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By Sam Hosler
Mayor, Town of Kearny
I have the odd habit, when eating a meal, of eating one kind of food at a time from my plate. I start with the least-favorite item and work my way up. And when working on tasks, I prefer to work on one thing at a time until it is complete.
I have learned that effective and open government doesn’t allow for a “one thing at a time” approach. Many matters are always being considered at the same time and all deliberations are made openly. That is the reason why occasionally you will see a NOTICE sign at the post office saying, in effect, that four or more council members will be at a meeting, but that no town items will be discussed.
This is something not very convenient, but it is necessary. It precludes members from doing “behind the scene” what should always be done only in a public setting. I rejoice that the Arizona State Legislature rejected the resolution from Senator Sylvia Allen (District 6) which would have abolished Arizona’s Open Meeting Law. There is enough hanky-panky in government without adding more.
At our last, and very open, meeting of Town Council, some of the items dealt with were these:
1. During the call to the public, several citizens returned to speak again about the need for greater animal control in Kearny. It was a spirited and good discussion. The Town is already negotiating an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with Hayden to work cooperatively. The Council also directed the Town Manager and legal counsel to review and propose a revision of the animal control ordinances. A couple of bites, but not a full meal.
2. During the business session, the Council, responded to a request from the Copper Basin Railroad to consider eliminating the All Terrain Vehicle Corridor (which is all on railroad land). At the previous meeting of Council, Mr. James Hosea had been asked to explore community sentiment on the issue. He presented a petition with many signatures supporting retention of the corridor. The Council discussed the issue, then voted to open negotiations with the Copper Basin Railroad for a written agreement retaining the corridor in a matter agreeable to both parties. The previous agreement had been an oral one.
The Council also voted to approve a trial Facebook page for the Police Department once a set of guidelines for use is written. It also approved entering into a Highway Safety grant to acquire a new vehicle for DUI and traffic safety enforcement. Finally, it approved a grant request to the Pascua Yaqui Tribe in the amount of $200,000 for rebuilding the town swimming pool. I hope to write more about this next week.
This was all done in public, without fanfare or rancor. Many other things were accomplished at the meeting. The next meeting will be Monday, April 20, at 7:30 p.m. in Town Hall.
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