Category Archives: City

Williams City Council meets to accept budget

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williams-city-logoWILLIAMS — The Williams City Council will meet to adopt the budget for Fiscal Year 15-16 and approve an IGA with the Arizona Department of Revenue on “Uniform Administration” of the City Transaction Privilege Tax.

The meeting will be held at the City Council Chambers at City Hall on First Street beginning at 7 p.m. The agenda items are as follows:

  • Council may adopt Resolution 1321 which provides for the adoption of the budget for Fiscal Year 2015-2016.
  • Council may adopt Resolution 1322 which approves the expenditure limitation of $20,524,880 in Fiscal Year 2015-2016.
  • Council may approve an IGA with the AZ Dept. of Revenue related to Uniform Administration of the City’s Transaction Privilege Tax.

The rain continues

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300-150610_120912WILLIAMS — Williams received a heavy dose of rain overnight and into the morning which cleared up mostly by about 9 a.m. Clouds continued to roll over through about 1 p.m leaving only trace rains in their wake. Currently it is partly cloudy.

The long range forecast shows:

This Afternoon: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 71. Southwest wind 11 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.

Tonight: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 50. South wind 5 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 11am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 74. Light south wind becoming southwest 8 to 13 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.

Thursday Night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 47. West southwest wind 9 to 14 mph becoming light and variable after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Friday: A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 75. Calm wind becoming west southwest 5 to 9 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Friday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11pm, then a slight chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 50. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 77.

Saturday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49.

Flagstaff enjoys about the same weather pattern with a 10% higher chance of rain throughout the reported period.

UPDATE: Paving project on Interstate 17 near Camp Verde ahead of schedule

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CAMP VERDE — Crews have completed paving work this week at the Middle Verde Road traffic interchange on Interstate 17 (milepost 290) earlier than expected and will move to the off and on-ramps of State Route 260 (milepost 287) on Thursday, June 11 and Sunday, June 14.

In addition to work on the SR 260 interchange crews will continue paving work on northbound I-17 tonight and tomorrow, June 9 and 10 between mileposts 290 and 292. Drivers will be narrowed to one lane through the work zone during work hours.

Work hours are Sunday through Thursday nights between 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. each night.

This $7.5 million project consists of the removal of a layer of the existing pavement, repaving the roadway, bridge work and shoulder improvements. Work is expected to be complete by September.

The work zone will be clearly marked by temporary barricades and signage. ADOT advises drivers to allow additional time to reach their destinations and to proceed through the work zone with caution, comply with the reduced speed limit, and be alert for construction equipment and personnel.

Maintenance scheduled Tuesday night on US 89 south of the I-40 and Country Club Drive traffic interchange in Flagstaff

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FLAGSTAFF — Travelers heading northbound on US 89 south of the Interstate 40 and Country Club Drive interchange in Flagstaff this Tuesday night (June 9) will encounter reduced lanes as Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) crews perform maintenance work in the area.

The maintenance work will occur on northbound US 89 at milepost 418, from 7 p.m. Tuesday (June 9) to 6 a.m. Wednesday, (June 10). Drivers are asked to use caution while in the work zone, be alert for ADOT maintenance crews, and observe lane closures and speed reductions while work is underway.

Rain forecasts for the rest of the week

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640-clouds-clock001WILLIAMS — We can see by the ol’ Williams clock that Williams has moved into the 40% chance of rain forecast for this afternoon. The forecast for Flagstaff is about the same.

As of this writing, there is a 40% chance of rain this afternoon rising to 60% tonight. Flagstaff has a 50% chance this afternoon and 60% overnight. The chance of showers and thunderstorms hovers around 30% through Friday afternoon.

Ash Fork can also expect showers and thunderstorms throughout week with a 10% less chance as Williams.

ADOT seeks public input on its Disparity Study and overall Disadvantaged Business Enterprise goals for federally funded highway, transit and aviation contracts

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PHOENIX — Nearly every month, the Arizona Department of Transportation awards contracts to companies specializing in design, construction, transit and other components of transportation projects throughout the state. Some of these companies are federally certified as Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE), which are small businesses owned by socially or economically disadvantaged individuals. ADOT operates a DBE program to assist these firms with securing contracts that use U.S. Department of Transportation funds, and ADOT is currently seeking public input on its proposed goals for DBE participation in contracts for the next three years, along with public input on the results of a draft Disparity Study Report.

Every three years, ADOT must set an overall annual goal for the participation of DBEs. For federal fiscal years 2015 through 2017, ADOT is proposing a final goal of 8.90 percent of the total dollars of Federal Highway Administration-funded contracts awarded to DBE firms, with 5.00 percent to be achieved through race and gender conscious-neutral means (ADOT small business programs and other efforts) and 3.90 percent to be achieved through race and gender-conscious means (contract goals). ADOT is also proposing overall DBE goals for Federal Transit Administration contracts of 7.25 percent for federal fiscal years 2016-2018 and Federal Aviation Administration contracts of 4.87 percent for federal fiscal years 2017-2019, both of which to be met through race and gender-neutral means.

Recently, ADOT completed a draft Disparity Study Report that provides the data to support the DBE goals. The draft study provides analysis and results of the utilization and availability of minority- and women-owned firms — by race, ethnic and gender group — to determine whether there are disparities in the past utilization of those firms in ADOT and local public agency contracts. In addition, the study includes analysis of in-depth interviews with business owners, trade associations and others about their experiences related to the transportation contracting industry in Arizona.

