"Thomas Jefferson said a democracy is dependent on an informed citizenry. I don't care whether it sounds corny or not. It's the truth." -Jim Lehrer
Carefree Truth
Issue #950, September 17, 2021
Issue #950, September 17, 2021
During Call to the Public, Kandace Contreras read the following letter submitted by Maureen Benedetto:
To the UCFD, Carefree Water, and the Carefree Town Council:
1. Many public statements have made the clear point that a water tank in the Boulders is necessary to provide water to the new residential customers to be added as part of the “Water Transition” project. But Greg Crossman has said on the record that the new interconnection with Scottsdale Water will provide adequate water for the ordinary uses of these neighborhoods. Isn’t it true that the tank normally would provide no drinking water to the new customers, and that instead their water will come from the interconnection at Carefree Highway and Terravita Way? To achieve sufficient volume for potential fire flow needs at Lowe’s what are the reasons Carefree is unwilling to rely upon water storage in Cave Creek as we do today?
2. Is the true purpose of the tank in the Boulders to provide water for the new development across the street at the corner of Tom Darlington and Terravita Way, where the Town plans to have either a “resort,” dense residential housing (such as apartments), or a retirement community built? Would the existing water infrastructure in this to-be-developed area be sufficient to satisfy future needs, or is the only way the area can be developed according to the wishes of Town officials by building a water tank across the street in the Boulders?
3. What locations have been considered for the relocation of Town Hall? Any property on Tom Darlington? Does the Town plan to use eminent domain to acquire a new site for Town Hall?
4. What public studies have been done to show that the majority of Carefree residents want to have all land in the area developed for commercial purposes in order to avoid having a property tax?
5. Is it true that Town has decided to impose a property tax so that we can have Automatic Aid?
Respectfully, Maureen Benedetto
Carefree Resident
1. Many public statements have made the clear point that a water tank in the Boulders is necessary to provide water to the new residential customers to be added as part of the “Water Transition” project. But Greg Crossman has said on the record that the new interconnection with Scottsdale Water will provide adequate water for the ordinary uses of these neighborhoods. Isn’t it true that the tank normally would provide no drinking water to the new customers, and that instead their water will come from the interconnection at Carefree Highway and Terravita Way? To achieve sufficient volume for potential fire flow needs at Lowe’s what are the reasons Carefree is unwilling to rely upon water storage in Cave Creek as we do today?
2. Is the true purpose of the tank in the Boulders to provide water for the new development across the street at the corner of Tom Darlington and Terravita Way, where the Town plans to have either a “resort,” dense residential housing (such as apartments), or a retirement community built? Would the existing water infrastructure in this to-be-developed area be sufficient to satisfy future needs, or is the only way the area can be developed according to the wishes of Town officials by building a water tank across the street in the Boulders?
3. What locations have been considered for the relocation of Town Hall? Any property on Tom Darlington? Does the Town plan to use eminent domain to acquire a new site for Town Hall?
4. What public studies have been done to show that the majority of Carefree residents want to have all land in the area developed for commercial purposes in order to avoid having a property tax?
5. Is it true that Town has decided to impose a property tax so that we can have Automatic Aid?
Respectfully, Maureen Benedetto
Carefree Resident
Mayor Les Peterson explained that, by State Statute, Council members are not permitted to respond to questions raised at Call to the Public. But he said it is evident from a review of these questions that there is a considerable communications gap here. He invited Ms. Benedetto to make an appointment to come into the Town offices, where they would be happy to answer her questions. He noted the purpose of the State Statute prohibition is that if questions raised were answered at Call to the Public, they take on the stature of an agendized item. Others who might be interested in those issues and were not in attendance would miss hearing them when they were not published in advance on the agenda. "Come in and see us. We are happy to meet."
Jim Dove called into the Zoom meeting, saying he appreciated the chance to speak on this critical community issue. Because he didn't know if he would be able to speak, he also emailed his letter into the Town.
Mayor Peterson and Town of Carefree Council Members,
The Carefree Town Council has held many open public hearings on the acquisition of its’ residents still on Cave Creek Water. Since 2018 I have personally been in communication with Mayor Peterson and Town Council seeking water acquisition updates. In 2019 I received letters from Cave Creek Water stating their water contained dangerous cancer causing byproducts. Thankfully, the Town of Carefree had already started the water acquisition process for its’ citizens.
