Snowflake To Utilize New App For Public Works Operations

Cooper explained that it is necessary for completion of the drainage master plan and vital to management document storage and linking.

It is also proving to be a key player in providing maps for community development and planning, as well as special events and construction projects, he said.

Cooper made a power point presentation that included a demonstration of some of the technology of the GIS program.

This system has the ability to put an application on a smart phone or tablet and, “Have some pretty neat stuff,” said Cooper.

He explained they have map booklets for sewer line cleaning management, the water system and an irrigation mapping application has just been developed so the town can capture the knowledge of long-time employees.

The irrigation mapping collects information on well sites, pump sites, valve locations, timers, controllers, sprinkler heads, water lines and zoning. “It will be a helpful tool down the road in managing the golf course in controlling some of the area of irrigation,” said Cooper.

Cooper said that the leak detection contractors came into town and were going over how they were going to collect data, and the town was able to send them GIS maps that could be downloaded with water information. The contractors said that Collector, which is the program, is a state-of-the-art application and would make their work a breeze.

Cooper explained how this would record water breaks when they happen, and it will be on the employee phone, and show the system at the same time data is collected.

It also accesses relevant county land records, pulling up a particular parcel and will take you to GIS and link you to the plat map in the Navajo County Assessor’s Office. It also collects institutional knowledge as related to the wastewater treatment plant, is a multi-layer internal web map for the zoning department, and shows the different zoning codes, added water and sewer systems.

In addition, it can be used for special events such as traffic control for Pioneer Days at the golf course, and show all public events, including the event locations.

Richards noted that it will be linked to the website. “This is our own zoning map, this is entirely ours,” said Richards, noting they did gather parcel information from Navajo County but it will be served through Snowflake’s site.

It also will show the layout of the cemetery and can show available plots. The public can search and find a loved one by first or last name and the map zooms to that grave site. Richards noted that the Town of Taylor has its set up to show the headstone as well.

Councilman Stuart Hensley expressed concern about how the data is being stored and Richards said it is on the town’s server. Hensley suggested they map out the fiber optic, which Cooper acknowledge they have completed a portion of that. Stuart noted that a lot of copper and Wi-Fi has been run and that should be documented as well.

A motion to approve the professional service agreement with Smallmelo Geographic Information Services, LLC passed unanimously.

In other business, Richards said when giving his manager’s report that a letter has been written to Northland Pioneer College and signed by the Snowflake and Taylor mayors asking NPC to be aware that the towns are interested in what NPC does with the Silver Creek facility. It also asks that the towns be kept informed.

Richards said that he is working with Navajo County to do the Phase 1 environmental study on the pool, the building behind the pool and the building next to Circle K. This will be an assessment on mold and asbestos. Following that assessment they will get seek money for possible mitigation. They are determining if Navajo County will take point doing Phase I of the environmental study or if the county needs the town’s help. Mayor Poscharsky said that this is a good program, that the main participants were on old Route 66, but they did qualify since Navajo County is participating in the grant.