MINUTES OF MEETING AND PUBLIC HEARING OF THE

THATCHER TOWN COUNCIL

July 11, 2006

MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor, Bob Rivera

Vice Mayor, Doug Hoopes

Council Members: Eric Merriman, Bill Mulleneaux, Ken Larson, Donald Innes

MEMBERS ABSENT: Charles Morris

ALSO PRESENT: Terry Hinton, Town Manager

Mike McEuen, Chief of Police

Heath Brown, Town Engineer

Dudley Welker, Town Attorney

Lona Duncan, Town Clerk

VISTORS: Steph Slater, Bill Harmon, Joel & Diane Wright, Ron & Debbie Welker, Jean Williams, Bryan McBride, Trenton Sanford, Spencer Ferrin, Curtis Jensen, Ryan and Rich Hincha, Rex Dodge Trenton Pursley, Gravis Skinner, Tommy Jensen, Dakoda John, Justin Layton, Brandon & Daniel Reynolds, Logan Smith, Dan & Marcie Green,

AGENDA

Mayor Rivera called the meeting to order at 7:00pm establishing that there was a Quorum. He said God Bless our Troops our Families and America. He also thanked the Boy Scouts for coming and ask them to introduce themselves. Rex Dodge, Trenton Sanford, Spencer Ferrin, Curtis Jensen, Ryan Hincha, Trenton Pursely, Travis Skinner, Tommy Jensen, Justin Layton, Brandon Reynolds, Daniel Reynolds, and Logan Smith all stood

Pledge of Allegiance lead by Eric Merriman

Roll Call. – Charles Morris was not in attendance

PUBLIC HEARINGS:

A. Final Plat for Double D Ranch.

Dan Green stood and introduced himself as the developer of Double D Ranch and he just wanted Council to know there were no changes to the plat and we are still looking at 24 homes on ½ acre lots.

OPEN CALL TO THE PUBLIC:

None

PUBLIC APPEARANCES:

A. National Night Out 2006 Proclamation.

Mayor Rivera read the Proclamation and Terry stated that we were in the top 10% of the nation for National Night and this is largely because of Lori Rhinehart and the committee that organizes it. Mayor Rivera commented that it was the first part of the year they were recognized by the National Association of Town Watch there were only two in the State of Arizona and Thatcher of one of them. Lori said they were going to have the walk around the block this year and would like for Council to head it up. We are moving the dance to the tennis court area and the games on the grass this year. Lori invited everyone to come it will be Aug. 1^st starting at 6:00 it should be a lot of fun.

B. ADOT Update – Bill Harmon.

Bill Harmon stood and said it was good to be here in his hometown, he also complemented Council and staff and on how good they are to work with. Bill introduced the two people that came with him Tom Angle who is the new maintence engineer and also new to the area and Paul David the development engineer. Tom stood and said he came from Chicago but he had attended ASU and worked in the Phoenix area before going to Chicago. Tom talked about a new program called the Access Management Program it’s new in the sense that the state is trying to take a comprehensive look at how it manages the permission to grant assess to it highways, streets and freeways. We are trying to create a model where in the roadway are classified as to there functions. The intent is to get local participation with the counties & cities and get there vision of what the road ways is used, for carrier, for local traffic or a collector or a transporter. Terry Hinton said he had some extreme concerns not about the program but because they will be taking the control out of the hands of the local state staff this can only be trouble for the rural areas. Tom said it is an experiment over an 18 month period and will be presented to the Transportation Board to accept it or decline it. Tom said I believe your voices will be heard because you will have to be treated different than Tucson & Phoenix. because your roadway is entirely different again he said they will have a meeting in October and the Counties and Cities are being ask to attend so that they will have local ideas. Paul David stood and told of some updates in Thatcher and then the region. First the 3^rd Ave signal project is ready to go to bid that will happen in a couple of months. Terry said the Town paid our portion of $150,000.00. Paul said that they are hoping that the cost will be less when we get the bids in. Paul stated that the next item would be the repair of the man holes over by the Pioneer area and then they will work on what we call the Thatcher to Pima slope flatting which will extend all the way to Safford but the biggest area is Thatcher to Pima. What happen was the designer didn’t obtain enough right a way so we ended up with two problems, one being the run off of the shoulder goes into the irrigation ditches and secondly we ended up with a slope that was to steep. So we are buying more right a way and pouring new ditches for farms and flatting the slopes to be a safer way to get off the highway. Paul said they also have a study going on at Hwy 70 and 20^th to see if we can improve the flow of traffic. Terry ask a question about the study the Town had completed on Hwy 70 & Reay Lane and said the report said the study could not be done again for three years is that set in stone? Bill Harmon explained that if something big comes along then they will review it again. Paul said on the Bryce Eden road toward the dump coming from Thatcher they will be putting in a left turn lane they are also going to do a little road widening and put in a right turn lane for people coming from Safford they should start construction next year sometime probably at the same time the Safford Bridge will start construction. Paul said as far as the region goes there is an interesting project which is the railroad they have talked about a transfer station in Pima and since then they have decided to build a ten mile spur that will cross where the San Simon River crosses in Solomon. Projects south of town on the divided highway will start next year segment three and a year and a half later will be segment two. The other big project will be the bridge over the Gila River at 3 Way but we have to wait for a railroad agreement we should go to bid for that in August something and work will start first of the year. We are going to widen the road and straighten the approaches. The bridge will be just east of the existing bridge that will be a big project. Vice Mayor Hoopes ask if the road would be open the whole time and his answer was yes. Paul David thanked Council for letting them come.

