Williams News Logo
Grand Canyon News Logo

Trusted local news leader for Williams AZ and the Grand Canyon

City employees to get driver's license checks
Council approves measure to periodically audit employee licenses

Employees with the City of Williams may soon have their driving records checked as part of a new city policy. Any employee who drives a city vehicle, for snow removal and other purposes, may soon be asked to sign a form that will allow the checks to be made by an outside agency.

Employees with the City of Williams may soon have their driving records checked as part of a new city policy. Any employee who drives a city vehicle, for snow removal and other purposes, may soon be asked to sign a form that will allow the checks to be made by an outside agency.

Members of the Williams City Council voted in favor of periodic driving record verifications during their regularly scheduled meeting May 24. The measure is designed to protect the City's interests when it comes to employees who may not be allowed to legally operate a vehicle. The decision came after a visit from the City's insurance underwriter.

"We had our insurance underwriter with Traveler's Insurance come out and spend two days with the city," said Williams City Clerk Carolyn Smith. "His recommendation was that we do this periodic check to make sure that they're not driving suspended or they don't have too many points on their license."

Councilman John Moore questioned the legality behind whether or not an employee would have to "sign off" on a check on their license.

"Because we're a government entity, they don't have to sign off," Smith said. "I do have a form that's available through the Motor Vehicle Department so that we could get them to sign off and I would recommend that we do that."

The city's insurance carrier, Smith added, would carry out the driver's license checks.

"If they check them," Councilman Don Dent said, "they can't disclose what's on the license. They can just tell you if the driver's acceptable or unacceptable."

Smith said the license check would not include further investigations into an employee's background.

"This is not an in-depth background search," said Smith. "This is just to check points on their license. The way that the employee policy reads right now is that it's the responsibility of each employee to tell if there are problems and in the last couple of years I have only had one employee do that, probably several more should have, but we don't really know."

Other council matters

It was a shorter than normal meeting for members of the Williams City Council May 24. Six councilmembers were in attendance, with the exception of Vice Mayor Bernie Hiemenz, who was absent for medical reasons. Budget numbers followed the meeting, with council members discussing issues regarding the upcoming city budget in July for the 2007-2008 fiscal year.

Bob Herman with Woodson Engineering presented a short update on the Country Club Road project during the regularly scheduled meeting of city council May 24. Herman presented council with design cost estimate on the project. Preliminary cost estimates are currently calculated at $1,338,065.

Council also voted to enter into a contract with a grant writer during their regular meeting May 24. The company, Grant Professionals, specializes in writing grants for small towns, according to Williams City Clerk Carolyn Smith. Under the terms of the contract, officials with Grant Professionals will research and proved a list of grants to city representatives at a cost of $500. The list will reflect applicable grants that city officials may wish to use in order to procure funds for various projects in Williams. Grant Professionals, for a flat fee of $3,500 per grant, would then write the proposal should City officials wish to pursue any of the grants on the provided list.

"Though he's located in Illinois and most of his grants have been written in Illinois, his specialty is small towns," Smith told council. "He's the dean of a university there in business and he does this as a sideline. We're not looking for somebody to do this full time at this point."

The short and the sweet

A proposed liquor license for Laurie Kimball of Miss Kitty's was denied during the meeting, as Kimball had withdrawn her request for the license at the time of posting, though council still had to make a recommendation during the meeting. Members of the Williams City Council took a look at the Kiwanis Swap Meet as well May 24, when the matter of its location was put before councilmembers for a decision. After some discussion on the property's ownership, council voted to approve the Kiwanis Swap Meet to City property located next to the Williams Justice Court. City of Williams employees also saw a change in their supplemental insurance carriers, from AFLAC to Colonial, after council voted to approve the change. The switch, according to city officials, stems from a number of difficulties with the company as reported by City of Williams personnel. Williams City Manager Dennis Wells informed council about the upcoming Fourth of July celebration in Williams during the regular meeting as well. Barring extreme fire restrictions, Wells said the Williams Volunteer Fire Department hopes to put on the "best ever" Fourth of July fireworks show in 2007.


Donate Report a Typo Contact