"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
Tonight's meeting was bittersweet, but fitting. I attended my final council meeting voting on the same piece of property that I voted on my first council meeting in 2018.
In between, there were many triumphs that benefited the town, and I'm confident I leave this position better than how I found it. Much was accomplished and I pass the baton to the next set of volunteers.
I'm grateful to the amazing staff, led by Town Administrator Gary Neiss, Greg Crossman who handles our "liquid gold," in the Carefree Water Company, and to say goodbye to our exceptional Town Clerk and many other hat-wearer, Kandace French-Contreras. We have the best Economic Development Director in Steve Prokopek, an awesome town planner in Stacey Bridge-Denzak, our Town Accountant in Jim Keen, the best Code-Enforcer and fellow Sun Devil "Dennis the Menace" Randolph, and our incredible Maintenance team, led by the best in the business, Travis Johnson. Communications Director Madysin Garrett is a rising star.
I'm proud of the friendships I developed over the years with council members: Steve Hatcher, Tony Geiger, Cheryl Kroyer, and my best friend on the council who retires at the same time as me: Mike Johnson. Thank you Mayor Les Peterson for taking me on, being patient with me, teaching me how to handle this role (as well as your advise when I was President of the Cave Creek Museum) with grace. Thank you to my consigliere, Ralph Fero. You helped me navigate through a lot and building relationships. Thanks Lyn and Herb Hitchon. You always know what advice I need, when I need it.
Thank you to those that helped me along the way that are no longer here: the late Honorable Vice Mayor Lloyd Meyer and his invaluable advice on the water consolidation project, helping me gain a greater understanding of the history of the project going back to 2006, and my special friendship with the late Honorable Councilman Arthur Gimson, whose breakfast meetings were invaluable to me. After the 2020 election, a popular resident and council candidate that did not win a seat, walked up to us at our final breakfast and asked Arthur if he voted for him. Arthur replied that he did not. The man asked Arthur why. Arthur said: "because you changed." The man thanked Arthur and walked away. That stayed with me from that day on. Arthur then handed me a slip of paper at our last meeting in 2021 (he passed away soon after). I carry that slip of paper to this day and attached it here:
In between, there were many triumphs that benefited the town, and I'm confident I leave this position better than how I found it. Much was accomplished and I pass the baton to the next set of volunteers.
I'm grateful to the amazing staff, led by Town Administrator Gary Neiss, Greg Crossman who handles our "liquid gold," in the Carefree Water Company, and to say goodbye to our exceptional Town Clerk and many other hat-wearer, Kandace French-Contreras. We have the best Economic Development Director in Steve Prokopek, an awesome town planner in Stacey Bridge-Denzak, our Town Accountant in Jim Keen, the best Code-Enforcer and fellow Sun Devil "Dennis the Menace" Randolph, and our incredible Maintenance team, led by the best in the business, Travis Johnson. Communications Director Madysin Garrett is a rising star.
I'm proud of the friendships I developed over the years with council members: Steve Hatcher, Tony Geiger, Cheryl Kroyer, and my best friend on the council who retires at the same time as me: Mike Johnson. Thank you Mayor Les Peterson for taking me on, being patient with me, teaching me how to handle this role (as well as your advise when I was President of the Cave Creek Museum) with grace. Thank you to my consigliere, Ralph Fero. You helped me navigate through a lot and building relationships. Thanks Lyn and Herb Hitchon. You always know what advice I need, when I need it.
Thank you to those that helped me along the way that are no longer here: the late Honorable Vice Mayor Lloyd Meyer and his invaluable advice on the water consolidation project, helping me gain a greater understanding of the history of the project going back to 2006, and my special friendship with the late Honorable Councilman Arthur Gimson, whose breakfast meetings were invaluable to me. After the 2020 election, a popular resident and council candidate that did not win a seat, walked up to us at our final breakfast and asked Arthur if he voted for him. Arthur replied that he did not. The man asked Arthur why. Arthur said: "because you changed." The man thanked Arthur and walked away. That stayed with me from that day on. Arthur then handed me a slip of paper at our last meeting in 2021 (he passed away soon after). I carry that slip of paper to this day and attached it here:
As for me, I still live here, first house built in town (thank you to my good friends Gerry and Leslie Jones for building an amazing home), my wife Cheryl and I will be walking Snoopy and Toby through the garden nightly, enjoying our kids: Noah, Matthew, and Sophie, and trying to be a support for my 89 year old dad and my mom, who unfortunately is losing a long ugly battle to cancer and is receiving hospice services. My folks need me now more than the town does.
