Ponderosa Ridge<br>site plan delayed

Nine items were up for discussion and approval at the May 23 Williams City Council meeting, but none were as controversial as item G — the site plan approval for Ponderosa Ridge Manufactured Home Community.

“The city council made a decision to postpone their decision on the project for nine months,” said Denise Ruhling, city planner. “The reason behind that was because we’re at a critical water level.”

Ruhling said no additional large developments will be perused at this time, but said the Ponderosa Ridge project will come before the council again.

“In nine months we’ll have a better grasp as far as our water situation goes,” she said.

City council approved a zoning and conditional-use permit for the site, located north of Interstate 40, east of Airport Road, on June 25, 1998. The preliminary plan for the 321 space manufactured home park was approved on Oct. 28, 1999.

A department review team reviewed the site plan on May 11 and recommended approval.

Concern was raised at the meeting about permits already issued to the proprietors, Monument Ranch Inc., which will expire before the nine months.

“All their timelines were extended by the nine months as well,” Ruhling said.

Also during the meeting the May 16 general election votes were canvassed. The total number of ballots cast at the general election was 554. Daniel Barnes, Patrick Carpenter and Bernie Hiemenz received the highest numbers and will sit on the council for the next four years. The $3 million bond election votes were also canvassed. A total of 307 people voted for the bond and 151 against it.

The well bid specs were approved during the meeting and are expected to be opened on June 15. The bids are published in this and last week’s Williams section of the Williams-Grand Canyon News.

During the meeting the council also approved:

• A temporary extension of a premises permit liquor license at the World Famous Sultana Bar for the Harley-Davidson Owners Group (HOG) rally in June.

• Purchase orders totaling $100,607

• An intergovernmental agreement with the Coconino County Board of Supervisors for library service funding and administration costs totaling $28,028.

• Applying for a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation grant for Williams Public Library totaling $7,054.

“He gives away millions,” said Eleanor Addison, Williams city clerk.

Addison said if Williams gets the money it will be used to install one Spanish computer workstation at the library and will equip the current computers with English/Spanish capabilities.

• The closing of Buckskinner Park due to dry conditions to protect Williams watershed.

One of the last items on the agenda was approval of water resource level four. Dennis Dalbeck said the council decided not to take this course at this time.

“I was instructed to send a letter to the county advising them the City of Williams is no longer to be listed as a water source with the state,” he said. “To comply with state law the they have to know where water is coming from.

“The city is still at level three.”