Supervisor Snider looks back at 2009 and ahead to the new year

HoHoHo to you all, gentle readers! As the minutes, hours, and shopping days dwindle to a precious few, I share your humorous distrust of those who already have their shopping done (and wrapped), the lights (inside and out) installed and the seasonal greeting cards already in the mail. I don’t mean to sound like a Scrooge, but some things are really meant to be done closer to a deadline.

So here we are at the end of another year full of accomplishments, disappointments, losses, gains, births, deaths, hopes and fears. In short, a year much like others but leavened with an economic recession unlike any in recent memory. Pinal County, like many governmental agencies, scrutinized its operations and budgets and implemented reductions in force and expenditures. Programs and services have suffered somewhat and, regrettably, some employees were let go; however, aggressively conservative budget planning for FY 2010 has put us in the position of not having to consider any additional budget reductions thus far. But that last statement is a cautious one inasmuch as the State of Arizona’s FY 2010 budget deficit continues to grow, and the shape and extent of any proposed solution(s) is unknown. Time and special session will tell.

In terms of accomplishments, the county can count a number of high points during 2009. Although successfully navigating the shoals of the economic downturn is one of those accomplishments, certainly the vaccination of more than 10,000 county residents against both the seasonal and H1N1 strains of flu is laudable. The two separate days of mass vaccination (Nov. 14 in Casa Grande and San Tan Valley and Nov. 21 in Mammoth) were smooth, efficient, uneventful and a model of interagency cooperation as nearly 6,000 residents were protected against the pandemic H1N1 flu without incident.

The other monumental attainment was the completion of a three-year-long process to revise the county’s Comprehensive Plan. Much has been said about the hundreds of public meetings and focus group meetings and the thousands of residents that gave of their time and vision to reshape this critical planning document that will help drive growth and development patterns in our county for the next decade. I am proud to be a member of the Board of Supervisors that finally adopted this landmark plan on Nov. 18 – and prouder still of being a member of the Board that initiated the revision process three years prior to the state mandated deadline for doing so. Congratulations to Pinal County for its vision, dedication, perseverance, and accomplishment. And a special kudo goes to the indomitable staff of the county’s Planning Department for their efforts in support of the process as well.

Can we rest on our laurels? The answer is, of course, – absolutely not! After a brief holiday respite, the board and county staff are ready to take up the revision of the Zoning Ordinance which hasn’t been significantly modified since its adoption in 1962. We have a census to help implement and oversee in April of 2010. There’s a great deal of work to be done in conjunction with stakeholder groups on developing mitigation measures to help abate PM10 dust violations as promulgated by the EPA’s letter of non-attainment for Pinal County.

Attention will continue to be paid to implementing the county’s strategic agenda throughout the current budget year and as we very carefully create a conservative budget for FY 2011. Please note: if there’s a thought that next year’s budget will be “easier” than this year’s – think again.

I would like to close by urging all of us still financially solvent to consider those who haven’t weathered the economic storm of 2009. Any and all contributions to any or all of our local not-for-profit charitable organizations that provide assistance to the less fortunate desperately need our help. Whether it’s the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle campaign, the Marines’ Toys for Tots program, the Food Banks of Casa Grande, Maricopa and/or Eloy, the Against Abuse and/or St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Stores or your local church effort – please give if you can.

May the blessings of the holiday season be yours. Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa and Feliz Navidad to all, and to all the very best of a New Year.

David Snider, Pinal County District 3 Supervisor

File photo