JANUARY 2016
REGULAR MEETING OF THE
CITY OF GLOBE MAYOR AND COUNCIL
Tuesday January 12, 2016 6:30 PM
City Council Chambers Pine Street
The dispute between Arizona Water Company and the City
of Globe was on the agenda at last night's Regular Meeting
of the City of Globe Mayor and Council. The rules were
waived and a proposition to amend the US 60 water line
contract with Sellers & Sons was approved. Public Works
Director Jerry Barnes explained the amendment will install
an interconnection with AWC, paid for by the water
company, a part of an interim agreement between the parties.
The Arizona Corporation Commission will vote on accepting
the full agreement between AWC and the City of Globe in
March. While parts of the agreement were previously made
public at an ACC meeting this month, there was no word
then, or at the meeting last night, about the fate of the Water
Treatment Plant. Should AWC take over delivering water to
the plant, it will cost the City of Globe hundreds of
thousands of dollars a year, and Mayor Terry Wheeler has
been outspoken in the past about never letting that happen.
Barnes and Finance Director Joe Jarvis gave an update on
the WIFA construction. For the most part it's going as
planned, on schedule with only a few minor hiccups.
Jarvis gave a brief budget presentation for Fiscal Year
2016-17. Three members were slated to be voted onto the
budget committee, but with the absence of Councilmember
Mike Stapleton, it was decided to table that for a meeting
when everyone was present. Jarvis said that the Fiscal Year
2014-15 Audit should be done by February.
He warned that the police budget may be blown a bit for this
fiscal year, but that other funding may cover it. Jarvis
pointed to his projection from the current figures that there
will be $400,000 surplus. He also mentioned that the extra
expenses may be covered somewhat by salary savings from
four open positions in the police department, which he hopes
will be filled shortly. Police Chief Mark Nipp is working on
it and KQSS will promote the openings. There was no
mention during any of the budget talk about the $10 million
dollar deficit from unfunded liabilities for pension expenses
due the state.
With the departure of City Manager Brent Billingsley, Fire
Chief Al Gameros is acting in that role until the job is filled.
He said that there are problems getting people to answer a
survey that's being used to partially determine whether the
Globe Fire Department will get funding for a new fire truck.
He's hoping for more responses to the hand delivered survey.
Councilmember James Haley suggested that maybe the radio
station could do a public service announcement. KQSS
readily agreed.
Gameros mentioned that the Active Adult Center is still
looking for a cook, and this year the library will be closed on
Saturdays over holiday weekends, beginning with this
Saturday, closed for Martin Luther King Day, which is
coming up Monday.
Dennis Fraze
A special presentation was made to Dennis Fraze who is
retiring after 20 years of service to the city, the last 14 of
which to the Globe Fire Department. He got a watch.
The Home Rule election process was again up for
discussion. In order to deviate from spending limits in place
decades ago, an arcane renewal process set forth by the state
requires an election every four years. Globe's renewal
election is due this year. There was a proposal to hold it
coincidental to the August primary, but Councilmember
Haley mentioned that the last election was held in the
Spring, which would create a timing gap. Jarvis said he'd
check with the League of Cities and Towns as to what to do.
Chris Collopy, Director of Planning and Zoning and
Councilmemeber Roberta Johnson discussed a grant
opportunity from HUD. The necessary data collection is
overwhelming, and even with the help of CAG's Alan Urban,
they won't have it in time to apply. But they will go forward
with collecting the data so as to have it for future
opportunities. They also mentioned a second grant that they
expect to receive that will address vacant housing and blight
issues. The grant will give them about $75,000 worth of
planning documents for the cost of $10,000, which will be
paid by the SGCEDC.
Town of Miami Manager Joe Heatherly was on hand to
again ask for funding for Cobre Valley Community Transit,
this time for $25,000 instead of the $32,000 he previously
requested. But the vote was again tabled due to the lack of
an ADOT statement verifying that the CVCTA had met all
necessary requirements.
Resolution Copper Team L-R: Casey McKeon, Andrew Taplin,
Randy Seppala, Vickey Peacey, Melissa Rabago, Mike Beton,
Brian Seppala, Tara Kitcheyan
RESOLUTION COPPER
PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE AND DINNER
Wed. Jan. 13, 2016 Superior High
The Resolution Copper Public Open House and Dinner last
week was a first, all on hand from the company agreed.
