By China Cassidy On Thursday, June 11, the Holbrook City Council voted to approve the submission of the CARES (Coronavirus Aide Relief and Economic Security Act) grant for the city’s municipal airport in the amount of $20,000 and accept the terms of the AZCares Act Grant Agreement for a grant in the amount of $588,677. According to City Manager Ted Soltis, Holbrook was approved for a grant for the airport from the CARES Act signed into law on March 27. Of the $10 billion allocated for economic relief to eligible US airports, Holbrook was approved to receive $20,000 which will be used toward the fuel dispenser at the airport. Soltis also reported that the City of Holbrook will receive $588,677, by the CARES Act based on Holbrook’s population. Soltis said that although it has to go before council, he will be recommending that the money be put toward the debt owed to the Arizona Public Safety Personnel Retirement System, which is included in Holbrook’s general fund. “We are not putting sufficient funds into police retirement,” said Soltis. He explained that the police department has an unfunded liability of $7.8 million, which is money owed to the police retirement fund. Currently, it’s only funded at 23.9 percent, where the goal is to be one hundred percent funded. According to Soltis, his research shows that the city has not put enough funds into police retirement for at least the last 10 years. In 2010, there was $2.7 million unfunded liability. Where in 2019, the unfunded liability was $7.8 million, indicating that the amount of money owed continues to increase. Soltis said that although, $500,000 toward a $7.8 million debt isn’t a great deal, according to his calculations 20 years, it could mean the difference of being millions in debt or paying off three million of that debt. There will be further discussion about the grant money when he presents the budget, which he hopes to have ready by next council meeting. “The grant could be used for the short-term or long-term good of the community. I am recommending the long term. The police retirement fund is woefully underfunded, the third worst in the state. Putting the grant funds toward a $7.8 million liability is a start toward shoring up police retirement.” In other business, Soltis announced that Waste Management will be delivering the new totters between Monday, June 22, and Friday, June 26. Soltis advised that no one put trash in the new totters until the old ones have been picked up by Larson Waste. The last trash pick-up from Larson Waste will be Tuesday, June 30, and Thursday, July 2. There will be one pick up day when Larson Waste starts picking up, which will be on Wednesdays. The first trash pickup by waste management will be Wednesday, July 8. The city will no longer be billing for commercial and non-totter accounts. Citizens who have commercial accounts have the ability to choose which entity they do business with. Proposed rate increases can now be found on the city website at ci.holbrook.az.us on the home page and will be discussed at a public hearing held prior to the Aug. 13, council meeting. The splash pad is still being worked on but is expected to open in the next few weeks. Soltis announced that the Holbrook Public Library is now open. Also, a fence at the golf course sustained damage, which has prompted the city to have the street department add a turnaround to avoid further issue with large vehicles.
