By Linda Kor During a meeting last week of the Holbrook Chamber board, Director Cindy Tafoya announced that the annual Holbrook Parade of Lights will be adapting a new format this year in view of the pandemic cases that have increased this season. Tafoya explained, “The parade is not going to be parading downtown where it gives people an opportunity to congregate along the street, being that we are now into two of the three benchmark areas for the red (zone).” She explained that if the county remains in this circumstance for two consecutive weeks, there is the possibility of businesses and schools once again having to close down. Tafoya continued, “We’ve changed it to a drive-thru parade. We’re going to set all the floats up in the parking area of the (Navajo County) fairgrounds,” adding that cars will be able to drive-thru the area, families can enjoy the floats on display and then exit the area without leaving their vehicles. The chamber is still seeking participation from the communities to make this a special occasion for families with floats or displays. There will be no candy handed out for this event and each float must provide its own electricity. Marsh asked if Tafoya had considered applying for grants for funds to add to the event with holiday decorations beyond the floats. Tafoya said she had not but said she would like to talk about it some more. It was also decided that the Festival of Trees will be taking place but in a new format. The event will call for residents and business owners to decorate their trees in their yards or in front of their businesses for passerby to enjoy. Also being encouraged are window displays and other festive holiday décor as part of Light Up Holbrook. Another option is to adopt a tree at Gillespie Park to decorate. Participants are asked to sign up by Dec. 1 so that a map of where the trees are located can be created and can do so by emailing holbrookazchamber1@gmail.com or by calling or texting (928) 241-1850. Colleen Marsh with the Friends of the Holbrook Animal Shelter informed those at the meeting that the shelter was awarded a $1,500 for spay and neuter from Athletes for Animals. Marsh also credited The Tribune for an article written by Talaina Kor. “That elicited a huge response in donations. It was so overwhelming with how many people were contacting me. We’ve raised enough to complete the fencing project that we got some quotes for. The city has been nothing but an amazing partner on this journey because not a lot of fencing contractors replied,” stated Marsh. Janet Dean with Arizona Public Service stated that on Nov. 6, APS filed documents in their rate review with the Arizona Corporation Commission, proposing a comprehensive coal community transition plan. The proposal will be to provide funding for the communities that are located around the coal-fired plants that will be closing, adding that Cholla Power Plant in Joseph City will be closing in 2025. Dean explained, “There’s a formula that was used to come up with a framework for some financial benefit to the taxing jurisdictions that benefit directly from the power plant being in existence. So that’s the Joseph City School District, Northland Pioneer College, Coconino County, taxing jurisdiction of certain public health services, and things like that. Funding will also include the Navajo Nation because of the Four Corners Power Plant and the Hopi Tribe because they were so impacted by the closure of the Navajo Generating Station. As part of that proposal that is now before the ACC that needs ACC approval, there’s $12 million proposed to go to those organizations around the Cholla area.” She noted that this is the most generous coal transition that APS is aware of that has ever been done across the country. She explained that the biggest portion of the money is rate payer money so it will have to be approved by the ACC but there is a portion of the proposal that would come from APS shareholders and that piece does not need ACC approval. It was noted by Dean that the rate review is a long process and that final decisions are anticipated between the third and fourth quarter of next year. Opportunities for public comment will take place throughout the year and be publicized during the process. City of Holbrook Economic Development Director Jason Foutz noted that the Golden Inn on Navajo Blvd. is currently under renovation and that the new Bienvenidos Restaurant on Navajo Blvd. is hoping to open in med-December. “They have had a couple of hiccups that they are trying to overcome right now,” stated Foutz. Sarah Herve with the Petrified Forest National Park reported that they have had a lot of visitors this year. “In September we were looking at the numbers and we had like 65,000 that came to visit, which is pretty good since we’re in a pandemic. Our operation is as safe as we can make it. We have hand sanitizer and our visitors have been respectful wearing masks, which is really nice,” she stated. Herve also noted that PFNP is one of the parks being considered for a large grant to improve the visitor center at the north end of the complex and that would include the exhibits at the Painted Desert Visitors Center. “We’re hopeful but also planning for it not to go through, just in case.” Tafoya noted that the state is currently offering grants to chambers of commerce to help boost economic development for areas impacted by the pandemic. Tafoya is applying for the grant in an effort to help businesses primarily along the city’s main streets to help beautify store fronts with paint, restore signage and for landscaping in an effort to attract more visitors.