Never before had Resolution Copper, or probably any
mining concern in recent history, held a public meeting
where the reaction to their plans was 100% positive. But
that's what happened last Wednesday evening, and it wasn't
for lack of attendees. The multi-purpose room at Superior
High School was packed. Even those in attendance from
the San Carlos Apache Nation voiced their approval. And
the reason seemed to be unanimous. The project will spur
economic growth and much needed wide scale job creation
in the Copper Circle without sacrificing the environment.
Government mandates insure the latter, but Resolution
Copper seeks to exceed what's required, recognizing that
being a good neighbor is as vital to their success as being a
good employer.
Vickey Peacey, Resolution Copper's Senior Manager of
Environment, Planning and External Affairs presided over
the meeting, facilitating the question and answer portion and
introducing Resolution Copper staff and area elected
officials. Project Director Andrew Taplin provided a review
of 2015, and a rundown of 2016 priorities.
Taplin said that one of the company's primary concerns will
always be safety, where its track record is exemplary as
recognized by the National Mining Association. The Water
Treatment plant has seen no injuries since it opened in 2009.
The Core Processing Facility continues its strong record of
14 injury-free years, with the only event last year being a
geologist with a sprained knee. 2015 saw the celebration of
1,000 injury-free days in Major Drilling. Just after that
milestone, a minor first aid incident occurred. Over all for
the year, there were three injuries related to the project
including two lost time events and one medical treatment
case. Two of the three workers are back on the job with the
third expected to return shortly.
As the Resolution Copper Project progresses, its focus
changes, and that has led to new hiring. Three local
residents have been hired for fence building, and
advertisements have been placed for another three positions,
two in environmental compliance and permitting and one for
a Native American Affairs Liaison.
As more reclamation efforts are undertaken, Resolution staff
is keeping an eye on 2016 likely being an El Nino year.
Expecting heavier than normal rains, $2 million in pumps
and pipes have been placed by Oddonetto and Superior
Environmental to divert water to storage areas so more than
the required storm water will remain on site.
Perhaps most important, is Resolution Copper's commitment
to transparency in its efforts to promote sustainable value to
the local community. In consultation with community
stakeholders, the Resolution Copper Mining Quarterly
Scorecard, which provides a graphic representation of
progress, answers the “How are we doing?” question, and
solicits feedback on company performance, is available for
the public to view at the Mine Information Office in Superior.
Taplin said the five areas for focus in 2016 include Safety,
Permitting, Reclamation, Construction-specifically on #9
shaft which should reach full depth in 2017. 2015 saw the
completion of shaft #10- and continued strong engagement
with local communities.
That last area will be in evidence through NEPA, the
National Environmental Policy Act, which provides for
extensive input from the public in a number of ways. Vickey
Peacey detailed them, and a Citizen's Guide from NEPA to
Having Your Voice heard was distributed.
Resolution Copper's Community Team showed slides of
various projects supported by the company last year
throughout the region. Among them were food banks, little
leagues, robotics programs, scholarships, and extensive
support of public service organizations and efforts in the
area. Randy Seppala, manager of shaft development
discussed underground construction efforts and the
completion of Temporary Pump Level 2 at the bottom of #10
shaft, over 6700 feet below ground, which handles lowering
the air temperature and removing water. Casey McKeon,
Resolution Copper's Environmental Manager discussed
Lower Smelter Pond efforts.
But it was the question and answer session, which proved to
be the most illuminating. Expecting mixed reviews from the
public, if not a barrage of negativity, Resolution Copper was
armed with facts, all of which were interesting but not
needed to sway the minds of attendees, who all appeared to
fully back the project. Karen Kitcheyan, an enrolled
member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe who is related to
Tara Kitcheyan, Resolution Copper's Senior Advisor for
Native American Affairs, is unsurprisingly supportive. But
most illuminating were her comments about those who rally
to preserve Oak Flats. She's been vocal and active against
their efforts and said at the meeting they were primarily
non-tribal members, led by someone from out of town. She
recounted the thoughts of various tribal elders who instead
of seeing the area as sacred, reminisce about it being a great
place to drink beer. Tribe member John Wesley focused on
the economic good that the project would do for those on the
reservation. He said it is a way everyone can come together
to combat the crippling effect of history and the rampant
unemployment affecting Native Americans, and added that
he didn't want a small group of detractors to undo what is
profoundly for the common good of his people.