Good luck, Mayor Crane. You've been doing this long enough and should know that you cannot please everyone. You have to make sure when your head hits the pillow at night, you know you did the right thing that day for the town.
To the incoming council-- be transparent and be truthful. Silence is golden and make sure you understand an issue before you speak on it.
Thank you, neighbors, for your continued support.
Vince D'Aliesio, Proud Carefree Resident
Good luck, Mayor Crane. You've been doing this long enough and should know that you cannot please everyone. You have to make sure when your head hits the pillow at night, you know you did the right thing that day for the town.
To the incoming council-- be transparent and be truthful. Silence is golden and make sure you understand an issue before you speak on it.
Thank you, neighbors, for your continued support.
Vince D'Aliesio, Proud Carefree Resident
Outgoing Council members Vince D'Aliesio & Mike Johnson
The recent council meeting was well attended as the level of interest in the Carefree Quarter development is very high. The presentation by the developer’s representative was detailed and answered all questions and concerns presented by the council and citizens alike.
Council members-elect were asked to speak, and Colleen Rose-Scurti made a statement in support of the project that was positive, perceptive, and constructive. Unfortunately, and even though she seemed to be speaking in favor of the development, Diane Roth as usual was very negative: the developer is a low-end retail developer who misleads us about the quality of the development, the Economic Development Director exaggerated the expected revenue per square foot, and the Council was not transparent enough before she moved here. All these statements were unnecessary and unprofessional, especially since all have proved to be false and without merit. She also accused a Carefree resident of lying about an unrelated topic.
At this point I have to ask: is it more likely that all of the people and groups Roth has denigrated have been lying to you, or is it more likely that the source of misinformation is Roth? The facts of her previous involvement in local issues and the financial cost incurred as a result of her participation speak volumes of her character. Most of the staff and other Council members were already aware of this, and I believe her recent statements have placed her in a dreadful light before she’s even sworn in.
After discussion by the Council, the Carefree Quarter Incentive agreement was passed unanimously. Congratulations to our town staff who have worked diligently to get to this point. An exceptional job despite the personal attacks by Roth.
If you didn’t see the council meeting it’s available on YouTube.
Jim Northcutt
Carefree resident
Council members-elect were asked to speak, and Colleen Rose-Scurti made a statement in support of the project that was positive, perceptive, and constructive. Unfortunately, and even though she seemed to be speaking in favor of the development, Diane Roth as usual was very negative: the developer is a low-end retail developer who misleads us about the quality of the development, the Economic Development Director exaggerated the expected revenue per square foot, and the Council was not transparent enough before she moved here. All these statements were unnecessary and unprofessional, especially since all have proved to be false and without merit. She also accused a Carefree resident of lying about an unrelated topic.
At this point I have to ask: is it more likely that all of the people and groups Roth has denigrated have been lying to you, or is it more likely that the source of misinformation is Roth? The facts of her previous involvement in local issues and the financial cost incurred as a result of her participation speak volumes of her character. Most of the staff and other Council members were already aware of this, and I believe her recent statements have placed her in a dreadful light before she’s even sworn in.
After discussion by the Council, the Carefree Quarter Incentive agreement was passed unanimously. Congratulations to our town staff who have worked diligently to get to this point. An exceptional job despite the personal attacks by Roth.
If you didn’t see the council meeting it’s available on YouTube.
Jim Northcutt
Carefree resident
You are absolutely correct, PetSmart caters to a completely different market than hers. Roth just stirring it up. The unanimous vote should have enlightened her but I’m sure it didn’t.
I’m convinced she won simply because she sat at the post office more than anyone. Unfortunately the voters are pretty much illiterate when it comes to anything within the town. Ask someone how they feel about the general plan and watch the blank stares!
