By Linda Kor During a meeting of the Holbrook City Council, the council approved a resolution in partnership with Navajo County Public Health Services District for use of the Holbrook Fire Department facility in order to provide a drive-thru medical dispensary should the need arise. Fire Chief Alex Baker explained that the agreement will allow the Navajo County Public Health Services District to utilize the building as a point of distribution for vaccinations and whatever else the department deems necessary throughout the year. “This brings us more in line with the rest of the communities in Navajo County,” stated Baker. Tim Dixon questioned Kim O’Farrell with Navajo County Public Health regarding the agreement, wanting to know if it meant that the city must support whatever the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) or Navajo County Health is doing, to which O’Farrell stated that was correct. He also asked if it was a prelude to mandatory or forced vaccinations. O’Farrell replied that it was not. “It allows us to open up a drive-thru point of dispensing. The general public is allowed to drive thru to receive any type of medication, whether it be an antibiotic due to an anthrax poisoning or a vaccination if they so choose. We do a lot of the flu shot vaccinations with our other point of dispensing sites,” clarified O’Farrell. “So, you’re in partnership with the CDC?” asked Dixon. “We are in partnership with our state, so the Arizona Department of Health Services, and they are in partnership with the CDC,” replied O’Farrell. She noted that the CDC operates in the role of guidance. “So for example, COVID, as that vaccination is coming out, they are providing our guidance for who may receive that and at what time; what that vaccination may look like, as far as side effects, those sorts of things.” Dixon then asked if guidance had been given regarding the COVID-19 vaccination as of yet. O’Farrell replied that it has been minimal as it is not known when the vaccine is due to come out. Dixon went on to state the reason for his line of inquiry. “I don’t necessarily trust our federal government. If Dr. Deborah Birx (who serves as the Coronavirus Response Coordinator for the White House Coronavirus Task Force) says I cannot trust a thing that the CDC says, I’m skeptical of them also.” O’Farrell used the example of an anthrax poisoning, saying that if the need should arise, the state would provide the necessary medication. “The CDC is in no way telling us that we have to. Part of our job is to offer that mass prophylaxis in the event of an emergency.” “If there was a state of emergency declared by either the Federal government or the State of Arizona would that change some of this?” asked Dixon. O’Farrell reiterated that there is no mandatory stipulation that a person has to take the medication. “If they made it mandatory would Navajo County and the City of Holbrook have to comply with that?” he asked, to which O’Farrell replied, “Yes, we would have to.” City Manager Ted Soltis clarified that the agreement before the council extends only so far as to provide the facility for use, it does not have specific requirements for participation for any event that may occur. Councilman Adam Marsh thanked the county and the fire department for cooperating with each other. “I think this is a good idea; a good set up. I want us to be in a position to help as many people as possible when the time comes.” The council approved the resolution. In other business, the council approved the purchase of a new heat pump for the wastewater plant. Tim Kelley with facilities maintenance stated that the heat pump at the wastewater treatment plant in the administration building is old and has stopped working. He noted that he attempted to obtain four quotes, with only two companies providing quotes. One was from AZ Electric in the amount of $13,574 and another from Rim Country Mechanical for $12,985. The council approved the Lenox system to be installed by the lowest bidder, Rim Country Mechanical. City of Holbrook employee Michael O’Dell gave an update on the Petroglyph Park, located adjacent to the Hidden Cove Golf Course. O’Dell informed the council that he has been involved in the park since the 1980s and stated “I feel like it’s become part of me and I’ve become part of the land, it’s been so long.” He recalled the grant from the National Park Service that has done so much for the park with the archeological survey done by the Petrified Forest National Park in order to obtain the grant. O’Dell noted that fossils have also become an additional attraction to the park. He presented a photographic display of the park and the petroglyphs that are available to visitors to view.
