Holbrook Police Chief Mark Jackson informed the city council last week that his department is in the hiring process to fill a number of vacancies. Adding to the shortage of officers was the resignation of Officer Joseph McCarthy, who left the department for personal reasons last month and is now employed by the Winslow Police Department.
Jackson stated that an officer seeking to transfer from a department in Alabama looks very promising. “He’s shown an interest in the City of Holbrook. He’s married into one of the families here in town and has moved back. He has nine years of previous experience in Alabama, so we’re currently doing a background on him,” said Jackson.
Another endeavor is underway to hire new personnel who will be trained at the Phoenix Regional Police Academy. Last month the department conducted oral boards for nine applicants, with four passing that phase of the interview process. The department is now doing background checks of the top recruits among that group.
According to Jackson, one recruit who has already passed the hiring process, James Burris, will be attending the academy beginning this month. The chief hopes to have two more recruits chosen in time for the December academy.
In other matters, Chief Jackson informed the council that his officers conducted a graffiti cleanup around town last month, but that some areas were fenced off or otherwise inaccessible. “You’ll still see some, but we got quite a bit of it eradicated from around town,” he said.
In addition, Jackson told the council that his department turned over $9,136 to the general fund. This was money that was collected in evidence and left unclaimed. Jackson stated that he cleared the funds through the Navajo County Attorney’s Office to ensure they could be released.
Vice Mayor Wade Carlisle, who ran the meeting in the absence of Mayor Bobby Tyler, stated that he and the mayor had been to several meetings regarding a particular issue that they feel is holding back development in the county.
“Navajo County is now working on a study to see what it’s going to take to get a larger supply of natural gas here. There’re industrial companies that Navajo County has had come in and when they ask about everything, we have land, water, but when it comes to a supply of natural gas that’s dedicated for industrial or commercial use, it’s just not available,” said Carlisle.
Community Events Coordinator Kathleen Smith reported that more than 50 volunteers from the community helped out with the recent Petrified Forest Marathon. She also noted that the theme for the upcoming Christmas Parade of Lights scheduled Dec. 2 is A Very Vintage Christmas, and that people are encouraged to contact the city with their entries.
City Manager Randy Sullivan reported that crews are continuing to work on the soccer field at Hunt Park and the golf cart storage building at Hidden Cove Golf Course.
In reports from the council, Councilwoman Francie Payne commended Cindy Tafoya who, along with friends and family cleaned up the property around The Plainsman building on Hopi Drive and removed graffiti from the building. “They did a beautiful job and maybe they (the owners) can get it sold now while it still looks good. I think it really improved that end of town and made it apparent that there’s more that needs to be cleaned up along there,” she said.
Payne also noted that thanks to the efforts of Smith, the Petrified Forest Marathon was a tremendous success, adding that more than half the states were represented there. “I want to thank her and all of her volunteers. It was a good thing for Holbrook,” said the councilwoman.
Councilman CJ Wischmann complimented the city for the cement sidewalks that were rebuilt along Florida Street. He also asked that the city get those who are used to parking on the sidewalks to stop. “The people that want to walk on the sidewalks still cannot because there are too many cars that are parked all the way up,” he said.
Councilman Richard Peterson commended the Holbrook Library and the Kiwanis Club for a joint endeavor at the library for kids in the community called Teddy Bears in the Park, which provided fun activities for those who attended.
Councilman Earl Kester noted that he spoke with members of an electric car club last month, and is hoping to add a class for electric cars to the Gunslinger Car Show the Gearheads Car Club hosts each year.
