[music]
A letter to town of Fes Valley January
8th, 2026 council meeting. Clerk, please
call the role.
>> Council member Lopez,
» Council member Lopez,
>> present.
» present.
>> Council member Kio,
» Council member Kio,
>> present.
» present.
>> Council member Frowing,
» Council member Frowing,
Council Member Greer,
>> here. Council member Schumanker,
» here. Council member Schumanker,
>> present.
» present.
>> Vice Mayor Serger
» Vice Mayor Serger
>> here.
» here.
>> Mayor Paul Gooden
» Mayor Paul Gooden
>> here.
» here.
>> We have a quorum.
» We have a quorum.
>> Thank you, ma'am. At this time, I'd like
» Thank you, ma'am. At this time, I'd like
to welcome down Pastor Mike Cannon, Zion
Christian Church, for our invocation.
Please stand if you can.
Good to see you. Tell you something.
>> They show me. Huh?
» They show me. Huh?
>> Okay. I got a Pentecostal voice now. I
» Okay. I got a Pentecostal voice now. I
All right. I got to tell you something
that u I was looking at the
Facebook page and I was just very proud
and uh very pleased about some of the
things that you guys are bringing. We
were excited. I mean we saw all these we
saw Poco Loco and and I start asking
myself I said but wait mayor um there's
something missing. I see all these
people coming but I didn't see Zion
Christian Church coming. I That's all
right. I forgive the mayor. He's my
friend. He's my friend. Hey, I want to
tell you guys that the the Lord has
spoken to me a word over Prescott
Valley. I just wanted to share with us.
He said that um as we build better,
we're going to move forward. That's a
word for our church and that's a word
for Prescott Valley. Amen.
Certainly, this is the pledge.
I need your prayer.
I apologize.
[laughter]
Father God, we come before you very
humble.
We come before you very humble, Father,
because we know we did not make it on
our own.
Father, we thank you that you woke us up
this morning. We thank you that you kept
us today, Father. We thank you that you
brought us here today. Glory be to God.
I I plead the blood of Jesus over that
gap county. I plead the blood of Jesus
over wrestling. I plead the blood of
Jesus over the city council. I plead the
blood of Jesus over the man. And no
weapon formed against us shall prosper.
AND EVERY TONGUE THAT RISES up against
us shall be condemned. Father, I heard
you say the steps of a good man were
ordered by the Lord. So, Holy Spirit,
I'm asking that you would permeate this
meeting to shine light on the steps of
victory you have prepared for the mayor
and his team. Glory be to God. Father
God, we come before you with
thanksgiving. Father God, I thank you in
advance for understanding today. Holy
Spirit, help us. Father, I thank you in
advance for revelation in this meeting.
Holy Spirit, help us. Father, [laughter]
I thank you in advance for guidance in
this meeting. Holy Spirit, help us.
Father, I thank you in advance for
revelation in this meeting. Holy Spirit,
help us. Father, I thank you in advance
for unity in this meeting. Father, when
it's all said and done, we'll be sure to
give you the glory. and we will magnify
the name Jesus for the victory in
Prescott Valley. And everybody said
I don't know
[laughter]
to the flag of the United States of
America to the
indivisible
indiv.
Thank you, Pastor Mike. Appreciate you.
Can I get a motion to approve the agenda
as presented?
[clears throat] So move
second.
>> Cler, please call the vote.
[cough and clears throat]
>> Council member Kio.
» Council member Kio.
>> Yes.
» Yes.
>> Council member,
» thank you. Everyone else, mayor, that
passes unanimously.
>> Thank you, ma'am. Moving on, item four,
» Thank you, ma'am. Moving on, item four,
certificates and service awards,
planning and zoning commission
recognition of service for Phil Bordeau,
Art Rutherford, and Sandra Laney.
So, good evening everyone. Tonight, we
are honored to recognize five
individuals whose service, integrity,
and dedication have made a meaningful
impact on our community. First, we're
going to start with planning and zoning
commission members. We begin by
recognizing Phil Bordon, Artha
Rutherford, and Sandra Laney for their
service on the planning and zoning
commission. This commission plays a
vital role in guiding the thoughtful and
lawful growth of our town, ensuring
development aligns with our community's
long-term vision. Their expertise and
commitment they bring to this
responsibility cannot be overstated.
