Seven-mile stretch of Lake Mary Road (FH-3) to close due to snowstorm

FLAGSTAFF — The Coconino County Public Works Department will close a seven-mile stretch of Lake Mary Road, also known as Forest Highway-3 (FH-3), at 4 p.m. today, Feb. 20 due to high winds and drifting snow from a large snowstorm that will impact the area starting tonight.

During this closure traffic will detour along the West Side Mormon Lake Road, which loops Mormon Lake and goes through Mormon Lake Village.

The closure will be in effect at the north entrance of Mormon Lake (near the scenic overlook) to the south entrance of Mormon Lake, which is about 35 miles southeast of Flagstaff. This section of Lake Mary Road will remain closed until weather conditions allow for the County to safely reopen the roadway.

The closure is due to high winds and drifting heavy snow caused by wind. When drifting occurs, visibility becomes limited and there is an increased difficulty for snowplow operators to keep the road clear of snow. To ensure the safety of drivers, they will be detoured along the alternate route through Mormon Lake Village.

A Winter Storm Warning from the National Weather Service is in effect from 11 p.m. Wednesday until 5 p.m. on Friday, February 22. Total accumulations from this storm are forecast to be between 13 and 25 inches of snow around 7,000 feet with locally higher amounts approaching three feet of snow in some areas of the County. County Public Works crews will remain deployed to keep County roadways open and passable.

Snowfall during this storm is expected to be heavy and periods of blowing and drifting snow may lead to whiteout conditions with near zero visibility. Heavy snowfall will create dangerous travel conditions during this storm.

For questions about snow removal operations and related road conditions, please contact the following:

Coconino County: For County maintained roads, please call Public Works at 928-679- 8300 during normal business hours (7 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.).

Lucinda Andreani named County Public Works Director

FLAGSTAFF – Coconino County Manager Cynthia Seelhammer named Lucinda Andreani as the Director of Public Works. Andreani served as the Deputy Director of Public Works from 2011 to 2016 and became the Interim Director in August, 2016.

Andreani, a Flagstaff resident for almost 20 years, has been working with Coconino County in various capacities for the past 12 years. She led the County’s efforts to mitigate the severe impacts of the Schultz fire and ensuing floods, and was instrumental to the voter education efforts for both the increase in the Jail District’s sales tax in 2006 and the Road Maintenance Sales Tax, Prop. 403 in 2014, both of which passed with strong voter support.

“We’re very excited Lucinda will continue her decorated career with Coconino County as the Public Works Director,” said Chairwoman of the Board of Supervisors, Liz Archuleta. “She is a dedicated public servant and an extremely hard worker. She is an invaluable and an active member of this community and is always working for the best interests of Coconino County residents.”

The Public Works Director oversees multiple operations within the County including Road Maintenance and Engineering Divisions, and oversees over 110 employees with an annual budget of approximately $20 million. The Director also manages the County’s Solid Waste services, the County’s equipment and vehicle fleet, the Flood Control District and the Kachina Village Improvement District.

“I’m looking forward to seeing Lucinda continue her excellent work with the County as Public Works Director,” stated County Manager Seelhammer. “The County is always looking for new and efficient ways to improve the lives of its residents. Lucinda is creative and embodies the diversity of ideas we look for. She is a proven leader with the skills and expertise to manage any challenges we face.”

Andreani has a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources Management with an Emphasis in Environmental Policy from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, CA. Prior to joining the County, she was a leader in the energy industry working with a major utility and an energy corporation, and with her own consulting business, served large energy users across the country.

Since she came to Flagstaff, she has served on several local boards such as the Flagstaff Leadership Program and the Northern Arizona Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology. She currently represents the County in an advisory role with the Flagstaff Metropolitan Planning Organization and Northern Arizona Intergovernmental Public Transportation Authority.

“I’m very grateful for this opportunity to continue my career with Coconino County as the Public Works Director,” said Andreani. “I am honored to serve the residents of Coconino County and the men and women of this department who are incredibly dedicated to public service. As Director, I will ensure we continue to provide effective and high quality services to the residents of Coconino County.”

Public Works’ mission is to improve community connectivity, economic vitality, and enhanced quality of life, benefiting our current residents and future generations.

Williams Water responds quickly

Wenesday 2015-04-15 002WILLIAMS — While walking in Williams, this reporter happened upon a burst pipe at the train park on Railroad Avenue across the street from I-40 Fleet Rentals.

The burst irrigation pipe was reported at 3:33 p.m. and an investigator responded in less than four minutes. In ten-minutes, a crew was on the scene to secure the water.
Wenesday 2015-04-15 005
It appears that the pipe had just burst and because of the quick response only about 30-gallons may have been lost, at most.

Even though the city may be in Level 1, it is important to report leaks and bursts pipes immediately to the city at 928-635-4451 so that they can be secured.