Fortunately we have Sheila on the council and she’s made it known the Roth lies will be called out publicly every time! She’s got four hard years ahead of her!
Jim N.
(Lyn's note: I was the Carefree resident that Ms. Roth accused of lying on an unrelated topic. Ms. Roth told a local pet store owner that PetSmart moving to the NE corner commercial development would compete with her store. PetSmart is currently located in The Summit, which is even closer to her store than is the NE corner, and the products each business sells are quite different. The local store concentrates more on cute animal outfits, with some pet food and biscuits. PetSmart primarily sells food and some other practical items for a wide variety of pets.)
I’m convinced she won simply because she sat at the post office more than anyone. Unfortunately the voters are pretty much illiterate when it comes to anything within the town. Ask someone how they feel about the general plan and watch the blank stares!
Fortunately we have Sheila on the council and she’s made it known the Roth lies will be called out publicly every time! She’s got four hard years ahead of her!
Jim N.
(Lyn's note: I was the Carefree resident that Ms. Roth accused of lying on an unrelated topic. Ms. Roth told a local pet store owner that PetSmart moving to the NE corner commercial development would compete with her store. PetSmart is currently located in The Summit, which is even closer to her store than is the NE corner, and the products each business sells are quite different. The local store concentrates more on cute animal outfits, with some pet food and biscuits. PetSmart primarily sells food and some other practical items for a wide variety of pets.)
We are going to have to raise taxes Biden style to survive this council
Rich Christopher
(Lyn's note: Actually, most of them are good. There are only 2 bad ones, both newbies. I'm hoping one of them will eventually figure it out. The other one won't.)
Lyn,
Excellent. One nit for clarification: the Developer has 15 signed Letters of Intent, not the Town.
Les Peterson
(Lyn's note: Thanks for the correction, Les.
Also, the last time I heard, it was up to 20 signed Letters of Intent.)
The NE corner development sounds like a great deal for us
John and Darlene Skarda
(Lyn's note: I agree!)
I'm trying to get a jump on the schedule this year.
I figured with the election, Thanksgiving, Christmas and Holidays next month we'd all be busy and before you know it, it's APRIL and the Tournament is on us!
Bob Jenkins
19th ANNUAL MCLEF GOLF TOURNAMENT
So far, we anticipate the same itinerary as last year:
Thursday afternoon, April 24th pick up the MOH guys at CIVANA and drive them to the Veterans Memorial in Carefree.
We will be greeted by Mayor John Crane for a welcome ceremony.
Then head down to Handlebar-J in Scottsdale for the GATHERING OF HEROES (GOH) fund raiser event.
Later back to CIVANA and Friday AM, April 25th picked up by our limo driver and taken to McDowell MT for the tournament.
Back to CIVANA later that afternoon/evening... Checking out Saturday, April 26th.
Here is one of the best video's explaining what MCLEF is about and why we do what we do...
OPEN: https://youtu.be/SRVCeXCRDX4?si=9fe5PWp46RI3DBB2
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. Please support our Carefree merchants.
I figured with the election, Thanksgiving, Christmas and Holidays next month we'd all be busy and before you know it, it's APRIL and the Tournament is on us!
Bob Jenkins
19th ANNUAL MCLEF GOLF TOURNAMENT
So far, we anticipate the same itinerary as last year:
Thursday afternoon, April 24th pick up the MOH guys at CIVANA and drive them to the Veterans Memorial in Carefree.
We will be greeted by Mayor John Crane for a welcome ceremony.
Then head down to Handlebar-J in Scottsdale for the GATHERING OF HEROES (GOH) fund raiser event.
Later back to CIVANA and Friday AM, April 25th picked up by our limo driver and taken to McDowell MT for the tournament.
Back to CIVANA later that afternoon/evening... Checking out Saturday, April 26th.
Here is one of the best video's explaining what MCLEF is about and why we do what we do...
OPEN: https://youtu.be/SRVCeXCRDX4?si=9fe5PWp46RI3DBB2
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. Please support our Carefree merchants.