Arthur Rutherford has served four terms,
contributing an extraordinary 11 years
of service. Phil Bordon has served one
term, contributing two years of
dedicated involvement, and Sandra Laney
has served two terms, contributing over
five years to the commission. To each of
you, we extend their heartfelt gratitude
for your service, leadership, and
unwavering dedication. Thank you.
Hi, I'm Stacy Bristo. I'm the
development services director here and I
just wanted to say u again thank you for
their service. Um not everybody is
willing to dedicate and volunteer their
time and energy to serve their
community. Um I've been in a lot of
jurisdictions and sometimes it's hard to
find people willing to do these things.
So I'm really eternally grateful um for
their service. So, I just wanted to say
thank you
» guys.
It's been a privilege and I have enjoyed
So now we have building board of
adjustment. We would also like to
recognize the members of our building
board of adjustment, Stanford Lake and
Cal Nye. The building board of
adjustment carries the important
responsibility of interpreting and
upholding town code as it relates to
zoning regulations. Through the appeal
process, this board ensures fairness,
clarity, and consistency when property
owners seek relief due to unique
conditions affecting their land. The
board has authority to hear appeals,
grant variances when appropriate, and
affirm or modify decisions made by the
zoning administrator.
Fortunately for the town, the board
convenes very few times each year. Proof
that our zoning processes run smoothly
thanks to their oversight.
Stanford Lake,
are you here?
>> Are you here?
» Are you here?
>> Okay. Well, Stanford Lake has served one
» Okay. Well, Stanford Lake has served one
term contributing to one year of
service. and Kel Nye, who's unable to be
with us this evening, has served 10
terms totaling 18 years of dedicated
involvement. We are sincerely grateful
for your service and dedication to
ensuring fairness and balance within our
community zoning pro process. Thank you.
>> I know they're not here, but let's give
» I know they're not here, but let's give
them a round of applause.
Moving on, item five, uh, fiscal year
2024 25 annual external audit and annual
comprehensive financial report. Miss
Morris, welcome.
>> Good evening, mayor, vice mayor, members
» Good evening, mayor, vice mayor, members
of council. As accord in accordance with
the Arizona revised statute, we are
required to have an annual external
audit. Within 60 days of the issuance of
the audit, we are required to have the
our independent auditor present the
results to the council. So we are
pleased tonight to have Michael Lison,
CPA, the audit partner for Hefield
Mechair to present the results.
>> Welcome, sir.
» Welcome, sir.
>> Thank you.
» Thank you.
>> Uh thank you, mayor, vice mayor,
» Uh thank you, mayor, vice mayor,
council, for having me here tonight. Uh
as Selena stated, uh this is a
requirement under state law to present
the audit report in a council meeting.
uh and also to show uh that the citizens
of the of the town that you are doing uh
your job. So glad to be here tonight. Um
I also want to say a special thank you
to Selena uh Ina and the whole finance
team uh all the employees that we worked
with in the various town departments uh
including information technology,
utilities, the clerk, legal, court, etc.
We kind of touch all the parts of the
town and so we appreciate everyone's
help. We realize that we're disrupting
their lives uh for two weeks uh while
we're working on the audit and so we
appreciate their help of in the 150 page
report. Three pages are ours and the
rest is all the town uh staff doing
their hard work. So we appreciate their
efforts. Uh so tonight I just want to
talk about the reports that we did
issue. So the primary one being the
annual comprehensive financial report.
This is the called the ACTUER. This is
the report that the town applies for
awards every year. And so the town
received the government finance officers
association uh certificate of excellence
for the 2024 act and we anticipate that
they will also receive the award again
for 2025. We also audit the six CFDs
that the town operates. Uh we also do
compliance with the highway user revenue
fund. Uh the expenditure limitation
report, the entertainment center agreed
upon procedures. This year we also
reviewed court procedures as well.
