Bullhead City Council Regular Meeting - August 18, 2025
Bullhead City Council Regular Meeting - August 18, 2025
The Bullhead City Council held a regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, August 18, 2025, at 5:30 PM in the City Council Chambers. The meeting included a call to order, roll call (all members present), invocation by Pastor Bill Jones, pledge of allegiance, and presentations. Key items included discussions on a microbrewery liquor license, police department equipment, a Veterans Park donation, a river access point, a transportation grant for the homeless, funding for an animal shelter play area, naming of that play area, appointments to the Mohave County Water Authority, and a Community Development Block Grant application. The meeting concluded with adjournment.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the minutes of the July 15, 2025 Regular Council Meeting (motion carried 7-0).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Stephen Lee (resident) called for transparency and accountability in government, expressing concerns about special interests and requesting whistleblowers come forward.
- Jeff Krause (resident) inquired about a memorial walk/wall at the new animal shelter, suggesting a brick/tile program; City Manager later confirmed such a program is in development.
- Diana Gass (Bullhead City Packwalk) announced a PTSD and suicide awareness walk on September 27, 2025, at Rotary Park, with proceeds to a local nonprofit.
- Nancy Laughlin (Bullhead Community Garden) invited the council to the garden's grand opening on September 6, 2025, at 9:00 AM.
- Eva Genovese (resident) promoted a guest speaker event at the museum on August 22, 2025, at 5:00 PM.
- Multiple residents spoke on the Yale Drive river access item (see Discussion Items), with opinions split between keeping it open (citing recreational value and public right) and closing it (citing trespassing, vandalism, drug use, and property impacts).
- Sean Bull (resident) expressed concerns about accountability for the River Fund grant, citing personal experience of limited help and requesting audits.
- Tina Nunez (Catholic Charities) defended the accountability of River Fund and Catholic Charities.
- Scott (resident) also criticized the River Fund grant and called for monthly reports.
- Steve Demiko (former mayor) thanked the Mackleit family for the animal shelter donation.
Manager’s Report
- City Manager Cotter reported on a Volunteer Fair (August 28, 2025, 4-6 PM), a tour of the new Animal Resource Center (BARC) (approximately 80% complete, expected opening early 2026)), and the retirement of Police Chief Trebes (effective September 17, 2025), with a national recruitment to follow. He also addressed public comments about conspiracies, stating city employees work for residents.
Discussion Items
Item 2: Series 3 Microbrewery Liquor License for Heavy Metal Brewing Company
- Proposal: Approve a recommendation to the Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control for a microbrewery license at 2921 Friendly Place, Suite 4.
- Speakers: David Minor, applicant, introduced himself as a new full-time resident and experienced brewer.
- Outcome: Motion to approve passed 7-0.
Item 3: Second Addendum to Stancil Corporation Contract for Voice Logging Recorder System
- Proposal: Increase the agreement total to $75,957 plus applicable taxes for maintenance on multi-channel voice logging equipment.
- Staff: Police Chief Trebes explained the upgrade was needed to cover all dispatch channels; previously saved $90,000/year with this system.
- Outcome: Motion to approve passed 7-0.
Item 8: Donated Equipment for Veterans Park
- Proposal: Accept donated equipment (two World War II Jeeps and an ammunition trailer) valued at $12,000, place them at Veterans Park, and authorize up to $15,000 from General Fund Contingency for related expenses. Also, include the city logo as a project partner.
- Speakers: Matty Zarmi (resident, and community volunteer) presented the project, noting contributions from local rotary clubs and community members. Former Mayor Tom Brady supported. Several council members thanked the group.
- Public Comment: A resident asked about stolen plaques from the park; Zarmi said they are working on fiberglass replacements.
- Outcome: Motion to approve (including city logo) passed 7-0.
Item 4: Yale Drive River Access Point Discussion
- Proposal: Consider three options: (1) take no action (keep open), (2) close and fence, or (3) table for further discussion.
- Staff: Assistant City Manager Pruitt noted the item arose from resident concerns about homelessness, drug use, and vandalism.
- Public Comment: Approimately15 speakers; many advocated for keeping access open (recreation, property values, public right), while others cited trespassing, vandalism, and safety concerns. A notable point was made that the access is a public easement.
- Council Comments: Council members who visited the site reported seeing families enjoying it but also noted concerns about afterhours activity. Some noted the beach area is limited; most use occurs on private property.
- Outcome: Council decided to take no action, meaning the access point remains open (status quo). No vote needed.
Item 5: River Fund Transportation Assistance Grant ($50,000)
- Proposal: Approve grant with River Fund Inc.to assist homeless with transportation (bus tickets, car repairs, gas, etc.).
- Staff: Human Services Director Tipton provided statistics: from February2024 to current, 32 clients served (83 long distance bus tickets,25 repairs,73 stranded/ gas,39 temporary shelter). Since May2021,1,011 people helped, 292 bus tickets out of area, average $217/client.
- Speakers: Mike Connor (CEO of River Fund) expressed gratitude; several council members supported. A resident raised accountability concerns.
- Outcome: Motion to approve passed 7-0.
