Jack Dempsey of Little Colorado Medical Center gave the quarterly hospital report at the May 24 meeting of the Winslow City Council, noting that the hospital is doing well and is much improved over the last few years.
He explained that LCMC serves a lot of poor people and that the Winslow Police Department does a good job of getting people to needed medical care.
No one from the public spoke during a hearing on the 2016-17 tentative budget.
Finance Director Elias Jouen spent more than half an hour explaining the budget, where the money comes from and how it will be spent. After that presentation there was approval of the tentative budget after a change was made to increase the donation to the Because We Care program from $500 to $1,000.
Jouen also gave the monthly financial report.
City Manager Stephen Pauken reported on recent city activities, including an airport commission meeting in Flagstaff.
Winslow Chamber of Commerce Director Bob Hall reviewed the fiscal year bed tax budget, giving the council a written report on the budget.
During the call to the public attorney Ray Reardon, a former prosecutor, spoke critically of the Winslow Police Department. He suggested that Chief Steve Garnett should be replaced by someone not from Winslow. and that a civil group should be formed to monitor the department.
A woman spoke regarding water rates.
The council went into executive session for legal advice regarding recent discussions with the Navajo Nation Human Rights Commission, and for discussion of issues related to pending litigation with the Little Colorado River Adjudication at Apache County Superior Court, and representation of the LCR Coalition and its members in such litigation. No action was taken on these subjects when the council returned to regular session.
In other business, the council:
* Adopted a resolution accepting the canvass of votes and results of the May 17 general election in which only 1,012 of 3,375 registered voters cast ballots.
Mayor Robin Boyd was re-elected as were Councilmen Bob Schlesinger and Marshall Losey. Judy Howell was also elected to the council. The proposition before the voters was also approved.
* Recognized four graduates of the 2016 Winslow Leadership Academy.
* Approved the consent calendar, including the check register, minutes of the May 10 council meeting, and appointment of Rick Morales to the Winslow Planning and Zoning Commission.
Prior to the regular meeting, the council met as the Winslow Public Housing Authority. Five resolutions were acted upon and Housing Director Jesse Fernandez gave a report on the housing authority.
Those resolutions included appointing Larry West as resident commissioner to the Winslow Housing Authority, adopting a capital fund five-year action plan, which includes a $79,000 grant, approving Fee Accountants of Lindsey, Inc. to amend the authority’s low rents budget, which will be brought back for approval in June, and approving the authority’s 2016 annual plan.
Fernandez reported that the units are being prepared for warmer weather in the summer.
