The contractors hired to build the new station and museum at the La Posada asked the council to waive building permit fees on the project and were denied. Stratton Builders of Mesa are currently working on the project, which is a collaboration between the City of Winslow, the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), the Northern Arizona Council of Governments and the La Posada Foundation.
The company has reportedly already paid the building permit fees of approximately $9,000 but have now asked for waiver and reimbursement of those fees. A letter from Stratton Builders to City Manager Steve Pauken read, “The building permit that was paid for on Monday, July 3, was given for the entire project bid plan set, which contained work ‘by others’ outside the scope of our work.” The reason for the company to ask for the waiver, according to the letter, is an, “Unclear line of what portions each entity should pay for the building permit.”
Pauken said, “The discussion came up in a construction meeting in regards to whether building permits were required to be paid for.” The contractors were informed that every construction project requires permits with fees imbedded in those permits. “The contractor in this case has taken issue with that.” He went on to explain the recommendation of city staff to not waive these fees because as he said, “The staff believes that it is fair and equitable that everyone who does a multi million dollar construction project within the City of Winslow be subject to the same degree of construction fees.”
Pauken added the chain of events that will take place based on the council’s decision. “The bottom line is, if you don’t waive this fee, they are going to pay the fee and they are going to bill ADOT and ADOT, instead of dealing with it in a more appropriate fashion, will turn right around and send a bill to the city. The city who, by contract with La Posada, will be sending the bill to them. So, the owner of the project will ultimately pay this bill if you don’t waive it, they won’t pay it if you do waive it.”
Before a motion was made by Councilman Thomas Chacon Sr. to not waive the fees, Councilman Curtis Hardy recused himself from the vote. Hardy’s company, Hardy Masonry is currently under the employ of the La Posada, and it is unknown whether the work being done falls under this project head, therefore Hardy declared a conflict of interest. Also absent from the vote, Councilman Bob Schlesinger, as he did not attend the meeting. The motion was carried with a 5-0 vote.
In other business, the council heard the quarterly court report from Justice Court Judge B.J. Little. Most notably, the period between July and September saw an uptick in criminal cases in the justice court from the previous quarter of April through June. The earlier quarter had 204 criminal cases, and 244 cases in the later quarter. Also of mention, traffic cases in the city court were up this quarter from 63 to 209. Little said, “The increase in those cases are due to city officers out there, being more active and doing their jobs.”
The council also approved the cancellation of meetings scheduled for Nov. 28 and Dec 26, due to the holidays. The next regular meeting of the council will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 24, in the council chambers, located at 115 E. Second Street. The public is invited to attend.
