Carefree Truth
Issue #720, January 18, 2019
Issue #720, January 18, 2019
Mayor Les Peterson put a summary together of his presentation at the Special Council meeting on the water, which I will gratefully use.
Town Leadership Moves Closer to Unifying
Carefree Under One Water Service Provider
Carefree Under One Water Service Provider
On January 15th, the Carefree Town Council, the members of which also serve as the Board of Directors of the Carefree Water Company, unanimously approved a resolution authorizing the Mayor to pursue the acquisition of the water system serving the far western parts of Carefree and integrating these areas into the Carefree Water Company service area. Included in this acquisition would be the water required to service these accounts.
This brief summary is intended to help you understand this action and why the Town Council/Water Company Board of Directors believes that this task is critical to the future of Carefree.
You mean there is more than one water provider in Carefree? Yes, there are two water providers operating within the Town of Carefree; the Carefree Water Company which serves about 75% of residents, and the Town of Cave Creek, which serves the remaining 25%. The Cave Creek water service areas within Carefree are referred to as the “Carefree Service Area.”
What does this action mean? This action authorizes the Mayor to initiate the formal process required to acquire the water system in the Carefree Service Area from Cave Creek and make it part of the Carefree Water Company. An agreement to acquire the Carefree Service Area was already memorialized in an IGA (Intergovernmental Agreement) approved by both towns in 2007.
Why is this action important? Unifying all of Carefree’s residents and businesses under one water system provides many benefits to both the existing Carefree Water Company users as well as residents and businesses within the Carefree Service Area. These benefits include:
· Greater water security to all of Carefree’s residents.
· Standardizes water maintenance practices for the Town.
· Provides all Carefree residents and businesses a voice in electing the officials that control the water system and establish water rates.
· Allows for greater operating efficiencies.
· Strengthens the Carefree Water Company by adding over 500 new customers.
Why this sudden action? This acquisition has been under review and discussion for over two years, but the Town leaders proceeded cautiously to make sure this is the right decision. About one year ago, a consulting team comprised of water system and financial experts was hired by the Town and the Carefree Water Company to study this issue to help determine how best to proceed.
What did the experts say? The complete summary of the findings of the team of experts has not been summarized in final written form at this time, but these outside experts and Carefree representatives have been involved in every step of the process. All of the findings of this collective team have been incorporated into the decision making and plan of action.
What if I want more information? This summary begins the communication process. We are happy to provide what additional information we can at this time, however please understand that this project is entering a timeline that requires sensitive discussions and negotiations with the Town of Cave Creek. Information that could impact the discussions cannot be shared at this time. As the process progresses, continual information will be shared with Carefree’s residents and business customers.
After the Mayor finished his presentation, the public was invited to comment. Arthur Gimson, who moved to Carefree in 2003, was disappointed to discover that he was on Cave Creek Water, whose reputation he said was not the highest. He was elected to the Council in 2011, and spent a day with Stan Francom (who was the head of the Carefree Water Company at that time), learning about the Carefree Water Company and why he was on Cave Creek Water. He didn't like the explanation then and will never like it. He urged the Council to support the Resolution and move forward.
Mr. Gimson said that Carefree residents who are in the Cave Creek Water Service Area have been denied the benefits of the work of the Town Administrator who oversees the Water Company along with the Water Company General Manager. Those Carefree residents on Cave Creek Water derive no benefits from their time and effort, yet are paying through Carefree sales tax revenue, which belongs to all of Carefree's residents. He again urged the Council to move forward.
As no one else in the audience wished to speak, the Mayor read the Resolution and called for a vote. The Council approved the Resolution 6-0, with Councilman Gene Orrico absent.
https://vimeo.com/311587654
The next agenda item addressed Carefree entering into a cooperative purchase agreement with the Strategic Alliance for Volume Expenditures (SAVE), which permits public entities within the State of Arizona to receive professional services which comply with procurement procedures and meet the most competitive pricing. There are numerous cooperative purchasing agreements in Arizona which allow for public entities to purchase materials and services at the most competitive prices and reduce duplication of efforts between governmental entities.
Public entity members of SAVE include 78 of the 91 Arizona municipalities, 14 of the 15 counties, and over 250 school districts. The Resolution in front of the Council would allow Carefree to join the SAVE cooperative. This would allow the Town to take advantage of the efficiencies already negotiated. Rather than having to send out Requests for Proposals in each area, it sets the pricing and has approved people within it, making it a far more efficient process.
