The towns of Taylor and Snowflake have shared several intergovernmental agreements for many years, with Taylor responsible for the ambulance and Snowflake for the library and parks and recreation.
Taylor Town Manager Gus Lundberg talked to the council at their March 2, council meeting about adding one more. “We talked about making more of an active role in the Parks and Recreation Department,” said Lundberg.
In a meeting of managers, mayors and vice mayors of Taylor and Snowflake the matter had already been discussed. “We came to the conclusion it would be beneficial to add some staff,” said Lundberg. The new position will be the Taylor Recreation Coordinator, which will be under the direction of Snowflake’s Recreation & Parks department head Don Camacho. Lundberg explained that this would be a part time, and it was agreed that this position would fulfill Taylor’s obligation.
Lundberg proposed Aaron Dunford be appointed to the new position. Dunford said he is a graduate from Northern Arizona University with a degree in Parks and Recreation and shortly will have his master’s degree. He has ties to the community. “I’m very humbled and very grateful for the opportunity of working for the town of Taylor,” said Dunford.
Lundberg said that initially they plan to start with a part time position. “I think it will be some benefit if we have Aaron full time,” said Lundberg, explained that there would be times that Dunford could put in many hours and if he were full time the town would save on overtime pay.
“We feel there’s a lot to have Aaron involved in with Taylor’s parks,” Lundberg explained. Dunford could help with a master plan for the parks, which is something the town has been working toward.
“I think we have so much potential that I don’t think part time is going to last very long,” said Mayor David Smith.
“You put out good vibes, and it’s going to take good vibes to do this,” said Councilor Carl Cosper.
“Everybody that speaks about you speaks very highly of you,” said Vice Mayor Shawn Palmer noting that they speak of his high integrity. “There’s a lot of work to be done; we are a celebrating community and part of being a celebrating community we have a potential to create neat things for people to do,” said the Vice Mayor adding, “It will be a great, great thing that you’ll be in charge of.”
“With this position, we need to make an adjustment to the budget,” said Lundberg who proposed an adjustment of $50,000, which he felt was well in excess of wages and would give some leeway to move forward with projects for Freeman Park and perhaps Rodeo Park pavilion. The funds will be taken from contingency funds.
In response to the length of time for the position Lundberg said that it would be an annual increase to the budget and that in the next year’s budget they will have to budget for four-year salary and any projects.
A motion to appoint Aaron Dunford to the new Taylor Recreation Coordinator position and to add $50,000 to the budget for the Recreation Department passed unanimously.
In other business, the town had a public hearing to take comment on the adoption of an ordinance to the Building and Construction Code Updates. No one was present to make comments.
Council had the second reading on a resolution and unanimously approved a motion to second reading by title only and accept it. The new building codes will go into effect in 30 days. Allen Davis made a presentation at February council meeting. Davis said contractors that the town works with like what they are adopting because it goes back to straight building codes without the amendments.
Council unanimously approved a resolution, Rural Arizona Group Health Trust Renewal, for five years. Lundberg explained they joined the trust six years ago and that being a member of this trust has been very good.
