City becomes Maricopa’s first Pinal County Town Hall economic partner

Maricopa’s City Council became a premier contributor to the Pinal County Town Hall at last Tuesday’s council meeting. The sponsorship, in the amount of $1,250, includes one free delegate registration, valued at $195.

“We are becoming a leader in Pinal County, and we need to be a partner in this, especially now that we’re on the map,” said Councilman Will Dunn.

“For a long time, there’s been a mystique, so it’s good you are reaching out to the city and Rotary Club,” Mayor Kelly Anderson told Alma Farrell, Maricopa’s town hall advisory committee representative. Council’s economic partnership was a response to Farrell’s plea during her town hall presentation. Until this vote there have been no town hall economic partners in Maricopa.

Each spring for the last 19 years approximately 140 delegates have met for two days to study and discuss a specific topic relevant to both the county and its various communities.

This year’s town hall will take place April 25-27 at the Francisco Grande in Casa Grande.

“Rediscovering our Neighborhoods” is the topic for this 20th anniversary celebration (see related story). The purpose is to create a greater sense of community for Pinal County residents, increasing their commitment to and confidence in their communities and neighborhoods.

Alma Farrell, Maricopa’s committee representative to the Pinal County Town Hall, presented details of that event to the city council last week and received approval for an economic partnership from the city.

Farrell told members of the council, “Do we really know what a neighborhood is anymore?” That question became the reason “we narrowed in on neighborhoods.” She explained that so many people live in Pinal County but don’t work here so there is a separation of neighbors.

Questions that Town Hall is asking include: “Where is Pinal County headed, figuratively and literally? How will we use our land? How many neighborhoods are there? Where will we work? — I think that one is the key for economic development,” said Farrell.

In addition, Constellation Awards to citizens, individuals and businesses along with the Youth of the Year Award, including a $1,000 scholarship, will be presented on Friday, the final day of the event. Will and Cindy Dunn were Constellation Award winners last year for their work with Hurricane Katrina victims through their Action Alliance Network. Maricopa has had five students who received past Youth of the Year awards.

Farrell also explained that the idea of the city and schools creating a community hotline, as Maricopa did for last year’s flooding, went to Town Hall and was adopted by several other cities and towns.

“There will be 15 neighborhood involvement mini-grants given out, and that’s really important,” Farrell added.

Photo by Aaron Thacker