Water and water-related projects top the city’s priority list for capital improvements in the next year, but other plans are also in store.

The city council  approved the list, with one addition, with a little more than a week to spare on the Aug. 19 state deadline. The short list is important because it locks in those priorities for funding opportunities from the state for a year.

Topping the list are new water wells, wastewater treatment plant improvements and replacing cast iron pipes underground, some of which date back to the 1920s.

“We are in desperate need of our wells,” Planning and Development Director C.B. Strain said.

Rounding out the short list are plans for a...

County to take over operations of Red Rock Park

The city and county have ambitious plans for Red Rock Park, and took a big step toward realizing them recently with an agreement for the county to manage the property that was agreed upon during the Aug. 9 city council meeting.

“This is really a big deal. [...] We’ve been in conversation about Red Rock State Park for over a year,” Mayor Louie Bonaguidi said, explaining the park was initially a partnership of the city, state and the Gallup Inter-Tribal Ceremonial. “Around 1991 the state said they wanted no part of it and deeded it over to the city. All these years, all we’ve ever done with the park is Band-Aid the...

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – Navajo Nation Presidential candidate Jonathan Nez was joined by his wife, Phefelia Nez and their children, at the Navajo Veterans Memorial Park in Window Rock, Ariz. on Aug. 8  as he announced that Chad Abeyta, a Navajo veteran, attorney, husband, and father from New Mexico will be his running mate for the upcoming Navajo Nation general election.

The 33-year-old vice presidential candidate is originally from Alamo, N.M., located on the eastern side of the Navajo Nation. He is Tó Baazhní’ázhí and born for Chishí. His maternal grandfather is Kiis’áanii and his paternal grandfather is Áshhí. Abeyta was joined by his wife, Paulene Abeyta, their two...

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez was joined by Council Delegate Otto Tso on Aug. 8 as he signed into law three resolutions appropriating funding for several communities for senior center projects, veterans centers, water and electricity projects, to construct a new hotel and restaurant, and to fund the Navajo Nation’s upcoming general election. The resolutions were passed by the 24th Navajo Nation Council during the summer session in July.

The approved funding includes the following:

$11.4 million for the Shiprock hotel and restaurant

$1.6 million for the Ganado Chapter senior and veterans center project

$1.2 million for the Tuba City senior center...