“Yesterday Lieutenant Jack Arend turned in his resignation,” said Holbrook City Manager Randy Sullivan at the April 24 Holbrook City Council meeting during his report on the police department. Arend, who is second in command, will be retiring on May 14, two days after Police Chief Mark Jackson retires on May 12.
Mayor Bobby Tyler asked Sullivan how many officers that would leave on the force. To which Sullivan responded that there would be five with two more in the academy. Sullivan also noted, “We are working with the Department of Public Safety for possible coverage or to provide an interim chief until we find one.” In a follow-up conversation with Chief Jackson, he stated that with he and Arend retiring there will in fact be seven officers on staff, with two more in the academy. If the recruits complete the academy they must partner with another officer for months before they are able to patrol on their own.
In his report to the council, Sullivan focused on the upcoming summer events. “The City Clerk Cher Reyes has been working on the summer schedule. So far she has multiple arts and craft classes scheduled as well as a music camp, an archery camp and a basketball camp. She is also working with the school district on the summer food program,” said Sullivan.
The discussion on the appeal from Mohammed Jameeluddin regarding the Planning and Zoning Commission’s denial of his conditional use permit to convert the property at 307 First Avenue (the old Mormon church) into a four-plex resulted in the council tabling the item.
Reyes said she had concerns with the appeal, which was submitted to the council, as they are also the Board of Adjustments. “In his appeal, Jameeluddin is asking for something different than what he proposed to planning and zoning. He wants to change his plan from a four-plex to a duplex,” Reyes stated.
Chairman of Holbrook’s Planning and Zoning, Michael Sample said, “We met for a conditional use permit to transform the property into a four-plex. Concerns were raised regarding parking, maintenance, upkeep and landscaping of the property. The commission did drive around to view the other properties owned by Jameeluddin.”
In the end, the commission denied the request and made any appeal conditional upon showing plans on the building’s conversion, parking, maintenance, landscape and environmental assessment.
Sample further stated, “In my opinion, the appeal is invalid because that is not what the original conditional use permit was for.”
Since Jameeluddin lives in California, and Reyes had not received confirmation that he had received her phone message or email, the council unanimously voted to table the item with the request that Reyes contact Jameeluddin and ensure that he has been correctly notified.
Vice Mayor Wade Carlisle was absent from the meeting and Police Chief Mark Jackson was on patrol and unable to attend. All other members and staff were present.
In other business, the council:
* Approved an ordinance granting a franchise for the operation of a gas plan, system, pipelines and works in the City of Holbrook, which will remain in effect until citizens of Holbrook finalize the vote in the fall elections.
* Approved the proclamation by the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks to designate the week beginning on the first Sunday in May as Youth Week to “honor America’s Junior Citizens for their accomplishments.”
* Tabled a discussion on the Northern Arizona Council of Governments (NACOG) Area Agency on Aging pending the gathering of more information as to whether the city would have enough money to sponsor home delivered meals to two elderly residents in Holbrook who are currently not able to get the food due to NACOG’s budget constraints.
