At the Sept. 25 Holbrook City Council meeting, Interim City Manager Cher Reyes addressed the council regarding activities in the city.
Reyes informed the council regarding the Sept. 15 water line break, which caused the elevated tank to run completely out of water. “Somewhere near a million gallons of water was pumped out that night,” she said, noting that it ran down Buffalo Street and onto the land at the west end of the street. She requested approval to purchase a 6-inch trash pump that is mounted on a trailer, noting that the city borrowed Winslow’s but before that had a 2-inch and a 3-inch running in the hole and never saw the pipe. “As soon as the 6-inch was in it was less than two minutes before the pipe was exposed and the crew was able to go in and do the repair. It would have saved two to four hours on that water break if we had our own,” said Reyes.
The city received four quotes and the council approved the one from Pollard Water in the amount of $8,977. The equipment will also be used to pump the pool out and if there happens to be something wrong with the wastewater system and flooding in houses.
“The chip seal project is complete but the street sweeper is down again so I’m not real sure when the chips are going to get swept up. We’re still researching the street sweeper and I’m pretty sure we’re not going to find one in the price range of $20,000,” said Reyes. During the chip seal project one car was towed despite each residence receiving a door tag letting them know the work was going to be completed.
Reyes noted that the Vac Con sewer cleaning truck has been down since the last bad storm. She stated that it has been difficult to find parts for the older machinery but there is an older backup that is being used.
She met with city engineer Caleb Lanting regarding the Mission Lane drainage. She said some of the simple items recommended by him would be implemented to mitigate flooding since the city cannot afford the $20,000 to $30,000 needed to have a study conducted.
Reyes addressed the purchase of a fairway mower with six bids received. The current mower is over 20 years old. After review by golf course staff they requested Simpson Norton as the lowest most responsive bidder. The funds would come from the city manager salary that is not being expended in the amount of $19,350, with just over 1,600 hours of use, less than half of the current mower. It was noted that a new mower runs from $50,000 to $60,000.
Reyes reported that Maverik, located at 1301 Navajo Blvd., is starting a large expansion project in the next couple of weeks valued at $800,000. “They are going to be adding some more diesel pumps, they’re going to expand their landscaping to the northeast side and they’re going to be adding an RV dump too,” stated Reyes.
Regarding property abatement, she reported that the city has received permission to tear down the house next to the trailer that burned last year on East Florida Street.
Reyes informed the council that she has been reviewing job duties of the city personnel. “People have been assigned so many additional job duties that I don’t know that they remember what their original job was, or that I remember what their original job was. I also have some concerns about qualifications for certain positions,” said Reyes.
The council approved an agreement with Clifton Lewis to allow landscaping on the easement on Joy Nevin Avenue at the Wigwam Motel on Hopi Drive. Councilwoman Francie Payne and Councilman CJ Wischmann were not present at the meeting for the vote.
Councilman Richard Peterson suggested tabling the first reading of the Holbrook Personnel Policy to allow more time for the council to go through the document thoroughly. The council agreed and decided to schedule a work session on the item with legal council present at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 2.
Reyes said she met with representatives from Pinetop and Show Low regarding the White Mountain Connection buses and they may be coming back to speak with the council. Reyes also noted that she and Mayor Bobby Tyler have been taking a drive around town once a week and learning about what is needed for the city.
She has asked the Holbrook Junior High if they have more book exchange houses that can be placed throughout the city as they have had positive feedback on their use. The school will see about having more built.
The animal control officer position closed with 12 applicants. Animal Control Officer Merrill Young has informed the city that his final day will be on Dec. 8, of this year.
The city manager recruitment profile has been finalized and the consulting firm began advertising two weeks ago. Reyes believed that as of last week some resumes were already received.
City staff is contacting comparable golf courses and finding out about their services and rates so that it can be decided what the rates at the Hidden Cove Golf Course should be. Many golfers have their carts stored at the course in rented storage facilities but Reyes noted, “Right now the city has only five operating carts remaining.”
Daniella Day and Colleen Marsh with the Holbrook Chamber of Commerce went before the council and informed them that the chamber recently conducted a strategic planning meeting. This year the organization will be building up connections and resources.
Marsh reported that Old West Fest will be held on Saturday, Oct. 20 and will be featuring a Hashknife Posse cookout at 5 p.m. with a menu that includes cowboy beans, burgers and hot dogs. There will also be stick pony barrel races, pumpkin seed spitting and pie baking and eating contests. There will be entertainment, vendors, a photo competition, dogs dressed up as cowboys, corn hole tournaments, a beer garden and quilt show.
The annual Festival of Trees will be held from Thursday, Nov. 29 through Sunday morning Dec. 2 at the Catholic Family Center. Residents are asked to prepare their homes for the holidays and sign up for Light Up Holbrook at the Festival of Trees event on Nov. 29 with a first place prize of $500.
There will be awards for entries for this year’s Festival of Trees with the hope of encouraging more families and businesses to participate and there is also a silent auction planned. The Parade of Lights will be held Dec. 1 with the theme Candy Land. Dec. 14-25 will be the 12 Days of Christmas, with community businesses offering a special event or discount each of those days. “This all goes towards building our community and building a wonderful holiday season,” stated Marsh.
Coming up next week, the City of Holbrook in partnership with the Holbrook Unified School District will be presenting “Swing n’ Sway” by the BYU Ballroom Dancers at 7 p.m. on Oct. 13, at the George Gardner Performing Arts Center. Tickets range from $10 to $15 and can be purchased at City Hall, Monday through Thursday.
Pre-kinder craft classes have begun again at 10:30 a.m. on Fridays at the recreational building across from City Hall and a recreation schedule is being organized for the fall break. Contact City Hall for more information.
In other business, the council approved a consent agenda, which included payments in the amount of $91,760 and a special event liquor license application for the chamber of commerce for Oct. 20.
The council also approved a memorandum of understanding with the chamber of commerce for services related to the funding provided by the city. The agreement includes that the chamber will maintain its office and storage space in the annex of the Historic Navajo County Courthouse. The city will provide $40,000 for fiscal year 2018-19 to be divided over 12 monthly payments. Those payments will be maintained unless the chamber “fails to substantially perform its obligation under this agreement or fails to substantially adhere to its budget.” The chamber will be responsible for the Cultural Summer Dance Program, Old West Fest, the Festival of Trees and Christmas Parade of Lights.
The council also approved a proclamation claiming October Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
