Winslow Recreation Department Director Sandra Knight was joined by Chief Financial Officer of the Arizona Diamondbacks Tom Harris to share good news with the Winslow City Council last week.
After years of applying for a grant from the Major League Baseball team, Knight was finally able to secure monies from them to build a new baseball field. She explained, “Every year since 2015 I have been waiting for this call and we got it. This complex will eventually be located east and north of the multi-purpose fields on Maple Street.”
Harris added, “I have been with the Diamondbacks for 27 years, and I am also a native of Winslow. We are pleased to announce that we have selected Winslow as our 44th field we have built in communities across Arizona.”
Diamondbacks Executive Vice President Jeff Jacobs said, “We are excited to be a part of this four-field complex that is planned for (Winslow). Just from a financial perspective, it is a commitment on our end of a little less than a half million dollars. What we will be doing is taking on one field in that master planned complex and we are excited to jump start it for you guys.”
Knight continued, “We are designing these fields so that we can accommodate all ages of ball players and be a hub to host tournaments and other community events. We are grateful we were chosen.”
The council approved a memorandum of understanding with the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation, Pimmex Contracting and Nelson Architects for the construction of a regulation sized baseball/softball field later in the meeting.
In other business, and in the absence of council members Melissa Nelson, Rickey Jackson and Peter Cake, the council:
* Proclaimed May 1-7 as, “National Correctional Officer’s Week,” May 6-12 as, “National Nurses Week” and May 15-21 as, “National Public Works Week.”
* Approved the tentative budget for fiscal year 2022-23 and established the expenditure limitation in the amount of $19.3 million. Further action in the budget process will be taken in the coming weeks.
* Approved a liquor license application for permanent extension of premises/patio for Bojo’s Grill, located at 117 W. Second St.
* Heard a status report from Winslow City Manager John Barkley in which he spoke about the splash pad under construction at the Vargas Field ramadas. He hopes it will be completed in June.
* Approved a grant agreement between the City of Winslow and Navajo County accepting $200,000 in ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) toward construction of a new library facility.
* Approved a cooperative purchasing agreement with Southwest Hazard Protection, LLC in the amount of $276,549 for firefighting protective equipment, apparel and accessories including self-contained breathing apparatuses.
* Approved an intergovernmental agreement for the White Mountain Regional Special Response Team between the Winslow Police Department and multiple agencies throughout the region. The agreement requires a $3,500 contribution by WPD.
* Approved assistance in the form of city water, facilities and a police escort for a parade for The Cherry Bombs Pride event taking place June 24 and 25.
The next meeting of the Winslow City Council will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 14, in the Hubbell Building, located at 523 W. Second St.