As I followed the Town’s progress I found the Town of Carefree to be completely transparent throughout the entire process. The Town provided access to the water acquisition details and later to the proposed water tank engineering studies. After these extensive engineering studies were completed—I sat through a 5-hour public update from the engineers on the currently proposed water tank location. If there was a concern over the Boulders water tank location that was the time to its’ residents to speak up.
The current 300K gallon water tank proposal has also outlined concerns to minimally impact the residents of the Boulders. The currently proposed—the mostly below grade water tank—has very little aesthetic impact on the Boulders community. The tank will be covered with native desert landscape and well maintained by the Town of Carefree Water Company. I have seen other water tanks that serve the Carefree community and all of those tanks are visible and above ground.
Residents in and outside the Boulders have to understand the Town of Carefree encompasses all homes and as Mayor Peterson has explained “we all share the cost” of our community utilities. I waited four hours to speak before the Arizona Corporation Commission to object to a recent Liberty Utilities rate increase. I understand Liberty Utility’s need to recover their costs by moving the waste treatment facility from the Boulders to the City of Scottsdale. This move solely benefitted the Carefree residents at the Boulders. So - if I may - I am helping pay for this utility expense as a part of the greater Carefree community. I objected because of the amount of Liberty Utility’s increase and in the end a compromise was reached. That is the process and how it is suppose to work!
The currently proposed water tank location provides the best engineering location and most cost effective way to serve all residents of the Town of Carefree—while providing a reliable, safe water source.
Thank you for the opportunity to address this critical community issue.
Jim Dove
Carefree, AZ
On a related topic, Ms. Benedetto called in and interrupted a later agenda item addressing the street closures for the November Thunderbird Artists show. She thought that some people didn't understand how Zoom "Chats" worked in order to speak. She said she appreciates what the Council does, but has a lot of questions. She questioned the Mayor's statement at the end of the Water Board meeting about Carefree being much better off than our neighbor to the west. She went onto the Carefree Water Company website. She noted that it says Carefree Water purchases water from Cave Creek and Scottsdale. (Lyn's note clarification: Carefree does not have a treatment plant, so Carefree's water is treated by Cave Creek and Scottsdale, not purchased from them. Carefree's water comes from CAP and from wells that go down into the aquifer below Carefree.)
Mayor Peterson reminded her that this was off topic from the art show street closures being discussed. Ms. Benedetto acknowledged that, but said it went back to answering questions when a few people didn't know how to ask questions. She said she wants to keep everyone safe, and that it was great to see the Mayor and staff members sitting next to each other in the Town office for the Zoom meeting wearing masks. But there was a time that the man to the Mayor's left and the man to his right weren't speaking or drinking water and weren't wearing masks, so she had a lot of issues. She had questions and felt she was being "stifled".
Mayor Peterson again encouraged Ms. Benedetto to come in to Town Hall to talk. Ms. Benedetto replied that she wanted to do it in a public forum, rather than one-on-one, and accused the Mayor of wanting to talk privately rather then publicly. She accused him of not serving the public when he does that. She thinks the Council does a great job sometimes, sometimes not. She really wanted to bring out some of the things happening in this meeting. She stated that Councilman Vince D'Aliesio told the Council members to put their masks on, at which point Mr. D'Aliesio spoke up saying, "No, I didn't do that. I asked if there was a mask mandate, which there is not. I didn't tell anyone to put masks on".
Councilwoman Cheryl Kroyer pointed out that this was so far off topic, that this was not the time to do this, and she wanted to hand the meeting back to the Mayor. She said they would find a way to address Ms. Benedetto's concerns in a public forum at another time, but this was not the time or the place to do this. Ms. Benedetto thanked Ms. Kroyer for saying that her concerns would be answered in a public forum.
https://vimeo.com/601586565
Lyn Hitchon
Prepared by Carefree Truth
Copyrighted
Visit our website at www.carefreetruth2.com If you know anyone who would like to be added to the Carefree Truth email list, please have them contact me. Feel free to share Carefree Truth with others on your list.
Visit www.carefreeazbusinesses.com to see more info about businesses in Carefree. Please support our merchants.
Jim Dove called into the Zoom meeting, saying he appreciated the chance to speak on this critical community issue. Because he didn't know if he would be able to speak, he also emailed his letter into the Town.
