By Mila Besich Lira
Copper Basin News
After several months of discussion and community organizing, the Kearny Town Council voted unanimously to adjust the current ordinance on curfew and reinstate the use of the curfew siren. Any person under the age of 18 years old will have a curfew of 10 p.m. each day. For youth ages 16-18, they will have a curfew extension of 11:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.
The curfew will not apply to those youth 18 and under who are accompanied by a parent, guardian, adult relative or adult friend approved by a parent or guardian or if the person is attending to a school function, employment or urgent business and can give satisfactory account of why is not home after curfew.
During the August meeting Mayor Hossler requested that the Attorney draw up two ordinances, one reinstating the curfew siren and one without the curfew siren. Community members communicated that they wanted the siren reinstated.
Following the vote on the curfew ordinance, the council was briefed on changes to the municipal election laws. The Arizona State Legislature passed a law that would require municipal elections to be held in the fall of even numbered years rather than the spring; these new laws will take effect in January of 2014. In August of 2014 the primary election will be held for Mayor Sam Hosler (two-year term) and Councilmembers Lana Dalton, Neil Gambell and Daniel Radcliffe (four-year terms). The new election ordinance approved will also require that those choosing to run in the upcoming elections will be required to collect 1,000 signatures or at least five percent but not more than 10 percent of the vote for Mayor in the last preceding Mayoral election. The primary election for these seats has been set for August 26, 2014, with the general election set for November 4, 2014.
In other business the Town of Kearny approved a contract with Colby & Powell for the Annual Financial Audit; approved and Intergovernmental Agreement with Pinal County for election services; and approved a street closure for Ray High School for the Homecoming Parade.