White Mountain Connection, the bus line from Pinetop to Holbrook with stops in Show Low, Taylor and Snowflake, was being funded with money from the Navajo County Local Transportation Assistance Fund (LTAF) provided through the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), but that funding has been eliminated.

Prior to the transit line coming to the White Mountains, cities and towns had agreed to a small subsidy of $9,706 each, with Navajo County paying $38,824. For the first three years, Navajo County also paid the cities’ and towns’ portions with the LTAF money.

The Transit Advisory Committee, which is made up of representatives from each city or town, met recently to discuss the budget and decided not to purchase two new buses in fiscal year 2012-13, but to continue replacing buses approximately every 200,000 miles. The committee also reduced the amount it would seek from cities and towns from $9,706 to $5,916, and Navajo County’s portion to $23,664. It was pointed out that of the total budget of $434,100, an ADOT grant covers $337,040.

A request to approve the inclusion of funds in the fiscal year 2012-13 budget for continuation of White Mountain Connection Bus Service was on the May 8 Snowflake Town Council agenda.

Representing the bus line was Rennie Crittenden, a White Mountain Connection Board member, Show Low Grants and Transit Manager Peter Erieback, and Show Low Community Services Director Joel Weeks.

Crittenden began by summarizing ridership numbers from May 2009 to February 2012 for the council. The bus picks up riders at Northland Pioneer College in Snowflake, at the Snowflake-Taylor Police Department and at the Snowflake Social Hall. Figures show that 7,414 riders were picked up, but there were no figures for pick up at STPD on the trip from Holbrook to Pinetop.

Mayor Kelly Willis said his figures showed that there were one to two riders a day with 7,543 riders.

Councilman Tom Poscharsky figured that the cost would be $9.16 per rider with new numbers that were given to council members at the meeting and that is one way. They would have to return, which would double the cost.

“This town, Snowflake and Taylor, pump more money into Show Low by the tens of thousands of dollars than we do to our own town. Show Low should have a little respect for us by giving us a break,” said Mayor Willis. “Every time somebody comes to us we’re paying across the board.”

“I think that would be a good thing, to look at population,” said Councilman Larry Matyas.

“We have representation from all the communities. They think this is a good thing,” said Crittenden.

Mayor Willis acknowledged that Snowflake signed off on it and stated, “I still have to look at the numbers. If you want to break it down there are not many people riding the bus…I’m willing to do our fair share.”

Mayor Willis pointed out the small budgets Snowflake and Taylor have as opposed to the huge Show Low budget, and noted how difficult it is to come up with even $6,000. He asked that they take this back to their board and revisit the issue, finding a more fair way of charging cities and towns. He then asked if there was a motion.

“We haven’t participated in the meetings,” said Town Manager Paul Watson, explaining that staff members felt there was no urgency to participate, but said he sent Finance Director Brian Richards to the meeting held in May because he was unable to attend. “I think their point is well taken, the bus (service) is (governed by) a committee and has a representative from each community,” and then invited Mayor Willis to attend.

“I think their perspective is, they met and this is what we’ve proposed. Everybody was in agreement,” said Watson.

“I did not get a motion. I don’t want you to go away and cuss me, but I would like you to look at our perspective that it should at least be revised,” said the mayor. “We’re going to pay our fair share on this, we’re just trying to find some way to keep every dime we have.”

A motion to table the item passed unanimously.

In an effort to clean up town facilities and get rid of some of the surplus property, staff members had explored various options and presented what they felt was the most viable option to the council.

Public Works Superintendent Terry Cooper recommended they hire Sierra Auction Management to auction items, giving the following reasons: the firm’s commission rates are lower than other explored options, ranging from 4.4 per-cent to 6.9 percent; Sierra has a contract with the City of Mesa that Snowflake can “piggyback” off; and items can be moved from Snowflake to their facilities. Cooper pointed out that Sierra Auction has online and in-person auctions, and there will be very little legwork involved once items are delivered to Phoenix. The problem is getting the items to Phoe-nix.

Councilman Poscharsky suggested they talk to a local auctioneer, and Mayor Willis suggested they talk to Navajo County, which has a large auction.

The council approved the request to accept the agreement with Sierra Auction for removal of surplus property, but requested staff members also look at other options.

In other action May 8, the council:

* Approved paying an invoice for $50,000 from Yost and Gardner Engineers for Southern Solution engineering.

Finance Director Richards pointed out that the invoice covered a year of the firm’s work, that $10,000 was taken off the bill and that the engineers have done more work than they are billing for.

* Approved paying an invoice from CMI Engineering for $24,455 for the past seven months of work done by Rob Toy as the project manager, and on the Southern Solution project and grant application to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Richards pointed out that because of Toy’s work, they were able to get an additional $1.7 million from FEMA for the project.

* Unanimously approved adopting the renewed FEMA Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) per resolution.

It was noted that the HMP provides the foundation and legal means by which FEMA may award grant monies and other federal financial assistance to the community. Snowflake’s current plan with FEMA expired in January, and staff members have been coordinating with Navajo County and the Arizona Division of Emergency management (ADEM) on the draft of the renewed HMP, which has been approved by ADEM and FEMA, but needed to be formally adopted by the town. The town recently completed the required reviews of the Southern Solution second phase grant with FEMA officials, who indicated to ADEM that they are ready to award the requested grant in the amount of $1.7 million for con-struction of the second portion, which consists of Reaches 2 and 3 of the Southern Solution.