Carefree welcomes new MCSO Deputy Rob Halliday
CAREFREE – Call to the Public brought Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Ryan Baranyos to the podium to announce Deputy Tim Gocza, who had been serving Carefree, received a promotion and would be leaving District IV.
Baranyos introduced Deputy Rob Halliday to council as Gocza’s replacement.
Council expressed its appreciation for Gocza’s many years of service with the town, wished him well in his new endeavors and welcomed Halliday.
Carol Hitchcock also spoke to advise council of an increasing problem with off-leash dogs that have become a nuisance for her while walking her dog on a leash.
She said the dogs use the fountains in town as swimming pools and the problem continues to get worse.
Mayor Les Peterson asked what time of day she was encountering problems.
Hitchcock said it was around 6:30-7 p.m.
Peterson asked Town Administrator Gary Neiss to look into the issue.
During Current Events, Vice Mayor John Crane reminded residents about the lock box program offered by the Carefree Caring Corps that enables emergency responders to access homes without having to break the door down.
He said 42 lock boxes have been installed and one person’s life was likely saved because of it.
Although the Caring Corps asks for a $25 donation for the lock box, Crane said many people donate more than that, leaving the program well funded.
With Councilman Mike Farrar absent, council passed the second reading of amendments to the town code, to exclude riding bicycles or any other human-powered vehicles on the walls, seats, furniture, amphitheater area, sidewalks or other town center desert garden features.
The ordinance previously excluded skateboards and scooters.
Under Current Events and Updates, Councilwoman Melissa Price asked if a committee could be formed to look at “For Sale” signs in the town center.
The gateway project is moving forward and should be completed by the end of the month.
Neiss updated council on the median landscaping project approved during the last meeting, said it is underway and he anticipates it will take two months to complete.
Neiss said the rope lighting installed on the sundial about four-and-a-half years ago have failed and the company that supplied them has gone out of business.
He said the town has purchased new “smart” programmable LED rope lighting that will have the ability to change colors using a smart phone.
Neiss said the town purchased and installed three new picnic tables made out of a recycled plastic composite material so people could better enjoy the gardens.
Councilman Gene Orrico said he’s heard concerns from people about the new traffic striping on Tom Darlington.
Neiss said it was designed by their traffic engineers to go with the gateways and that it’s probably just a matter of people needing to get used to something new.
However, he said the town will take a wait and see approach, adding since it’s just paint it can be easily changed if needed.
Peterson announced, after 20 years, Tuesday’s meeting was the last meeting the town would hold in the current council chambers.
Future council and planning and zoning commission meetings will be held in the Foothills Community Foundation’s Holland Center, 34250 N 60th St., Bldg B, Scottsdale, AZ 85266, until Ed Lewis no longer requires the lease of the town’s 33 Easy Street building as a sales center for his Easy Street condominium project.
