/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
During the Jan. 22 Holbrook City Council meeting, the council approved a letter of support from the city to the Navajo County Board of Supervisors in support of holding a special election for the Jail District in August. This referendum failed at the last election by 162 votes and the county is hoping that a broader education on the need and use of funds will have a different outcome.
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
Councilman Adam Marsh expressed his concern on the matter, “Does this not send sort of a message of no confidence to the voters? Like, we didn’t trust you the first time so we’re going to give it another try? I feel like this has gone up to ballot and whether we wanted it to pass or not, it didn’t. It seems to me they can call a special election with or without our support. It seems a little undermining with respect to democracy.” Councilman Tim Dixon agreed with Marsh that the voters have already spoken.
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
Interim City Manager Cher Reyes responded, stating that state law prohibits this measure from being brought back before the voters if it should fail a second time. “We need to support it because it will cost us big time,” added Reyes.
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
Marsh agreed, stating that he was trying to separate that from what he felt the message this sort of action would send to the voters.
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
Councilman Earl Kester stated that the problem with the initial ballot measure was that it wasn’t presented correctly the first time. Councilman Mike Nilsson stated, “Most of my friends feel that the county has acted very irresponsibly over the last several years and wasted millions and millions of dollars and now their saying let’s bail them out. Most people voted knowing exactly what this was about and it didn’t pass.”
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
Reyes stated that when the county had come to the city stating that if the measure failed to pass, then the city would have the responsibility of opening their own court she felt the city was being threatened. “Not just us, the ‘cities.’”
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
Councilman Richard Peterson said he had mixed feelings on the matter. Since a proposed jail tax would support the jail, freeing up funds usually allocated to the jail for other county operations unknown to the voter. “I haven’t seen what they’ve done to try to cut costs at the jail.” He noted a reform movement is taking place where the effort is to reduce incarceration for minor offenses due to the cost of keeping someone in jail and avoiding the personal losses of perhaps job and car when they are no risk to the community. “I would like to see what the county is going to do to go along with these reform efforts,” stated Peterson.
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
Reyes noted that passage of the measure would preserve a number of jobs that are currently at risk at the county.
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
Mayor Phil Cobb stated that he felt that either way the citizens will be taxed but if this measure fails again, the City of Holbrook will have to come up with a substantial amount of money to cover costs that the county will impose. “I hope that we won’t have to cut city personnel. Government is our biggest employer,” added Cobb.
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
Councilwoman Francie Payne recommended suggesting in the letter that more education is needed on the subject, as the county representatives seemed to limit their presentation to larger organizations but not the smaller local organizations.
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
Reyes noted that the city currently spends $128 to $178 per incarcerated individual. If it fell to the city to pay costs, the city would also be responsible for 100 percent of the medical. She noted that last year the city paid the county $230,000 to house inmates, funds that would return to the city if the measure fails again.
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
“We’d budgeted $330,000 but we can’t predict medical,” stated Reyes. “If a prisoner gets hurt or has a medical condition the city would be entirely responsible for the cost of care.”
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
Regardless of the outcome the county would continue to be responsible for prosecuting felony cases but the misdemeanor cases would be handled by the local magistrate.
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
In voting on the matter, Mayor Cobb and council members Payne, Dixon, Nilsson and Kester voted in favor of the letter of support, and Peterson and Marsh voted against.
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
The council approved for first reading an amendment to Article IV, Section 4.01(a) of the charter of the City of Holbrook that would go before the voters. The amendment would state that in the event that the council votes to abolish the City of Holbrook Police Department, such abolition shall only be effective upon approval by a majority of the qualified electors of the city at the first regularly scheduled election where a request may be timely placed on the ballot.
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
The council also gave their approval for the purchase of two pedestrian lights in the amount of $9,755. The city has had three pedestrian lights struck and ruined by vehicles in the past two months. Of the three lights, the insurance company paid for one and one is pending insurance payment. It was recommended that the third not be replaced as it has been struck three times in its current location.
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
The council approved a resolution of the declaring the 2019 City of Holbrook Personnel Policy, a public record. In accordance with that, the council also approved adopting the updated and revised 2019 Holbrook City Council Personnel Policy. Following that approval, the council then adopted the policy.
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
Reyes informed the council that last week street crews worked to right signage that got turned around or were torn entirely off its post with the heavy winds on Jan. 22. Crews were also working to repair potholes that had developed along Buffalo Street.
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
The council gave their approval of the purchase of two parcels of land located on Romero Street in the amount of $700 and $800 to Jeffrey Wright, with Wright to pay all closing costs. The money from the sale will go into the general fund.
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
The council approved the purchase of an unused wood chipper by the Town of Snowflake in the amount of $5,000. Councilman Tim Dixon asked if there was a Bluebook value that determined the actual value of the chipper. Reyes stated that the prices ranged from $5,000 to $16,000 for a machine with that many hours of use. “John Gerwitz told me that something is wrong with the fuel system that could possibly be repaired,” stated Reyes, explaining her decision to go with the low bid amount. She added that she had consulted with other staff supervisors and they were in agreement as to the bid amount. The chipper has been unused for 12 to 14 years.
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
Councilman Earl Kester wanted to know why if the city had a wood chipper it hadn’t been put to use over the years rather than burning discarded brush and tree limbs. “Why couldn’t we have been chipping, bagging and selling it, which is what Snowflake is going to do,” he said. Reyes said the city used to do that and offer the chips to anyone who wanted them and no one did so they would end up being burned regardless.
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
It was also noted that Phillip Rose was re-elected as fire chief of the Holbrook Volunteer Fire Department for 2019.
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
Among the items on the agenda was the announcement for the Shutdown Potluck to be held this Friday, Feb. 1, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Machusak Recreation Building across from city hall. The community is invited to bring a ready-to-eat dessert or appetizer in support of the local federal workers who are currently furloughed due to the government shutdown.
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
Peterson informed those present that the Bread of Life Mission is in need of donations of diapers, food or cash. “When people make it to the mission they’ve really reached the bottom and could use the help,” stated Peterson.
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
Councilman Mike Nilsson noted that the Holbrook Food Bank is offering boxes of food to federal employees that have been furloughed and may be in need of food supplies. The boxes are available 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday at the Holbrook Senior Citizens Center, located at 216 Joy Nevin Ave. All that is needed to receive a box of food is their federal identification or proof that they work or are contracted with a federal entity that is shut down. “During this time we can help some people. We’re so appreciative for what they do in the community. Maybe it’s our way of giving back a little bit,” stated Nilsson.
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
According to Manager Reyes, yoga classes will resume from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., Mondays and Thursdays, and 10 to 11 a.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays beginning tomorrow (Jan. 31) at the Machusak Recreation Building. The cost is $10 a month or free for those with a City of Holbrook gym membership.
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
Holbrook Chamber of Commerce Director Cindy Tafoya reminded everyone that the chamber will be hosting the free hotdog luncheon as part of the Hashknife Posse swearing in at 12 noon on Tuesday, Feb. 5, at the Navajo County Historic Courthouse for the annual Pony Express Ride scheduled for departure at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 6, from the Holbrook Post Office. Also on Tuesday evening is the Hashknife Posse send-off dinner at 7 p.m. at the Holbrook Elks Lodge. Tickets for the dinner are $10.
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
The council adjourned into executive session to discuss personnel matters and did not reconvene to discuss the matter.
/wp:paragraph
