An ordinance which would amend the Winslow City Code to insert a section providing for local preference for contracts was tabled Tuesday evening until the council’s next meeting. It was noted that more study and consideration is needed before a decision could be made, but the consensus seemed to be that some such arrangement would probably be beneficial.
The council spent the majority of its Oct. 11 meeting listening to various reports on Meteor Crater, Navajo County, and the Chamber of Commerce and city activities.
City Attorney Dale Patton reported that there are still vacancies on the board of adjustment, and the airport and historic preservation commissions. He also reported on motorized wheelchairs, saying that legally they are pedestrian and should travel and cross streets as such. He noted that they are not required to have flags to make them more easily visible, but that the council could require such if it chose to do so.
Brad Andes, president of Meteor Crater Enterprises, gave a presentation on the business, especially changes underway and planned for the future. The crater is nearly a mile across with a 2.4-mile circumference, and was the birthplace of astrogeology. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) personnel trained there for the Apollo missions and it is the home of the American Astronauts Hall of Fame. The site draws 250,000 visitors per year.
Plans include a new main entry, an asteroid explorer ride, a space deck crater viewing room and a 10,000-square foot dome with an improved Rim Cafe and an asteroid watch exhibit.
Navajo County Supervisor Jesse Thompson introduced County Manager James Jayne, Supervisor J.R. DeSpain, Sheriff K.C. Clark and Treasurer Manny Hernandez.
Jayne gave a report which included the services the county provides, who does what, where revenues come from and how they are used. The county has had a balanced budget of just over $31 million for each of the last two years. State budget cuts have proven very costly to the county and will continue to do so as the state is doing such things as requiring the county to imprison convicts with less than a year to serve at its expense rather than keeping them in a state prison.
Chamber of Commerce Director Bob Hall gave a report on activities of the chamber, its website, Facebook page and other materials used to attract tourists. He said that the visitors center has averaged 1,575 visitors per month.
Librarian Docia Blaylock gave a brief report on the citizens’ academy, expressing appreciation for the assistance from the Navajo County Library District and the many fine volunteers from the Winslow Library.
The consent calendar was adopted, giving approvals of the check register and minutes of the Sept. 27 council meeting.
A request for assistance for the Christmas Parade resulted in a waiver of vendor fees and other measures.
An ordinance was adopted approving an addendum to the American Outdoor Advertising land lease agreement, which leases city land for $2,500 per year for five years.
