During last week’s meeting of the Winslow City Council there was a public hearing to discuss how the community block grants would be utilized. Community block grants are designed to support financially disadvantaged communities. These grants are adaptable; they can be applied broadly at the city level or targeted to specific neighborhoods, depending on the financial eligibility of the area. However, this flexibility also presents a challenge. If a grant is intended for multiple projects across different city areas, a financial study must be conducted for each neighborhood to determine its eligibility. This requirement complicates the process of distributing funds evenly across the city.
At the meeting, Mike James, representing Ardurra, (formerly Woodson Engineering) the city’s engineering firm, presented three potential projects for these grants. These included improvements in curb, gutter, and sidewalk in three areas: Southside, Coopertown, and the Winslow neighborhood of Aspinwall Street and Alfred Avenue. James highlighted the Aspinwall and Alfred project, emphasizing its dual benefits: it would address drainage issues and significantly aid a disabled resident who would gain greater accessibility from the sidewalk improvements.
Mayor Birdie Cano inquired of Tim Westover, the city’s public works director, about the neighborhoods that had previously benefited from these grants. Westover recalled that Coopertown was the last recipient, and Southside was slated for improvements during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, due to difficulties in surveying residents, the plan pivoted to upgrading streetlights to LEDs instead. So, it would make sense to go back to Southside when looking at where to spend this money.
Additionally, Westover proposed a new project—an all-inclusive playground. This playground would be fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The design would ensure that all equipment, including jungle gyms and swings, is accessible to children with physical disabilities, some even accommodating wheelchairs. Westover said he had seen a similar park go in Show Low and it was a nice thing to have for children who otherwise wouldn’t be able to participate with their peers. It is proposed that this would replace the current playground at Vargas Field near the splash pad as that is the city’s oldest playground equipment and is also a nice, centralized location for the town to use.
The meeting also established that for any project to be considered for grant allocation, it must have been presented at this public hearing. No public members proposed any projects for this funding, so it will be up to the council to decide what project presented by the city and its engineers will receive funding. The council is set to further deliberate on these proposals at the upcoming Jan. 23 hearing.
During the meeting, the council also heard a presentation from Betsyann Wilson, Program Director of NPC Friends & Family, presented the Northland Pioneer College’s (NPC) quarterly report. The report highlighted exciting academic developments at NPC. Notably, three new science courses are set to enrich the college’s curriculum. Marine Biology will be introduced at the Show Low Campus, offering students an opportunity to explore oceanic life sciences. For those interested in the study of heredity and genetic variations, Human Genetics will be available as an online course. Additionally, the Winslow Campus is gearing up to offer biological anthropology, delving into the study of human biological diversity and evolution and “what it means to be human,” according to Wilson.
The infrastructure at NPC’s Winslow Campus is also undergoing significant improvements. The Ruby Hill building and the science building are slated for remodeling. This renovation is particularly beneficial for the cosmetology program, which currently operates out of temporary modular buildings. The remodeling project is expected to break ground in either spring or summer of 2024, marking a substantial upgrade for the campus facilities.
An important aspect of Wilson’s presentation was the emphasis on scholarships. She outlined the various scholarship opportunities available to NPC students. A notable mention was made of scholarships designed to assist students living on reservations who face the challenge of commuting over 30 miles one way to attend classes. These scholarships are a crucial support system, easing the financial and logistical burdens for students pursuing higher education.
In other business, the council:
* Reappointed City Manager David Coolidge and resident Ken Evans to the Municipal Property Corporation until Nov. 17, 2026.
* Approved an agreement with Winslow Bomber Baseball for use of city-owned baseball fields.
* Approved the payments to Precision Electric Motor and Pump Services for reconditioning the Flying J and Oak Road lift stations for $71,490 and $79,490 respectively.
* Approved amendment to professional services agreement with The Kruse Group to extend the contract until the end of 2025 for lobbying services associated with the Winslow Levee Project at a cost of $5,000 a month.
The next meeting of the Winslow City Council will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 9, in the meeting room located at 523 West Second St.
