By Linda Kor A public hearing prior to the council meeting was held by the Snowflake Town Council regarding the model city tax code amendment and the comprehensive fee schedule. The town is considering raising the water rates from $1.68 to $1.74 per 1,000 gallons as a result of APS (Arizona Public Service) raising rates by 4.5 percent in 2017. An increase that would equate to 60 cents for 10,000 gallons used water per month. Resident Steve Huxhold expressed his concerns regarding the 60-day notification believing that residents weren’t properly notified and that the town had not done due diligence in informing the public. He also stated that he was opposed to the increase. Mayor Lynn Johnson replied, “I want to make it clear that the city is not trying to hide any funding tax increase, any tax increase on utilities, anything like that. We utilize the resources that we have. We have a website that people can look at, we have the paper that it’s published in, we have a bulletin on the wall.” Responding to Huxhold’s comment that there would’ve been more community members present at the meeting if they had known, Johnson noted that throughout his years of public service, his experience has been that members of the community tend to have a lack of interest in regards to the running of the city, indicating that the turnout was not unexpected. Following the public hearing the council unanimously approved the first reading of the amendment to Ordinance 2020-04 Model City Tax Code. With all members present with the exception of Councilwoman Allison Perkins. During call to the public resident Mark Keyser, asked the council if the town’s golf course and railroad track was profitable and that he had concerns about roads. He suggested a special use tax for the golf course, allowing free access to the golf course for residents. Regarding the railroad that runs through town, he suggested taxing the public, otherwise property owners could sell their property to individuals who would utilize the railroad for business endeavors. As it was call to the public, the council could not reply but Mayor Johnson did refer Keyser to Town Manager Brian for information on the golf course and Steve Brophy regarding the railroad, as he was the owner of that land. Huxhold addressed the council again stating that he obtained a copy of the town’s comprehensive plan and felt that it was outdated. “The comprehensive big plan of the Town of Snowflake doesn’t spell out exactly what’s taking place when or where other than the fact that I see stuff happening up around Centennial to the south of us. A little bit to the north of us, a little bit to the west of us but nothing on the east side other than some roads being paved.” He noted that he lives on a thoroughfare east of town and his road is dirt and “the dust is horrendous.” He stated that he has requested the road to be paved but the work hasn’t been done. “I’m a community member, I live in city limits and pay taxes and there’s no addressing east side of Snowflake. Mike Lackey approached the council regarding greater funding for the police department. He cited an increase in crime as his concern. The Mayor noted that a discussion had taken place that day regarding the police department and that his concern wasn’t falling on deaf ears. In other business, the council: * Approved the rezoning of parcel No. 202-09-024B from light industrial to general commercial. * Approved a special use permit for Byron and Deborah Lewis on Parcel 202-36 located at 2235 W. 7th N. in the West Gardens subdivision in order to build a second residence as a mother-in-law house and an eventual rental property. There were no letters of objection received by the planning and zoning committee. * Approved an amendment to the Centennial Water Line Extension contract due to the receipt of additional Community Block Grant Funds that will allow the line to go from 7th Street to 19th for a cost of less than $20,000, with the amendment to include accepting the lowest bid. * Approved a chip seal project for the town that would be conducted by the town without assistance from Navajo County. * Approved a cemetery expansion project. In 2012, the town expanded the town cemetery to add 600 more burial sites, with two-thirds of those sold already. As such, the city manager requested approval for more expansion. * Councilman Greg Brimhall recused himself from the item requesting that Brimhall be hired as a temporary town employee for a couple of months to work on Centennial Line Water Project due to a shortage of workers. The item was approved by council.
