By Annyssa Howerton During the Holbrook City Council meeting on Aug. 26, the council discussed the Airport Coronavirus Relief Grant Program (ACRGP). This grant will provide $9,000 to go towards costs related to cleaning, sanitization, janitorial services and combating the spread of pathogens at the Holbrook Municipal Airport. The ACRGP requires a face covering policy to combat the spread of pathogens. A mask must be worn at all times while in public areas of the airport. The motion to accept the funds was passed with all council present and Councilman Tim Dixon voting in opposition. Dixon brough up several points in the grant requirements, such as what would disqualify the City of Holbrook from having these funds. Councilman Dixon stated “If we approve this, we are getting $9,000 to sell who we are…. This face mask thing, if I go into an airport, I’m not wearing one if this passes. He then asked, “Has anyone read the Davis-Bacon Act, or the Hatch Act, or the National Preservation Act?,” referencing the acts that in part ensure payment for federally funded contracts, that federal programs are administered in a non-partisan fashion and the importance of protecting our natural heritage from rampant federal development. Councilman Adam Marsh responded, “Yes I have read all of these acts. I am a federal employee, I am aware of these, and I actually implement a lot of these for my job.” Councilman Adam Marsh stated that as a National Park employee he was very aware of those acts and replied, “This has nothing to do with the government trying to get us by putting an apron on the airport.” The council approved the sale of five parcels of city property including Parcel No. 109-24-075H, located on Airport Road to Trafficade Work Zone Services for $12,000, with the intent to use this property to expand its business footprint. Another is Parcel No. 109-37-006A, located on East Hermosa Drive to B Brown Construction in the amount of $723,000. The council did not inquire as to its intended use and when asked following the meeting, City Manager Ted Soltis stated that the property was sold to the highest bidder with no conditions and he was unaware of the intended use. Two parcels, Parcel No. 109-24-075K between Mission Lane and Hutchinson Avenue in the amount of $44,550, and another, Parcel No. 109-19-039, located at 550 N. Second St. in the amount of $7,550 both to Peach, Love, and Happiness, Inc. According to Soltis, the property will be used to construct veteran housing. In addition, two parcels, Parcel No. 109-19-076, located at 150 W. California St. and Parcel No. 109-19-074, located at 154 W. California St. were sold to Paige Murray in the amount of $6,251 each. The buyer intends to build homes on these properties. Mayor Merrill Young noted that there will be a community clean up from 8 a.m. to 12 noon on Saturday, Sept. 11, at the Navajo County Historic Courthouse at 7:30 and gloves and bags will be handed out. Councilman Marsh wanted to thank the city employees for their efforts when the city was having issues with the water pumps being down in two of the wells. “I wanted to thank the community who turned off their water and such when we were trying to recharge the tanks.” Mayor Young also commended city staff including Pat Nichols, Lisa Hunt and Randy Sullivan. “You guys don’t get told that enough, but we really appreciate what you do in there.” Councilman Kip Woolford stated in regards to the bombing incident at the airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, “In recognition for the soldiers we lost this morning, I know the president put out an executive order for flags at half-mass, so hopefully we can get all city flags brought down.”
