(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-7120.html
Photo by Debbie Danowski


Here are your bonus rounds from Herbert.
http://aneyeonyouproduction.com/62520-sunset.html
http://aneyeonyouproduction.com/63020-morning-birds--chipmunk.html
Photos by Herbert Hitchon

Here is your bonus video from Herbert.
Here is the link to the Maricopa County & Rural/Metro emergency preparedness presentation from 6/27/19.  This is good info to keep saved
on your computer.

Emergency Preparedness Presentation by R/M & County: 6/27/19
http://carefreetruth2.com/carefree-truth-763.html

Town of Carefree Marketing newsletter
https://www.carefree.org/345/Town-Newsletters
THE 2020 CENSUS IS COMING – GET COUNTED!

                ONLINE OR BY PHONE BY APRIL, 2020
                                 2020CENSUS.GOV


Hi Lyn
Thank you so much for the great announcement of our Veterans Memorial fundraising kickoff.

Mike Wold


Hi Lyn!
We are very appreciative to have Mayor Peterson & Vice Mayor Crane taking such an active role & providing leadership in these uncertain times. 
Catherine Zindell


Hi Lyn,
Excellent summary letter from Tony Geiger!
Catherine Zindell


Hi Lyn--
How many positions are the 6 council candidates running for?
Suzanne Mead
(Lyn's note: There are 9 candidates running for 6 Council seats.)


You listed your choices for council, but I would like to see a list of all of those who are running.  Is that possible?

Sue Beastall
(Lyn's note: We will discuss the other 3 Council candidates in a Carefree Truth newsletter on Friday.)


Lyn,
If a Carefree resident has their mail forwarded does the Post Office still place the ballot in the box? I have their PO key and was planning to pick up their ballot and mail to them.
Nancy Keller
(Lyn's note: I checked with Kandace on this.  If you have a forward order in with the PO, they automatically send your ballot back to the County.  Here is what you need to do to get your ballot under that circumstance.)

Are you going to be out of town for the Carefree August 4th Primary Election?

Did you know that the post office is federally prohibited from forwarding your ballot to your temporary address even if you have a forwarding request on file?
There are still two ways to vote by mail-in ballot.
Mail a written request to Maricopa County Elections. The written request must include the following:
1.     Full Name
2.     Date of Birth   
3.     Residence Address
4.     Temporary Address
5.     Signature
          Include a note granting the Maricopa County Elections Office permission to mail your ballot to a temporary address. 
To transmit the written request it can be scanned to evreq@risc.maricopa.gov, faxed to 480-360-3628 or mailed to:
Maricopa County Elections
Attn: Early Voting
510 S 3rd Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85003
In the alternative – Have a trusted friend or relative collect your mail at the post office. Box it up and mail it to your temporary address. You can mail your completed ballot from anywhere in the U.S.A. Just make sure it is in the mail in time to be RECEIVED by the Election Office by August 4, 2020.
For further information, call 602-506-1511
Kandace French Contreras- Town Clerk/Treasurer


To:  All Carefree Residents
From: Carefree Council Members Michael Krahe and Steven Hatcher
 
Summer is here and so is the heat. The Desert Foothills is seen by many as a tinderbox!  As you are aware, there have been several serious wildfires, the most recent out by the 17 and Carefree Highway.  To be safe, we all must remain alert and be prepared in the event we are asked to evacuate our homes. 
 
In past communications we have discussed an important action we can take to protect our physical property: Create a brush-free perimeter around our homes. Today we want to share some suggestions on what to take with you in the event you are asked to evacuate your home. All items may not apply to your situation; please pick and pack what is appropriate to you! The information we are providing is adapted from a document by Carefree resident Phil Corso. 
 
It is suggested that you pack a “Go Bag” and a “Doc Box”:
·         “Go Bag”: Your Go Bag is your container for items you are removing from your home in an evacuation. These items are intended to support you until you are able to return to your home. This “Go Bag” can be a suitcase, duffle bag, or whatever will hold your items. We have also included a “Pet Go Bag.”
·         “Doc Box”: The Doc Box is a container that includes your important documents and valuables. 
 “Go Bag”:
·         2 complete changes of clothing
·         Jacket, sweater, or sweatshirt
·         Personal toiletries
·         Medicines
·         First aid kit
·         Swiss army knife
·         Comfortable shoes
·         Flashlight with batteries
·         Glasses/contact lenses with lens cleaner
·         Note pad with writing utensil
·         Zip lock bags
·         Tissues/hand wipes
·         Straps/rope
·         Matches/lighter
·         Eating utensils
“Pet Go Bag”:
·         Dry food
·         Pet Medications
·         Water dish
·         Leash, collar, toys
·         Pet records
·         Pet carrier positioned for immediate access
“Doc Box”:
·         Valuables
·         Smart phone and charger
·         Laptop computer and charger
·         Important documents: passport, social security card, insurance   card, deed, driver’s license, living wills, etc.
·         Debit and credit cards
·         Cash
·         checkbook
 Besides the preparations shared above, be sure to develop a family evacuation communication plan where you determine how you will stay in contact with family members in the event of an evacuation. 
 Finally, make arrangements in advance with friends or family as to where you can stay until it is safe to return to your home.  If you are unable to stay with friends or family, community shelter locations are available but depend on the location of the wildfire.  Be sure to register for the County Emergency Notification Program so you can learn about available shelters. 
 




