Winslow has been actively removing blight from its streets. According to City Manager Steve Pauken, 40 dilapidated and abandoned structures have been removed in the last four years. Pauken put a motion before the Winslow City Council last week to continue the progress. The motion passed unanimously, in the absence of Councilmember Judy Howell, to award a bid to Viking Specialty Services, LLC, for demolition. The contract will not exceed $87,167 and will include the destruction and removal of four structures.

Funding for the project comes from a grant administered by the Northern Arizona Council of Governments (NACOG). Pauken explained, “The City entered in to an agreement with the Arizona Department of Housing in August 2017 for the use of up to $213,758 for blight removal.” The agreement allocated funds from a Community Development Block Grant through NACOG.

Viking has already begun preliminary steps to demolish the four structures and are contracted to complete the job no later than 90 calendar days from the date of the notice to proceed, April 24. The structures included in the contract are: 423 South Francis Avenue, 1608 West Third Street, 402 West Second Street and 1302 East Second Street. Viking will be performing asbestos abatement as well as demolition. Pauken added, “It is our hope that we will be able to add a fifth structure to this list soon but will come back to you with more information on that. We will continue to remove the blight in our town.”

During announcements Councilman Tom Chacon Sr. presented Mayor Boyd and city administrators with a signed poster from the Hashknife Pony Express riders. The organization recently completed their 60th ride from Winslow to Scottsdale. “Thank you for all the help you gave us,” Chacon said, “and thank you to the police department and the Chief (Police Chief Dan Brown) in assisting with our ride.”

Councilman Bob Schlesinger announced that Navajo County has entered in to Stage One fire restrictions. Stage One, as explained by Schlesinger means, “You can still have a fire in your barbeque in your backyard. When you are out camping, you can’t have a campfire out in the woods unless it is in an established camp ground with an established fire ring.” He mentioned that drought conditions have forced the county in to declaring Stage One much earlier in the year than usual.

In related news, Pauken added, “As per Winslow Fire Chief James Hernandez, the city will not be issuing burn permits until further notice. It has come to our attention that in the region there have been an unusually large number of fires started by people burning things in their yards.”

The council was presented with the Old Trails Museum Annual Report. Museum Director Ann-Mary Lutzick said, “Our inhouse visitation for 2017 was over 3,900, slightly higher than the year before.” She also mentioned that 2,100 hours were volunteered at the museum last year.

In other business, the council:

* Proclaimed April as Child Abuse Prevention Month. The proclamation read, “Each year more than one million children are the victims of abuse and neglect.” Members of Parenting Arizona accepted the proclamation.

* Amended the intergovernmental agreement for court collection and criminal justice services between the city and Navajo County to renew the agreement for one year. Originally entered into in 2011, the agreement outlines that the county will provide justice and city court legal support services including administration and collections.

* Re-appointed Michael Leary to the Board of Adjustment until April 30, 2021.

* Appointed Randall Sahmie to the Arts Council until April 1, 2019.

* Approved the monthly financial report showing citywide revenues for the month of March at $1.3 million bringing year to date total revenue to $12.3 million. Expenditures for the period were $1.4 million with year to date expenditures at $15.4 million. Major expenses in March were $225,662 for upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant and $40,000 for permanent restrooms at Sacred Heart Park in Southside.

Winslow City Council meetings are held the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month. The next one will take place at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 8, at the Council Chambers located at 115 East Second Street. The public is invited to attend.