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Hello there! February was a busy month for the town. Let me tell you about it. This update is to inform you and provide some transparency as to what is going on with the town and at the council meetings for those that may not be able to attend. Meetings are held on the third Monday of the month, unless it is a holiday and, in that case, the meeting will be held the next day.
One of the ways that you can help the town is by conserving our most valuable resource – water.
We were given a reduced allotment this year. You may have seen the notice put out on the town Facebook page, the website, or elsewhere on the internet. Because of our reduced allotment, we must be very careful as to how we use our water. We are making sure that the wells are operating, but they are not at full capacity. We may look at ways to make Hubbard park drought tolerant while also enhancing the landscaping. We are unable to water freely at this time. You can help save water by reducing your water usage. If you have grass, consider watering for shorter periods of time. Desert landscaping in this region is also a popular option. We must all be committed to conserving water to help our town.
We selected a new Town Manager, Sharon Jakubowski Wolz. Sharon holds a Master’s in Business Administration. She has a strong history of executive management and a background in the development and administration of operating and capital budgets. She has managed oversees banking operations for military personnel in Germany, worked at the Embassy in Turkey and directed Chamber of Commerce affairs for a community in California. She resides in Kearny. I feel that she is a fantastic addition to our town. Please give her a warm Kearny welcome, as you meet her in upcoming Meet and Greet events around town.
Cobre Valley Regional Medical Center has now taken over the Town of Kearny Ambulance service. They are also hiring for positions at the clinic. We are very grateful for their support with our ambulance situation. The cost of the ambulance was becoming an extreme burden on the town budget and depleting the budget of our much-needed funds. We really don’t know what we would have done without them and all of those that were involved in the meetings and negotiations. I am sure everyone is grateful that the CBRMC has stepped up to support our rural communities.
Road paving went smoothly and swiftly. I understand the frustrations that come with roads being paved in front of both businesses and homes. Hopefully the improvements will outweigh the irritations. The goal is to improve our streets while we have the funding available to do so. This improves the overall aesthetic of the community and will help our businesses thrive. We held a meeting and they started right away and for that, I am thankful. Ace Asphalt and Ray Camacho did a wonderful job.
We are seeing less COVID as people are vaccinated. Vaccinations are available at the Kearny Clinic. Call them to inquire. Cobre Valley Regional Medical Center in conjunction with the Gila County Health Department will also be offering vaccines to anyone 18 years and older in the town. Vaccines will be administered at Cobre Valley Regional Medical Center, 5880 S. Hospital Drive, Globe, AZ 85501 by appointment only. Call: 928-402-2888 to make an appointment. We have had a slight increase in cases locally, but it is still very low at around 6%, according to the AZDHS website. The Kearny community has done a really wonderful job of mitigating the spread of the virus. Please remember to respect those businesses that require a mask.
I hope to have more good news to share with everyone next month!
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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