Buoyant from the positive meeting, Resolution Copper got
more good news on Monday. Tonto National Forest has
authorized the collection of baseline data at the proposed
tailings site, which is the next step in the permitting process.
NEW VETERINARIAN
IN TOWN!!
Dr. Rita Sanders, DVM, second from left, and staff at the
ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday (January 22nd) for
Copper Hills Veterinary Services, 807 W Sullivan Street in
Miami. 928-473-1145. CopperHillsVet.com
Integrated Health Center
Opens in Globe!
A new integrated health care facility opened in Globe last
week designed to treat mental health conditions including
substance abuse, and the physical issues that arise from
them. Sabrina Finklea-Strickland, a family nurse
practitioner at Canyonlands Community Health Care is
collaborating with Derek Mellor, a behavioral health clinical
associate with Southeastern Arizona Behavioral Health
Services, SEABHS, to treat the whole person, an approach
proven by statistics that show that people with mental and
substance disorders often die decades earlier than the
average person, mostly from untreated and preventable
chronic illnesses.
Canyonlands, which has maintained a facility in Globe for
many years, is a federally funded non- profit health center
dedicated to the medically underserved, providing the full
range of primary care services from treatment to prevention
including everything from childhood vaccines to DOT
physicals, regardless of ability to pay. SEABHS, a group of
non-profit outpatient clinics in Arizona that offer a variety of
mental health services including medication and therapy, is
new to the local area.
There was an open house last week at 111 W Blake Street
with representatives from SEABHS and Canyonlands on
hand to make presentations and answer questions . Also
sponsoring the event was Safeway, Fry’s Food, Rainbow
Flower & Gifts & Jeri Byrne with the Eastern Arizona
Health Education Center, EAHEC.
L-R Carol Welsh Health SEABHS Integration Coordinator;
Holly Schade Canyonlands Community Health Care CFO;
Sabrina Finklea-Strickland, Canylonlands Globe Family
Nurse Practitioner
REGULAR MEETING CITY OF GLOBE
MAYOR AND COUNCIL
Tuesday January 26, 2016 6:00 PM
City Council Chambers - Pine Street
Acting City Manger Al Gameros is retiring after a month in
that position. That's the news from last night's Regular
Meeting of the City of Globe Mayor and Council. Gameros,
who has been temporarily filling the vacancy left by Brent
Bilingsley's departure last month, is leaving with 29 years of
dedicated service to the city, the last 17 years of which he's
served as Globe's Fire Chief. A party was held, accolades
were given and a good time was had by all who were
unanimous in their praise for Gameros and good wishes on
his retirement.
Al Gameros
See more retirement pictures here!
In his final appearance as interim city manager, Gameros
reported a slight delay in the US 60 water line project, due to
material problems. He said he anticipates the delay to last
two weeks. A decision on who will replace Gameros as
interim city manager was tabled until the next meeting. So
next week, Globe will be unmanaged.
Aimee Staten, Branch Executive for the Boys And Girls
Club here presented the Mayor's members of the month
awards. For October it's Lane Underwood and Estella Maes.
November recognizes Annalyssa Maes and Braxton Tober,
and December's winners were Kaydence Tober and Andrew
Thompson. Certificates and gifts were presented. Staten said
the Club serves 35 kids a day, and a push is on for new
members, with an outreach to children in Miami.
The Boys and Girls Club Members of the Month
(not pictured are Braxton and Kaydence Tober).
Councilmember Roberta Lee Johnson reported that Friday
Night's Pinal Mountain Foundation art auction raised
$11,000 for scholarships. All the questions were answered
by ADOT, and Miami Town Manager Joe Heatherly got
$25,000 from Globe for Cobre Valley Transit. Globe
Finance Director Joe Jarvis announced budget preparation
meetings to be held on alternate Tuesday evenings at 5:30.
The meetings will be held on weeks when no City Council
meeting is scheduled, and the public is welcome to attend.
Director of Plannning and Zoning, Chris Collopy reported
on the proposed permitting process for donation boxes.
