have one bidder. When asked by Mayor Tom Poscharsky for a comment, Navajo County Deputy Planning Director Dave Whittaker stated, “We’re excited about this.” During the call to the public Whittaker said he wanted to welcome Snowflake into the fold and looks forward to that relationship. A motion to approve Terracon Consultants to do Phase I environmental assessments on the swimming pool and the building at a cost of $10,750 passed unanimously. In other business Jan. 12, Max Internet Solutions, LLC requested approval for a wireless tower agreement at the town’s well site in Snowflake Heights. The firm would retail 4G wireless broadband services to residential and business customers. Public Works Administrator Terry Cooper said that this contract is similar to the contract with Cellular One, and would be at the same location. The council unanimously approved the contract. The council appointed Jeff Greer, Reid Stinnett, Michael Lunt and Russell Smith to serve on the Planning and Zoning Commission. Roger McDowell is serving a term that will expire Sept. 30, 2017. The terms of Greer and Smith also expire Sept. 30, 2017, and Stinnett’s and Lunt’s terms will expire Sept. 30, 2018.