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By Mayor Sam Hosler, Town of Kearny
This is my last column as Mayor of Kearny. I am honored that the Copper Basin News allowed me the opportunity to communicate news and issues facing our town.
We had issues, didn’t we? Big ones. The Shipman Fire, the Gila River Fire, the closing of the bank, the drying-up of Kearny Lake, dirty water coming out our spouts, recession, unemployment, and a crumbling infrastructure are only a few of the things we faced. I think we faced them with a positive attitude, and I know that the employees of the Town of Kearny have been reliable, capable and unusually devoted to the town.
Mayor Sam Hosler, Town of Kearny
We are the smallest full-service town in Arizona. By “full-service” I mean that our town government provides police, fire, emergency medical services, water, sewer, streets, parks, the town pool, and most things that larger towns and cities provide. It is not easy making town government work because of our small and decreasing tax base. Fortunately we have citizens who are passionate about Kearny, and organizations like the Copper Basin Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club, and the churches of Kearny who help establish our town identity.
The town really came together over the rebuilding of the town pool. The two auctions, the gifts of money, the lending of time and expertise (especially from ASARCO) and volunteer labor made it possible. We are now moving into the third year of Journey for a Clean Kearny, which is a totally volunteer program. The transfer station is operated with volunteers, and we have had numerous financial and in-kind gifts over the years. ASARCO and Resolution Copper have benefitted us and continue to do so.
Mayor Debra Sommers and the new council members will join the veteran members of council to chart a new course for Kearny. A ten-year governing and economic plan is being developed with the assistance of Central Arizona Governments. This plan is being developed with full citizen participation. New issues will undoubtedly come our way, but new opportunities will come as well.
I’m not saying goodbye, not at all. I will be a Kearnyite like you, someone who loves our town and strives for its improvement. We are citizens. We are family. We care and we act.
There are news or informational items frequently written by staff or submitted to the Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner, Superior Sun, Pinal Nugget or Oracle Towne Crier for inclusion in our print or digital products. These items are not credited with an author.
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