The Holbrook City Council convened Aug. 24, during which they received a department update from Holbrook Animal Control Officer Brandon Smigiel. “We usually operate most, if not almost, full capacity. Most of the time we have around 30 animals at any given moment in the shelter,” Smigiel stated. Currently the shelter has 13 cats and 12 dogs. The shelter had its highest rate of adoptions in two years last month with 26 adoptions, thanks to the help of the Bissell Foundation which helped cover adoption fees. “This year we’re on track to get over 500 animals. Our busiest month this year so far is March, we took in over 85 animals.”
Last year, animal control had an intake of 430 animals. “That was the highest year since the shelter has been in operation,” explained Smigiel. “That included over 200 adoptions, over 102 owner reclaims and 120 transfers to other facilities.” Smigiel stated that although it was the highest number of intakes, it was also the highest number of adoptions the shelter has ever seen.
According to the presentation, animal control is working on multiple projects and was just approved for a $5,000 Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) grant from Best Friends Animal Society to help fix feral cats in the city. “They also approved us for a $2,000 grant because we’re working on redoing our cat kennels and our cat room.” He explained that the kennels are not up to standards and are less than half the size they should be. He added the animal control has also doubled the amount of city licenses in a big push to get people to license their animals, which is a city and state requirement to help return animals when they go missing.
The council also held a first reading for clarifying verbiage and amending fees for animal control. Adoption fees were increased from $70 for male dogs and $75 for female dogs to $80 no matter the sex. Male cats and female cats, previously $40 and $45 respectively, are now both $50. Adoption fees are $75 for kittens defined as five months old or younger and $120 for puppies five months or younger or any dogs under 20 pounds. All include sterilization, city license and rabies shot.
Reclaiming fees remained the same for the first and second times, staying at $20 and $50 respectively but increased the third time reclamation from $80 to $100, and is set to double every time after the third reclamation. It was noted that if an unsterilized and unlicensed animal is impounded, the fee is the reclaim fee plus $50, unless pet is sterilized at owner’s expense.
City tags for sterilized animals remained the same at $5, but double for unsterilized at $20 and a replacement costing $2. Daily boarding fees doubled, costing $10 per day after the first 24 hours.
Surrender fees, previously $20, increased to $25 with litter max costing $100. Bite quarantine fees went from $5 per day plus $20 impound, to $10 per day plus $50 impound. Trap deposit increased by $10 to $60 and microchipping costs $5. This is the first update to animal control ordinances since 2003.
During the call to the public, Michael Sample, president of the Navajo County Fair Board announced the county fair will be held Sept. 13-16. “We have all our exciting events. The two nights of rodeo Friday and Saturday, then Thursday night is the demolition derby,” adding that opening ceremonies will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday followed by a concert. Sample stated they’re looking for volunteers to work the fair’s cantina as well as working the ticket booths.
According to Sample, the fairgrounds are going to have a busy few weeks. “The weekend right after the fair, we have the Arizona High School and Junior High Rodeo and that brings a lot of the community. And then in three weeks, Oct. 20, we have the Arizona Junior Rodeo Association coming into town.” Sample also stated that the fair board approved free use of the fairgrounds for Wild West Days, which is put on by the Chamber of Commerce and will be happening in early June.
After discussion among the council, it was decided that the Sept. 14 city council meeting will be cancelled so as not to conflict with the Navajo County Fair, allowing council members can attend and show support.
The council accepted resolutions 23-09 and 23-10 for 2022 and 2024 Chief Fiscal Officer (CFO) designation. Verbiage was not correct at the time of original submission and minor changes had to be made to align with the auditor general’s standard form.
The council also approved officer and ownership changes for Family Dollar’s liquor license.
During summary of current events, Mayor Kathleen Smith stated that she attended a work session for the Brownfield Grant work group. “They’re coming right along with some ideas that they’ll be proposing to the council and the community. They’re hoping by October or November, with some ideas for the downtown area.”
She also stated that her, Vice Mayor Mike Nilsson and Councilwoman Teri Tafoya met with United Way of Northeastern Arizona, which is a nonprofit organization that aims to help communities and other nonprofits. “They were just sharing their strategic focus for this year and it’s going to be on youth,” Smith explained.
Vice Mayor Nilsson attended the Northern Arizona Council of Governments (NACOG) meeting. He stated he was concerned for Head Start, a federally funded daycare service for children. “They can’t retain employees, and so they are offering education opportunities,” explained Nilsson, “So, if you want to work for Head Start, they will give you Friday’s off, they’ll pay for your junior college education and give you half off to study.” Nilsson also discussed the need for driving safety and homeless assistance.
He stated there will be a Senior Wellness Bingo on Oct. 12 at 10 a.m. and a Senior Wellness Fair Oct. 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., both at the Holbrook Senior Center. “Then on Nov. 4, we’ll have a food bank Bingo to help raise money for Christmas giveaway.”
Councilmember Robert Black addressed a project done on Eighth Avenue and Florida Street by city staff where debris was left on nearby private property. “I would suggest we get those cleaned up immediately.” Black also asked about the old Tate Auto building on Navajo Blvd., which was purchased. He requested it be checked up on to see when it is required by city code to remove the boards, replace the glass and be made presentable. He also mentioned the cardboard bailer, which he thinks has not been used since being moved to the city transfer station. “That’s revenue the city’s going to miss and not only that, there’s a lot of cardboard waste either getting dumped or getting burned up.”
Interim City Manager Sullivan stated that the city applied for an Arizona Public Service (APS) grant to help with the general plan and should hear back in the coming months. He also met with the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) to go over plans and looked at vacant spaces for economic development in Holbrook. “I will be attending as many of those meetings as I can going forward for economic development.”
Sullivan added that he’s also on a mailing list that provides information of businesses looking for certain spaces that the city could offer. “If we have a building that suits those manufacturers or businesses, we could always put our name in the pot for those.”
Sullivan noted that according to city police, there has been issues of speeding on Eighth Avenue and Florida Street, making it a safety concern. Sullivan said if drivers don’t start slowing down it’ll have to be addressed with more traffic control.
Sullivan also addressed blight in the city, stating that Code Enforcement Officer Barbara Blythe has been prepping to apply for a grant. He noted that information will be included in resident’s water bills outlining the opportunity to local homeowners to take part in a program for home improvement. He added that Blythe has been working on a process to get dilapidated buildings repaired and work with owners to get them repaired. “We did have one trailer on Marianna Street, that (we) worked through the process. And we tore that down this week so it’s a buildable lot now.”
As for the Sun Valley’s second water well, Sullivan stated that it wasn’t producing enough water. A driller got it to run but is not a long-term solution. “We have a plan to get it on there as an emergency well, so that’s good.”
He explained that the city is continuing to work on the cemetery wall, which he stated is a slow process due to other needs being addressed. He added that a lot of park lights have been dying out and are expensive to replace due to their old age, which will be replaced by LED lights that have already been ordered.