ELECTION
We all know that this is an election year.  The last day to register for the election is July 6, 2020.  On the Carefree primary ballot, August 4, 2020, will be candidates for Mayor and candidates for 6 members of the Town Council.  Currently, 9 individuals have submitted information to be on the ballot.

I encourage all residents eligible to vote to take time to become as informed as is possible on candidates running for office.  Based on current information, 2020 and 2021 will be very important for the Town’s future with the Mayor and Council voting on what may be the most important issues of the last 15 years, namely, the acquisition of approximately 526 water user accounts of Carefree residents being currently served by Cave Creek Water.  These 526 accounts includes all homes in Canyon Creek Estates and the CCE HOA.

Below, please find a copy of an email message from Tony Geiger, a resident of Carefree Sentinel Rock Estates, in which he outlines the status of activity: Note: This information was published in the early June issues of the Sonoran News and Carefree Truth.  FYI, Tony Geiger was, at one time, the Chair of the Cave Creek Water Advisory Committee, and I believe he may have served in that position for 4 years, or longer.  Until his retirement, he spent over 30 years in water and sewer systems.  I have highlighted several areas, these are my thoughts and do not represent any input from the CCE HOA board although some may share these thoughts.


In the May 20 edition of this paper there were two articles laying out vastly different values for the portion of the Cave Creek Water system that serves Carefree. The final value will be determined by an arbitration panel that will be hearing the case some time later this summer. Cave Creek purchased the entire Cave Creek Water Company for $19.5 million back in 2007 or just under $8,000 per meter.

Included in the purchase were approximately 2500 metered connections as well as a water treatment plant, 11-mile CAP pipeline and 4 CAP pump stations. This was after their own appraisal they commissioned in January of 2006 valued the complete system at $11 million. The Carefree portion represents approximately 530 metered connections and does not include any treatment plant or CAP pipeline and pump station assets. Roughly 50% of Cave Creek Water Company’s assets are treatment plant and CAP pipeline/pump station related. Cave Creek’s current valuation for the assets and severance costs for the portion of the system serving Carefree recently came in at $17.4 million while Carefree’s appraisal was $1.47 million.

To put these numbers in some context, of the water systems purchased in AZ between 2004 -2018, the average purchase price was $3,763 per meter and included all treatment plant and water transmission pipeline assets. Cave Creek is asking for something in the neighborhood of $33,000 per meter when all their “damages” are included. Carefree has offered approximately $2,800 per meter. At this point to try and guess at the final price tag and what the impact will be on Carefree and its rate payers is idle speculation. The process is nearing completion and needs to play out. What is not speculation is that there are 1000 Carefree residents who are subjected to water service that does not meet the standards enjoyed by the rest of the Town’s residents. This includes poor water quality, lack of industry standard fire hydrant maintenance, continued issues with water pressure both high and low and the reliance on a system that has not been properly maintained. Worst of all they have no political voice in the management and oversight of their most critical resource in the arid southwest. Added note from AG: Carefree residents, on Carefree Water Company, have a voice in in management and oversight.  The Town’s Mayor and Council members also are automatically Chairman of the Board of Directors and Directors of the Carefree Water Company.  All meetings are open to the public and our voices can be heard.  Over the years, I have attended meetings of the Cave Creek Town Council and I did not get the impression that my thoughts were listened to!

This was not the case when many of us purchased our homes. What is now Cave Creek Water was owned by a private utility, Global Water, and the AZ Corporation Commission provided oversight and a venue for citizens to take their concerns. Carefree agreed to work with Cave Creek on their condemnation of Global Water with the idea that the IGA they entered into would protect its citizens and allow for the integration of the 1000 Carefree residents served by Cave Creek Water into the Carefree Water Company if they desired to do so at a future date. It was to be an “amicable” separation if and when Carefree chose to exercise its rights agreed to in the IGA. What is also not speculation is that Cave Creek has lagged in the maintenance of the water system. Cave Creek has not had a rate increase in over 10 years. Most water utilities have small increases in rates every couple of years to keep up with inflation and fund required capital expenditures.

