Winslow Community Development Director Paul Ferris gave his quarterly report to the Winslow City Council last week.
In his report, Ferris noted the many projects in the works for the development of Winslow. “We continue to correspond with a prospect who intends to locate a forest products plant in Winslow that would employ nearly 300 people and involve more than $100 million in capital investment if the company is awarded the Four Forest Restoration Initiative by U.S. Forest Service.”
According to Ferris, there are also conversations taking place with other developers. “City staff met with a prospect seeking to locate a paper mill in Winslow, executives of a biomass electric power company and a beverage bottling plant.”
He continued to explain that many residential projects are in the construction phase and abatement continues throughout the city.
“In other good news,” he said, “Winslow has formed a coalition with Coconino and Yavapai counties, the City of Flagstaff and (the) Town of Camp Verde to apply for a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency for funding of Phase I and Phase II environmental assessments. In June, a total of $597,686 was awarded to the coalition with NACOG as the facilitator of that grant.”
The money will be used to conduct community-wide assessments of properties contaminated with petroleum or other hazardous substances. In Winslow, those substances and materials include asbestos in a percentage of its historic buildings.
Finance Director Elias Jouen gave a financial report to the council. He explained that 25 percent of the fiscal year has elapsed and citywide revenues for the first quarter totaled $4.4 million and expenditures were $4.2 million. “As of the end of the quarter, revenues in the general fund were at about 20 percent of the budget.”
Following the report, councilman Rickey Jackson asked, “What do you think is attributed to the differences between the first quarter last year and this year?” Jouen replied, “I would be happy to look into the specifics from last year.”
The council also heard the quarterly report from Police Chief Dan Brown of the Winslow Police Department.
Brown reported that the dispatch department took 10,891 calls in the time period of Aug. 1 and Oct. 31. Those calls include non-emergency calls, police, fire and emergency medical services. He said, “9-1-1 calls were 857. Out of those, there were 367 arrests.”
Brown then reminded residents to, “Look out for your neighbors, consider putting together a neighborhood watch and turn on your lights. Lights deter criminals.”
The call to the public brought three speakers to the podium. The first was Olivia Todd who pointed out what she saw as a concern in the finance report. Namely, a 58 percent increase in tax revenues over the same quarter last year. Council is not permitted to address concerns during the call to the public.
The general manager of The Medicine Room, the medical marijuana dispensary, Daniel Cassetti also addressed the council. He noted the concerns being expressed on social media by citizens regarding the smell surrounding the facility. He explained that many measures have been taken to mitigate the smell and more will continue to happen. “If you have specific concerns, please feel free to come and speak to me directly at The Medicine Room. I am there five days a week and I would love to address your concerns if you have specifics about what you are smelling, what time of day it is happening or anything else. We will continue to be good citizens here in Winslow.”
The last to approach the podium was Naomi Little, a Winslow resident. She pleaded with the council to look in to landlords in the area to make sure they are following lease agreements and attending to the needs of their tenants.
In other business, the council:
* Approved an agreement between the Northern Arizona Council of Governments (NACOG) and the City of Winslow in order to accept a grant alongside the Brownsfields Assessment Coalition.
* Approved the purchase of a transport van for the Winslow Police Department from Peoria Ford. The total purchase price is $61,155.
* Accepted the canvass of votes and election returns for the special charter amendment election held Nov. 5 in which Proposition 422 passed, bringing the city in to compliance with Arizona State Election Laws.
* Appointed Paula Beall to the Winslow Arts Council until May 1, 2021.
* Heard a presentation from the Court Appointed Special Advocate program (CASA). The program advocates for children in foster care and is currently looking for volunteers in the North County area. Interested parties are asked to visit www.casaofnavajocounty.org.
The next meeting of the Winslow City Council will be at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 10, in the council chambers, located at 115 E. Second St.
