During their October 12 meeting the Globe City Council welcomed new Police Commander Charles Haines, a Police Department veteran of more than 20 years, who was promoted from lieutenant to fill the shoes of retired Commander A.J. Castaneda.

The council also gave the nod to expanded renovations of the Community Center swimming pool, aiming to reopen it by next summer, and paved the way for a new recreational marijuana dispensary to open.

Council members voted to approve a pool renovation contract with Structural Preservation Systems, not only for the basic repairs but also to add a scaled-down splash pad, zero entry, bulkhead, heater and swim team accessories.

“This has been a long time coming, so I’m excited to bring it back,” said Vice Mayor Mike Stapleton, who was on the council in 2014 when the pool was closed due to leakage issues. Stapleton called that decision one of the harder ones he has made.

Cost for the basic repairs was estimated at $1.28 million, an increase from the original $1.1 million estimate that was brought on by a rise in steel costs. The added features, presented in two packages, brought the total to  approximately $2.3 million, and the council’s decision was to include

both packages. “If we’re going to do this, we need to go all out,” said Councilman Mike Pastor. Erik Wurn, business development manager with Structural Technologies, explained to the council that the contract would lock in the price regardless of any further increase in steel prices. Along with Structural Preservation Systems, Structural Technologies is part of the Structural Group, a Maryland-based company with nationwide offices.

In developing the list of added features, city staff have consulted with Globe-Miami’s CCYS Piranha Swim Team on what they would like to see. “We will benefit greatly from the renovations that have been shared with us,” the team told the Arizona Silver Belt. “We are very excited about the pool opening this summer so we can have our full team.” The current target date to reopen the pool is May 15, 2022.

So far the pool project has received funding of $680,000 from ARPA Contingency funds; a $250,000 grant from Freeport McMoRan’s Community Investment Fund; a $100,000 grant for the splash pad from BHP Mining; a $50,000 grant from Arizona Complete Health; and $30,000 from Admin Contingency funds. The city is also pursuing additional funding sources.

“I’m very appreciative of all the partners out there that are helping us get to the finish line,”  said Councilman Freddy Rios.

The council also gave final approval for a conditional use permit that will allow Lawrence Health Services to open an adult use marijuana dispensary at 2250 E. Highway 60, on the southeast corner of the highway and Russell Road. The council’s vote, which followed a recommendation to approve by the City Planning and Zoning Commission, was unanimous, with no further comment by council members.

Lawrence Health Services, one of 13 winners in an Arizona Department of Health Services lottery awarding recreational licenses, stated in their permit application that their retail-only dispensary will benefit Globe’s economy through state, local and excise taxes as well as hiring at least 15 full-time workers. During two public hearings held in September, no citizens objected to the dispensary’s opening.