To tower or not to tower, is that the question? Or is just another dog-day afternoon in Maricopa? I have been on council for a year now, and, if I had to measure this year, I’d have to say that it should be measured out like a dog year.
It feels like seven years when it’s only been one. However, since this year started, I have been determined to see progress expedited and to stop the circles that lead us to nowhere. Like you, I want to see the movie theaters, bowling alleys, recreation centers and places where the city can meet to work and do business.
Yet, city issues that, in my opinion, should be taken care of quickly seem to drag on like this summer heat. And no matter how you see it, some of the problems look like a dog chasing its tail.
Unfortunately, city government works at a snail’s pace and that is not an assessment of our city staff, as they are only operating at the decisions, or in many instances, the indecision of council. I can say honestly that I share my frustrations with you the citizen. I know one can only watch that snail crawl for so long before patience is lost. However, as a member of council, I have to remain patient and always hope we can do better as a community in working together in everything ranging from economic development to capital improvements that would substantially benefit our city.
At my very first meeting as a councilmember, I sat down with our previous city manager and requested an audit of the police department. Instead we received what I continue to label as a “social studies experiment” at a price tag of $26,792. A year and three months later, our new city manager has taken the first steps to conduct this full audit. I have commended her for this decision as the many other decisions she has made to help our city progress.
But getting back to the “dog chasing its tail” problem, another matter that seems to be going around in circles is the cell tower. Unfortunately, I had a family emergency right before the start of the Sept. 20 council meeting and arrived a few hours late. Looking at the video, council chose to table this agenda item for the third time. Many community members (opposed and in favor of the tower) have contacted me to express their opinion on this item. I have made it very clear to them, and the public at a council meeting, that I will not be involved in this decision because this may be perceived as a conflict of interest since my husband, two brothers and family friends are all employed by Verizon Wireless.
Now let’s get to the real dog chasing its tail — the dog park in Maricopa. The issue itself has become political and misrepresented in the press. One email printed out and published doesn’t even come close to representing all parties or the exchanges involved, nor does it include the amount of time that was spent in various meetings. But since it is out there now as a partial story, I must respond, which once again continues to draw me away from more pressing city issues.
Councilmember Carl Diedrich recently defined a “conflict of interest” to me in an email where I requested he recuse himself from the decision process for Rotary Park since his wife is so influential and imbedded in this matter. In Mr. Diedrich’s own words: “Arizona Statutes require that in order for a conflict of interest to exist, there must be a “substantial interest” on the part of the public official or their relative. A “substantial interest” is defined as a “pecuniary or proprietary” interest that isn't a “remote interest”. ”Pecuniary means financial and proprietary means ownership."
Personally, my husband, family and friends have absolutely nothing to gain (or loose for that matter) if the cell tower gets built or not. I chose to recuse myself for ethical reasons not due to “Arizona Statues” definition of a “conflict of interest.” Based on those same ethical reasons and the public perception, I requested Mr. Diedrich recuse himself and was determined to do so in a public forum, but, as I mentioned, had an emergency and arrived at the meeting just as the final decision on this agenda item was being made.
