As a follow-up to last week’s Holbrook City Council meeting, City Manager Ted Soltis informed the council that the Hunt Park east softball field fence is nearly completed and the new dugout roofs will be added. There was an increase in the bids with the lowest bid increased by $10,000 but the second lowest only increased by $6,486, making them now the lowest bidding for a total cost of $49,494 for the fencing. At Barrow Field, the bleachers were added as well as at Hunt Park for a total cost of $30,735. The city is partnering with Arizona Public Service to add lighting at Barrow Field. “It’s difficult finding folks to come up here. Getting material to Holbrook, that adds to the costs,” he said.
Soltis attended the annual Navajo and Apache Counties Mayor and Councilmember Association meeting in Phoenix at the League of Cities and Towns. “It’s an opportunity to meet with legislators, meet them face-to-face and have an opportunity to express our concerns and have them let us know what’s going on,” stated Soltis. He also attended the City County Management Association Winter Conference in Sedona, as well as the Northern Arizona Council of Government Economic Development Council meeting. Soltis noted he has been appointed to the Economic Development Council.
Soltis stated that the city hall has a new computer server and one is being installed at the police department, as well as two new computers at the wastewater treatment plant and one at the transfer station.
A $600,000 Brownfield Assessment grant that has been obtained by the city from the Apache County Coalition and can be used for Brownfield site inventory, outreach, engagement, site assessment, asbestos and/or lead surveys, to support renovation, cleanup, and reuse planning.
“This is an important initial step of getting useful grants in the future,” stated Soltis. He noted that a Brownfield advisory committee needs to be formed and that group will review some of the projects that need to be done and come up with a recommendation. He suggested perhaps people from the chamber of commerce, real estate and non-profits to form a community. He also noted that the pumps and lift stations have gotten in very good shape as old equipment is being updated.
The council expressed their sorrow with the passing of longtime employee Michael O’Dell. Petroglyph expert Darla Brinkerhoff addressed the council and stated that for the time being she would be providing tours of the Hidden Cove Petroglyph Park, which was something near and dear to O’Dell.
Auditor Scott Graff with Colby and Powell provided the outcome of a third-party audit of the city finances through June 30, 2021.
There were several findings, one determined under the purchasing policy. According to Graff, some of the requisitions were not filled according to policy. He said that according to Soltis, improvements have already been made. Another finding was misstatements requiring audit adjustments, which Graff said is not an uncommon finding. Those involve the methods of journaling to line up with requirements. A third finding was that accounting policies and procedures are outdated, with Graff noting that will need to be updated.
A recording of the meeting provided by the city was incomplete. If there are more details on the audit that were addressed, it will be reported as it becomes available.
