Snowflake Town Engineer Rob Emmett reviewed the tentative Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) five-year transportation facilities construction program for fiscal years 2013-17 with the town council April 24.
“ADOT has really changed their focus on the way they do business,” said Emmett, noting that Highway User Revenue Funds have been cut and money is tight right now.
Emmett explained that an approximate total of $2.3 billion has been programmed for highway projects, with Navajo County being allocated approximately $83.3 million for projects, and approximately 47 percent of all funds allocated to the county have been programmed for pavement preservation, bridge rehabilitation and minor projects for the 55 miles of Interstate 40 corridor through the county.
He noted that projects that will benefit Snowflake and the White Mountains, and the year they are scheduled, include: 2013, shoulder widening on State Route 260 from the Cheney Ranch to Bison Trail; 2014, US 60, the Salt River Canyon rest area, the north Snowflake box culvert extension on Flake Road, the Five Mile Draw bridge will be widened to four lanes, and three inches of AC will be removed and replaced from Cottonwood Wash to Show Low; and 2016, box culvert extensions from Five Mile Wash to SR 377.
Emmett reminded council members that there are three projects in the fiscal year five-year Transportation Facilities Construction Program for fiscal years 2012-16 that are underway and will benefit Snowflake. They are scheduled this year and are on SR 77. They include: Show Low to Taylor, design concept report; National Forest boundary to Taylor, remove and replace 3” of AC; and Taylor and Snowflake, remove and replace 3” of AC.
The Airport Improvement Program has identified funding for projects at the Taylor and Show Low airports. In fiscal years 2013-17, Taylor Airport has been programmed for $2.8 million in improvements and pavement preservation projects, and Show Low Airport has been programmed for $16.6 in improvement and pavement preservation projects.
In other business April 24, the council:
* Unanimously approved the purchase of de-chlorination equipment for an amount not to exceed $32,000 to cover the low bids from Chemical Feeding Technologies in the amount of $13,002, HACH Company in the amount of $6,885.64 and Engineered Sales Company in the amount of $11,675.
This is being done as the town prepares to discharge treated effluent or reclaimed water from the wastewater treatment plant to Cottonwood Wash. There are modifications required to the disinfection system to meet the requirements of the town’s Arizona Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit. Emmett explained that to meet the effluent concentration limit, reclaimed water must be de-chlorinated.
* Unanimously approved the purchase of a 2012 GMC Sierra pickup from Hatch Motor Company in Snowflake for no more than $26,843.98.
Public Works Superintendent Terry Cooper reported that this truck is priced approximately $470 higher than the low bid, but it has a tow package and is a heavy duty work truck.
The truck that is being replaced has approximately 120,000 miles on it.
* Unanimously approved the purchase of a new pool lift for no more than $6,238.09 that will put the Snowflake swimming pool in compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act regulations.
Recreation and Parks Director Don Camacho explained that this will assist participants with disabilities in entering the pool. He said it is portable, but has plastic anchors that could be used if it is later required to be permanent.
Camacho advised the council that he learned that day that there is another company that can possibly offer the town a lower price.
* Unanimously approved officers of the Historic Review Committee, including Dean Porter as chairman; Terril Kay, vice chairman; and Tammy Mills, secretary.