That's a once every three-year
requirement. Uh and then finally we
worked on the single audit which was
required because the town receives and
expends more than $750,000 in federal
awards. Um and so what I'm happy to hear
to say is that on the financial
statements the town received what's
called an unmodified opinion which is
the highest opinion we can give. Uh
we're not saying that everything is
perfect. Uh we actually have a couple
internal control things to talk about
tonight, but we can also say that there
were no significant deficiencies and no
material weaknesses uh reported over the
town's financials. So congratulations uh
to those who worked hard on that. Uh the
second part of the audit I want to talk
about is the uniform guidance, the
single audit. There we tested the
program, the Corona virus state and
local fiscal recovery funds. And again,
I can say the town received what's
called an unmodified opinion, which is
the highest opinion we can give on
compliance with federal requirements.
So, congratulations again on that. Uh, I
did want to touch just briefly on we had
four recommendations uh for town
improvements going forward. Uh, the
first one had to do with uh information
technology department and ensuring that
technology policies are in place. The
second one had to do with some
improvements on maintaining
documentation in personnel files. Uh the
third one had to do with conflict of
interest and just timely disclosure to
ensure uh everyone is aware of any
potential conflicts. And the final one
had to do with a WIFA grant that the
utility department received um that is
kind of at risk at this point uh due to
not meeting some benchmarks. So, we just
recommended some improvements for town
uh management and the finance department
to implement some different things going
forward. And so far, uh the town has
been responsive and is currently uh
working on an action plan, a corrective
action plan going forward. And so, there
are any questions I'd be happy to
answer.
>> Council, we have questions for staff.
» Council, we have questions for staff.
None, sir. All right. Thank you so much.
Miss Morris, do you want to add anything
or we good?
Nothing further, mayor.
>> Thank you. You do a great job, ma'am.
» Thank you. You do a great job, ma'am.
Thank you for all you do.
>> Thank you.
» Thank you.
>> Moving on. Call of the public. At this
» Moving on. Call of the public. At this
time, members of the public may comment
on matters listed on the agenda or
solely on matters within the
jurisdiction of the town. Any persons
wishing to address the council must
register the name with the town clerk
prior to the commencement of the
meeting. At the conclusion of call to
the public, the council may respond to
criticism, ask staff to review a matter
commented upon, or ask that a matter be
put on a future agenda. Such remarks
shall be limited to three minutes unless
additional time is granted by the mayor.
Clerk, how many do we have registered?
>> Mayor, we have 17 speakers tonight. So,
» Mayor, we have 17 speakers tonight. So,
I will call the first four names. We
have Patricia Bets,
Jennifer Jones, Carolyn Cern, Deborah
Laura.
>> If your name has been called, please
» If your name has been called, please
work your way down to the front row,
please, because as you heard, we have 17
and we need to kind of keep this in a
timely manner.
Welcome in.
>> Thank you. Patricia Betso, China Tuna
» Thank you. Patricia Betso, China Tuna
Valley. Um, request for public records
is a wonderful thing, even if some of
them are redacted. There's a lot of
findings in there, too many to mention
in three minutes. But mining the parcels
owned by the Fins next to Fain Park has
been in Prescott's general plan for
decades, and it was still in it. When we
voted to approve the general plan in
2022, the town manager did deny access
to the rightway to Fain parcels
um next to the park and later realized
potentially
um he'd opened a lawsuit potential from
the fins if they claimed that town had
engaged in regulatory taking um for
which they would be compensated for
mineral rights. Later, presumably um on
the behalf of the town council, the town
manager requested the fins find another
site. We don't have any evidence of
there were any conditions on that
request or even if it at least mentioned
having them outside the town boundaries.
