"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 #934, July 12, 2021
Issue #934, July 12, 2021
During Call to the Public, letters emailed into Town Hall were read by Mayor Les Peterson and Town Clerk Kandace Conteras. The first letter was from a resident who expressed grave concerns about the professional projectile fireworks that were shot off from a south facing house near the top of Black Mountain on July 4th. He stated that this behavior is unacceptable. Given the numerous fires in this state, he could not imagine the Town of Carefree issuing a fireworks permit to any homeowner. He had photos and video footage of the fireworks and had submitted complaints to the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office and to the Rural/Metro fire department.
He felt that Carefree's fireworks Ordinance was outdated. The state is in a severe drought. Roadside signs warn of extreme fire danger conditions. The Arizona Legislature legalized the sale of fireworks but left the use regulation to municipalities. He asked the Council to address the real danger of fireworks in our desert community at a future Council meeting, amending the Ordinance to include the Class 1 misdemeanor of reckless burning and levying more severe financial penalties. Major fires can be avoided by enforcing these laws with leadership from the Mayor and Council members. He thanked the Mayor and Council for their time and commitment to making our community a safe place to live.
Mayor Les Peterson noted that the Town had not received a request for a fireworks permit, nor would one have been granted. He agreed that it was worthwhile to look at the existing Ordinance, and thanked the gentleman for bringing it to their attention.
Councilman Vince D'Aliesio asked if the Code Enforcement Officer could investigate the incident. Gary Neiss replied that the Officer had been given the letter and he will try to determine which property was involved. Mr. D'Aliesio commented that it would be good to get out in front of it to prevent it from happening next year. Vice Mayor John Crane had seen the video and was glad it would be investigated. Councilman Stephen Hatcher said it was "absolutely outrageous that someone would do this in the current environment", adding that he "was just astonished by it".
Town attorney Mike Wright explained that the State executed its preemptive action. In 2014, the Legislature enacted a law that preempts local jurisdictions from prohibiting fireworks displays. They drew a 1 mile circle around parks and preservation areas, and no fireworks are permitted within that 1 mile circle. But there is no prohibition that the Town could use to stop someone from having fireworks in the existing State of Arizona law. Gary Neiss said Carefree will look at the law and see what provisions can be made to the Town Code.
The remainder of the letters addressed the issue of the Carefree Service Area being brought into the Carefree Water Company, and reading them took up the rest of the almost hour long Call to the Public. All but the final letter were in favor of the water transfer. (Lyn's note: All but that final letter, and one from a manager at the Boulders Resort which spoke in favor of the transfer, were included in the last 2 weeks of Carefree Truth's Letters from Readers, and as far as I know, all were also included in the Sonoran News in either the print or the online versions. The 2 letters not printed in Carefree Truth Letters from Readers had not been sent to me.)
The final letter was from a gentleman complaining that the open house invitation presenting a proposal for a new boutique resort on the corner of Carefree Highway and Tom Darlington Drive had only been sent to those within a 500' radius of the property, which is the legal requirement. He felt that all residents should be asked if they wanted this, or at least advised of the proposal in an area not zoned for this type of development. He said he had suggested to Councilman Tony Geiger that informational sheets should be sent out with the Carefree Water bills and included as attachments in those bills that are emailed. He claimed this is another example of the Town's failure to inform all residents on major issues proposed for the town.
As he mentioned to Mr. Geiger, some of the information about the water transfer is on the Town's website, but major meetings and Power Point presentations are not there yet. He had been assured months ago that all the information would be posted there. He does not consent to this lack of transparency and obvious disregard for the town's residents and their right to know.
https://vimeo.com/572874309
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.
He felt that Carefree's fireworks Ordinance was outdated. The state is in a severe drought. Roadside signs warn of extreme fire danger conditions. The Arizona Legislature legalized the sale of fireworks but left the use regulation to municipalities. He asked the Council to address the real danger of fireworks in our desert community at a future Council meeting, amending the Ordinance to include the Class 1 misdemeanor of reckless burning and levying more severe financial penalties. Major fires can be avoided by enforcing these laws with leadership from the Mayor and Council members. He thanked the Mayor and Council for their time and commitment to making our community a safe place to live.
Mayor Les Peterson noted that the Town had not received a request for a fireworks permit, nor would one have been granted. He agreed that it was worthwhile to look at the existing Ordinance, and thanked the gentleman for bringing it to their attention.
Councilman Vince D'Aliesio asked if the Code Enforcement Officer could investigate the incident. Gary Neiss replied that the Officer had been given the letter and he will try to determine which property was involved. Mr. D'Aliesio commented that it would be good to get out in front of it to prevent it from happening next year. Vice Mayor John Crane had seen the video and was glad it would be investigated. Councilman Stephen Hatcher said it was "absolutely outrageous that someone would do this in the current environment", adding that he "was just astonished by it".
Town attorney Mike Wright explained that the State executed its preemptive action. In 2014, the Legislature enacted a law that preempts local jurisdictions from prohibiting fireworks displays. They drew a 1 mile circle around parks and preservation areas, and no fireworks are permitted within that 1 mile circle. But there is no prohibition that the Town could use to stop someone from having fireworks in the existing State of Arizona law. Gary Neiss said Carefree will look at the law and see what provisions can be made to the Town Code.
The remainder of the letters addressed the issue of the Carefree Service Area being brought into the Carefree Water Company, and reading them took up the rest of the almost hour long Call to the Public. All but the final letter were in favor of the water transfer. (Lyn's note: All but that final letter, and one from a manager at the Boulders Resort which spoke in favor of the transfer, were included in the last 2 weeks of Carefree Truth's Letters from Readers, and as far as I know, all were also included in the Sonoran News in either the print or the online versions. The 2 letters not printed in Carefree Truth Letters from Readers had not been sent to me.)
The final letter was from a gentleman complaining that the open house invitation presenting a proposal for a new boutique resort on the corner of Carefree Highway and Tom Darlington Drive had only been sent to those within a 500' radius of the property, which is the legal requirement. He felt that all residents should be asked if they wanted this, or at least advised of the proposal in an area not zoned for this type of development. He said he had suggested to Councilman Tony Geiger that informational sheets should be sent out with the Carefree Water bills and included as attachments in those bills that are emailed. He claimed this is another example of the Town's failure to inform all residents on major issues proposed for the town.
As he mentioned to Mr. Geiger, some of the information about the water transfer is on the Town's website, but major meetings and Power Point presentations are not there yet. He had been assured months ago that all the information would be posted there. He does not consent to this lack of transparency and obvious disregard for the town's residents and their right to know.
https://vimeo.com/572874309
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.