In last week’s meeting of the Winslow City Council, Police Chief Ken Arend delivered the quarterly police report, highlighting the steady decrease in Part One crimes over the past five years. “Part One crimes are the major crimes like homicides and aggravated assaults, including larcenies and thefts,” Arend explained. However, there’s been an uptick in these crimes over the past two quarters, the reasons for which are currently unknown to the department.
When Arend delivered his last report to the council he talked about the major increase in crime for the first quarter of 2023 compared to last year, which although those Part One crimes are low on the five year scale, they are still higher than this time last year.
On a brighter note, the alarming rise in aggravated assaults on officers, which was noted as dramatically high last quarter, did not persist into this one. While crimes per capita remain below the national average, they’ve unfortunately also increased from this time last year.
Arend also noted that the Too Broke for Sturgis biker rally was deemed a success. The police were scarcely needed, being called out only for a few medical emergencies due to people overheating. Arend stated that he predicted that there might be some heat related medical emergencies at the event and preemptively spoke to EMS to be prepared. For that reason, Arend was commended on his forward thinking that allowed the event to be run more smoothly.
Councilmember Jim MacLean broached the issue of police staffing, raising concerns about the department’s challenges in recruitment. To bolster applications, a $5,000 lateral bonus is now being offered to officers transferring in from other departments but not to new recruits.
Arend stated, “We are getting applications, but we are having problems getting applicants through the background process and these are state standard minimums.” MacLean assured that the council would extend any necessary support to expedite the hiring process as this has been a problem the department has been struggling with for quite some time now.
According to the report, the department started the quarter with six vacancies and hired three officers since, however four officers have left this quarter so the department ended the quarter with seven vacancies.
On the recreational front, another quarterly report was delivered from City Parks and Recreation Manager Sandra Knight, who spoke about summer programs such as DJ Night Swims, Electric Dance Party and June Evening Jams, which have been successful. Councilmember Daniel Tafoya praised these initiatives commenting, “With my teenagers and the little ones, between the family fun nights, the dance parties and swim lessons, you kept us very busy, and that’s a great thing.”
The Chamber of Commerce provided an update, indicating an impressive $170,000 in bed tax. Chamber CEO Bob Hall, expressed his astonishment, mentioning, “I have been in this position for 19 years, and this is the highest that number has ever been.” Hall also spoke about the number of tourists visiting the visitors center at the chamber and where they are from. The number of foreign visitors has increased with over 1,000 people from other countries visiting the center in the last quarter alone. There was also an increase in the number of out-of-state visitors to the town’s historic Hubble Building.
Further, anticipation brews as the Train Museum, which will be in a train car attached to the chamber of commerce, awaits the green light from city inspector Marshall Larsen, according to Hall. Another exciting feature this season will be the Christmas parade, which plans to incorporate an “Indigenous Christmas.” The chamber is working to invite different dignitaries from tribes from around the state to take part but the planning is still in an early phase.
Sean Gravier, representing Leatherback Boxing and part of the new Bulldog Fitness Gym, introduced an inspiring initiative, Ready to Fight for Parkinson’s. This endeavor encourages Parkinson’s patients to engage in boxing.
Gravier showcased a video wherein patients shared testimonials about the therapeutic benefits of boxing in battling Parkinson’s. Gravier expressed hope for the program to evolve into a community center, appealing for city cooperation and potential donations. He also spoke to the council about the need for a community center such as this that not only promotes healthy habits but also offers something for the youth to fill their time as well as given them something that may provide them with a scholarship opportunity in the future.
The council also proclaimed National Farmers Market Week, spanning from Aug. 7-13. The Winslow Farmers Market held special events last Saturday, including a ribbon-cutting ceremony, silent auction and live music. The event also had a watermelon eating contest and a rock painting booth to mark the occasion.
In other business, the council:
*Approved a purchase agreement for a new JLG Skytrak Telehandler for $199,466 for the public works department.
* Approved an intergovernmental agreement between the city and the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office regarding the stipulations to receiving Byrne’s Grant funding, which pays $40,000 a detective to aid in participation of the county’s Major Crimes Apprehension Team.
The next meeting of the Winslow City Council will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 12, in the meeting room located at 523 W. Second St.