What we do know is APS did not want to
move their crushing plant and that they
did only consider fain properties. Prior
to any announcement to the public, the
mayor was garnering support for the
government tank site from political
parties within the county. We don't know
why. The attorney general's office did
contact the town on behalf of thousands
of residents that sent in letters and a
petition that was handd delivered to
that office. Chris Mays got involved
personally in resolving a new mining
application in the middle of a
residential neighborhood in Chino Valley
not too long ago. Prescott Valley had
the same opportunity, but the town never
gave the attorney general's office any
encouragement. Instead, the mayor and
vice mayor were attending meetings
openly advocating for the government
mine. After several exchanges of
correspondence, the attorney general
determined that it was not in their best
interest to get involved with a dispute
between two communities in Pave. So, we
lost our chance to stop any mines near
any homes. The development agreement
includes a proc promise by the fins not
to apply for a permit to expand the 7
into the 1700 acres adjacent to the GC
site. It also includes that a number of
parcels adjacent to the fain park are
not included in the gifted parcels and
the fins maintain the mineral rights.
Mining can expand in either location.
The latest draft of the development
agreement included a 100,000 ton
blasting event and found um based on our
last meeting, the mayor stated that
what's important is keeping Feain Park.
Feain park is what it's all about. If a
truck goes through Fain Park, that would
destroy serenity, the quietness. And one
of the council members believes that the
cows are precious to the fins and the
fins aren't going to move them. So if
the noise bothers them, they just move
over. So, it's nothing for us to worry
about. I'm against the mind because
people's lives and homes are more
important than visiting a small park.
Thank you.
>> Next up,
» Jennifer Jones.
>> Jennifer Jones.
» Jennifer Jones.
>> Doesn't look like she's here. Carolyn
» Doesn't look like she's here. Carolyn
Zern.
>> Carolyn Zern.
Welcome m.
I'm Carolyn Zern. I live at the excuse
me, the villages at Lynx Creek in
Prescat Valley.
I want [clears throat] to begin by
reviewing um some issues that were
mentioned at previous meetings.
uh the passionate plea by the
representative from Dwey Humboldt
expressing concern for the viability of
existing wells due to blasting. The
mayor's response was I do not represent
Dwey Humboldt
but u the good book says love thy
neighbor.
Um,
attorney Lai appeared unconcerned in his
reply to the issue of blasting, saying
it would only be four times per year at
the most, perhaps even less.
Not much has been said about what
happens after the blasting.
Uh, it doesn't matter how many times
they do it. Something tragic could
happen at at any blasting event.
>> [clears throat]
» Um,
then comes the front end loaders
scraping, digging, and dumping that rock
12 hours per day, six days a week.
Ponder those sounds for a moment.
So much for a quiet cup of coffee on
your front porch. What about the golfers
at Stone Ridge and PCC?
A bit unnerving, I would guess.
Then there is the so-called gift of the
fain's land outside of PV to be added to
Fain Park. The unknown tax consequences
of that land in the craftily worded
agreement retaining the mineral rights
does not sound like a gift to me.
I would venture to guess that most of
the people behind me voted for you on
the dis
to protect the rights of the citizens of
Prescat Valley.
Remember when Nancy Pelosi stood up in
Congress and stated, "We have to pass
the bill to know what's in the bill." To
the council members of the town of
Prescat Valley, I ask, "What is really
behind
the approval of Government Tank?" I ask
that you search your conscience
conscience.
Have you really done what is right for
your constituent? Thank you.
>> Thank you, ma'am. Next name, ma'am.
» Deborah. Deborah Laura.
>> Deborah Laura.
» Deborah Laura.
>> No. Okay. So, the next four names are
» No. Okay. So, the next four names are
Vic Pollson, Bill Williams, Chris Russo,
and Dave Lner.
Welcome, sir.
» Big Paul Pollson, Prescuit Valley. I'd
like to thank the council for the
difficult decision you've made in
approving the government tank site.
It was truly a binary choice.
You chose to expand and improve Fain
Park. You chose to limit traffic
on town roads and streets.
And you chose to represent faithfully
the best interests of over 300
residences
within a half mile of the proposed West
Fain Park site.
What you did is you allowed a
responsible
and long-term Prescat Valley business to
continue operation
with the least impact and the most
benefit to the residents of Prescat
Valley and for that I want to thank you.
