Winslow City Council took a step toward possible development at Winslow-Lindbergh Regional Airport Tuesday, voting unanimously to authorize staff to negotiate the details of a development agreement with DAVCON Aviation.
The vote does not approve a final agreement, but it allows city staff to begin negotiating one with the company for a proposed airport development plan. DAVCON Aviation is led by David Wakefield, who is also listed as a principal of Atlas Global Development, the group tied to the broader Winslow I-40 TradePort concept. Dan Lupien, one of the main public figures behind Atlas Global’s I-40 TradePort work, is also listed as a principal at DAVCON Aviation an organization that has completed several airport developments including at Mesa-Gateway Airport.
Economic Development Director Jack Fitchett told council the city has been working with Wakefield for the better part of a year on a proposal for the airport. He said the proposal had been reviewed by city staff and the Winslow Airport Commission before coming to council.
“We’ve been working with Mr. Wakefield for the better portion of a year on getting a proposal submitted for the development of our airport,” Fitchett said. “We’ve been going back and forth. He’s submitted a really great proposal. We’ve been working with the airport commission. We had a staff working team that went back and forth on this numerous times and we think that we have a very good proposal.”
Fitchett said council approval was needed before staff could move forward with negotiations on a master development agreement.
Wakefield joined the meeting by Zoom stating, “We’re excited about moving forward and showing some revenue and activity on an airport that’s kind of been dormant for some time.” Wakefield said he believes the next few years could be significant for aviation development, pointing to federal funding opportunities for airports and what he described as a strong aviation market in 2027 and 2028.
“I think 2027 and 28 are going to be the biggest aviation years we’ve ever seen in our life from development,” Wakefield said. “The money coming from the federal government with airports very much supports the ability. The grants I think will roll our direction because of the real community action.” He said the company’s first steps would be to evaluate the airport, conduct studies and follow the plan it submitted to the city.
Mayor Roberta “Birdie” Cano said the airport has long been viewed by council as an opportunity for economic development. “I know this has been a bucket or a list of accomplishments for Vice Mayor Jim MacLean for a long time to get some action going, some revenue drivers at the airport,” Cano said. “It’s a wonderful location. It’s a blank slate, become anything, and that’s one of the main goals we’ve had during our tenure on this council.”
MacLean made the motion to authorize staff to negotiate the details of the development agreement with DAVCON Aviation for the Winslow-Lindbergh Regional Airport development plan. The motion passed unanimously.
During call to the public, resident Allan Castle told council he and his small rescue dog were attacked by a group of roughly 12 to 15 loose dogs while walking near a residence across from the cemetery. Castle said one of the dogs bit him on the back of the leg, causing him to seek care at Little Colorado Medical Center.
Castle told council he believed the problem was already known to the city and said he was frustrated by the response. He left his emergency room bill with the city and said he was not trying to pursue legal action, but wanted the issue addressed.
Another resident, Judy Howell, reminded residents that many animals need homes and said city employees, including those working in animal services, are doing a good job despite being short-staffed and underfunded.
The issue returned later in the meeting when Cano asked for a future agenda item to review the city’s animal-control ordinance, including how many animals residents may keep.
“It seems like every day we have more and more notifications and posts and social media complaints about dogs getting out, cats being everywhere,” Cano said. “If there’s a way to mitigate that through ordinances for people, how many pets they could actually own, we might need to have a discussion about that.”
City Manager David Coolidge gave council a legislative update, saying state budget negotiations had been stalled for several weeks but lawmakers had returned and budget bills were beginning to move. He said the city is closely watching Senate Bill 1418, which he said would limit rural counties’ authority over where nuclear facilities can be placed. Coolidge said the bill appears aimed at allowing small modular nuclear reactors, but he warned that it could also affect future data center development by allowing nuclear facilities on sites serving high-energy users.
“This is just another one of those bills that potentially can preempt us and our ability to control what types of development we want in or around our municipality,” Coolidge said.
Coolidge also updated council on several local developments. He said Circle K has officially started construction on North Park Drive, south of Interstate 40. The project is a truck-stop version of Circle K and is planned to include 24 standard gas pumps, a 5,200-square-foot convenience store and four high-speed diesel pumps behind the store. Coolidge said the project will also include construction of Desmond Road east of North Park, which could open access to two parcels behind McDonald’s and the old Kmart property. The tentative opening date is Nov. 30.
Coolidge said the Hampton Inn to be located on North Park Drive next to Maverik and the Winslow Hotel is planning a groundbreaking ceremony with the chamber of commerce before the end of June. The hotel is planned as a four-story, 81-room facility. He also said a 35-acre residential and RV park development on North Park Drive, just south of Tri R towing is moving forward. The project is planned to include 101 manufactured homes, 35 RV spaces and shared amenities including community and recreation areas. The final planned area development is expected to go before the zoning hearing officer in early July before returning to council for final approval.
Fire Chief Michael Duran gave a quarterly report on the Winslow Fire Department, describing it as an all-risk department that responds to medical calls, vehicle crashes, hazardous materials calls, water rescue and recovery, structure fires and other emergencies. Duran said medical emergencies make up about 90% of the department’s calls.
Duran also discussed training, school and hospital inspections, work with BNSF Railway, vehicle extrication training and the department’s 15 on-call firefighters. He said those on-call firefighters are essential to supporting full-time crews, especially during and after major calls.
Duran also said the department has used grant funding to add equipment, including laptops in apparatus and emergency operations center capabilities at the fire station. The department is also pursuing funding for an exhaust system at both fire stations because firefighters currently live and work near apparatus exhaust.
In other business, the council approved past meeting minutes and the check register and authorized the city manager to approve agreement with Advisent Assurance LLP for financial auditing services at a cost to the city of $44,975.
