With the absence of Mayor Bobby Tyler, Vice Mayor Richard Peterson conducted the Holbrook City Council meeting on July 24. All other council members were present and no reason was given for Tyler’s absence.
In his report to the council, Police Chief Nathan Christensen said that the two new recruits who will be starting police academy on Aug. 6, passed their background checks and polygraphs. He also noted that Officer Matthew Theobald has seven weeks left in his field training, after which he will be on the road as a solo officer.
“We attended the St. John Missionary Baptist Church Community Blast last Saturday,” shared Christensen. “It was a good time. There were a lot of vendors and a lot of food.” The police department brought their dunk tank to help support the event. Christensen admitted that he got dunked a few times as well.
As part of their agenda, the council unanimously approved the amendment to the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with the Navajo County Recorder to extend the Oct. 1 termination date enabling the city to hold the recall election on Nov. 6 using the county services.
The council also unanimously approved the IGA with Navajo County Sheriff’s Office for animal control services from July 1 until Sept. 30, 2018. Christensen said the purpose of the IGA was to provide coverage of the Animal Control Department during the time that Animal Control Officer Merrill Young was on vacation.
Councilman Dr. Adam Marsh said that he had a chance to meet with Dan Carroll of the Holbrook Pilots Association to address concerns regarding the airport. “The renovations at the airport are ongoing,” reported Marsh. “They were putting drywall up in the building.” Marsh also said he would like to see the weather station hooked up because of the radical changes currently happening in the weather and he is hoping to see money budgeted for improvements, including the lighting for the helipad.
Councilwoman Francie Payne reminded the citizens that putting yard sale signs at the corner of Navajo Boulevard and Hopi Drive is illegal as it is a right-of-way for the Arizona Department of Transportation. “A lot of people are really working hard to make Holbrook look nice and we would appreciate that the signs not be put there,” said Payne.
Peterson took a moment to give kudos to the swimming pool staff, saying, “I took my grandkids to the pool and was very impressed with the professionalism of the staff.”
In her report, Holbrook Chamber of Commerce Director Cindy Tafoya shared that she reached out to a group that is doing a Route 66 flying tour sometime later in September or early October. “From what I understand it could be between 50 and 60 people that will be a part of the tour,” said Tafoya, who is hoping to put Holbrook on the tour route. “We would need to provide transportation from the airport to the venues in and around Holbrook, as well as adequate motel rooms should it become an overnight stay.”
In other business, the council unanimously approved the claims and payments for July 4-19 in the amount of $181,342 and the minutes of the July 5 special meeting.
The next council meeting will be at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 14.
