August 31, 2011 • Vol. 09, No. 38
POSTAL PATRON CAVE CREEK
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Anthem • Black Canyon City • Carefree • Cave Creek • Desert Hills • New River • N. Phoenix • Tramonto
Anthem approves $39,500 for market analysis MARC BUCKHOUT MANAGING EDITOR
After an extensive debate, some teeth grinding and admitted concern by multiple members of the board the Anthem Community Council voted to spend up to $39,500 to have ESI Corporation conduct a market analysis for Anthem. The council by a 4-1 vote, with Tim Fyke and Bob Copen abstaining, authorized Chief Executive Officer Jenna Kollings to move forward with the plan. “We see this as a critical part of our process,” Kollings said. “Our staff could put some of this together on our own, but it wouldn’t be nearly as vibrant of a plan. If we go this way we’ll get a tangible document, maps, data tables, charts provided in a format that can be used by realtors and given to potential buyers. They’ll also provide us with an implementation plan, action steps that will be used moving forward. This is not a study that will sit on a shelf. It will be something that gives us a map of where to go. We want to go about establishing a climate to make Anthem attractive, to make businesses want to grow here.” While board members Copen, Ron Jerich and Ray Norris all intimated that
ANALYSIS
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Inside:
Anthem non-profit readies for annual charity run MARC BUCKHOUT MANAGING EDITOR
Living in a desert Valley residents, perhaps more than most people in the United States, are keenly aware of the importance of water. But while most of us simply turn on a faucet for clean drinking water it can be quite an ordeal in other places around the globe. For the fourth straight year Anthem resident and Water for Our World founder Scott Foreman is looking for volunteers interested in participating in a fundraising event that not only change the lives of the thousands of beneficiaries of the effort, but also provides
personal fulfillment as an accomplishment of a lifetime. At 6 p.m. Sept. 8 Foreman, accompanied by Dan Spinogatti, will have an informational meeting at the Anthem Community Center looking for people to participate in the 2012 Phoenix P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon. Participants are asked to get family, friends and coworkers to sponsor their effort with the money going to pay for the building of a well in areas of need around the globe through Foreman’s non-profit. “As close to the issue as we are as an organization
RUN
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Submitted photo
Anthem based non-profit Water for Our World will participate in the 2012 P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon for the fourth straight year. Each of the previous three groups have raised money through the run with proceeds going to build a well in villages in need in countries around the world.
Revision of county codes proposed MARC BUCKHOUT MANAGING EDITOR
Marc Buckhout/The Foothills Focus
Maricopa County Supervisor Chairman Andy Kunasek was in New River on Aug. 24 where he offered up a host of proposed revision to county codes. The proposals came in response to a July meeting in which area residents questioned the strict nature of some of the codes currently on the books. The board of supervisors will vote on the proposals at their Oct. 19 meeting.
NATURE:
GOVERNMENT:
Park ranger meets in New Cave Creek Town Council cancels meeting, River, gives update on next meeting Sept. 19 status of state parks
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At a meeting in early July 40 plus residents from the New River and Desert Hills area turned out to let Maricopa County Supervisor Chairman Andy Kunasek, who represents District 3, know in no uncertain terms that they are frustrated in their attempts to deal with the county. Specifically their issues included struggles in obtaining permitting to build on their land, concerns about ambiguity in the codes, seemingly inconsistent enforcement and all in all a difficult time communicating with county employees. Just less than two months after their last visit, Kunasek and members of the county staff were back in New River on Aug. 24 at Daisy Mountain Fire
SPORTS:
Station #141. Once again nearly 50 residents showed up to hear the county’s response. “We think we’ve come up with some solutions,” he said. Kunasek offered eight amendments to the Maricopa County Zoning Ordinance and the Drainage Regulation of Maricopa County that will be discussed at a public hearing on Sept 15 meeting and voted on by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors on Oct. 19. The list includes a text amendment to the Maricopa County Zoning Ordinance that would change the date of a grandfather clause which currently requires a building or structure to have been built prior to 1969. The proposal would give legal non-conforming status
Codes
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OTHER :
Boulder Creek comes alive in 2nd half, pulls away from Cactus Shadows
• Editorial Page
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• Classified Ads
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• Service Directory 17 22