The Holbrook City Council approved a tentative budget for 2017-18 totaling nearly $9.9 million June 13, an amount $426,549 less than the previous year.
The budget underwent only minor adjustments after it was originally presented. It was noted by City Manager Randy Sullivan that a special meeting would be needed to approve the final budget, and after some discussion it was determined that the meeting would be held at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, July 4.
In other business, the council discussed the purchase of two sets of soccer goals in the amount of $5,994.68 through BSN Sports. Sullivan said he is still considering whether to have the city make the goals, but that he would like them to be fixed goals at the fields at Hunt, Lewis and Lizitsky parks.
Sullivan was requesting approval in order to move forward with the purchase if it was determined that the cost and quality of making them would not be worthwhile. He hadn’t reviewed the costs for the city making them yet because they had so many projects lined up that he didn’t want to push this one back. “I’m still going to look at ways of doing it, but I don’t want to hold this up,” he said.
The council gave approval for the purchase with the exception of Councilman Tim Dixon, who was attending the meeting via Skype, who noted after the vote that the amount exceeded $5,000, which requires that at least three bids be provided. It was acknowledged that the council inadvertently violated its own rules. Since the matter had already been voted on, Sullivan stated that he would seek out more information and re-present the item.
Sullivan reported on events and said that at the Route 66 Festival held the previous weekend, 80 classic cars lined the street and approximately 1,500 people attended the event. On the evening prior to the festival, a burnout competition with music and a dance party brought out more than 500 people.
He noted that for the Fourth of July there would be a 5K run, a bike parade and a family carnival at Hunt Park along with the annual fireman’s barbecue and fireworks display. Coming up on July 14 and 15 will be the annual Wild West Days celebration. “This year the event will have a horse parade, an escape room in the old courthouse and lots of cowboy demonstrations. We’re getting away from some of the vendor kinds of things and making it a true Wild West event,” said Sullivan.
He also mentioned that Diners Drive-ins and Dives, a Food Network television show would be in Holbrook visiting at an undisclosed location at some point during the week. “This is pretty exciting, as this will be advertising for Holbrook,” he said.
Sullivan also reported that the city has listed all its commercial land on the Arizona Prospectors economic website, which is a site for businesses looking for place to locate.
Cindy Tafoya addressed council members as the new director of the Holbrook Chamber of Commerce and updated them on what is going on with the chamber. She stated that when she took on the position a month ago the chamber had 28 paid members and since that time seven new members have been added.
“I’m focusing on businesses that are having re-grand openings or new chamber members,” she said.
Tafoya noted that the Taste of Holbrook will be held on June 22 when the chamber will also recognize Man of the Year, Woman of the Year, Business of the Year, Organization of the Year and Youth of the Year. The event will be held at the Navajo County Fairgrounds and tickets are $10 each.
“I’m also working with the accountant for a more streamlined way of how we are going to account for our monies,” said Tafoya, adding that she is having Quickbooks installed so that she can work online directly with the accountant.
Community Events Director Kathleen Smith announced Linda Kor as the city’s selection for 2017 Volunteer of the Year due to her efforts in assisting with city events over the years.
Also present at the meeting was Jason Foutz, who introduced himself to the council. He will be acting as the facilitator for the council’s upcoming work session regarding goals for the city.
Ryan Mulcahy was introduced as representative of Congressman Tom O’Halleran’s office. He stated that he has been working with the Mayor Bobby Tyler and Councilman Dixon on a number of matters, and that he is available to the city and constituents in Holbrook to serve any way he can.
Mayor Tyler noted that Atsuo Sakurai, the maker of Arizona Sake in Holbrook, has asked the city to write a letter that he could present to the Japanese Consulate in Los Angeles.
Smith elaborated on the topic, stating that Sakurai will be traveling back to the consulate at the end of this week to provide them with sake for receptions at the consulate and to promote Holbrook.
“We’ve been working with Atsuo to provide promotional materials to give to the Japanese Consulate. We’re also working with him to see if we can establish a sister city with one of the Japanese cities. Atsuo has been a fantastic ambassador for Holbrook,” she said.
The mayor agreed to provide a letter for the consulate.
Tyler also informed the council that he is among 22 mayors belonging to the Northern Mayors Association who have drafted a letter expressing the need to reform the Public Safety Retirement System.
The council approved items on the consent agenda, including event liquor licenses for Swell Farmacy for June 24 and Atsuo Sakuria for Wild West Days.
A purchase of Fertizona fertilizer was pulled for discussion by Vice Mayor Wade Carlisle then approved in the amount of $2,300.
Also approved was payment of invoices totaling $229,334.25, as well as an invoice for Walt’s Hardware totaling $292.68.