I want to caution the voters of Prescuit
Valley
that they will in the next several weeks
be confronted by petition canvasers
choosing or encouraging them to override
the decisions you've made.
That is not in the best interests of
Prescat Valley. Once again, thank you
for serving the best interests of
Prescuit Valley.
>> Thank you, sir.
» Mr. Russo,
>> Mr. Williams, you're on deck.
» Mr. Williams, you're on deck.
>> Thank you, council.
» Thank you, council.
Uh, mayor, vice mayor, and staff. Uh, my
name is Chris Russo. I live in Presley
Valley. Um, some of the things that I'm
going to say I've already said before,
but I think they bear repeating because
there's a lot of information going
around by certain groups of people that
um are on Next Door, especially that's
what I'm the one I'm on that
[clears throat] um are saying that there
is this third magic site that that could
possibly come up and that there is a um
uh a possibility of no minds. And uh I
wanted to repeat what um what my friend
said there that uh there is only two
choices. There's two choices. It's
either Government Tank or Stone Ridge
and um uh Victoria States. Now, Victoria
Estates is uh is a is a 55 and over
community. They have uh most of the most
of their residents are are are in the uh
mid to upper 70s of age. Uh this would
be this would be devastating for them
because they are such a short distance
from the from the site the uh the um the
the the site on um area on site one. Um
and um so they're that would be that
would be bad for them because uh I've
heard you know this is just a story I've
heard that some of the women there they
you know there's a lot of older women
there and they uh they drive their car
from one side of the street to the other
to visit their friends. Now I don't know
if that's true or not but these people
are not um are not mobile. They can't
get around and uh I want I myself are
thinking of them over over the pe the
people that don't exist over there on uh
government tank. Uh and I wanted to back
up something um was said also that um we
elected you to represent us and we
didn't represent we didn't elect uh any
packs uh to represent us. Um the the the
um um ruling by uh by referendum is not
the way for a city or town to be run. Um
I you know uh they are valuable when
needed but just because a group of
people don't get their way that they
automatically go and referendum
everybody uh is not a good way to is not
a good way to rule. We voted you guys in
there to do the job that we expect. We
expect you to um to represent um
Prescuit Valley, not Chino Valley, not
mayor, not Prescuit Country Club. Yeah,
the the Bible does say above your
neighbor, but we are we're the ones that
elected you to be uh our
representatives, and we expect you to do
our bidding. Uh and and we expect a
government tank to be the place where
they harvest rock and not Stone Ridge uh
and Victoria Gardens, Artori States.
Thank you.
>> Thank you, sir.
Williams.
Greetings everyone. Bill Williams.
I've owned a house on North Taylor Drive
for 17 years. I love this town. That's
why I'm running for mayor. But let's
talk about a gravel pit. Yes, blowing
dust, traffic, small explosions. But I'm
not sure how much the 80 acres from the
things as a gift is really worth or how
much it's going to cost to maintain it
during our lifetimes.
So tonight, I guess you get to vote
again on a sweetheart deal for
developers written by the town attorney.
We saw the attorney's handiwork before.
It's called the Finley Toyota Center and
we are stuck paying more than a million
a year through 2037 on that. While the
event center loses $500,000 per year,
according to Ryan Judy,
the only money makers on that deal were,
wait for it, the fins,
the author of that contract, same
attorney. It begs the question, why do
you keep letting him do those deals
beneficial to people other than the
taxpayers?
Now, back to the contract that I guess
you have to deal with.
As you know, I'm a fiscal conservative
and I don't see us getting enough out of
this deal, but the developers get
another sweetheart deal, don't they? So,
the problem I have and one reason you
should vote no, and I absolutely commend
Janelle and Ken
uh for seeing the endless tax breaks for
the fins for the rest of our lives.
What will your consciences do tonight?
Now, as for the mayor,
we need to check facts in articles about
you being a weward cop on this police
force. So, I'm going to ask you some
questions. Is it true that time after
time your discipline letters showed lack
of judgment, lack of leadership,
violations of rules? And is it true that
you're getting $3,500 a month for
post-traumatic stress disorder that you
developed while on the police force?
