The Truth Prescott Valley, AZ

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

 Note on page 3; tax facts, if PV doesn’t stop “giving away” 43-85% 0f our tax dollars to developers; we WILL have a town property tax and soon! Also note, that 40% of the town’s General Fund’s revenues are from our 2.33% sales tax.

What they DON’T say is that monthly or quarterly REBATES to the Fains and numerous other commercial developers take Millions of transfers out yearly!

Larry Tarkowski, the town manager, does hold sacred 15% or .33 of our sales tax for major road improvements. Note; your street is NOT major and gets a quick chip seal every 6-7 years. I suggest our streets should get a better repair and resurface with consideration who is paying the bills in Prescott Valley.

In the Friday Nov. 3rd., PV Tribune. page 12, was a full page ad :”YES for HUSD Schools”. Note the ad was paid for by the HUSD “yes” for our kids committee, Marnie Uhl, Treasurer.

Ms Uhl is the Ex Director of the PVCC, which receives 135,000 dollars from the PV town treasury this year. In addition, the 11 listed supporters includes Ms. Uhl and Steve Rutherford, who is ALSO a developer and recipient of out PV taxes in the form of rebates of 42% of town sales taxes on Eastgate Development.

I have submitted a “letter to the editor” speaking out against the 41 Million dollar bond issue for the board to spend. My letter has been denied publication because the newspapers are ALSO pro maximum growth. So much for a free press. My reasons for being against the bond issue is, this will not help poor teacher pay and provides a lot of “extras” that are of no educational value. I do think they need new busses; but 9.4 Million; not 41Million worth. The fact is poor planing abounds at HUSD. The new Granville Elementary School on Glassford Hill Road was not even open a year and is already over crowded.  Poor planning should NOT be rewarded.

The Bond issue passed.  Yet another example of apathy and the LACK of a Free Press in our area.

You may not know most all of the vacant high weed fenced property in PV is county land that the Fain’s pay about 48 cents per acre in property taxes. You notice ALL parties political signs located at numerous intersections on their fences.

Civic Center at Lakeshore.

Durring the 2005 election for Mayor and council, only Tom Steele for Council signs were removed by Fain as “not being approved”. This is a private property right; but is it fair? Next, I put up signs 2-3 inches outside Fain’s fences. Within 4 hours PV town employees were taking my signs down. Reason; they were in town right-of-way. (You may notice homes for sale, yard sales, missing pets in such location(s) go unmolested).

So at a minimum, PV management practices “selective” enforcement depending who is involved. Since I have questioned town spending on select groups and a variety of town investments and actions; I am a target of their enforcement policies. Of 5-6 police reports I made on stolen political signs in various locations; no action resulted in arrest. Several of the signs were on private property with permission of the property owner. One PV police report I have a copy of; shows when the investigation led to the Fain Signature Group (FSG), the investigation stopped. Harold Wise signs were put in place of mine with a label from the PV Economic Development Foundation (PVEDF) which receives over $180,000 a year from the Town of Prescott Valley. Remember this when reading or hearing Gary Marks, Director of the PVEDF, as he embelishes his accomplishments in Prescott Valley.

In the past year, Residents concerns surrounding Rt 89A development at Viewpoint Drive were trumped by a pro development Planning and Zoning (P&Z) Commission and pro development mayor and council. The Fain Signature Group announced in March, striking a deal with WalMart to build a Super Center on Glassford Hill Road. Again, P&Z and mayor and council approved over the disapproval of most nearby residents and citizens concerned over the location and traffic. Recently, Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) approved 2.4 Million for barrier construction on Rt. 69 at the West enterance to town. Five years of accidents (126) including 6 fatalities and 35 injury accidents; 23 accidents and 4 deaths from crossover center median. Complaints mainly from Victorian Estates residents has caused Prescott Valley’s town  manager, Larry Tarkowski to turn down ADOT’s offer in favor of a “beautification” project and higher cost highway seperation.

My point is, when there is NO conflict with development and developers; Tarkowski and the council  DOES listen to the citizens.

The headwaters of the Verde River begin above Chino Valley. Joined  by Granite Creek, the first 24 miles are the most critical to the year around flow. The possibilities are present for the stream flow to be lowered or eliminated with the Big Chino project to import water to Prescott and Prescott Valley.

The picture is from the Verde Canyon Railroad tour taken from Clarkdale to Perkinsville. It’s a great trip with famimly and your camera. The picture is from April 2006.  I’ll bet it’s beautiful now (Oct 25th) with the colors of fall.

Keep the Verde River in mind and let your local elected officials know how you feel about sustaining the flow of the one year around flowing river in Northern Arizona. For additional info: http://upperverdewaterissues.org  also; www.VRPartnership.com