In the absence of council members Marshall Losey and Curtis Hardy, the Winslow City Council approved the purchase of an aerial ladder truck for the Winslow Fire Department last week. The approval grants the department permission to lease to purchase the truck from Hughes Fire Equipment Inc. The amount to be paid by the City of Winslow is $943,562. Payments will be made over the next 10 years with the first annual payment of approximately $100,000 due in July of this year. The council also approved a lease purchase agreement between the city and Bank of the West for the truck. Following a request for proposal sent to various financial institutions, it was decided that the local branch of Bank of the West offered the lowest annual lease payment for principal and interest.
Mayor Robin Boyd proclaimed the city in support of using the Arizona Education Progress Meter. “The council recognizes education must be made a top priority in our communities to ensure a strong economic future and higher quality of life for everyone,” the proclamation read.
The organizations of Expect more Arizona and the Center for the Future of Arizona have launched a progress meter by which the progress of higher education can be tracked. Evelyn Casuga, a representative of the Center for the Future of Arizona said, “Arizona adults between the ages of 24 and 64 do not have the kinds of post-secondary degrees or certificates for the jobs of the future.” She explained that only 42 percent of Arizona adults possess those credentials. The goal of the coalition is to track priority indicators (success in preschool, third grade reading and eighth grade mathematics) in Winslow as well as to raise the percentage of educated adults to 60 percent by 2030.
Mayor Boyd also proclaimed the month of March as Arizona Heritage Preservation Month in the city. “Preservation of prehistoric and historic archaeological sites, as well as traditional properties, provides significant educational, cultural and economic benefits to all citizens.” The proclamation explained that the Governor’s Archaeology Advisory Commission and the volunteer Site Steward Program has joined with local, federal and tribal officials to enhance public awareness of, and concern for protecting Arizona’s rich cultural history. It stressed the importance of the knowledge and understanding of Arizona’s past, and the threat it is under by the destruction and vandalism of archaeological sites.
The council approved ordinances that will allow the city to continue forward with a sewer pipe project. The area for the project is Gilmore Street and Williamson Avenue, north and east under Interstate 40 to North Road east of Santa Fe Drive. Winslow will be will be constructing a 24 inch sanitary sewer main as well as doing other improvements on the line. The ordinance allows the city to acquire property east of North Williamson Avenue and South of Interstate 40 from the Little Colorado Medical Center, which owns the property. The acquisition is for a public utility easement during construction and repair of the sewer line. Another approved ordinance grants easements located south of North Road and north of Interstate 40 to the city from property owners Roosevelt Hills LLC. Another allows the city to continue working with property owners, North Roads LLC. The owners have not agreed to allow construction easements to the city for the sewer line project. According to city engineer Mark Woodson, “Ordinance 1312 will authorize us to move toward condemnation or eminent domain to acquire the easements we need across that property.” City Attorney Nicholle Harris explained, “Condemnation is the last process, and it could take two to three months.”
City manager Steve Pauken told the council that the funds for the project were budgeted last fiscal year, but will roll over into the 2018 year to assure completion.
The city council also heard the annual report from the city manager, in which he stated, “Our community is sound, our finances are sound.” He mentioned accomplishments from various city departments and gave accolades to city staff.
The monthly finance report was also approved by the council. Finance director Elias Jouen said, “Citywide revenues for the month of December totaled $1.3 million, bringing the year to date total revenues to $8.7 million.” The expenditures during the period were $1.3 million. Spending year to date is $11.3 million. The major expenses for the month were the continuing wastewater treatment plant upgrades in the amount of $163,421.51.
The Winslow City Council meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month. The next regular meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 13, in the council chambers, located at 115 E. Second St. A special meeting will be held prior to the meeting at 5:30 p.m. with a presentation from the interim housing authority director, Andrew Loubert. The public is invited to attend.
