“We’re good at saying ‘no’ tonight,” Holbrook Mayor Jeff Hill remarked regarding the city council’s decision to turn down two separate requests for city funds Tuesday evening.

The council elected to terminate its membership with REAL Az Corridor due to the doubling of annual fees.

“When they started this it was at no cost, then last year they wanted $2,500 and now they’re asking $5,000,” City Manager Ray Alley said. “It comes out of lodger’s tax and I don’t think we get any value out of it. Since 1981 there’s been hundreds of thousands of dollars spent on this stuff, and I mean hundreds of thousands, and I think you’ve got to look at it as ‘Would you spend it out of your own pocket?’”

Alley pointed out that the biggest accomplishment of the group to date appears to be the creation of a website that provides information for visitors and potential investors. He noted, however, that online searches using the city’s name do not return the REAL Az site within the first few pages of results.

“Anyone looking to do something in Holbrook is going to Google ‘Holbrook’,” he noted.

Council members generally agreed that they do not believe the city would get a good return on an investment of $5,000 and voted against the expenditure.

Mayor Hill noted that he would welcome a presentation by representatives of REAL Az that includes an explanation of the benefits the city would receive as a result of the membership fees.

Councilman Myron Maxwell noted, “Our economy today cannot support something that’s not producing a return on the investment.”

The council also voted against spending $6,000 to partner with other Navajo County cities to create a regional geocaching event.

“I don’t know how other communities keep coming up with money for things like this,” Alley told the council. “What are we going to gain for $6,000 in the next two years?”

Councilman Phil Cobb explained that geocaching is a worldwide activity that can be used to draw travelers into our community as they use GPS technology to search for small hidden repositories that often contain a stamp or token. He pointed out, however, that geocaching sites can be set up by anyone and do not require a significant monetary investment.

“I have a geocaching location at my shop. Locals and tourists have been geocaching for years,” he said. “I have a lot of fun helping them find it.”

Hill pointed out that the regional geocaching event seems to put a focus on the southern portion of Navajo County and does not appear to provide much of a benefit to Holbrook.

“This has been going on for a few years and it seems more catered to south county,” he remarked.

Alley noted that the expenditure is not included in this year’s budget.

Councilman Richard Peterson said that he believed the city could make better use of the money.

“There are people on staff that could use $6,000 a lot more efficiently,” he said.

The council unanimously voted against the expenditure.

In other action Feb. 10, the council:

* Approved the expenditure of up to $5,323,19 for the purchase of three sets of fire gear for the fire department.

* Tabled the naming of the walking and bike path south of the Little Colorado River to allow a formal presentation to be made regarding the name.

Councilman Bobby Tyler suggested that area be named Mr. and Mrs. W.S. Dyer Park.

The council unofficially agreed on the name, which honors the contributions the Dyers made to the community, but held off on taking a vote until a formal ceremony including the history of the Dyers and their service to the community can be prepared.

The next regular council meeting is set for 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 24, at city hall.