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Fireworks, communication and more for city officials
Fourth of July show is a possibility

<b>Patrick Whitehurst/WGCN</b>
Despite a small delay due to inclement weather, city officials said the combination Kentucky Fried Chicken, Taco Bell is scheduled to open on or near April 1.

<b>Patrick Whitehurst/WGCN</b> Despite a small delay due to inclement weather, city officials said the combination Kentucky Fried Chicken, Taco Bell is scheduled to open on or near April 1.

Williams city council members discussed a number of topics during their recent regular meeting, held Feb. 12 at the offices of city hall. Discussions on a proposed gateway structure, fireworks, and improved communication were among the items discussed during the meeting. Council members were also given an update on the progress of the combination Kentucky Fried Chicken, Taco Bell restaurant. A decision on city budgetary matters, originally scheduled for the Feb. 12 meeting, was tabled for a later date.

According to city officials, weather has created a delay for the scheduled opening of the Kentucky Fried Chicken, Taco Bell restaurant located on Grand Canyon Boulevard. The business is now scheduled to open around April 1, officials said.

Williams City Manager Dennis Wells provided council members with an update on a proposed gateway structure planned for a location along Grand Canyon Boulevard near Cureton Park. The structure, made from antique railroad material, will serve as a n overhead sign for Williams, which planners hope will draw visitors to the downtown area. Local Realtor Rich Gorney and Arizona State Railroad Museum (ASRM) founder Al Richmond presented the idea to council members during their Jan. 24 meeting.

"What we've found, to date, is we're not in too extensive of a ballpark. The quantity of concrete that we've come up with is about $3,200, electric lights, if we choose to light this structure is around $2,000. The addition of steel, in addition to the iron that we have and the steel that we have, about $2,000," Wells told council members during their Feb. 12 regular meeting.

While officials work to firm up an exact cost for the structure, other details are still being worked out as well, Wells said.

"We have gained quite a bit of information since our last discussion of the gateway structure and APS (Arizona Public Service) has reviewed the power lines in the area and has given us a clean bill of health, as far as the clearance between their power line and where the structure will actually be. It actually goes up 25 feet. There is a power line on the softball field side of Grand Canyon Boulevard, the west side. Some of the details we still need to work up are just what participation, if any, Grand Canyon Railroad will take as part of this and we hope to have a much more full report at the (Feb. 26) meeting for you and also more information on any potential grant monies we may land for the building of that structure."

Communication improvements are also underway, as directed by council members and Williams Mayor John Moore at their recent annual retreat Jan. 20 at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel. According to Wells, he and City Clerk Susan Kerley plan to begin meeting with city crews on a regular basis to listen to concerns and answer questions from city employees in an effort to improve communication lines between employees, council members and the public. Council members listed communication as a concern during the recent retreat, among other items.

"We think this is really important, considering the fact that we are going into some pretty rough economic water ahead and we want to keep that communication up as well as possible," Wells told council members during the Feb. 12 meeting.

Fireworks?

Council members also voted to approve a location for a proposed fireworks location for the 2009 Fourth of July celebration in Williams during their regular meeting Feb. 12. The decision was made contingent on approval from a number of local agencies, including the Forest Service and surrounding fire departments. Council members chose a location at the H.A. Clark Memorial Airfield, located north of Williams, should the agencies agree to conduct the pyrotechnics display.

"I think we need to do a little more study on it and maybe have city staff come back and advise us on the feasibility of it," said council member William "Bill" Miller. "We've got traffic control problems with the PD (Williams Police Department), we got parking issues, we need the fire department's opinion on how we can do this safely. We need the airport manager to see if we have any problems with FAA in doing it. I think it may be a feasible idea, but I think we need a little study on it."

Moore suggested that, if planning were to begin for fireworks, it should begin soon.

"If we are going to do fireworks then we need to get on with it," Moore said.

Should a fireworks show be allowed, it would be the first display since the 2007 fireworks, when a small fire began as a result of burning debris. City officials cancelled the 2008 fireworks display due to the threat of fire.


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