Winslow Council OKs Contract For Retail Development Strategy

By Sam Conner

The Winslow City Council approved a contract Tuesday evening with Buxton, a company which will provide information and develop a retail development strategy, after an hour of discussion and debate. The motion to grant the $50,000 contract passed 5-2, with Mayor Robin Boyd, Vice Mayor Marsha Juergens, and Councilmen Peter Cake, Harold Soehner and Marshall Losey favoring the proposal, and Councilmen Thomas Chacon and Curtis Hardy opposing it.

City Manager Jim Ferguson spoke several times, saying that the company would bring an effective tool for the city to use to improve existing businesses and attract new ones. A Buxton representative also spoke, as did most of the favoring council members. Judy Howell, Marie LaMarr and Eloise DeSpain spoke in opposition from the audience, and Chamber of Commerce Director Bob Hall spoke in favor of the item.

The meeting opened with reports from City Manager Jim Ferguson and Judge Alison Kolomitz. Those were followed by a busy public appearance segment in which DeSpain spoke of an Aug. 8 quilting program to be held at the Hubbell Building, Howell spoke regarding what she called excessive salaries paid several city employees, a gentleman spoke asking that something be done about the dangerous lack of fencing at the railroad track in west Winslow and a few other concerns, and LaMarr spoke about early Winslow and suggested that a street be named for the first businessman in the area, Frederick Clair Demarest.

Consent calendar items approved were the check register, minutes of previous meetings, a transfer of water salary funds to the capital non-structure improvement fund and payment for emergency replacement of a radio repeater for the fire department.

Renewal of the Smartworksplus Inc. contract came on a separate vote after Howell had spoken against it as harming the state’s retirement system.

Consideration of a request to waive payment in conjunction with a boating accident rescue at Clear Creek resulted in passage of a motion to allow the individual to make payments. There was also some suggestion that the ordinance setting such costs might need to be lreviewed. It was suggested that the costs for city residents should be lowered.

A request for assistance for the fourth annual Native American Festival resulted in the requester being asked to work with staff to identify just what is needed.

Further consideration of a request for assistance with the 16th annual Just Cruisin’ Car Show on Oct. 1 and 2 resulted in passage of a motion to grant up to $3,000 in assistance.

Kenneth K. Evans w appointed to the Historic Preservation Commission.

A liquor license application for El Torito Cafe at 908 Central Avenue was approved.

A resolution was adopted supporting an application for Transportation Enhancement funds for phase six of the Route 66 Downtown Renovation project.

An item calling for prioritization of two Winslow applications for Round 18 Transportation Enhancement funds resulted in La Posada project involving the old depot being given top priority.

A resolution was adopted authorizing a grant from the Federal Aviation Administration for design of runway rehabilitation.

Another resolution authorizing the city to enter an intergovernmental agreement with the Arizona Department of Transportation for repairs to be made at the intersection s of Second Street and Williamson and Third Street and Williamson was withdrawn, and will be considered later.

An emergency ordinance was adopted setting the property tax levy.

Future agenda items were proposed and will be part of upcoming work sessions.