By Talaina Kor During last week’s Holbrook City Council meeting, City Manager Ted Soltis reported that the roof at the golf course is close to completion as it has been leaking. He added that the new street sweeper will be coming in December and that there is an issue with the splash pad with cracked pipes and that it is being addressed. “We are gearing up for next year’s CDBG grant and we are eligible to receive $269,000,” stated Soltis. The hope is to use those funds for upgrades to the Sun Valley water system as the area does qualify for the funding. Councilman Mike Nilsson reported that he received a petition with 91 signatures requesting that the city gym be re-opened. “They are willing to sign waivers, and amend the rules, including a monitor or a volunteer to make sure that people observe social spacing, wiping down of the equipment and mask. They would like to negotiate with the city to have limited hours or whatever it takes.” Vice Mayor Francie Payne related that COVID is beginning to increase again. “I believe we are in the beginning of the fall surge that they have predicted.” She noted that from Sept. 1 to Oct. 1 there were only two new cases in Holbrook but from the 13th to the 22nd of October, 12 new cases were reported. “We’re back to right about 1,000 a day on the state level, you never know how many are right here, but for our small little town I think an increase of 12 in 10 days is kind of major. I encourage everyone, as tired as you are of this, to still take precautions.” During call to the public for non-agenda items, the council heard from Navajo County Health Division Manager Tanya Baker, who notified the council about the Community Health Needs Assessment Survey. “Hopefully you’ll see it circulating around social media and when you do, I’m here to ask that you please take it,” stated Baker. In other business, the council approved the bid by Precision Electric Motor & Pump Services (PEC Pump) to repair one of the two aerator gearboxes for Holbrook’s wastewater plant for $21,873. Bid requests were sent out to several companies, but PEC Pump was the only one who offered a bid, according to Water/Wastewater Supervisor Randy Sullivan. Although they were the only company to offer a bid, Sullivan urged the board to approve due to time constraints. “Time is of the essence,” said Sullivan, “We are asking that, because of the time issue and that we are running on one aerator right now, to go with PEC Pump.” Sullivan stated that PEC Pump is a company that the city has worked with in the past and offers good work with considerable savings. “They are really reliable; in the past we have done a lot of work with them.” Sullivan also added that once this gearbox is repaired, plans to update the other older aerator gearbox will be drawn up preemptively. Following the request, the board approved the bid.