CONSENT AGENDA:

A. Approve minutes of the June 13, 2006 Regular Council Meeting.

B. Planning and Zoning Monthly Report.

C. Police Monthly Report.

D. Approval of Invoices.

E. Financial Reports.

Councilman Larson made motion to accept minutes and reports. Councilman Mulleneaux seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Motion passed

OLD BUSINESS:

A. Final Plat for Double D Ranch.

Terry stated that the minutes of the P&Z are in their packet and it shows that they approved the final plat.

Councilman Mulleneaux made motion to approve the final plat for the Double D Ranch. Vice Mayor Hoopes seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Motion passed

NEW BUSINESS:

A. RESOLUTION NO. 499-2006: A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF THATCHER, GRAHAM COUNTY, ARIZONA, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE FOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE TOWN OF THATCHER, ARIZONA, AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE OFFICE OF MANUFACTURED HOUSING AND THE TOWN OF THATCHER FOR THE TOWN TO PROVIDE MONITORING AND ENFORCEMENT.

Terry explained that this is a yearly agreement that we enter into with the Manufactured Housing Office. Manufactured housing is the only building that is regulated by the State and we contract with them to perform building inspections.

Councilman Innes made motion to accept Resolution No 499-06. Councilman Larson seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Motion passed

B. RESOLUTION NO. 500-2006: 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 stated he provided their new budgets in Council packets to review. The network services went down some and animal control went up some and dispatching went up a fair amount. They are within the limit of what was placed in our budget.

Councilman Mulleneaux made motion to accept Resolution No. 500.2006. Councilman Merriman seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Motion passed

C. RESOLUTION NO. 501-2006: 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, THE BASIC SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH SEAGO.

Terry stated again that this is a yearly item that is passed for the service they provide to us. Their budget is up some but not much our part is $1872.00.

Vice Mayor Hoopes made motion to accept Resolution No. 501.2006. Councilman Innes seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Motion passed

INFORMATIONAL ITEMS:

A. Manager’s Report: Street Projects, Utility Projects, etc.

Reay Lane Bridge – Terry said we have the preliminary design back and they are working on the foundation right now. The last couple of days we have been putting in a section across the wash for a water line that Safford has brought to us that will be capped off for the time being. We are hoping to have a water line from Daley Estates to 12^th Street we have talked to City of Safford about if they provide material we will do the labor. That would provide better service for the area they agree with us but they have to work it into they capital projects. We should finish that section by end of week. Terry said they think they have it all figured out for when the arches come. They are so big that it will take one truck for each and there are 26 of them and they weigh just under 15 tons each. I think we are probably 6 to 8 weeks to get delivery on them we are still hoping to finish the project before school starts. One of the problems we have had is people taking the cones and signs at night. I don’t believe they understand the liability it is causing but if they are caught they will be prosecuted. There will be an article in the paper about it which we are hoping will help.

Another thing to be aware of is there is an area south & west of Daley Estates that is in the County that will soon becoming up for a rezoning request to be 6000 sq. ft. lots. Heath and I have talked about it and we are not in favor of it because they will be dumping all their traffic onto Thatcher streets and the problem with the sewer is the County requires 10,000 sq ft for a septic system and so they are going to want to connect to our sewer system and they have to annex in to the Town and before they can annex they have to be 8000 sq ft. Because of all those problems there is some talk of them putting in there own sewer system. Councilman Larson ask if they were in a flood plan and Terry said some was so we will have to look at their flood plans and make sure they are doing it correctly.

