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With the hiring of a new city manager still a couple of months away, Holbrook Interim City Manager Cher Reyes is focusing on getting essential maintenance done on the city’s buildings and equipment while prepping for the implementation of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) at city hall, the Holbrook Senior Citizens Center and the police and fire departments.
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“I’m thinking it is going to be sometime in February or March before we get a new city manager due to the holidays and the hiring process,” said Reyes. “Right now, I am trying to keep the projects going.”
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In August, Reyes was appointed as the interim city manager while the council continued with their plans to find a new manager.
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During these past four months the city staff has accomplished a number of projects including the replacement of the community building and recreation center roofs, a new roof on the sanitation building, painting the inside of city hall, moving and repairing the windmill and installing the branding wall at Gillespie Park. There was also a chip seal project for city streets and crack sealing the apron at the airport, as well as removing the metal guides that were creating a hazard.
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The employee compensation plan has been updated to allow for the increase of minimum wage and the recently acquired bucket truck was inspected and appropriate staff was certified in the operations of the truck.
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A big issue on the table is the need for a street sweeper. Reyes is hoping to have a bid on a lease for one by early January with delivery set for no later than April so that fog seal project in the Lizitsky subdivision can be completed.
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Reyes has a list of things she is hoping to complete before the new manager comes on board, which include painting the outside of city hall and the fitness center as well as installing new flooring in city hall.
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“The CDBG grant for Americans with Disability Act compliance will be putting in new doors for wheel chair accessibility at city hall and the police and fire departments,” shared Reyes. “We still have to bid out those products since the big work won’t start until those bids come through, but the work has to be done before August.”
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The Holbrook Senior Citizens Center is also getting some work done as part of the grant, which will include a new handicap ramp and the sidewalk from the center to the park out back.
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Reyes said the city is looking to increase utility rates and anticipates starting that process sometime in January.
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Another project is the Jennifer Good Park that will be built on the Fourth Avenue and Buffalo Street property donated by Councilwoman Francie Payne.
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“We are also looking to put a small park in front of the Circle K on Mission Lane to help keep the bus stop from being under water when it rains,” noted Reyes. “But we are waiting to hear back from Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) for that one.”
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The Hidden Cove Golf Course is on Reyes’ radar as well. Early in the fall, Reyes was able to purchase a Fairway riding mower for the golf course. “I want to get work done at the golf course, increase the rates and start new services, maybe even a driving range,” said Reyes. “I am looking for good, used golf carts that we can buy and I want to get more signs up for the Petroglyph Park.
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“We have been working on the fishing pond on the west side of town and have preliminary plans ready and a grant to pay for the parking lot,” continued Reyes.
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The new animal control officer, Paul Saiz, is doing well and staff is working on plans in place to build a dog run in the fenced area at the Holbrook Animal Shelter as well as a quarantine room.
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Code Enforcement Officer Jason Foutz has been working to find grants for a handicap accessible playground, as well as grants for the fire department.
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“Part of me would like to stay to get things done,” concluded Reyes. “Seeing things get fixed that haven’t been repaired for a long time is good. All the buildings we repaired haven’t been touched for a lot of years. The stuff we have accomplished has been great. We want to do a lot, but we have no money for anything extra.
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“I want to say thanks to Jeremy Peters with the Town of Taylor, Bill Bess and his crew at Navajo County and Matt Moul, ADOT district engineer; they have been very helpful to me during this time. Of course, a big thanks to all the city employees for everything they have helped me to accomplish.”
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