At its May 14, meeting, the Holbrook City Council devoted considerable time to a proposed ordinance that would allow residents to own swine within city limits, ultimately deciding to remove that section after strong opposition from council members, animal control staff and residents.
The swine proposal was part of a larger update to the city’s animal control and dog ordinances, which received general support. However, the proposed addition of section 3-8-78, which would have allowed residents to keep pigs for educational purposes, prompted a lengthy discussion and revealed significant concerns about enforcement, fairness and community sentiment.
Vice Mayor Mike Nilsson said he had spoken with 14 residents about the issue and “14 people were so against it,” emphasizing that people move into residential areas with the expectation they will not be surrounded by livestock. Councilmember Teri Tafoya raised questions about consistency and equity: “If we approve swine for one child’s 4-H project, how do we tell the next kid who wants to raise a goat or a calf that they can’t?”
Animal Control Officer Brandon Laughlin noted that while managing one or two applications might be feasible, “If in a year we get 20 or more applicants, we wouldn’t have the manpower to inspect properties and enforce the ordinance requirements.” Laughlin explained that 4-H projects are time-sensitive and inspections would need to happen quickly to be meaningful.
Councilmember Robert Black added that no one he spoke to support the idea. “Every single person I talked to said absolutely not. They moved here to not be around pigs,” he said. He also cautioned against personal bias, warning that some council decisions have leaned toward favoritism in the past. “We need to make decisions for the people of Holbrook—not for our friends and family.”
Mayor Smith echoed those concerns, saying the ordinance could unfairly privilege children in 4-H while denying other residents the same right to raise animals for food. “Who’s to say a 40-year-old raising a pig to feed their family isn’t also doing something educational?”
After extensive discussion, the council agreed by consensus to remove the swine section from the draft ordinance. The rest of the updates to the animal control and dog chapters will proceed to a second reading without the swine provision.
Council also approved two major fee changes aimed at improving public services and cost recovery: one affecting the city’s transfer station and the other related to bulk water access.
Under the new resolution, residents within city limits will now pay a $2.50 monthly fee on their utility bills, which will allow them unlimited use of the city’s transfer station without paying individual dumping fees. City Manager Randy Sullivan explained that the new system would offset approximately $53,000 in expenses, up from the current $19,000 collected under the pay-per-dump model while encouraging cleaner properties and reducing illegal dumping.
“This isn’t free,” Sullivan clarified, “but it does give you unlimited access for just $2.50 a month.” Residents will be able to dump mattresses, furniture, white goods like refrigerators and washing machines, and other household trash without incurring additional charges. Sullivan said that if seniors or others are unable to transport their items, the city may also offer curbside pickup as long as the items are brought to the edge of the property.
Councilmember Tafoya praised the change, pointing to the city’s recent community cleanup event: “That transfer station was so busy – people clearly want to clean up if they have the means.”
The council also passed a new bulk water rate of $22 per 1,000 gallons. The rate, which applies to both potable and construction water, is a dramatic increase from the previous $2.84 rate, but Sullivan explained that the change is necessary to cover the cost of a new bulk water vending station and align Holbrook’s rates with surrounding cities. “We’ve purchased this machine. This rate will help us pay it off and keep up with maintenance,” he said.
The new machine, to be installed near McLaws Road, will allow 24/7 prepaid access to clean water. The site will also include a separate station for “construction water” drawn from a well with higher salinity. This is especially useful for industrial use and livestock, according to Sullivan, and ranchers and contractors in the region already frequently access it.
City officials said the construction water fee would be the same $22 per 1,000 gallons but left open the possibility of creating a separate rate structure in the future if demand justifies it. “If that corner gets heavy use, we’ll look into a second metering box and could bring back another resolution,” Sullivan said.
In another agenda item, council approved spending $24,550 to install a new backstop and fencing at Hunt Park near the city pool, using federal ARPA funds. Though originally presented as a practice-only field, several council members advocated for expanding the site into a fully usable ballfield for both practices and tournaments.
“I don’t understand why we would limit it to just practices,” said Councilmember Tafoya. “If we’re spending this much, let’s make sure it can be used for softball or tournaments too.”
Councilmember Nilsson and others agreed that temporary fencing could allow for flexible uses, including flag football and soccer, which also use the open grassy space at Hunt Park. Sullivan confirmed the city can return with quotes for additional fencing or adjust the layout based on council feedback.
The meeting concluded with several community updates. Mayor Smith announced that Arizona Public Service is offering a $10,000 tree-planting grant, and encouraged residents to suggest planting sites. He also highlighted a potential new employer, Carbon Utility, which is evaluating a Holbrook site for a carbon capture project and may need council approval for a land-use agreement soon.
ZenniHome, a sustainable home manufacturer currently operating in Page, is also expanding into the region by taking over the former paper mill outside Snowflake. The company anticipates hiring 250 employees soon, with plans to scale up to 1,000 jobs in three years.
City crews are continuing street patching and concrete work along 12th and 13th avenues, and four new police vehicles are now in service. The council also discussed cleanup efforts around Hopi Drive in preparation for the upcoming Old West Fest and car show this weekend.
The city’s general plan update is also in progress, with councilmembers meeting with a consultant to finalize committee recommendations. A draft is expected to be presented in June. Charter amendment ballot language will also be reviewed at a coming meeting, ahead of the next municipal election.
