The City of Holbrook is looking towards park improvement and maintenance as its priority for 2023 under the direction of City Manager Ted Soltis.
Soltis was asked for information about some of the bigger projects and developments planned for the coming year, as well as concerns regarding city needs that will be addressed. He was also asked regarding what aspect of the strategic plan will be addressed and if additional employees be hired for code enforcement and/or economic development in order to plan for the future development of the city.
In response, Soltis noted several recreational projects that are planned as part of grant funds received and noted that the completion of those projects will depend on the supply chain which is still experiencing significant delays.
Some of the projects in Hunt Park include a rebuild of the basketball court, skate park and tennis courts, new pickle ball courts and a new walking trail. A renovation for the swimming pool is also planned which will include tile repair, the purchase of a pool cover and pool heater, deck replacement, and floor resurfacing.
At Lewis Park, Soltis stated that there will be a basketball court rebuild with playground equipment replacement planned, and Lisitzky Park will have playground equipment and the baseball benches replaced, and a basketball court rebuilt. New lights will be installed at Barrow Field.
At the Hidden Cove Golf Course, bathroom remodeling is scheduled for this winter and the new driving range is scheduled for completion.
In addition to these recreational projects, the wall at the cemetery will be painted in the spring, and stucco and marble will be repaired on the mausoleum.
Soltis stated that the city’s participation in the Brownfields Area-Wide Planning Program will “provide a planning document that will provide guidance on cleanup and reuse in an economically viable approach reflecting the community’s vision.” The Brownfields Area-Wide Planning Program is $600,000 grant that was awarded in May of 2021. The communities that have access to this funding include Holbrook, Pinetop/Lakeside, Eager, Springerville and St. Johns. The outcome provides surveys and assessments to the owners of public and private blighted properties that can assist property owners in determining the best use of their property but does not provide funding towards any improvements.
The Bucket of Blood Saloon, which Soltis noted is “one of the most historically significant and intact sites in Holbrook” is slated for stabilization and preservation work, with $250,000 in lodgers tax funds to be used for that project. That work includes roof repair, a rear wall reconstruction, wall bracing repair, and a rebuilding of the facade. There is no plan for use of that building once the work is complete. The assessment of that structure was funded through the Brownfields grant.
That grant funding will also be used to assess the historic Blevins House for preservation and restoration work. The goal is to restore this historically significant tourist attraction and to turn it into a museum.
Other maintenance projects include streets and chip sealed, slurry sealed and/or fog sealed depending on their condition.
As for capital equipment that was budgeted, the two dump trucks and a pickup are still on order, the new cemetery excavator has arrived and the vacuum truck is expected any time. As for the police department, Soltis noted, “The new photocopier has arrived, but we are still waiting for the three new vehicles.” He added that the city is also still waiting for the new fire rescue truck.
There was no response from the city manager regarding the addition of a code enforcement officer or the hiring of an economic development director or who will be handling those duties.