Was it caused when you shot someone in a
moving car?
One dead in Minneapolis,
three dead 20 minutes after your gunshot
into a moving car on Circle K at the old
Circle K.
And the town paid out $2.65 65 million
for this.
You need to come clean with everybody in
this town and tell us, is your brain so
fragile on PTSD that you should be in
that chair? That chair where you
leverage all your income?
» What? Don't stumble.
Welcome, sir.
>> You seem to always follow the good ones.
» You seem to always follow the good ones.
[laughter]
» Thank you, mayor, vice mayor,
people of the town council. Name is Dave
Lner. I'm a I'm a resident of Prescuit
Valley.
» My name is Dave Lner and I'm resident of
Prescat Valley. I've spoken to the
council on several occasions, so I'll be
brief.
Thank you to the council for casting
their votes for government tank Corey.
After tonight, the next phase begins.
Those who don't believe in
representative government will try to
scare, cajol, and lie to the Presca
Valley citizens.
This re these people will pass around
petitions to try and get a referendum on
the ballot to vote down the government
tank quarry, but will couch it as no
mines near homes.
That ref if passed will only move the
quarry back to the Stone Ridge entrance
which will only affect several hundred
homes in Presca Valley versus the
government tank quarry which has a low
probability of affecting less than 15
homes in Dwey.
I ask all citizens of Prescuit Valley to
not sign any pet petition be discerning.
ask questions. The petitioners are not
truthful and do not represent the town
of Prescuit Valley's best interests.
Thank you.
>> Thank you.
» Next four.
» The next four we have
Jason Chisum, Tim Fugate,
Cynthia Neb, and Randy Bosber.
Welcome, sir.
>> Good evening, Mayor and Council, Vice
» Good evening, Mayor and Council, Vice
Mayor Chisum, the town of Dewey Humble.
I am here tonight. I have been here
before. I'm going to say the same thing
I've said before. That is in September,
the town of Dwey Humble on behalf of the
40 almost 4,500 residents that we have
voted and passed a resolution in
opposition of the government tank mine.
We are still here with this. We are
still fighting this. I have been out in
the neighborhood of Dewey Humble. I have
contacted many citizens of Presca
Valley. I have contacted many citizens
then and near the government tank mine.
There is a piece of Arizona state trust
land that actually borders that mine,
small sliver. I'd say it's maybe 70 ft
wide,
but then there is about 14 or 15
residents
within 1,000 ft of that mine.
Okay.
The concern is again the fracking of the
ground with the blasting that they want
to do on that mine four times a year. I
don't believe that they're going to m
blast four times a year, but we'll see.
Um there is the nearest well to that
mine for the town of Presca Valley which
is operated by Jacobs is 2.25 miles away
located in the country club. That well
has almost 50 years of history,
documented history. I can promise you I
will be analyzing that data. I will be
watching that data. I will be doing
public records requests for all the data
and I will be monitoring that as as my
term on the council.
And if I am reelected again by the
citizens of the town of Dewey Humbold, I
will again continue to fight for that.
If and when I see any change in that
data, decrease change in that data, it
will raise concerns of how the mine has
affected the water in the ground.
So moving forward tonight, I know it's a
zoning map change, but I second hearing.
And I still strongly urge you guys to
reconsider this. Even though you have
voted in a 5 to2 vote to move this
forward, I would strongly ask that you
reconsider your decision. Thank you for
your time.
>> Thank you, sir.
» Welcome, sir.
>> Thank you. Can you hear me?
» Thank you. Can you hear me?
>> Yes, sir.
» Yes, sir.
>> Um, thanks for allowing me to speak. Uh,
» Um, thanks for allowing me to speak. Uh,
Mr. Mayor, vice mayor. Um, I would like
I'm my my name is Tim Fugat. I live in
Prescat Valley. I want to read from the
development agreement a small section of
it on page one number C.