Mayor Peterson and Town of Carefree Council Members,
The Carefree Town Council has held many open public hearings on the acquisition of its’ residents still on Cave Creek Water. Since 2018 I have personally been in communication with Mayor Peterson and Town Council seeking water acquisition updates. In 2019 I received letters from Cave Creek Water stating their water contained dangerous cancer causing byproducts. Thankfully, the Town of Carefree had already started the water acquisition process for its’ citizens.
As I followed the Town’s progress I found the Town of Carefree to be completely transparent throughout the entire process. The Town provided access to the water acquisition details and later to the proposed water tank engineering studies. After these extensive engineering studies were completed—I sat through a 5-hour public update from the engineers on the currently proposed water tank location. If there was a concern over the Boulders water tank location that was the time to its’ residents to speak up.
The current 300K gallon water tank proposal has also outlined concerns to minimally impact the residents of the Boulders. The currently proposed—the mostly below grade water tank—has very little aesthetic impact on the Boulders community. The tank will be covered with native desert landscape and well maintained by the Town of Carefree Water Company. I have seen other water tanks that serve the Carefree community and all of those tanks are visible and above ground.
Residents in and outside the Boulders have to understand the Town of Carefree encompasses all homes and as Mayor Peterson has explained “we all share the cost” of our community utilities. I waited four hours to speak before the Arizona Corporation Commission to object to a recent Liberty Utilities rate increase. I understand Liberty Utility’s need to recover their costs by moving the waste treatment facility from the Boulders to the City of Scottsdale. This move solely benefitted the Carefree residents at the Boulders. So - if I may - I am helping pay for this utility expense as a part of the greater Carefree community. I objected because of the amount of Liberty Utility’s increase and in the end a compromise was reached. That is the process and how it is suppose to work!
The currently proposed water tank location provides the best engineering location and most cost effective way to serve all residents of the Town of Carefree—while providing a reliable, safe water source.
Thank you for the opportunity to address this critical community issue.
Jim Dove
Carefree, AZ
On a related topic, Ms. Benedetto called in and interrupted a later agenda item addressing the street closures for the November Thunderbird Artists show. She thought that some people didn't understand how Zoom "Chats" worked in order to speak. She said she appreciates what the Council does, but has a lot of questions. She questioned the Mayor's statement at the end of the Water Board meeting about Carefree being much better off than our neighbor to the west. She went onto the Carefree Water Company website. She noted that it says Carefree Water purchases water from Cave Creek and Scottsdale. (Lyn's note clarification: Carefree does not have a treatment plant, so Carefree's water is treated by Cave Creek and Scottsdale, not purchased from them. Carefree's water comes from CAP and from wells that go down into the aquifer below Carefree.)
Mayor Peterson reminded her that this was off topic from the art show street closures being discussed. Ms. Benedetto acknowledged that, but said it went back to answering questions when a few people didn't know how to ask questions. She said she wants to keep everyone safe, and that it was great to see the Mayor and staff members sitting next to each other in the Town office for the Zoom meeting wearing masks. But there was a time that the man to the Mayor's left and the man to his right weren't speaking or drinking water and weren't wearing masks, so she had a lot of issues. She had questions and felt she was being "stifled".
Mayor Peterson again encouraged Ms. Benedetto to come in to Town Hall to talk. Ms. Benedetto replied that she wanted to do it in a public forum, rather than one-on-one, and accused the Mayor of wanting to talk privately rather then publicly. She accused him of not serving the public when he does that. She thinks the Council does a great job sometimes, sometimes not. She really wanted to bring out some of the things happening in this meeting. She stated that Councilman Vince D'Aliesio told the Council members to put their masks on, at which point Mr. D'Aliesio spoke up saying, "No, I didn't do that. I asked if there was a mask mandate, which there is not. I didn't tell anyone to put masks on".
Councilwoman Cheryl Kroyer pointed out that this was so far off topic, that this was not the time to do this, and she wanted to hand the meeting back to the Mayor. She said they would find a way to address Ms. Benedetto's concerns in a public forum at another time, but this was not the time or the place to do this. Ms. Benedetto thanked Ms. Kroyer for saying that her concerns would be answered in a public forum.
https://vimeo.com/601586565
Lyn Hitchon
Prepared by Carefree Truth
Copyrighted
Visit our website at www.carefreetruth2.com If you know anyone who would like to be added to the Carefree Truth email list, please have them contact me. Feel free to share Carefree Truth with others on your list.
Visit www.carefreeazbusinesses.com to see more info about businesses in Carefree. Please support our merchants.