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By Sam Hosler
Mayor, Town of Kearny
Despite a major stock correction this past week, economic indicators remain positive for upward employment figures in the United States. But that is cold comfort for the Copper Basin since it was revealed that the condenser operation at the Hayden ASARCO operations will close in October with a loss of 130 jobs and 78 people learned this weekend that they will be laid off from the leaching operation at the Ray Mine. Layoffs and restructurings are not new to us, but these announcements follow the layoffs earlier this year.
Let’s hope that the price of copper will rise. Freeport McMoran is planning layoffs in Miami’s open pit in response to the drop in value of copper. We’re not alone in this but, again, having company in our loss is not much comfort.
Let’s all help each other as much as we can. I remind citizens that the Kearny Library is part of the Arizona Workforce program. Help is available at the library with resumes, and dedicated computers will assist with job searches. There is no fee for this service. Additionally, at the urging of some citizens, I am asking for help in developing a job fair for temporary or full-time positions. Please e-mail me at sam_hosler@msn.com (that’s an underscore and not a dash) if you would like to help pull this together as soon as possible.
Things are very busy at Town Hall. The scheduled audit begins this week, dealing not only with figures but with auditing procedures. The Keep Kearny Clean committee meets the following week to lay plans for the fall clean-up set for Saturday, October 17, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. It will look much like this Spring’s clean-up, with curbside pickups that day, volunteers going around the town to pick up trash, and special receptacles set up on the 400 block of Jamestown Road. I’ll write more about this as the time approaches.
This Wednesday, Sept. 2 at 6 p.m., a special meeting of Town Council will deal with several items. The Chamber of Commerce is proposing a Farmer’s Market on Saturday, Sept. 26; the Council will decide whether or not to have Richard Corso as the town’s Chief of Police; and representatives from the City of Tempe will be on hand to propose the giving of one of their existing fire trucks to the Kearny Fire Department. Town Manager Anna Flores has long held the hope that this offer would be made, which will make the town safer and lower the fire insurance rates for all residents.
Labor Day is coming soon. Let us remember that there would be no economy without the labor of people. Value is created, not born.
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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