MINUTES OF MEETING AND PUBLIC HEARING OF
THE
THATCHER TOWN COUNCIL
June 12, 2007
MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor, Bob Rivera
Vice Mayor, Bill Mulleneaux
Councilmember’s: Doug Hoopes, Ken Larson, Eric Merriman, Donald Innes, Charles Morris
MEMBERS ABSENT: None
MEMBERS ABSENT: None
VISTORS: Layne
Jensen, Rich Hincha,Travis Skinner, Tommy Jensen, Justin Layton, Trevor White,
Jason Boren,Nick Hogue, Spencer Ferrin, Colton Cook, Ryan Hincha,, Curtis
Jensen, Logan Smith, Scott Curtis, Misty Curtis, Gary Cleland,Jim Bryce, Reed
Larson, Wyatt Palmer. Sheryl Sweeney, John LeMaster, Tom Stack, Jane Dugan
AGENDA
Mayor Rivera called the meeting to order at 7:00pm establishing
that there was a Quorum. He also said God bless our Troops, Family and America.
Mayor Rivera ask the Boy Scouts to stand and introduce themselves, Tommy
Jensen, Curtis Jensen, Travis Skinner, Justin Layton, Jason Boren, Trevor White,
Nick Hogue, Spencer Ferrin, Colton Cook, Logan Smith, leaders were Layne Jensen
and Rich Hincha
Pledge of Allegiance lead by Councilman Hoopes
Roll Call.
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
A. Final Plat for EAC Town Houses.
Jim Bryce stood and said they were here to answer any questions.
B. Preliminary Plat for The Village.
Scott Curtis said that he for the plat and he and Misty were here to answer any questions.
C. 2007/2008 Final Budget.
None
OPEN
CALL TO THE PUBLIC:
John McHatton introduced himself as the Chaplain of the Legislator and I have also been working with the Mayors and the County and wanted to report on the faith based issues federal and state. Graham County was highlighted in the White House Faith Based Issue Conference and how we were highlighted was the Gila Valley Volunteers and the Mayors’ Prayer Breakfast have been noticed for their new merging model of volunteer groups that is really working. I have a DVD that shows the highlights of the three cities recognized that I will leave for you. I also wanted to invite you to the second Mayors Prayer Breakfast on September 14th. What we are going to be focusing on is unity in the county. We are asking the government offices as well as the faith group leaders to drop our walls and come together and serve the community. The Governor is very interested in being here along with Rep. Jack Brown, Rep. William Konopnicki and Senator Jake Flake. Mr. McHatton thanked Mayor Rivera for his leadership in the Mayor Prayer Breakfast and for pioneering something that I think will change the culture of Arizona to a culture of compassion.
PUBLIC APPEARANCES:
A. Retirement Presentation – Gary Cleland.
Mayor Rivera presented a plaque to Gary Cleland in honor of his retirement. Mayor Rivera said Gary was Chief of Police for many years and served our community for 30 years. The plaque had his old Chief of Police badge and the wording of 30 years of exemplary service to the Thatcher Police Department and the citizens of the Town of Thatcher. Council stood and each thanked Gary for his service. Gary Cleland thanked Council and said he was going to head out and enjoy retirement.
B. National Association of Town Watch Proclamation.
Mayor Rivera read the proclamation which said the Daley Estates National Night Out will be August 7th.
CONSENT
AGENDA:
A. Approve minutes of the May 8, 2007 Regular Council Meeting.
B. Planning and Zoning Monthly Report.
C. Police Monthly Report.
D. Approval of Invoices.
E. Financial Reports.
Councilman Morris made motion to accept the records and minutes. Councilman Merriman seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Motion passed
OLD BUSINESS:
NEW BUSINESS:
A. Decision on EAC Town Homes Final Plat.
Terry stated the final plat is substantially the same as what you pasted on the preliminary plat. They have made a few changes as to where to put the garbage cans and a little bit of parking addition. The P&Z Commission passed the plat unanimously.
Vice Mayor Mulleneaux made motion to approve final plat. Councilman Larson seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Motion passed
B. Decision on The Village Preliminary Plat.
Terry said the P& Z Commission passed the preliminary plat. Councilman Innes ask about the first two houses that were being built. The answer was yes but they are not part of the sub division. Councilman Morris ask about the existing dirt drive on the west is that 25 ft or 50 ft. answer was 12 ½ ft for each property owner a total of 25ft. and then the wall will be on the edge of that.
