Mohave Daily News: Local

BULLHEAD CITY - The Bullhead City Council Tuesday honored the memory of two people who served on the council. The meeting was dedicated in honor of Robert Adams, who was on the Bullhead City Council 1989-93 and who recently passed away.

Mayor Jack Hakim also presented a plaque to Teri Wise, expressing appreciation for her husband, Council Member J.B. Wise, for his “tireless effort” on behalf of the city. Wise died Aug. 5. Mrs. Wise said, “He loved this job.”

Filling vacancies left by Wise on the council and various other boards dominated several agenda items Tuesday. After a brief discussion, the council decided not to fill Wise's council seat until after the March primary. The term expires in June. Hakim said he believed filling the seat now would give “an unfair advantage” to anyone who “pulls papers” in November to run in March.

Council Member Jan Ward said, “We need to run the city” and not wait until March. Leaving six members on the council raises the possibility of 3-3 deadlocks. Council members voted 5-1, with Ward dissenting, to appoint the top vote-getter in March to fill Wise's seat until June.

Three other selections were made to replace Wise on committees and boards.

Councilman Larry Sinagoga was chosen to take Wise's seat on the Bullhead Regional Development Authority Board, while Vice Mayor Sam Medrano was selected to replace Wise on the Real Estate Owned Committee. Council members chose Mayor Jack Hakim to serve as liaison to the Capital Investment Advisory Committee.

In other business, council members adopted the Section 12 master plan for the RiverCenter project. The city plans to develop 283 acres leased from the Bureau of Land Management in the vicinity of Community Park. The plan calls for recreational development along the river and commercial development on the east side of Highway 95. The plan will next go before BLM for its final approval.

The council voted to renew the contract of Peter D. Psareas to serve as Associate City Magistrate for the salary of $79,636.

Council members approved the purchase of a 2009 GMC Savanna cargo van for $26,218 from Midway Chevrolet, Phoenix. It will serve as a replacement vehicle for the police department to transport prisoners.

The council authorized the submission of a grant application to the Arizona Department of Transportation through the Western Arizona Council of Governments for local transportation assistance funding for the Bullhead Area Transit System in the amount of $73,798 with a 25 percent local match.

Council members increased rental fees for the council chamber to $45 an hour and $25 an hour for the chamber conference room before 5 p.m. Rates after 5 p.m. will be $70 an hour for either the chamber or the conference room.

Advance reservations will be taken a minimum of two weeks and a maximum of 90 days prior to an event and a refundable reservation deposit of $100 will be required. No refunds will be given without a five-day notice of cancellation. A $100 cleaning and damage deposit also is required.

The council voted to seat John Mieding on the Water Resources Advisory Committee.

Council members voted to recommend to the Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control that the IHOP restaurant, 600 Highway 95, receive a Series 12 liquor license to sell beer and wine.