Last month the Winslow City Council approved a contract with Viking Specialty Contracting to demolish four structures within the city. The structures had been vacant and declared dilapidated by city officials as well as property owners. Last week, the council approved the removal of an additional building by Viking and an addendum to the contract agreement adding the structure located at 1416 West Second Street.
The property in question recently burned in a fire still under investigation by the Winslow Fire Department. The contract is being funded by a grant administered by the Northern Arizona Council of Governments (NACOG). The total amount awarded to the City of Winslow by the Arizona Department of Housing is $213,758. The total contract with Viking including all five structures to be demolished is in the amount of $122,881.
All five structures have already been removed since the contract was awarded. They include 423 S. Francis Ave., 1608 W. Third St., 402 W. Second St., 1302 E. Second St. and 1416 W. Second St.
“What they are leaving behind after they clean everything up is fill dirt. They are doing a great job of demolition and cleanup, and there is no trace of the buildings that used to be there. There have been a couple of other business owners that have asked what the cost would be to have Viking demo buildings that they own. Perhaps this could be snowballing into something else,” stated City Manager Steve Pauken.
The next step in the city’s plan for blight removal is to contact the property owners of the buildings that have been torn down. “We will try to encourage them to redevelop or to sell the land for redevelopment,” said Pauken, who also mentioned the removal of the abandoned Denny’s building located at 410 Mike’s Pike. “That will come down a little more slowly than the others, as it is larger.” That space is in the process of redevelopment as an Auto Zone car parts store. Pauken assured the council and the public that removal of unsound buildings throughout town will continue.
Pauken presented a status report that included the need for volunteers on boards and commissions. “We have a vacancy on the Historic Preservation Commission and one on the Board of Adjustments.” Those interested in serving on those boards may contact the City Clerk Suzy Wetzel from 7:30 a.m. until 4 p.m., Monday through Friday at City Hall, located at 21 N. Williamson Ave.
Pauken also spoke regarding the application for a grant to build a dog park in Winslow. “We have some strong talent on the committee to apply for the grant and we have put some money in the capital improvements fund to build the park, whether or not we receive the grant.”
In other business, the council:
* Proclaimed May 19 as Kids to Parks Day in Winslow. Kids to Parks Day empowers kids and encourages families to get outdoors and visit America’s parks.
* Proclaimed the week of May 13-19 as Police Officer’s week and May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day.
* Heard the quarterly Animal Control report from Officer Stratton Salyers. Seven animals have been euthanized since February all due to illness or aggression. The shelter-to-shelter program, which transfers animals to shelters throughout the state continues to be successful. Council member Bob Schlesinger thanked Salyers for taking in animals displaced by the recent Tinder Fire. According to Salyers, all animals were accounted for and returned to their owners.
* Approved the Winslow Arts Council to increase their voting membership from seven members to nine. The stipulation from the city council was that the Arts Council keep non-voting positions open for youth.
* Reviewed and discussed the preliminary proposed budget for fiscal year 2018-2019.
The Winslow City Council meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month. The next meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 22, in the council chambers located at 115 E. Second St.