Councilman Morris made motion to approve preliminary plat. Vice Mayor Mulleneaux seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Motion passed.
C. RESOLUTION NO.
509-2007: A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF THATCHER, GRAHAM
COUNTY, ARIZONA, APPROVING THE FINAL BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2007-08 OF THE TOWN
OF THATCHER, ARIZONA.
Terry stated that this has been gone over a
number of times. The big change is that there will be on property tax in the
Town of Thatcher. That doesn't mean that a home in Thatcher won’t be taxed
because they will still receive County, School and College taxes. The total
budget is $8,736,300 dollars.
Councilman Innes made motion to approve the
2007-08 Budget. Councilman Hoopes seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous.
Motion passed
D. RESOLUTION NO. 513-2007: A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF THATCHER, ARIZONA, AUTHORIZING AN APPLICATION TO THE GREATER ARIZONA DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PURSUANT TO TITLE 41 CHAPTER 10 ARTICLE 8, ARIZONA REVISED STATUTES.
Terry said that we have been in the process for some time to purchase a portion of the electric system from Graham County Electric that is in our city limits north of Hwy 70. This is needed in order to get the funds to pay for that purchase through GADA (Greater Arizona Development Authority) which is a cheaper way to bond. The work has been completed on the sell and it is in the Office of the Corporation Commission I believe it will take two or three months to be approved.
Councilman Innes made motion to approve this Resolution No. 513-2007. Councilman Morris seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Motion passed
E. RESOLUTION NO. 514-2007: A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE
TOWN OF THATCHER, GRAHAM COUNTY, ARIZONA, AUTHORIZING THE
MAYOR AND MANAGER TO EXECUTE FOR AND ON
BEHALF OF THE TOWN OF THATCHER, ARIZONA,
AN IGA WITH GRAHAM COUNTY TO conduct
a Small Area Transportation Study (SATS);
Terry stated that we do this every eight to ten years we update and do this studies.The State is putting up some grant money and there is a matching portion that is shared by us Graham County, Safford & Pima I believe our portion of the match is about four thousand. They study the road system through out the county and we can give input on to certain areas that we want them to pay special attention to for now and in the future.
Councilman Morris made motion to approve Resolution No 514-2007. Councilman Hoopes seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous Motion passed
F. RESOLUTION NO.
515-2007: A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE
TOWN OF THATCHER, GRAHAM COUNTY, ARIZONA, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND MANAGER TO
EXECUTE FOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE TOWN OF THATCHER, ARIZONA, IGA=S
WITH GRAHAM COUNTY TO PROVIDE FOR DISPATCHING SERVICES, ANIMAL CONTROL SHELTER
SERVICES AND WIDE AREA NETWORK COMMUNICATION SERVICES.
Terry said that we have had some substantial increases from the County it was hard to adjust the budget because they were so late. The only change I would have is in the IGA on Animal Control Services remain 40 dollars and hour and not the 60 dollars an hour.
Vice Mayor Mulleneaux made motion to approve Resolution No. 515-2007 with the correction of 40 dollars and hour for animal control services. Councilman Innes seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Motion passed
G. RESOLUTION NO. 516-2007: A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF THATCHER, GRAHAM COUNTY, ARIZONA AUTHORIZING THE TOWN OF THATCHER TO PURSUE A GROWING SMARTER PLANNING GRANT FROM THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE TO ASSIST IN PREPARING A GENERAL PLAN FOR THE TOWN OF THATCHER.
Terry said this is not a big grant about fourteen or fifteen thousand dollars but it can help with the cost of the General Plan.
Councilman Innes made motion to approve Resolution No. 516-2007. Councilman Larson seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Motion passed
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS:
A. Town Manager’s Report:
1) The play ground equipment is up and looks really good there are seven slides. Our park is very heavily used especially on the week-ends.
2) Bridge- With the good storm we had last night the bridge worked just as we hoped it would. Heath is making plans to redo the two culvers that go off Ellsworth Rd and Hoopes.
3) We are still busy with development we were one off the building permits from last month so we are going to have a record year for building permits. It looks like Mr. Cota will start now that he has his final plat. The Myers subdivision has come back to the forefront again we should have that final plat next Council meeting... The annexation in the Daley Estates area is close to being finished and there is some talk from developers on that area.
