Dirt on Allen Street is in the process of making a comeback, while a new marshal and city clerk are just some of the planned changes for Tombstone.

Dirt, which covered Allen Street multiple times in its history, is in the planning stages of being shoveled back to the main drag.

The new administration has looked into rubberized asphalt, 'Hollywood Dirt,' which has no dust, and painted pavement to deal with the issue of dust. So far, none of the alternatives have been feasible.

While mayor-elect Jack Henderson acknowledged that dust would be a problem, he says a majority of businesses would like to see the dirt back on the street.

"Dirt is, at this time, our only avenue of approach to making this look like a western street," Henderson said, pointing toward Allen Street. "You gotta understand that Tombstone's had paved roads on its main street for most of its history. Dirt was on (previously), and it's a little bit of a maintenance item.

We're trying to come up with a better alternative, and at this time, we haven't."

Henderson declined to comment on the new appointment for marshal, but former city clerk George Barnes will once again be head of the position on an interim basis.

A new public works director will also be appointed after current director Alex Gradillas' retirement.

"He's gonna work reasonably because he just went on Social Security," Henderson laughed. "He's going to help us train a city clerk for the future. I'm hoping we can keep him as long as we can keep him."

A few new positions entailing the preservation of documents and records, and weekend event planners will be discussed by the new council.

Along with the numerous appointments to positions in the city, the City Council also will become more involved in specified projects. Council members will oversee both their ward, and new developments in the city.

Ward One will oversee grant writing and work with the state and national highway departments. Ward Two will focus on the tourism boards of both the county and state, along with the Chamber of Commerce.

Ward Three will work with planning and zoning, building inspections, and projects in the historical district. Ward Four's councilman will oversee the marshal's department along with the newly created police commission.

All this for the sake of, "lightening the load for the old guy," Henderson said.

While the new mayor has repeatedly expressed interest in "putting the cowboys back on the street," he says residents should not expect much in the way of change for the solicitation ordinance, though he would like to see a rotational schedule for businesses hawking their shows.

"It will be for a little tweaking of the ordinance," Henderson explained. 'All our ordinances have come from necessity. To change the ordinance drastically, probably is not prudent. It's to protect the public... it's just going to be eased so that businesses can do business in Tombstone."

Though political changes will be made leading up to the first city council meeting, cosmetic changes are also in store for Tombstone.

City Hall will change locations near the corner of Sixth and Allen streets, in the former public works building, a move that Henderson believes will save
approximately $20,000 a year.

"The new guys are going to move City Hall. All the records and everything else are going to have to be moved, offices will have to be set up. We're moving to a building the city owns, from a building the city leases. If it saves $20,000, it's a great move, we just have to physically get it accomplished. That will take some effort, and that may be the first couple weeks."

Now that the run-off election is over, Henderson looks forward to working with his council to move the city forward.

"What we're going to have is a council of four individual people who can think, and who have the best interests of the city," Henderson said. "And if they disagree with me, that's not necessarily bad. The city has some major problems that it needs to solve, and it's going to take all our efforts to solve it."