The City of Holbrook’s anticipated receipt of $247,757 in Community Development Block Grant funds provided by the Arizona Department of Housing Regional Account was up for discussion by the city council last week, with the council asked to prioritize the top two projects from the list of five that had been decided upon in a November meeting.
Those on the list included an expansion of the Holbrook Food Bank storage and improving equipment at the food bank. It was suggested this project be combined with another project on the list to purchase equipment for the Holbrook Senior Citizens Center, where the food bank is located. The purchases for the center would include a new refrigerator, freezer and van.
A second project on the list is the installation of handicap accessible doors and ramps at city facilities, including the main office, the police department and Fire Station No. 3, which is a polling location, in order to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Another project is to construct a park off McLaws Road, but that would only be eligible for the funding if a certain percentage of the people living in the area fell within a low to medium income ratio.
The final project is to demolish the Sunny Hotel and if possible, other buildings that are in extreme disrepair.
The recommendation from staff was to make the food bank and senior citizen center projects the first selection, and, if approved by the agency, include the ADA compliant improvements as well.
When asked why only two could be selected, City Clerk Cher Reyes told the council that the grant requirements would only allow for one, and perhaps two, projects to be completed.
The discussion by council included concerns regarding the use of state funds to demolish privately owned buildings. Another concern was the costly removal of asbestos and lead-based paint that could be in those buildings.
A public hearing was held prior to the discussion, but no comment from the public was made.
“I would like to spend the bulk of the money at the senior center, then any leftover money to the ADA projects,” stated Interim City Manager Randy Sullivan.
Councilman Tim Dixon, who was present via video conference from Thailand, asked if the city could possibly absorb a couple of the projects into the budget in order to use the funds for others on the list.
“That would be too hard to do with our current finances. We could do the ramps in-house, though,” Sullivan replied.
Councilman Richard Peterson asked if the city was out of compliance with the ADA by not having facilities that accommodate those with disabilities and if so, could that lead to a lawsuit.
“No, because these are existing buildings,” said Sullivan.
According to the ADA, changes only need to be made to buildings built prior to 1992 when modifications are “readily achievable.” Implying that when funding is available, such modifications should be made.
After consideration, the council voted unanimously to follow the staff’s recommendation.
Sullivan also told the council that the city would do as much work as possible for the ADA projects in-house.
In other business, Mayor Bobby Tyler stated that he wanted to quash rumors pertaining to his health and recent absence by stating that he has a tumor in his hip that is causing him difficulty. “But I am here, I am driven and 150 percent committed,” he said.
Tyler also noted that he had visited with Congressman Tom O’Halleran regarding the importance of infrastructure and jobs for this region, and the importance of bringing in broadband.
Vice Mayor Wade Carlisle, who sits on the Northern Arizona Council of Governments (NACOG) board, informed the council that NACOG has been working for more than a decade on the concept of bringing high speed broadband to the rural areas of Arizona. “We can use the power lines that already exist on a separate frequency, but there’s a cost. Broadband is important if a small town like ours is going to survive but we just don’t have it,” he said.
Carlisle explained that the type of broadband under discussion is significantly higher than what is used now, allowing for technology companies to consider rural Arizona as an option for industry.
“NACOG is pressing for federal funds, but this is millions of dollars in infrastructure. Then you say, ‘If they build it, they will come,’ but will they? Silicon Valley is known for technology, but they have a climate that I don’t know that we have here,” he said.