Item6: Budget Amendment for BARC Play Area ($160,314.50)
- Proposal: Transfer funds from Grant Fund to Municipal Capital Projects Fund for development of play area at Bullhead City Animal Resource Center.
- Staff: Animal Shelter Manager Allison Harms described features: six foot block wall, four foot wall with wrought iron, shade structures, artificial grass, water/power, and secure gating.
- Outcome: Motion to approve passed 7-0.
Item7: Naming of BARC Play Area in Honor of the Mackleit Family
- Proposal: Approve naming the play area after the Mackleit family and install a plaque recognizing Jeanine Mackleit's $160,314.50 donation (posthumous).
- Staff: Confirmed compliance with city code for naming after notable persons.
- Outcome: Motion to approve passed 7-0.
Item9: Appointment to Mohave County Water Authority - Resolution 2025R-35
- Proposal: Appoint Utilities Director Mark Clark as voting member and Assistant City Manager Edigar Kajirwa as alternate.
- Staff: Clark explained the Authority's role in protecting water rights for Bullhead City, noting potential shortage issues in2026.
- Outcome: Motion to approve passed 7-0.
Item10: Community Development Block Grant Application - Resolution 2025R-36
- Proposal: Authorize submission of application for FY2025 CDBG to replace ADA ramps along 2.5 miles of Hancock Road (95 to Colorado Boulevard). Original PD project was ineligible due to income demographics.
- Outcome: Motion to approve passed 7-0.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Calendar: Minutes approved (7-0).
- Liquor License: Approved recommendation (7-0) for Heavy Metal Brewing Company.
- Stancil Contract: Approved increase to $75,957 (7-0).
- Veterans Park Donation: Accepted equipment, $15,000 contingency, city logo partnership (7-0).
- River Access: No action taken; Yale Drive access remains open.
- River Fund Grant: Approved $50,000 grant (7-0).
- BARC Play Area: Budget transfer approved (7-0); naming approved (7-0).
- Water Authority: Appointed Clark and Kajirwa (7-0).
- CDBG Application: Authorized submission for ADA ramp project (7-0).
Note: All votes were unanimous 7-0 unless otherwise noted.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. Today is August 18th, 2025. The time is 5:30 PM. The regularly scheduled Bullhead City Council meeting will come to order. Can have a roll call, please. All council members are present. Thank you. Good evening, Mr. Mayor. Staff and guest. Let's pray. Most gracious God, we thank you for another day's journey. We thank you, Father, for the successful installation of our new mayor, and we pray for his strength, Father. We pray that you would guide and guard him, Father. And we pray that the city will continue to prosper and grow under his leadership. We pray, Father, for the meeting tonight. We pray that everything that is done here tonight will be pleasing to you. And as we go through the city's problems and through the cares, Father, we just pray for wisdom and understanding as the decisions are made. We ask, Father, for guidance in all the things that we do, and thank you for a successful safe summer, Father, as we get back into the winter season and our schools are back in session. We just thank you, Father, that you have given us a place where we can live in peace and harmony. And again, we thank you for our city fathers and for the people who are together here tonight to make decisions for our prosperity and for our growth. And we ask for your blessings to be up on each and every one of them, Father, and guide them in the way that they should go and help them to be the best that they can be in the name of Jesus. Amen. Stephen Lee, Bullhead City, welcome, new mayor. Uh welcome, Pam. Truth, transparency, and freedom in our government. And in order to have the latter two, we must, must have transparency and a government that answers to the citizens. I think that we have influences within our government that should be apparent to most people who've been paying attention within city, county, and state government, people who've moved up in government, that uh don't seem to answer to the people that seem to answer to special interests, globalists, APAC, things like that that are funding their campaign with an organized strategy of moving certain people up in government. I hope and am requesting that any whistleblowers out there with information on this or a reason not for me as a citizen to be concerned about it, would let me know or blow the whistle anonymously if you'd like. I'll give up my phone number. I don't usually answer this number. Feel free to block your number and leave me a voicemail. That number is ARI code 92848722. That is also spells it's all A's. It's AAA. So 928, it's AAA or 4872. I request the public's assistance. We see a packed house today. I hope that others share my concern on this and other issues to hold our government accountable and make it be for our truth, freedom, and continued constitutional republic, which seems to be slipping away at all levels of government, especially within this state under the cartel controls and the special interest money that controls our government. Thank you very much. Next. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Jeff Krause. I live at 2685 Canyon Park Drive. Uh, a couple of months ago, I contacted uh Mr. Carter concerning uh something at the upcoming animal shelter, as far as some type of memo memorial walk or memorial wall or something, uh to where we could either sell tiles or we could sell bricks and use that money for another revenue stream for the animal shelter, but then it would allow us to honor our pets, uh those that we brought with us here, those that have passed here. We could honor pets of friends of ours. Uh you know, as far as your demographics, it seems like it's a pretty pretty ripe demographic for people to donate a hundred, couple hundred dollars for a memorial plaque or a memorial brick for their neighbors' pet that they've lived next to for years. Uh and I don't know, you said that you were going to turn it over to your team, and I haven't heard anything back, and I'm just curious as to where we're at with it and what does the public need to do to be able to get this out to be done. So thank you for your time, ladies and gentlemen.
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