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During the March 26 meeting of the Winslow City Council Mayor Tom McCauley discussed the upcoming referendum on the jail district in Navajo County. “Right now, Navajo County is working on Resolution 1913. This came from Proposition 419, the jail tax. The proposition failed, in my opinion, because of the lack of correct information. Resolution 1913 gives more clarity about what this jail tax will do. We are still talking about the one-third cent sales tax to be able to support a jail district in Navajo County. It will save Winslow about $250,000 per year that we can put back in to our police department for more boots on the ground for our force.
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“It also gives a huge opportunity for those that we pick up on our streets to be able to truly be evaluated and find some assistance so we are not picking up people frozen on the streets anymore. This is an opportunity for the city to move forward in a positive and compassionate way. They have asked me to write a letter of support, which I will be more than happy to do.
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Winslow City Manager John Barkley added, “We are working on the jail district initiative with the county in a supportive way. We do have information at City Hall for those that would like to learn more about it. The referendum will go to a vote in August.
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The council also heard from members of the public concerning the tennis courts located in the Hayden Walton Sports Complex.
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Winslow resident Eric Greer said, “I heard you were working on your budget and we were hoping you could do some work on the tennis courts. One is playable but needs work, the other one is not playable. There has been much done in the recreation field and the city has spent a lot of money maintaining things. The only thing left out has been the tennis courts.”
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Another resident, Linda Campbell stated, “I am also here in support of the tennis courts. We have a small group that go out there and I believe there are more people that would like to play.”
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The call to the public also brought forth concern for the growth of weeds in Winslow due to the recent moisture. Resident Stephanie Lugo said, “We need to do something about the weeds in this town, they are disgusting. I don’t know what you guys have to do, but something has got to be done.”
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Councilman Robin Boyd and Mayor McCauley also encouraged residents to get the weeds under control, “It is a different weed than we usually see this time of year, we really need to get out there and take care of it,” said Boyd.
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Barkley offered a status report to the council. In it, he explained that a council work session on the budget process is planned for May.
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“We are working on the fiscal year 2020 budget right now and preparing for a work session with city staff and council on May 21. Before that we will have a brief agenda item for the April 9 council meeting about the contributions that the city makes throughout the year to all of the different organizations and business organizations across the city. That meeting will also include a brief conversation about capital improvements.”
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Barkley’s status report also included mention of the Winslow Levee Project, which is slated to begin as soon as funding is acquired from the federal government.
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“I have been very impressed with the county and public works for their work on getting the levee project out of Washington and down to the local level so that we can start work on the levee,” he said. “There have been some drawings and designs. We are pitted against much larger projects for funding, but we have a good justification for public safety and economic benefits.
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“At the administrative level in the city,” Barkley continued, “we are drafting several new policies and reviewing others to refine what we are doing in a more sophisticated way and to bring our managers and staff together on things like our personnel policy and the like. We want to make the best use of the taxpayer’s dollar.”
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The Standin’ on the Corner Foundation of Winslow received approval for a special event liquor license, in the absence of members Bob Schlesinger and Judy Howell, for the annual Cinco De Mayo Festival.
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The festival will be held at 10 a.m. on May 4 at the Eagle Pavilion, located at 523 W. Second St. As in years past, it will feature a DJ, folklorico dancers, a horseshoe tournament, food vendors and competitions for locally made salsa and guacamole.
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The special event liquor license will allow the foundation to also serve alcohol available for purchase to those 21 years of age and older. Admission to the all ages event is free and more details can be found at www.standinonacorner.org.
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In other business, the council:
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* Approved the financial report for the month of February. Citywide revenues were $1.1 millions bringing the year to date total to $10 million. Citywide expenditures were nearly $1.6 million bringing the year to date total to $12 million.
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* Approved a cooperative purchasing agreement between the City of Winslow, Peoria Ford and Arizona Wastewater Industries for the purchase of a camera truck. The purchase amount is $217,888 as outlined in the $5 million WIFA Water Infrastructure Finance Authority) loan already in place in Winslow. The equipment will be used to locate compromised areas in the wastewater infrastructure.
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* Proclaimed April as Fair Housing Month in Winslow. Mayor McCauley read, “The City of Winslow is committed to highlight the Fair Housing Law by continuing to address discrimination, to support programs that will educate the public about the right to equal housing and assure every American of their right to fair housing.”
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* Declared a vacancy on the Winslow Arts Council.
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The next meeting of the Winslow City Council will be at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 9, in the council chambers, located at 115 E. Second St.
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