The necessary ongoing capital requirements are typically spelled out in 5-year documents called a Capital Improvement Plans (CIPs). Cave Creek has not done this. There have been voices calling for both long term CIP’s and rate increases since at least 2014, but only since Cave Creek started their legal battle with Carefree in early 2018 have they begun to seriously pursue these processes. Don’t take my word for it, a review of the public record is quite informative. Keep in mind these are quotes from approved Cave Creek Town Council meeting minutes that the Mayor and Council review, have the opportunity to correct and must sign off on for accuracy.

1) Cave Creek Council Meeting June 18, 2018 Approved Meeting Minutes Agenda Item 6 – Adaption of Tentative Budget for 2018- 2019 It is worth reading the entire minutes of this agenda item (pages 26-42) as it is quite illuminating as to how the Cave Creek Water Company had been run the 11 years since its purchase in 2007. The first quote is from former Utilities Director Kaylor relative to maintenance done on the Town’s CAP pipeline/pump stations providing the Town’s ONLY SOURCE FOR WATER and is found on page 31: Kaylor: “If you look at the CAP pump stations, they’re 33 years old.

Not a drop of actual maintenance has occurred, so that is a high priority item. It’s the highest priority item that, its, it’s the only dog we have in the show we have right now to get water from the CAP canal into our CAP treatment plant” The next quote is from Mayor Bunch found on page 35 and is in response to a Council member Wright questioning a $3,000,000 increase in the budget and commenting that it is substantial.

Mayor Bunch: “It certainly is, because, cause we’ve ignored a lot of stuff for a lot of years and that, I think, because we didn’t think we had the money or the, or the, the um, desire to do more in the way of maintenance and, and, uh, improvements, hasn’t actually been there, where this Council is actually showing that desire. Yeah, its, it’s up. There is no doubt about it and we’re gonna look bad, there’s no doubt about it, but we have, have not done the best job in, in the, historically that, uh, that we should have been doing, I don’t think”

2) Cave Creek Council Meeting June 3, 2019, Approved Meeting Minutes – Agenda item 3 – Possible Adoption of Tentative 2019-2020 Budget: PG 11- Discussion by Finance Director Weddigen to clarify that the budget went from $21.4 million (not $18 million), to $30.4 million in response to comments from Councilman Morris: “The overall answer to Mr. Morris’ question is that there was a lot of foregone maintenance relative to the system, coming out of the recession and the pent-up demand for maintenance and repair, as well as establishing and maintaining routine maintenance and repair structure so that failures don’t happen, all that benefits the customers for a safer and reliable drinking water system.”

With the above quotes gleaned from the public record it should be of concern to all customers of the Cave Creek Water Company as to how the system has been managed. It is interesting to note, having been part of the Water Advisory Committee from 2013-2017, working with a talented group of people, pointing out all the deficiencies for years and serving on the Cave Creek Town Managers Rate Committee in 2016-17, we could not get the Mayor and Council to take corrective action.

It has not been until Carefree exercised its rights granted to them in the 2007 IGA to acquire the assets within our Town and provide proper water service to the 1000 impacted residents, that we now see Cave Creek attempting to try and correct 12 years of poor management. Cave Creek Water has identified somewhere in the range of $20 million dollars of critical projects in a 5 year CIP, not including the unbudgeted $2 million spent on special water treatment plant filters last year. However, the Mayor and Council only approved the first year of projects, have not provided firm time lines for completion of critical projects, the means to fund the projects or the impact on rates.

It appears they have a lot of catching up to do.

Tony Geiger

Carefree

To the best of my knowledge, arbitration was scheduled to start in July.  It is believed that the Coronavirus situation will postpone the start.  If there is no actual postponement, there could be delays, which could put future decisions in the hands of the new Council, making it even more important that voters become fully informed on candidates’ positions.  Water is the lifeblood of the desert, good, clean water is vital for our well-being.  Thank you for reading this.

Arthur Gimson

(Lyn's note: Due to Covid, the arbitration has been rescheduled for October.)


Thanks Lyn,
I agree with Mayor Peterson 100%.  Let's see how many others follow the suggestion.  I love fireworks as much as the next person, but only in the right environment.
Hugs,
Pam DiPietro


Lyn—Could not agree more.  Was shocked yesterday to see Costco with a whole wall selection of fireworks for sale.  

Tom Surrency
Thank you for always putting these emails together. We appreciate you!
Kathy Slipek