The Snowflake Town council unanimously passed the final budget of $10 million for fiscal year 2018-19, which was an increase of $908,480 from the previous year’s budget.
Town Manager Brian Richards said the final budget was exactly the same as the tentative budget previously approved by the council. While the meeting was opened for questions concerning the budget there was no questions from the public or comments from the council members.
The council also gave approval to an agreement with Navajo County for the double chip sealing of three roads Staley, Kellis and McLaws. The county offered to purchase materials and provide labor to do the chip seal work on approximately one and a half miles of roadway in an amount not to exceed $27,000 on the above named streets.
Richards noted, “We have been using the county labor and equipment to chip seal roads within Snowflake. We just pay for the materials, so basically we will get a mile and a half of road chip sealed for $27,000.”
Mayor Lynn Johnson expressed his appreciation to the county for its willingness to work with the town.
Richards gave updates on a number of projects around town. The Rodeo Road project, which was three inches of asphalt on nearly a mile of road connecting Highway 77 with Centennial Blvd. has been completed with the exception of drainage and driveway access, which will be done in the next two weeks.
“It was estimated the cost would be $220,000, of which $170,000 was from the town and $50,000 from Navajo County,” shared Richards. “Public Works did the work on laying down the asphalt and there is still some work to do on drainage issues. We want to thank J-P Cattle Company for donating some land so we could straighten the road out.”
The splash pad located on the north end of Pioneer Park opened on June 15. “Will Wilson got the splash pad going for us,” noted Richards. “The total cost of the project was $180,000 and so far it is pretty popular with the kids.”
The federal grant for $240,000 with a match of $40,000 from the town has been used to upgrade various handicap accessible parking stalls around town including those at the parks, police station and cemetery.
It was also noted that the Centennial Ball Field access off Rodeo Road was improved with pavement at a cost of $25,000.
Regarding the Highway 277 waterfall renovation project, it was noted that the project involved the installation of pond liners. “It wasn’t working and it leaked a lot,” said Richards, who also noted that the town spent $18,500 on the project with Brimhall Sand and Rock donating $35,000 in material and labor.
The Snowflake Municipal Golf Course bar, which was a $10,000 construction cost, has been a definite asset in attracting more tournaments to the golf course. Richards thanked Terry and Debbie Cooper for their help in facilitating the project, noting, “We got three extra tournaments this year as a result of the bar.”
The “S” lighting project has been completed with a solar powered LED lighting display illuminating the S on the mountainside north side of town. The town spent a total of $2,300 for the project, with a lot of volunteer effort from Gary and Sarah Brimhall as well as Councilman Byron Lewis and members of the Snowflake Young Single Adult Ward of the LDS Church. Matt Hamilton with the Solar Exchange donated all the labor for the installation of the solar.
The Snowflake Junior High School flagpole and flag project has been a great success. Richards said he has gotten a number of comments on how good it looks. “It kind of picks people up when they drive by.” The flagpole, which is 80’ high and supports a 20’ by 30’ flag with lighting for nighttime flying, is located at SJHS. The school district donated the land for the project.
Upcoming projects include the double chip sealing project for Kellis, Staley and McLaws Road; pavement on Third South between Third and Fourth West; pavement on Third South between First West and Highway 77; pavement improvements on Hoyt Road; “S” trail; the parking lot at police station; splash pad bathrooms; and Concho Highway overlay
Also included will be the completion of the Northern Solution Channel on the north side of the industrial park where the greenhouses are located and flood control for the streets of Second West and Fourth West, which was noted as the school/fire station flood control structures in the meeting.
In other business, the council:
* Approved the purchase of two complete retrofits of Ford Crown Victoria police interceptors received from Wild Rose Motors in Oro Valley in the amount of $49,210.
* Approved signatories for the town bank account, the July check register in the amount of $644,174.
* Approved an amendment to limit the cultivation of industrial hemp to within 10 miles of any medical marijuana cultivation facility.
* Tabled a consent agenda item for the Snowflake Crossing Agreement with Apache Railway.
The next council meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 4, in the council room, located at 81 W. First S. in Snowflake.