On January 6th, 2021, FLP, that's the
Feain Family Limited Partnership, and
APNS applied to the town for a
right-of-way permit to carry excavated
material from the West Fain Park site
across a portion of Feain Park for
crushing and other processing at the
APNS facility. Said permit was approved
at the time, but never used. Therefore,
the permit was closed on April 16th,
2021.
When FP and APNS applied for permit
renewal on February 7th, 2022,
the application was denied as being
inconsistent with the town's then
current strategic plan. On February
14th, 2022, the town issued a press
release indicating opposition to any
rock harvest operations at the West Bane
Park site.
And it was after that point that the
parties pivoted to the government tank.
[clears throat]
For those of you who support Government
Tank, you have made a common sense
decision.
At the very least, it is the least ad
least bad option
when you ignore the fear-mongering from
some of the folks.
Um, I will address council members uh
front and Janelle Ke. Um, a no vote is
really two votes in one.
You are nixing government tank and
simultaneously
authorizing the West Fain park site.
Even though I heard Councilman Finn
state during the December meeting that
he was against having the gravel pit
there, I find that position is
contradictory
knowing that a third side option is not
feasible.
So if you are both ambivalent about this
whole process and I understand that
the only logical thing to do is to
abstain from voting.
Taking directions from packs is the best
way to remain uninformed.
Thank you for your time. Thank you.
Welcome, Mr. Bossber.
>> Couldn't be. Good evening, Mayor, Vice
» Couldn't be. Good evening, Mayor, Vice
Mayor, Council. Randy Bossberg, longtime
Presca Valley resident.
Um, I'm here tonight just to speak on
this.
I strongly feel there shouldn't be a
aggregate mine any anywhere in the town
town boundaries and certainly not around
res established residential areas.
mining is incompatible with neighborhood
life and impacts are well known.
Also
referring to the development agreement,
it has been described as a benefit to
the community, but it is but it is not a
benefit to the residents. It clearly
favors the land owner. And I must
question why the town would enter into
an agreement that could in the future
require taxpayers
to purchase the 80 acre gifted land
without even knowing its appraised
value. How much is that going to cost?
Not directly to the taxpayers, but still
the burden will be shared by other
entities paying and not not the faints.
So
for these reasons, I'm asking you to
vote no on this and revisit everything.
Thank you.
>> Thank you.
» Do we have uh Cynthia
Neb here?
» Welcome, ma'am.
>> My name is Cynthia Navy. You may have to
» My name is Cynthia Navy. You may have to
pull that one down a little bit.
>> There you go.
» There you go.
>> My name is Cynthia Nei. I live in
» My name is Cynthia Nei. I live in
Viewpoint North. I am I attended the
planning and zoning meeting on December
8th. I am speaking in regard to the
government.
>> Ma'am, I'm going to interrupt you a
» Ma'am, I'm going to interrupt you a
little bit. Can you just try to pull
that microphone a little closer or
Patricia if you can help her?
Let's try it.
I am speaking regarding the government
tank rock quarry. The attorney for the
fame family applicant made comments
regarding to residents near the proposed
quarry in Dwey. He commented that the
nearest structures were 2400 to 2500
feet from the quarry and that 200 and
three 2300
feet were maybe three a couple of
trailers
from that quarry.
The aerials were shown that the
structures looked
and not permanent. He also stated that
he had not been to the area. I have been
to the area. Actually, there are
approximately 20 homes and they are not
trailers. They are manufactured homes.
Most of the residents are seniors. I
talked to a widow who lost income from
her late husband's social security. I
spoke to a man who had just brought his
wife home from the hospital. I had a
conversation with a 91-year man that
would like to enjoy the remaining time
of his life. These people do not deserve
to have their lives diminished. Many
have health issues and don't tell me
that the dust and silica will not affect
their health. Wind in the valley can
blow up the sides of the hills
surrounding it. The folks who live near
norththeast of the proposed site where
this pre prevailing winds usually blow
from the southwest.
Martin Luther King once said, "Judge
people by the content of their
character.
People living in manufactured homes are
not trailer trash.