The Council approved the Resolution 6-0.
https://vimeo.com/311589103
Lyn Hitchon
Prepared by Carefree Truth
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.
This brief summary is intended to help you understand this action and why the Town Council/Water Company Board of Directors believes that this task is critical to the future of Carefree.
You mean there is more than one water provider in Carefree? Yes, there are two water providers operating within the Town of Carefree; the Carefree Water Company which serves about 75% of residents, and the Town of Cave Creek, which serves the remaining 25%. The Cave Creek water service areas within Carefree are referred to as the “Carefree Service Area.”
What does this action mean? This action authorizes the Mayor to initiate the formal process required to acquire the water system in the Carefree Service Area from Cave Creek and make it part of the Carefree Water Company. An agreement to acquire the Carefree Service Area was already memorialized in an IGA (Intergovernmental Agreement) approved by both towns in 2007.
Why is this action important? Unifying all of Carefree’s residents and businesses under one water system provides many benefits to both the existing Carefree Water Company users as well as residents and businesses within the Carefree Service Area. These benefits include:
· Greater water security to all of Carefree’s residents.
· Standardizes water maintenance practices for the Town.
· Provides all Carefree residents and businesses a voice in electing the officials that control the water system and establish water rates.
· Allows for greater operating efficiencies.
· Strengthens the Carefree Water Company by adding over 500 new customers.
Why this sudden action? This acquisition has been under review and discussion for over two years, but the Town leaders proceeded cautiously to make sure this is the right decision. About one year ago, a consulting team comprised of water system and financial experts was hired by the Town and the Carefree Water Company to study this issue to help determine how best to proceed.
What did the experts say? The complete summary of the findings of the team of experts has not been summarized in final written form at this time, but these outside experts and Carefree representatives have been involved in every step of the process. All of the findings of this collective team have been incorporated into the decision making and plan of action.
What if I want more information? This summary begins the communication process. We are happy to provide what additional information we can at this time, however please understand that this project is entering a timeline that requires sensitive discussions and negotiations with the Town of Cave Creek. Information that could impact the discussions cannot be shared at this time. As the process progresses, continual information will be shared with Carefree’s residents and business customers.
After the Mayor finished his presentation, the public was invited to comment. Arthur Gimson, who moved to Carefree in 2003, was disappointed to discover that he was on Cave Creek Water, whose reputation he said was not the highest. He was elected to the Council in 2011, and spent a day with Stan Francom (who was the head of the Carefree Water Company at that time), learning about the Carefree Water Company and why he was on Cave Creek Water. He didn't like the explanation then and will never like it. He urged the Council to support the Resolution and move forward.
Mr. Gimson said that Carefree residents who are in the Cave Creek Water Service Area have been denied the benefits of the work of the Town Administrator who oversees the Water Company along with the Water Company General Manager. Those Carefree residents on Cave Creek Water derive no benefits from their time and effort, yet are paying through Carefree sales tax revenue, which belongs to all of Carefree's residents. He again urged the Council to move forward.
As no one else in the audience wished to speak, the Mayor read the Resolution and called for a vote. The Council approved the Resolution 6-0, with Councilman Gene Orrico absent.
https://vimeo.com/311587654
The next agenda item addressed Carefree entering into a cooperative purchase agreement with the Strategic Alliance for Volume Expenditures (SAVE), which permits public entities within the State of Arizona to receive professional services which comply with procurement procedures and meet the most competitive pricing. There are numerous cooperative purchasing agreements in Arizona which allow for public entities to purchase materials and services at the most competitive prices and reduce duplication of efforts between governmental entities.
Public entity members of SAVE include 78 of the 91 Arizona municipalities, 14 of the 15 counties, and over 250 school districts. The Resolution in front of the Council would allow Carefree to join the SAVE cooperative. This would allow the Town to take advantage of the efficiencies already negotiated. Rather than having to send out Requests for Proposals in each area, it sets the pricing and has approved people within it, making it a far more efficient process.
The Council approved the Resolution 6-0.
https://vimeo.com/311589103
Lyn Hitchon
Prepared by Carefree Truth
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.