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By Sam Hosler
Mayor, Town of Kearny
Two corners have been turned since the destruction wreaked by the Kearny River Fire. Future days will see some real improvement.
First, the Copper Basin Railway and the Town of Kearny will be working together to clear remaining brush and debris between the tracks and Jamestown Road, which is a mix of land owned by the railroad and the Town of Kearny. The area will not be clear-cut, but will leave small clusters of trees for both beauty and the benefit of animals. For a while there will be the minor inconvenience of dust and noise, but the benefit will be a firebreak.
This is not the first time the town and railroad have worked together. The area between the town and the ATV corridor was cleared a few months ago.
Second, the Winkelman Natural Resource Conservation District will be meeting Friday, July 17, in Kearny. Its executive committee has recommended sponsorship of a restoration project following the Kearny River Fire. All the landowners along the river are participating and, so far, so are Asarco, Arizona State Forestry, The Bureau of Reclamation, The Natural Resource Conservation Service, and San Carlos Reclamation. Our own Bill Dunn has been the sparkplug for this concerted response. The Town of Kearny will be represented as well. The list of players will probably grow.
The meeting will begin with a tour of the burn area, followed by consideration of possible responses. The objective is not only to restore but to improve the area, creating conditions unfavorable to the growth of salt cedar and more favorable to willows and cottonwoods. Wetlands would be maintained, and public access would be improved.
On the swimming pool front, progress is being made. Mr. Al Hartman of Asarco finished the electrical work on the panel. A decision was also made to replace the old water filters which were installed in 1984 with a newer, more efficient style. Once the filters are in place, work can begin on the plastering of the pool. There will still be the installation of lighting and some other electrical work after that. Much good will has been generated through all this cooperative work.
And one more thing, the Town of Kearny will sponsor Firewise, a fire safety program, in cooperation with Arizona State Forestry and Pinal County. We will have more information after Tuesday, July 21.
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