During the May 24 Holbrook City Council meeting, City Manager Ray Alley outlined some of the events taking place in the city. The Splash Pad is open, and a couple of hundred kids partook in the fun and enjoyed free hot dogs at the opening. The pool will open on Monday, June 6.
The city will be working on projects using the Safe Routes to School Grant, including wheelchair access at intersections and solar lights near schools.
The city’s second dog park located in Hunt Park is almost finished. To create the park, city workers are reusing old materials to save money, though new chain-link fencing will be installed.
Alley also noted that work on the new Recreation Center will begin next week.
Chief of Police Mark Jackson addressed the council saying that the $2,553 raised by citizens in the community for the family of Ashlynne Mike was presented to the family. Ashlynne’s father, Ian Mike, thanked the chief and said he would like to begin a program on the Navajo Nation educating people about childhood safety. The 11-year-old girl was recently murdered after being abducted near her home near Fruitland, N.M.
The council held the first reading of an ordinance authorizing the acquisition of real property at 515 N. Second St.
“Wells Fargo has the property and contacted me. They don’t want it and offered us $5,000 to take it. It’s abandoned and a hazard, so we’ll take it down and it’ll be one less abandoned building in town,” stated Alley.
Council members approved the cancellation of their Aug. 9 meeting to allow the city to help host a town hall meeting with Congressional candidates from District 1 regarding rural economic development. The town hall will be lead by Michael Gardner at the George Gardner Performing Arts Center on the Holbrook High School campus.
Bread of Life Mission representative Ron Ellsworth thanked the community for helping with food and donations.
A letter from the Holbrook School District thanking the Holbrook Police Department for responding in a timely and professional manner to recent incidents was read.
In other business, the council approved payment of claims totaling $84,158.01, as well as $558.18 to The Tribune-News.
A budget session scheduled following the meeting was cancelled, as there were no further items for discussion until hard numbers are provided on insurance costs.