4) The stop light on 3rd Ave is out to bid and should be on the next Board of Transportation meeting to be finalized. I think they will start construction in July.
5) Trinity Landscaping is in the old Wal-Mart building in the garden area. We don’t know about anything else going in at this time.
B. Fire Department Report.
1) We attended the conference in Safford and did very well. We won 1st in a number of events and are very proud of our guys. We had some training in emergency vehicles at the conference.
2) We are making an annual report on the Fire Department for the Council and hope it will be finished by next month. One of the things we are going to do on our reports is go on the calendar year rather than the fiscal year because of a national reporting system we use it will just be easier.
3) There is a question about the 4th of July activities are we still going to have that? Terry said that Barbara Stailey is working on that you will need to contact her. We have also been ask to help with the fire works in Safford.
4) The State Fire School will be in September and we have about ten men that want to go. We have four men that passed the Fire Fighter School l. & 2 and one more is going to retest so we will have five men complete their certification. We did get the grant through the County to help out with the camper shell.
C. Police Department Report.
1) We have three pending grants that we have applied for one is for overtime and equipment to continue with the DUI Task force and the other two are for new vehicles.
2) We are getting busy and we have the two new Officers on and doing some training. We have also been ask to help with the 4th of July Fire Works at Safford.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
A. Safe House – Councilman Hoopes said they would meet on June 25th.
B. Chamber of Commerce – Councilman Merriman said on July 28th there will be a graduation for the Leadership program this is their second year. Tourism we are having a spot in the National Geographic for the bird watching for around Dankworth and Willcox area. The Hospital will be starting there remodeling there OB unit has enough rooms for 8 ladies and they right now have 12 ladies. They are having some issues with the pool they are working on and they did hire a new CFO his name if Keith Bryce and he will be in finance. They are also looking at three different people to take over the Chief Executive officer Patricia O’Brien who will be leaving in July. Phelps Dodge is still having trouble finding people to bid on jobs and they still need 500 workers to man the mine in Safford. Phelps Dodge is at a peak on construction and will start tapering off now. Bill Civish if heading up a committee to change the name of the road from Lordsburg to Globe and they want to name it the Old West Hwy. Mayor Rivera ask if they realize the cost to the merchant along that road to change their address. Councilman Merriman that is part of the study they are working on. The EAC does have trouble with their swimming pool they are trying to decide whether to refurbish the pool which is a cost of about 250 to 300 thousand dollar, second is to tear the pool out and putting it in the new sport center that is being planed. The Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring the 4th of July activities which will be called the Bob Hope Special flyers will be taken around to the businesses it should be a nice event. Safford did get their bid in for the new path ways. Mayor Rivera ask Councilman Merriman to tell about having breakfast with the Governor. Councilman Merriman said he went to Phoenix and the speakers where every good talked about the number of hopeless people I believe it is a great opportunity for the communities to work to together and do some real good things.
C. SEAGO- Mayor Rivera said the meeting was cancelled so there is noting to report
D. Arizona Foundation – Councilman Larson said there was a meeting on the 5th of June which I was unable to attend. It was for the new people and the people from the State trying to keep the program going and growing.
EXECUTIVE SESSION:
Pursuant to A.R.S. Section 38-431.03 (A)(3)(4) the Council may go into
Executive Session to consult with the Town Attorney for legal advice.
Terry stated he would like for myself, Lona Duncan, Heath Brown and the Attorney’s stay for the meeting it will be about one hour.
Vice Mayor Mulleneaux made motion to go into Executive Session.
Councilman Innes seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Time was 7:55pm
Councilman Innes made motion to reconvene into Regular Session. Councilman
Morris seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Time was 8:50 pm
Decision
on Executive Session.
Vice Mayor Mulleneaux made motion to proceed with the Notice of Claim being sent to City of Safford. Councilman Innes seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Motion passed
ADJOURMENT:
Councilman Morris made motion to adjourn meeting and Councilman Innes seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous meeting adjourned at 8:55pm.
ATTEST:
APPROVED:
___________________________ ___________________________
Lona Duncan, Town Clerk Robert
Rivera, Mayor
CERTIFICATION
I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the minutes of the regular/special meeting of the Town Council of the Town of Thatcher held on the 12th day of June 2007. I further certify that the meeting was duly called and held and that a quorum was present.
___________________________
Lona Duncan, Town Clerk