The Truth Prescott Valley, AZ

Mayor Skoog; Have you ever been here? Just North of Chino Valley lies the spot where the Verde headwaters and Granite Creek join. The Big Chino aquifer to the West may cause severe flow damage to this sensitive area as 80% plus of the Verde flow is attributed to the Big Chino aquifer.

Once Prescott (and junior partner Prescott Valley) begin pumping the allowable 8,717 ac/ft/yr  problems may well occur. A much higher flow rate would be required durring the summer months as outdoor landscaping needs grow. This is the biggest time of danger to the Verde headwaters.

Is there a plan to protect the Verde? Not really. Reference is made to mediating the issue; how? PV town manager Larry Tarkowski has been quoted as saying; ” The EPA will shut us down if we create a problem”. I suggest this is not sound planning. Effort should be made before $150 M is spent on the pipeline. Prescott Valley will be responsible for 46.8% of all costs. Aledgedly all costs for PV will be born by developers who will be building homes. Without “Garanteed” water, I doubt any developer will sign on. That leaves, once again, the people of PV to absorb the costs. Remember, Tom Steele as a councilman, was the ONLY vote against the project from either town council!  Tom’s reason, there was NO provision to retain surplus or recharge water in the aquifer for current residents!!

I doubt if our Mayor and council would act. After all, where would Joe Contadena of Universal Homes get people to build his Granville homes? Since developers like Joe spend most of their money in Maracopa County and hire illegals, what do residents of Prescott Valley get? Well, we get the added crime and traffic.

Mayor Barella of Hazelton, PA (Sixty Minutes Nov. 19th) discovered that over 20 years, his town’s serious crime doubled as his Hispanic population rose from 5 to 30 percent. Additionally, 60% of the local hospitals patients were no pay illegals, raising the hospital costs of others. After passing the sanctions against businesses and landlords who would do business with illegals; the ACLU came in to “challenge” and bring suit to halt the action.

While it is a federal matter, clearly neither (D)’s nor (R)’s has the country’s best interest at heart.  Please let the PVPD and Rick Renzi know ANY behavioir you feel threatened by. I think our local officials would be PC rather than act.

General Dwight Eisenhower in 1951, while considering running for President, sent a letter to Senator William Fulbright (D) of Arkansas indicating his support for the Senator’s plan to investigate government officials accepting gifts for favors. Ike went on to suggest the rise in “Wetback” Mexicans to one million a year had been accompanied by a curious relaction of in ethical standards from farmer-exploiters to the highest levels of the Federal Government. As President, Ike took action and empowered “New” officials of the I N S to sweep the border states and move North. Influential US Senators like L B Johnson (D) of Texas and Pat McCarran (D) of Nevada complained to no avail. Ike gave his WW11 General “Jumpin’ Joe” Swing of the 101st Airborne marching orders to move them out! This lasted about 10 years.

See ‘The Christian Science Monitor’ July 6th, 2006, by John Dillen, Wash. DC

Despite public comments and common sense, the mayor and council approved massive increases in our utilities. With a 7-0 vote the new rates were approved. Do you think for one moment; the Arizona Corporation Commission would have approved a 22% rate increase? The reason the Fain’s aquired Larry Tarkowski, now town Manager, to “sell” Shamrock Water Co. and making the town of Prescott Valley the municipal water provider is clear. A town can raise rates by a council vote and all the development (growth) needs can be met.

Clearly, the rate increase is to service much larger systems for growth. We are paying for “future” water consumers in our new rates. A mayor and council working for the residents would have NOT RAISED RATES to this extent.

A campaign for four “new” council members has begun. Lora Lee Nye, Mike Flannery, Bob Edwards and Fran Schumacher are running for re-election and they should all be rejected for NOT working for the people.  At the Nov.16th council meeting the mayor and council verbaly dismissed the opportunity to be a part of the Verde River Basin Partnership (VRBP). The VRBP has a goal of assuring water rights are shared with all communities and habitat from the Big Chino to Phoenix. I’m sure Larry Tarkowski has convinced Mayor Skoog and the follow along council this is wrong as Prescott Valley and Prescott (with most of the population) will NOT control the results of this body. The results MIGHT say we need to slow growth to protect our current population and protect the flow of the Verde and the habitat it supports.

The Tim’s Toyota Center opened Nov. 8th to great fanfare and “free” skating for the public. And aren’t we glad that “Danny’s Honey Dipper ” portable toilets didn’t write a BIGGER check to the Fain’s? All the usual suspects who tuck in behind the Fains have executive suites “above” the masses.

At any rate, a great facility and over 20 Million PV citizen bucks invested thanks to a cooperative mayor and council. I voted NO as the cost that was NOT the 3 Million Fains had promised only 2 weeks before. 

An election in March 07 could have replaced 4 of the rubber stamps. However, Prescott Valley does not have people willing to put themselves into the “arena of politics” and change the culture of “Fainville”.

 The town has had Code ordinances against balloons and other “moving” displays. That didn’t stop Tims from hoisting balloons at their first “used car sale”. On March, 12th, the pro developer P & Z commission voted to approve ballooons for a limited period each year if properly applied for.

By the way, Last December 28th, a special council meeting held in the event center provided yet another of protection for  the Fain Signature Group against ANY taxes and now the town of Prescott Valley guarantees 35 Million in payments over the life of the agreement. Remember 23 Million to construct it? Mayor Skoog and the council could not explain the 12 Million difference; but they voted for it!

I think the addition of frequent used car sales at the facility is disgusting. Additionally, the valued PV sales tax (2.33%) will mainly be held (2%) by the Event Center Agreement with the town to cover any losses incurred by the annual operation of the Event Center. Hopefully we don’t have to cover losses on Tim’s used cars sold here.

A book available in the PV library, Better, not Bigger, by Eben Fodor is a research study on growth, sustained growth and the “costs” of growth.

Chapter 2 Meet the Urban Growth Machine that controls Prescott Valley. Although water is never mentioned, developers; which includes large cattle ranchers, see the Billions that are to be made from development of single family housing.

All aspects of how and why are covered. You can draw your own conclusions.

I have sent notices to Mayor Skoog and all council members as to the importance and availability of this material critical to our “Quality of Life”. I will bet a gormet dinner NONE of them have looked at it.  Have you read it?

The King James Bible states in ACTS 6-3 “Wherefor, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom,whom we may appoint over this business.”

I encourage each of you to attend PV council meetings, or at least; view on Cable channel 13 or view in streaming video through your computer. You can use your computer (dial up internet is not recommended) to connect through the town’s web site www.pvaz.net click on the video camera in lower right side of front page and follow instructions for a previous meeting or at 5:30 PM on council nights to watch it live!

 Judge for your self if proper discourse is exercised on the critical issues by our mayor and council. Also, call town hall at 759-3000 and ask to speak with Mayor Skoog or a council person or leave a message to be returned. You can also ask for an appointment to speak with them. Of course, you should have exercised your issue with the appropriate department first. This is only fair as we have very well qualified employees in Prescott Valley.

If still a problem; Call me, Tom Steele at 772-4146 or E-Mail pvtom@cableone.net