Winslow City Council Adopts $26 Million Tentative Budget

By Sam Conner
   The Winslow City Council adopted a $26,796,650 tentative budget for the 2009-10 fiscal year following a public hearing on the subject.
   Finance Director Regina Reffner said that a few necessary changes had been made in the document since it was last discussed. Now that the tentative budget has been adopted, it can be reduced before the final adoption, but it cannot be increased.
   The only other business item was for future agenda items and the only item suggested was for discussion and possible action on an emergency response to catastrophic conditions. This was the subject of a call to the public comment by Joan Lewis who said that Arizona had lost 195,000 jobs in the last year and that communities and areas should plan to meet emergencies that confront them and maintain protection and health services in times of great need. She said communities should be prepared in the event of an economic collapse, which no one wants to see, but is a possibility.
   The council then spent some time in executive session for legal advice regarding city charter authority. No action was taken following that session.
   A three-item consent agenda was approved. The items included approvals of the check register and minutes of June 9 meetings. An item concerning procedures for selection and approval of potential board and commission members was adopted after being amended to bar having members of boards which have oversight one over the other such as the planning and zoning commission and board of adjustment.
   Mayor Robin Boyd reported that Winslow had received a plaque for the Hubbell Building project from the Arizona Historical Society.
   Retiring Winslow Public Housing Director Fran McHugh introduced his successor Beth Rice.
   City Manager Jim Ferguson reported that the street work has fallen slightly behind schedule and met some unexpected surprises. He said that they are still close to budget and near the timetable. He said that 36 architectural firms have expressed interest in the library project and good things are expected from that situation.
   Tony Combrink of the Northern Arizona University College of Business addressed the council regarding a work force training center and asked the council members to complete a survey.