There will be a $250 permit per box, per location, designed
to cut down on fraudulent boxes and scams. There will be a
vote on the matter at the next meeting.
Passage was unanimous, including motion to wave the rules
and vote at this meeting. Globe is on board with the Gila
County Industrial Development Authority to seek a Promise
Zone designation for the area. Mentioned as already
supporting the resolution were San Carlos, Hayden,
Winkleman, Superior, Tonto Basin, Young and Miami-but
Miami has more than a few reservations, as discussed in
Miami's Monday Meting. The brief presentation to the Globe
Council was made by IDA head Fred Barcon, and secretary
Sandy Palmer, interrupted by Mayor Terry Wheeler's wife
Diane who said she heard Payson was violently against the
concept and has heard concerns from other people about the
Promise Zone designation and what requirements might be
imposed by the federal government. She said that opponents
didn't realize it could be passed at this meeting. Her
comments were duly noted before the Council voted
unanimously to pass the resolution in favor of the IDA's
Promise Zone efforts.
PUBLIC HEARING & SPECIAL MEETING
TOWN OF MIAMI MAYOR AND COUNCIL
Monday January 25, 2016 6:30 PM
Town Council Chambers - Sullivan Street
Miami is half a million dollars short on balancing next year's
budget, it was disclosed at last night's Public Hearing and
Special Meeting of the Town of Miami Mayor and Council.
Work on the 2016-17 Fiscal Year budget continues but
presently $1.9 million in revenue is projected, which is
$500,000 less than planned expenditures. Among the
possible solutions discussed by Town Manager Joe
Heatherly was turning over Cobre Valley Transit to the
county. Going after non-compliant sewer customers was
once again mentioned. 40 to 50 locations served by Arizona
Water Company do not have sewer accounts. The possibility
that some of the locations rely on septic tanks was not
discussed.
An update on Phase 2 of the sewer project was presented,
with focus on a six figure problem. Last summer, Southwest
Gas installed gas lines at an intersection on Canyon Road
that will directly interfere with the planned sewer line.
Making the problem stickier, it's not certain that Southwest
Gas did it without a permit. When the last public works
director was fired, he left the building with all evidence of
what permits he might have issued. Talks will begin with
Southwest Gas on what to do, as money for a revised sewer
route will not be covered by the USDA grant.
The public hearing was chaired by Alan Urban from CAG,
the Central Arizona association of Governments. IT
concerned CDBG Funds. The Community Development
Block Grant is worth a bit less than $400,000, and should be
used for community projects or services for low income
residents, reducing blight, or urgent needs. Urban said this
was the time to compile lists of possible projects to fund, so
that a choice can be made at the next Public Hearing.
Several people weighed in on possibilities. Councilmember
Mike Black suggested resurfacing streets after Phase 2 of the
sewer project carves them up. Councilmember Sammy
Gonzales, who was not present at the meeting, gave Black a
note requesting lighting upgrades for streetlights, bridges
and Veterans' Park. Councilmember Susan Hanson
suggested restoring steps around town. She said a grant for
that was not received, but the documentation for it is
available to be used for other grants such as this one. Vice
Mayor Don Reiman mentioned the Bullion Plaza elevator
project, noting that CDBG funds were used for that purpose
at the Cobre Valley Center for the Arts. And Heatherly
brought up the library building, which needs HVAC and
electric improvements.
But it was Gary Leveque, Miami's new code enforcement
officer, who made the most compelling argument. He's
identified 30 properties, which need to be demolished. All
are abandoned and collapsing. Many have been abandoned
because the owners can't afford to fix or demolish them.
They are not only eyesores, but a danger too. Leveque
recalled chastising children playing in the decaying
structures telling them to leave the buildings. In one
instance, a beam fell right where the kids had been standing
moments before.
Sandy Palmer, secretary for the IDA, the Gila County
Industrial Development Authority, and IDA member Tim
Humphrey appeared before the Council to promote Miami's
participation in a regional Promise Zone application, which
is due on February 23rd. First they explained what the IDA
was. Councilmember Don Reiman remarked he'd only dealt
with them once, and it was a bad experience. He was
obviously cautious about what the IDA would get out of
promoting the Promise Zone, or anything else. Palmer and
Humphrey explained that the group's sole purpose was to
help development in Gila County because it lacks economic
opportunities. They said that if the area was designated a
Federal Promise Zone, it would be in a better position to
obtain a wide variety of federal funding.
