By Linda Kor Following the approval of the two-year renewal of Holbrook City Manager Ted Soltis’ contract and a salary increase, The Tribune was provided with the list of positive improvements that Soltis noted have transpired during the past two years since he began with the city. First noted is that Soltis created 21 online forms for city services on the city’s website. The forms are fillable online but must be printed to submit to the city offices. In addition, he states that extensive organization and updating was done on the city website to include updated park photos and added facility photos. He noted that he has implemented a process for ensuring that streetlights are repaired in a timely fashion, as well as a street sign repair program. The transfer station, pool and golf course are now set up to take credit cards to pay for services and a burn site was opened to the public for free green waste disposal. Regarding budgeting and finance, Soltis noted that the budget has been completely reformatted with added charts, graphs and table for transparency and ease of understanding. Capital items purchased in the past two years include a backhoe, front end loader, and golf course equipment such as a greens mower, fairway mower and golf carts. A parks mower, street sweeper and water leak detection equipment were also purchased. Soltis claims that the Public Safety Retirement System debt has decreased by increasing contributions and that the administration’s payment approval process has changed, and he is providing payroll approval and bank reconciliation oversight. Savings included by Soltis include eliminating IT contracts with Canyon Horizon, LLC at an annual savings of $14,340; Better Communications CO, Inc., at a savings of $10,104; and Sunstate Technology Group, at a savings of $14,820. An elimination of pest control costs totaling $1,640, with the work to be down by certified staff. City gym maintenance, which totaled $7,230 in 2019, will now be done by staff. And the Gillespie Park digital sign support was changed from an annual contract to on-call services, eliminating the $3,312 contract. This for a potential savings of $51,446. In addition, Soltis did not replace retired employees including the city clerk with a salary of $73,747, an account assistant with a salary of $60,126, or a golf course maintenance employee for a salary $58,658 (it should be noted that these were long time employees and that these were not starting wages). Those items were included with the savings for a total of $243,997. Soltis noted that he also added increases to the utility rates based on the Consumer Price Index to minimize the need for drastic single increases. He negotiated a new contract for waste disposal and negotiated new water litigation community contribution rates. Regarding blight, Soltis noted the completion of the removal of the Knights Inn and Magnusson Hotel, a process which had begun prior to Soltis’ hire. The leveling of the Marlene’s Cut & Curl building and a house on Florida Street. He also cited clean-up efforts at the Star Inn on Hopi Drive. At the Holbrook Municipal Airport, a keyless walk-in gate was added, and basic weed abatement and the removal of old equipment took place. The cross runway was rebuilt by city staff, and the apron rebuild and sealing is in process all with grant funds. At the Holbrook Cemetery, general cleanup and sprinklers were installed. All lighting in city buildings were updated with LED lighting. A remodel was done at City Hall, the Machusak Center, Hidden Cove Golf Course, Police Department and the city gym. Unused equipment was auctioned at the maintenance shop and the city assisted with parking space in front of the Sheriff’s Office. At the city parks, Heward Park (also known as West End Park) had the pavilion roof repaired and the structure painted, picnic tables were replaced and a sign installed. At Hunt Park the skate park equipment, lighting and restrooms were repaired, with the restrooms painted and damaged picnic tables removed. Soltis noted that broken playground equipment was removed but a damaged slide has not been removed, with grants being sought to replace or repair the equipment. Work is currently being done at the swimming pool, with the pool shower heaters being replaced. At Gillespie Park new electrical outlets were installed for vendors and a new sign installed. At Lisitzky Park, restrooms were repaired, a park sign installed, with the basketball court rims and backboards in the process of being replaced. Other park projects were noted for the future but have not yet taken place. At the Petroglyph Park and Blue Heron Lake, new signs were installed and the road upgraded to the petroglyphs and pond, with additional parking at the Petroglyph Park. A new fence was installed around the lake. And the dam is being repaired. As far as economic development, Soltis cited a process for quickly removing graffiti, a process for sale of city property, an inventory of city properties and a listing of commercial properties for sale on Arizona Public Services economic website. Soltis also noted a number of projects in the works or yet to be completed that included a strategic plan update, a business license requirement, a charter update. A rebuild of the Listizky Park concession stand. Manual and charter updates, and the purchase of more vehicles.
