Infrastructure is not a stimulating topic, but it is something we all depend upon as a community. From time to time, residents have shared concerns with their elected representatives, the Town Council, regarding this infrastructure that serves our homes and businesses. Examples of these concerns are the past odors that emanated from a wastewater treatment facility in the middle of the Boulders community, past water quality and insufficient water infrastructure maintenance concerns from residents on the west and north sides of the community, and more recently the evolution and impacts on the regional emergency response landscape. To help reconcile diverging perspectives on these community topics, your elected representatives have held countless public meetings so residents may share their perspectives and experiences and help mold the solutions.
Certainly, the cost-benefit ratio to this infrastructure is different for each neighborhood within the community. Those within the Boulders benefited the most from the decommissioning of the wastewater plant, those on the west and north sides of the community benefited from the infrastructure improvements made to the water system to address the previous deficiencies they identified, those closest to the Carefree fire station will receive the quickest response times. On the other side of the ledger, those who do not enjoy these direct benefits will focus on the costs. Those costs could be financial or for example, in the case of emergency services, result in increased response times to locations previously served by the Cave Creek fire station.
It is the job of your elected officials to listen to these concerns, have public meetings to engage the community in conversation, and ultimately decide upon a path. Indeed, based upon your perspective your cost-benefit may be different than others. There is no right or wrong answer in this assessment but a difference in the direct benefit. This and past Carefree Town Council have served in their fiduciary roles to wisely manage our infrastructure which is so critical to the investments we each have made in our homes and businesses.
The Town Council needs to continue to hear your independent voices on these issues which impact our community. To ensure that you are part of future conversations please subscribe to the Town’s digital monthly newsletter (www.carefree.org). This will enable you to continue to be informed regardless of your location. We look forward to having you as part of the conversation!
Vince D’Aliesio
Councilmember, Carefree
480.488.3686