Also on the corner of Hwy 70 & Reay Lane the trees and building are being torn down they are moving right along. They are putting in an apartment building probably for college students. Heath said they are putting in 48 units

B. Fire Department Report.

No report

Heath Brown reported they had one more subdivision submitted by Erin Motes it should be 14 homes.

Chief McEuen said they had a purse snatching at Safeway the other day as a lady was putting her grocery in the car a man drove up and took her purse. It concerned us that it happened in day light and at a local business. Chief McEuen said as Terry mentioned the cones are being moved or taken from the bridge on Reay Lane and I have talked to EA Courier and they are going to run and article on it we hope this will help. Councilman Mulleneaux said that he knew we had a new officer Jason Larson. I have met all three officers and they are doing a good job. Chief McEuen said with the schedule they have they could not be here tonight but I will try and have them here next Council meeting so you can met them.

Councilman Innes ask if there was any other update on the EAC Pool. Terry said he had talked to Mr. Welker the maintence supervisor last week and he reported that it is still working it has only turned off on them once but they still don’t know what is causing it. I feel probably next year they will have the swim team up and going again. Councilman Innes said he had heard that this is their way of getting us out of their system. Terry said he did not believe that to be true because he had talked to the Vice President the Senior Dean and the Maintence Supervisor and I have gotten no indications of that idea. Councilman Mulleneaux said he knew they have been working on the problem they have replaced the filtering system and installed it and still have the problem. Terry said they are the first to admit they don’t know what the problem is they have even called in a pool specialist to see if he can help. I have offered to help with cost or labor or what ever they need.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

A. Safe House – Vice Mayor Hoopes said there was no meeting.

B. Chamber of Commerce- Councilman Merriman reported that the Gila Valley Leadership is going to a business one day of the month to see what that business does and this is the first year for the alumni. They are trying to get others interested in the group. Economic Development is going around and finding where the jobs are and they have found just in Morenci alone there are 250 jobs at the Hospital 25 and College 10 and when the mine opens there will be a possible 500 jobs opening. What they have is a committee that will send brochures to companies that are down sizing showing them the availabilities. The Hospital is getting another OB doctor coming in and his wife has one more year of school and she will be a heart doctor. They are hoping she will be able to work here through the Pima Heart in Tucson. The Hospital is planning to upgrade there AC units they are not big enough and they want it ready when they expand the Emergency System Department. Phelps Dodge has all the completed permits and they are to receive their 550 million dollar to go on with project. Councilman Merriman also reported that there was a merger that is called INCO Silver Mine they are buying Falcon Bridge so you will have PD going from 14 thousand employees to 40 thousand world wide. There is and open house at Eastern Arizona College on Saturday July 15^th from 8:00 to 12:00 in room #118 it is the venture between Phelps Doge and Eastern Arizona College with the schooling they are offering. Councilman Mulleneaux said room 118 is the Activity Program Building. On the July 28^th there will be the annual Chamber dinner and Thursday will be their breakfast. Terry also said the Chamber was sponsoring a Legislative breakfast on July 20^th at the General Purpose Building at 7:00am. Councilman Merriman also said that Payless Shoe store was going out of business and Terry said that Hibbits Sports Store would be moving into the building where Payless is located and the shop next to it. Councilman Merriman also said that Pat O’Brien is a new member on the Economic Development Committee.

C. SEAGO – Mayor Rivera said they would have a meeting in two months. You should have all received the email saying they were going to have a meeting with the Governor and the Transportation Department and she wants to ask questions to get peoples ideas of Rural Arizona that should be in a week.

D. Arizona Foundation – Councilman Larson had nothing to report

E. Discovery Park- Councilman Mulleneaux report that Eastern Arizona College is taking that over and they are in transition. They plan on having college classes and are going to call it Eastern Arizona Discovery Park College Campus. They are going to continue the tours and want to keep it open to the public but they are not sure what to do about the train shuttle if they give rides it is considered an amusement park which make the insurance about 40 thousand a year so they are still working on that. It is all coming together but will take some time.

ADJOURNMENT:

Vice Mayor Hoopes made motion to adjourn meeting with a second from Councilman Merriman. The vote was unanimous. Meeting adjourned at 8:15pm

ATTEST:

APPROVED:

___________________________ ___________________________

Lona Duncan, Town Clerk Bob 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 11th day of July 2006. I further certify that the meeting was duly called and held and that a quorum was present.

___________________________

Lona Duncan, Town Clerk