During Winslow’s recent city council meeting, City Manager David Coolidge spoke extensively about the number of developments happening around the city. The community has been buzzing with activity, having issued 81 permits and completed 332 inspections within 78 workdays since the start of the year.
The library’s design is 95% complete and is expected to be finalized by mid-May. The design will be open for bids by the end of May, with construction anticipated to commence around July. Coolidge expressed admiration for the design, stating, “Seeing the designs at the 95% stage, they look amazing. It will truly be a source of pride for the community.”
The Winslow Hotel on North Park Drive is nearing completion, with only electrical paneling remaining due to supply chain challenges. North Country HealthCare Center is expanding its facilities and building a new parking lot to accommodate patients and staff, effectively doubling the facility’s size. A proposed mixed-use development at 2nd Street and Williamson Avenue will feature apartments on the upper floors and a ground-level restaurant. The Westerner Motel is nearing the end of its extensive renovation, and permits have been granted for new developments at the site of the former Dairy Queen. Hopi Tribal Housing purchased the Winslow Inn, which will be demolished and converted into a multi-family residential property.
Bulldog Fitness recently celebrated its grand opening after completing substantial renovations to its building. The city has supplied dumpsters to aid in the demolition and removal of older residences, making way for new developments. Three duplexes and a single-family residence have also been granted permits recently.
The city is actively seeking developers to assist with numerous large housing developments in response to the current housing market. Overall, Winslow community development projects are making remarkable progress in enhancing the city’s infrastructure and living spaces.
During the presentation by Winslow’s Finance Director Margaret Dyer, the council learned about a billing issue related to the installation of new water meters and adoption of a new billing software in February. The software defaulted to a different multiplier when calculating the bills for several residents, resulting in some astronomical bills being sent out. Councilmember Melissa Nelson reported receiving calls from residents about receiving a $29,000 water bill, and Dyer added that one resident received a bill for $1 million.
Dyer explained that the issue arose because the new software defaulted to the incorrect multiplier when the new water meters came online, creating what she called a “perfect storm.” Fortunately, the city was able to identify and address the issue quickly and adjustments were made immediately to correct residents’ bills. While the incident was certainly an inconvenience for those affected, the finance director’s quick response and the city’s willingness to correct the error should provide some peace of mind for Winslow residents.
The council also heard a report from auditors Fester & Chapman LLC, detailing their audit of the city’s finances for the year 2022. According to the auditors, their experience working with management at the city was smooth, with no disagreements or issues arising during the audit. This allowed them to perform a thorough examination of the city’s financial records with full cooperation from the city.
The report revealed that the city had generated $23.3 million in revenues during 2022, with total expenses amounting to $18.9 million. These figures provide insight into the financial health of the city, indicating that it is operating within its means and generating a surplus of revenue. The presentation of the auditors’ report during the council meeting is an important step in ensuring transparency and accountability in local government, allowing citizens to stay informed about the city’s financial operations.
The Northern Arizona Council of Governments (NACOG) is taking proactive steps to address roadway safety concerns in northern Arizona. According to Michael Huff, a representative from NACOG, the organization is conducting a thorough network screening of all roadways and intersections in the region in 2023, with the goal of identifying and prioritizing transportation projects that can improve resident safety. This initiative is in response to the high number of crashes that occur in northern Arizona each day, with nearly 14 crashes recorded daily.
Data from the Arizona Department of Transportation shows that crashes in northern Arizona have increased by 13% from 2017 to 2021, highlighting the need for targeted safety measures. Of the crashes that occur, 54% are single-vehicle crashes, which are the main focus of the NACOG project. To gather information about the unsafe roads in northern Arizona, NACOG is also encouraging residents to participate in a survey. By gathering input from local residents and prioritizing projects that address the most pressing safety concerns, NACOG hopes to improve the ability of northern Arizona residents to safely navigate the region’s roadways. The survey is available at https://nacog.org/regional-transportation-safety-plan/.
In other business, the council:
* Approved appointment of Lambert Dixson to the Arts Council.
* Approved appointment of Dave Hartman to the Historic Preservation Commission.
* Approved designation of chief fiscal officer to officially submit the fiscal year 2022/23 expenditure limitation report to the auditor general.
* Approved notice of intent for proposed new and increased fees for copies of public records, farmers market vendors, the animal care facility, and the library. A public hearing will be held on June 13 for citizen input and possible adoption.
* Approved the realignment of property line for parcel APN 103-27-024 and splitting of the property into three parcels.
The next meeting of the Winslow City Council will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 9, in the meeting room, located at 523 West Second St.