Business representatives and other interested stakeholders are encouraged to comment on the size of the proposed overall DBE goals, the means proposed to achieve the goals and the results of the Disparity Study. ADOT would also like to receive public input on experiences competing for or working on ADOT projects, suggestions on how to improve contracting opportunities for DBEs and other small businesses, and what ADOT and the transportation industry can do to enhance support of the federal Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program.

Public Hearings 
Interested persons are encouraged to attend one of four public hearings in July. All public hearings will be held from 3 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., with an ADOT presentation at 3:15. Time will be allotted to allow members of the public to provide comments.

July 8 – Flagstaff    
High Country Conference Center — 1899 Ballroom
201 W. Butler Ave., Flagstaff, AZ 86001

July 13 – Yuma 
Pivot Point Conference Center (near Hilton Garden Inn Yuma) — Anza/Redondo boardrooms
301 N. Madison Ave., Yuma, AZ 85364

July 14 – Tucson
Ellie Towne Flowing Wells Community Center
1660 W. Ruthrauff Rd., Tucson, AZ 85705

July 16 – Phoenix
Arizona Department of Transportation Human Resources Development Center
1130 N. 22nd Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85009

45-day Public Comment Period
All documents related to the proposed DBE goal, methodology and draft Disparity Study Report will be available for review from June 8 through July 23, 2015, online at adotdbestudy.com or at the ADOT Business Engagement and Compliance Office, 1135 N. 22nd Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85009.

During the 45-day public comment period, comments may be provided in the following ways:

  • Verbal Testimony: At public hearings
  • Online: adotdbestudy.com
  • Email: info@adotdbestudy.com
  • Fax: 928-684-3021
  • Mail: Keen Independent Research, 172 N. Washington St., Wickenburg, AZ 85390

The public comment period will close on July 23, 2015. All public comments will be reviewed before ADOT submits final DBE goal requests to the Federal Highway Administration, Federal Transit Administration and Federal Aviation Administration.

Marine veteran bicycles through Williams to benefit charity

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marine-640-15-06-05-01WILLIAMS — Last Friday, June 5, Air Force veteran, Detective Bob McCarty, escorted Marine veteran Toran Gaal through Williams on his bicycle trek to Arlington. His mantra is, The only limits in life are those we set on ourselves.

Toran left San Diego Monday June 1 followed in the chase car by Brian Reilly with the goal of reaching Arlington, Virginia in 52-days. You can follow the ride at Toran’s web site or on Twitter.

Both men are amputees from Afghanistan, but Torin does not concentrate on that. He meets in competition, surfs, does public speaking tours and even finds time to coach basketball.

On the ride he carries two flags. The American flag; the symbol of the freedom for which he fought. The other is the Marine Corps flag which represents him—the Marine. In his continuing service to the Marine Corp, this ride is to benefit the Semper Fi Fund.

Interstate 17 travel at JW Powell to have restrictions in place beginning Monday June 8

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FLAGSTAFF — Motorists headed to the Flagstaff Airport, Fort Tuthill County Park, and to SR 89A from I-17 will need to be aware of a traffic restriction that prevents travel across JW Powell Boulevard beginning early morning on Monday, June 8.  This restriction will be in place continuously until early July while work is being performed at the tie-in and on the ramp for the new eastern roundabout.

Recommended detours as follows:

  • Travel for southbound I-17 connections to the Flagstaff Airport can be accommodated by continuing to Exit 333 (Kachina Blvd/Mountainaire Road) and then travel back northbound to Exit 337.
  • Travel from the Flagstaff Airport returning to southbound I-17 can be accommodated by traveling northbound on I-17 to Exit 339 (Lake Mary Road) and following detour signage to return to the interstate.
  • Travel for northbound traffic on I-17 needing to connect to SR 89A and Fort Tuthill County Park can be accommodated by continuing to Exit 339 (Lake Mary Road) then access to SR 89A at the intersection.
  • Travel for northbound traffic on SR89A or from Fort Tuthill County Park  needing to connect to I-17 can be accommodated by continuing north on SR89A/Beulah Blvd to McConnell Drive then access to I-17.
  • Detour signage will be in place to assist travel in the area.

This phase of construction is part of a project begun June 2014 and will facilitate the flow of traffic through the area, and is designed to meet current and future traffic demand. This project is anticipated to be completed by late summer 2015.

ADOT advises drivers to proceed through the work zone with caution, slow down, and be alert for construction equipment and personnel. Please allow additional time to accommodate for your destinations while the detours are in place.

Flag Military Surplus offers surplus tents

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Kelty tents (left) and Stansport tents (right) now available at Flag Military Surplus.

FLAGSTAFF — Summer is coming, but camping has already started around northern Arizona. If you need a tent, you might check out Flag Military Surplus (Facebook/Google+).

Flag Military Surplus has a lot of other military surplus items perfect for camping and hunting, such as mosquito netting, camouflage netting and sleeping bags. You have to be aware, of course, that they are a military surplus store so the stock changes.

Flag Military Surplus recently acquired a stock of used tents. They have Kelty and Stansport Tents for $39.95 and $19.95 respectively. We picked up one of each and a convenient spring rain assisted us in the test.

I do not know if the store has a “satisfaction guarantee” policy, but having dealt with the store in the past, the staff has worked hard to ensure my satisfaction. You might ask if you can set up the tent, for example, to make sure the one you choose is in good shape. These tents do not come with instructions, but if you cannot figure them out, you probably shouldn’t be playing with matches.
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