(Lyn's note: Please feel free to send us any pictures you'd like included. Here's the link to this week's Pictures of the Week.)
http://carefreeazbusinesses.com/pictures-of-the-week-61219.html
http://carefreeazbusinesses.com/pictures-of-the-week-61219.html
Meizee and Rascal!
Photo by Binka Schwan
And here are your bonus rounds from Herbert:
http://aneyeonyouproduction.com/5519-late-sunset.html
Photo by Binka Schwan
And here are your bonus rounds from Herbert:
http://aneyeonyouproduction.com/5519-late-sunset.html
Photos by Herbert Hitchon
Town of Carefree Marketing newsletter
https://www.carefree.org/345/Town-Newsletters
Hi Lyn. Richard Andersen, Executive Director at Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center, died last Sunday. His memorial service will be at Ascension Lutheran Church at 3pm on Friday June 21. Please help spread the word.
Thanks,
Paul Campbell
Spirit in the Desert Executive Director Emeritus and current Pastor at Ascension.
How does one get up-to-hour about the Tonto fire?
Louise Short
(Lyn's note: I asked Gary Neiss. Below is his response, with info as of Sunday evening.)
Tonto National Forest posts updates. It is 50% contained and moving north to northeast away from communities. All very positive signs.
Lyn
Rural Metro Carefree Station has posted a request via Facebook for donations of bottled water, Gatorade and individually wrapped snacks (ex: Powerbars, etc) to aid the firefighters battling the fire in the Tonto National Forest. They asked that no fresh food be donated. Donations can be dropped off at the Carefree Fire Station. Again, only bottled water, Gatorade and individually wrapped snacks.
I'm sure it will be appreciated if you can circulate this request among your network.
Thanks.
Phil Corso
Lyn,
I just dropped off my stuff to the Carefree firefighters. They said they are the only ones collecting.The Cave Creek firehouse is sending folks to them. A truck will be picking everything up and delivering it to the wildfire firefighters. I hope the church community members let their folks know about this too - there are a LOT of generous people around here!
Pat Patterson
We bought several cases of bottled water and Gatorade to the Carefree Station but there was no one there to receive it (at least we couldn't find anyone). So we took it to the Fire Station on Cave Creek road just north of Rancho Paloma.
Suzanne Oliver
Lyn:
I went by Carefree Fire Station #1 earlier today to drop off a couple of cases of water. Whether it is Carefree Truth or Facebook, it’s working; there had to be 20 or 30 cases of water in the lobby!
Arthur Gimson
As of Monday, June 10th, County health department had received 52 survey responses from Carefree residents, in just one week. That number quadrupled the amount that the county had projected as needed for this survey. Big thank you to the residents that participated!! The data will only help us in potentially accessing additional services for our town.
Vince D'Aliesio
Proud Councilmember
Hi Lyn:
Thank you for the recommendations at Alberto’s. Scott and I especially enjoyed Alberto’s chicken piccata. Scott, having just returned from Italy, was impressed with his beer selection. Next up, Alberto’s highly acclaimed pizza. Alberto is a great host and it was an enjoyable evening.
John Crane
I watched Monday night's (6/3) Cave Creek Council meeting via live streaming. A few of my takeaways:
1) This was an extraordinary action taken by the Council. In my decades of working on the design, build-out, start up and maintenance of water treatment plants, I have never seen a town basically approve a new water treatment plant in one night without any advance planning, discussion or debate.
Having worked on attempting to pass a 5 year $8 million Capital Improvement Plan in 2106/17 as a member of the WAC, there was NEVER any discussion on the need for a new water plant. This also holds true for the current WAC, as Dr. Kerry Smith, current WAC Chair, was totally blindsided by this new requirement.
2) Cave Creek claims the water is safe with elevated levels of TOC’s. This was repeated by their Utility Manager several times. What makes me suspicious of that claim is that Cave Creek did not have any science or scientists back up their claims. The question I have is, if the water is so safe, why the emergency action to basically abandon the existing water plant and spend millions on a temporary fix?
On the other hand, Dr. Kerry Smith spoke out that there are potential health risks associated with the elevated levels of TOC’s. The fact that he is a member of the National Academy of Science, a full professor of Environmental Economics and actually consulted with the EPA on the rule making for allowable levels of TOC’s, brings a much higher level of credibility than the self serving claims make by Cave Creek.
3) I thought I heard Mr. Kaylor, the Utility Manager for Cave Creek, state that the $2,000,000 plus that they will be spending is only a temporary fix and will only accommodate the treatment of 2/3 of the Town’s peak water use. How much more money will it take to put in place a full, permanent fix? How will this impact Cave Creek water rates? Does this mean water shortages this summer?