That concept piqued the interest of Councilmember Black
and Medina who wondered allowed what the Federal
Government was getting out of the deal. Black asserted
'they're not just gonna do something for nothing.' Medina
mentioned that he'd read that one of the requirements for
Promise Zones was to bring in immigrants and refugees. He
said he's also heard that from other politicians. Palmer and
Humphrey said they knew nothing about that.
Linda Gross, publisher of the Globe-Miami Times stood up
and emphasized her support for the IDA and the Promise
Zone, asserting that IDA was a volunteer organization with a
goal of improving the area through economic development
stimulus. She and Black went back and forth over her not
being a Miami resident though she's lived in the region for
17 years. With Gonzales not present, a vote was taken to
table the matter, but the result was a 3-3 tie. Another vote,
this time on whether to approve applying for a Promise Zone
designation, also resulted in a tie, with Black, Medina and
Mayor Darryl Dalley against it, and Councilmembers Susan
Hanson, Rosemary Castandeda, and Don Reiman for it. The
matter will be revisited at the next meeting.
Medina's claim over possible immigrant relocation here if
the area is named a Promise Zone, is worth investigating.
Last year President Obama publicly stated his desire to
connect the Promise Zone Initiative with Welcoming
Community Efforts, the plan that brings scores of
immigrants to American communities. Obama instructed
HUD to include the handling of immigrants in this round of
Promise Zone solicitations.
The Council voted to put Home Rule on the primary ballot
on August 30, 2016, a move approved by town attorney
Phyllis Smiley who said that the state has extended the
current Home Rule designation through the end of 2016, due
to the new dates for the primary election.
The Miami Library is holding a White Elephant Sale in
March. They'd like donations, and there's no limit on what
that might be. Whatever you've got that you don't want,
they'll probably take.
Work Session of the
Gila County Board of Supervisors
Tuesday January 26, 2016 10:00 AM
Gila County Courthouse
In the continuing effort to highlight various county
departments, yesterday's Work Session of the Gila County
Board of Supervisors was focused on the Public Works
Department, which is the county's largest division, with
more employees and money than any other department.
Steve Sanders is the new director. He was at the meeting,
joined by County Manager Don McDaniel, Deputy County
Manager Michael Scannell, Fiscal Manager Shannon Coons,
and Facilities Director Bob Hickman. The biggest project
for the department currently is the revamping of the Payson
Criminal Justice Facilities. A design is almost complete for
the former NAPA Auto Part store, which will serve as
Superior Court North, a 6,000 square foot facility, which
includes a 25% expansion. The second phase will be
modification of the jail facility next door. The focus is on
the secure transfer of prisoners to court and more space for
medical treatment. The third and fourth phases are the
revamping of the current courthouse into county offices.
The first floor will be handled in Phase 3, the second floor in
Phase 4. There's no estimated completion date or a set
budget as some details have yet to be finalized, but they
hope to have that information available some time in
February.
Hickman told the Supervisors that the kitchen remodel at the
Gila County Jail in Globe went very well. The key concerns
were health, hygiene and security, and it came in at $28,000
under budget. Hickman also reported that the Payson stair
project is complete. The stairs at the current courthouse in
Payson were badly in need of repair. The project was
completed at $7,000 under budget.
Sanders stated that a blading schedule has been compiled for
500 miles of dirt roads. The county has been divided in two.
The Copper Region contains Globe. The Timber Region
contains Payson. The schedule, along with completion
information, will be placed on the county website. Sanders
also mentioned the need for a new animal shelter as the
current one will be absorbed by the expansion of the Globe
Cemetery. The city of Globe has offered a few acres by the
community center, and talks are underway with the High
Desert Humane Society about building a new facility. High
Desert reports good news that adoptions are up, and
euthanasia is down.
Shannon discussed the new fleet program's motorpooling,
which is an attempt to reduce the number of county vehicles.
It began 3 months ago and involves 54 employees and
eleven vehicles.
Also discussed was the implementation of a capital
improvement and replacement plan for large equipment so
the Public Works Department can gauge how much they are
spending over multiple years.