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 HUACHUCA CITY — The Town Council has decided to look into the possible hiring of a temporary public works director.

Following discussion at the previous council meeting regarding the months-long absence of Public Works Director Mike Lockett, who is out on medical leave after suffering an injury on the job, Mayor Byron Robertson proposed that the council direct staff to begin the process of looking into hiring a temporary replacement.

Since he has been out, Lockett’s duties have been allocated to several persons, like Margaret Saenz, the magistrate court clerk who took over interim town clerk duties from Lockett, and Jim Halterman, the town’s public works supervisor.

The town has also entered into an
intergovernmental agreement with Cochise County for building inspection duties.

Initially, Robertson proposed the town consult with Interim Public Management, the same firm that it went through to contract with its new interim town clerk, Kathi Cuvelier.

After prompting from council members Gene McCullough and Donna Johnson, the proposal was expanded to advertise publicly for the position as well.

“If it doesn’t work, recruiting, then let’s ask (IPM), but go out and recruit first,” McCullough said.

The council voted unanimously to direct staff to begin the process of advertising for the position.

During Thursday’s regular meeting, the council also voted to adopt Resolution No. 12-02, which bring the town’s public transportation policies into compliance with the Arizona Department of Transportation.

The reason this action is being discussed now, said Mayor Pro Tem Pat Woodruff, is that the SouthEastern Arizona Governments Organization, or SEAGO, which assists the town with grant-writing efforts, “reached a funding threshold,” forcing it to adopt ADOT’s required transportation
policies. “This, in turn, bound all sub-grantees, of which we are one, to also comply with that policy,” Woodruff said.