It will certainly mean that a lot more money will have to be spent to put in place a permanent fix.
4) Not one penetrating question from the Council. Talk about a lack of transparency.
We have now entered into the situation that we have a serious water quality issue. This does not just impact the 526 Carefree households, but the entire Town of Carefree, as 15-20% of The Carefree Water Company Water is purchased from Cave Creek.
I sincerely hope that Carefree quickly moves forward with completing the separation from Cave Creek Water.
Tony Geiger
When I decided to run for Council last year, the first person you referred me to was Tony Geiger. You said that I needed to learn about the water concerns. I had a chance to talk to him at length several times and understood the gravity of the situation as beyond serious. He has been a resident nearly 20 years , an expert in all things water, and when a guy that is on the Cave Creek Water System tells you point-blank that he is going to cut his losses and sell his house below market value if nothing is done, then you have to take it seriously, which we did. We need to continue to expedite this process, and Mayor Peterson, Vice Mayor Crane, and the rest of the Council must continue to work together, as this is the number one priority for our residents in Carefree. I really love serving the town. It's definitely some work, but when we can be a part of making the town better, its definitely worth it.
Councilman Vince D'Aliesio
Thank you for keeping us updated on the water situation. We've had so much dirt and silt in our water that we keep having to replace the valves in our year old toilets because they are getting clogged up. We drain the tank, suck all the dirt muck out and replace the valves....and it's good until the silt builds up again.....Honestly, this is the water they are saying is safe to drink and use for our families. Please Carefree....move ahead as soon a possible!
Lori Wolfe
Lyn:
There has been a lot of talk about the Cave Creek Water system and the notice, dated May 29, 2019, that was sent out alerting customers to the fact that Total Organic Compounds were at higher levels than the treatment plant is required to allow in its treated water. I have since learned that this notice covered the 2nd quarter of this year and an earlier notice had been sent out covering the 1st quarter, citing a similar problem.
Having received neither notices, I thought that it may be because I subscribe to Cave Creek's paperless auto-pay system and do not receive mail to my post office box.
On June 6, 2019, I sent an email to a Mr. Charles, whose name and email address were listing on the Cave Creek website, he had a title of Water Distribution Supervisor. Copies of my message were sent to the Cave Creek Town Manager as well as to the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) and to Maricopa County. In that message I requested that there be a system to notify all customers of any Notices, either via online or mail.
To date, I have not received any replies.
Arthur Gimson
From: Arthur Gimson
Sent: Thursday, 06 June, 2019 12:50 PM
To: dcharles@cavecreek.org
Cc: cdyrek@cavecreek.org; SDWquestions@mail.maricopa.gov; Hua.tiffany@azdeq.gov
Subject: Your water system notification procedures
Dear Mr. Charles:
This is being sent to you since your name and email address were on the Utilities page of the Cave Creek website and I was unable to find an email address for the Utilities Director, Shawn Kreuzweisner.
FYI, I am a Carefree homeowner served by Cave Creek Water. Recently, I was sent a copy of a Notice, dated May 29th, 2009, relating to a situation with Total Organic Compounds in the water. I have since learned that this is known as a "Tier II" notice, required to be sent to affected users within 30 days when quarterly results are below required standards.
At the same time, I learned that this is the second notice sent out within the last two quarters. On neither occasion did I receive a copy of these notices.
While making assumptions isn't always the best thing to do, I am guessing that I did not receive notices due to the fact that I subscribe to the Payment Service Network and receive no mailings.
FYI, I am a daily user of the Internet, for online banking, credit card statements, etc. From time to time, I receive email notices that my statements are available. After logging in, I find the appropriate link and it goes directly to my statements, which I can open as a PDF, or open and view, or open and save. From time to time, there is a link that tells me that there is an "insert". Often that is a notice that the bank or credit card issuer is making some changes to terms of use.
May I suggest that your billing department be provided with mailing addresses for those customers who subscribe to paperless automatic billing so that required notices can be mailed as if I were being mailed a statement. Alternatively, can the Payment Service Network arrange to include required notices with their system?
Arthur Gimson
Regarding the issue of term limits for Carefree Mayor and Town Council.
It is my opinion that this is an issue for the people in Washington, namely the Senate and the House of Representatives. There are some who have become rich by being in those positions which were meant to be volunteer and for short periods of time. Some have been in office most of their adult lives. They have made the Senate and House a career.
Now that does not apply to our Town government; they are truly volunteers and give generously of their time. I agree with Tony Geiger about this. We have some of the most talented people on our town council and in our executive position. If you don't agree, "VOTE THEM OUT", don't just give us your negative politically motivated lip service. And unlike Hillary Clinton if you lose, tell yourself you LOST!!!!!!
Joe Corpora