BY LINDA BENTLEY | JANUARY 22, 2014
Morning Star Road issues resurface
David Prinzhorn selected as new utility manager/deputy engineer
CAVE CREEK – During Monday night’s Call to the Public, Janelle Smith-Haff (r) spoke about the annexation agreement involving Morning Star Road and its maintenance issues.
She stated, “Honda Bow Road is part of the annexation agreement and we’ve not been included in the discussions.”
Stan Toal thanked the mayor and town manager for meeting with Maricopa County Flood Control this Thursday.
He also stated he can no longer see the lines painted on the road in Cave Creek and said some of the dots were missing.
Toal said many of the public roads in subdivisions throughout town are in poor condition, have cracks that are as large as three inches wide, were built with no foundation and are sinking.
Interim Town Manager Rodney Glassman, during his report to council, stated he was asked by Councilman Mike Durkin to produce a template for revenue requirements and goals to provide council with the potential needs for revenue.
Glassman then held up what he called a “quasi plaque” the town received from True West Magazine.
He stated there was a meeting held at Bruce Arlen’s home for residents on Morning Star Road.
Glassman said according to the development agreement residents entered into with the town as a condition of annexation, the road is supposed to receive quarterly maintenance.
Glassman said new paperwork was provided to the residents if they wish to change the terms of the annexation agreement.
Town Attorney Fredda Bisman elaborated by explaining the original annexation/development agreement was signed in 1992 and stated the town would not make any improvements to the road for 25 years (until 2017).
If residents wish to change that, Bisman said everyone who signed the original agreement, or their successor, must sign the new agreement.
Glassman announced the town had selected David Prinzhorn (r) as its new utility manager/deputy engineer and said Prinzhorn has 35 years of utility management experience.
During public comment, Smith-Haff stated any changes to the annexation agreement would require signatures from everyone who originally signed and said, “I can tell you now, my answer is no.”
Mayor Vincent Francia asked Glassman to set up a special meeting with council and the residents so they can tell council what they want to do, since the Morning Star Road problem continues to crop up from time to time.
Finance Manager Robert Weddigen provided council with a financial report for the period ending December 2013. He noted the report did not include grant funds and the sales tax did not include the half-percent dedicated sales tax for the wastewater treatment plant.
He also stated the sales tax revenue reported is only the tax collected through October so it did not include Black Friday and Christmas sales.
Maricopa County Assessor Paul Petersen made a presentation about the assessor’s office.
Petersen said he was appointed to the position about six months ago to replace Keith Russell, who accepted an appointment to replace a judge who had been stealing.
Petersen said he has a degree in journalism and a law degree and practices adoption law in addition to his work in the assessor’s office.
He said he’s been with the assessor’s office for eight years as a public information officer.
According to Petersen, all 50 states have a property tax and said all the cities and towns have a property tax except Mesa and Cave Creek.
He stated there are approximately 1.6 million parcels in Maricopa County and said Proposition 117 changed the way taxes are assessed and are all now based on the Limited Cash Value, which he said cannot go up by more than 5 percent per year.
He briefly explained the appeals processes and the timeline for appealing valuations.
Petersen said statute requires the Notice of Valuation to be sent out no later than March 1 each year and his office will be mailing them out on February 21.
Council unanimously approved the acceptance of deeds of gift for the Bella Vista Loop Road, which Planning Director Ian Cordwell said has been planned for a few years.
He said, “All the owners agree with what we’re doing here tonight.”
During public comment, Korina Riggin stated she lived on Military Road and said, “This is going to directly affect me.”
Cordwell stated, “No.”
Council also unanimously approved a revised resolution supporting Wild at Heart’s plans to build an expanded facility in Cave Creek.
Because the former resolution named Spur Cross Conservation Area as a site, council felt even though the resolution was non-binding, it seemed like it was making a commitment nonetheless.
Bob Fox (l), Wild at Heart’s founder, said their facility needs to expand and its goal is to create an educational environment. He thanked the town for its support.
Councilman Thomas McGuire, who made the motion to approve the revised resolution, stated, “This support requires no commitment by the town.”
Just prior to adjournment, Glassman announced there is a special meeting of the town council scheduled for Monday, Jan. 27, which will be preceded by an executive session at 6 p.m.