I hope you will research will search
your conscience and vote for for the
best is what the people who are
affected. The veins own property
property approximately 9,000 acres in
this county. I urge them to consider
utilizing an area outside of the town
limits that would not negatively affect
the citizens.
Thank you.
>> Thank you, ma'am.
The next four names we have Harrynik,
[clears throat]
Chuck Gorman, Scarlet Pike, Joe
Colossimo, and Raina Yoss.
» Welcome, sir.
Good evening, mayor and town council and
all people here. I am here to speak so
you don't have to guess against the
mine. Uh, as we've already heard, its
effect on people will be damaging. Its
effect, all you had to do is be outside
in the wind today and you know what that
wind's like. And when they're doing
silicide dust, which is proven to be
harmful to lungs to to in a number of
ways, even up to and including cancer,
uh there's there's no way that doesn't
get blown far and breathed in. So,
people that have been long-term
residents, and it's not a couple hundred
homes, as was mentioned earlier, it's
thousands of homes that are going to be
infected and people's lives and people's
health. Well, I I've been in business
for 25 I was in business for over 25
years
and sought every time to find a win-win
situation in a in a any kind of dispute,
any kind of situation at all. And you
know what? I can't find a win-win in
this with the resonance, the people that
are down there. All I can find is a
win-lose. I don't know who's winning
from all this city entity uh people
whatever
perhaps the fains I don't know exactly
but somebody's winning because they're
pushing for it and the rest of the
people involved that are close they'll
be afflicted they'll be losers
that's not how people should treat other
people I win you lose no it's we find a
way we both win period
And I don't believe we've we've done our
due diligence on that to find a way that
we can say we both win. Um
you know what exactly they're mining
for. They're mining for one thing, but
it seems open that they can mine for
whatever they want. And that's another
question. And there's more questions
beyond that. And
when this is done, do the other 1600
acres near it follow?
Another question. Uh what about 24-hour
mining, which is
acceptable,
but can it happen there? Well, nobody
has addressed that. Nobody has addressed
No, it can't happen. Um and you got
people too close to there. It's
destroying air quality and health and
it's destroying property values. Already
we've seen people moving because they
want out before out isn't possible and
the property values are already
declining in those areas. You're our
neighbors.
Help us
because we'd help you.
» Thank you, sir.
Welcome, sir.
» Great to see you all again. My name is
Chuck Gorman. I live in Stone Ridge. Um,
Gilbert with always the best suits. And
Ken, welcome back from Florida. I hope
your time with your aunt was pleasurable
and memorable. Um, I'm here to speak
about, well, actually, let me tell you,
um, when I was putting this presentation
together, I seriously considered
bringing a guitar and singing. just felt
a little too 60s. So, um I'm going to
run through the words. So, imagine
please if you would a town where we
elect a council to do serious work.
Imagine a council that studies reports,
considers, consults engineers, planners,
attorneys, and residents. A council that
sits through long meetings, ask
difficult questions, ways, tradeoffs,
and then votes. Now imagine that all
that work
after all that work a small group needs
only about 1,400 signatures to stop that
council's decision. Not refine it, not
improve it, just reset the process.
Imagine being asked to continually do
that job knowing that any complex or
unpopular decision can be undone before
it even has a chance to take effect.
Imagine time. It's early January now. If
the zoning goes on to referendum and
voting, we will not be voting on this
issue until November. That's 11 months
from now. 11 months of uncertainty, 11
months where nothing moves forward. But
consider this carefully as well. This is
not a question of whether there will be
a quarry. There will be a quarry. It is
a question of where it will be. If the
referendum moves forward to stop this
and succeeds, the new quarry will be
located on Stone Ridge Drive. We can
call it the stone ridge quarry. If the
referendum does not move forward, the
quarry will be located government tank.
It's one or the other. Not somewhere
else, not no quarry. Imagine how many
people may sign a petition believing
they're stopping something when in
reality they're only moving it. Imagine
scale as well. What if every difficult
land use decision work this way? What if
every complex issue was delayed nearly a
year and then decided on by a townwide
vote? Would Prescott Valley still be
able to function? Or would governor
become a cycle of delay, campaigns, and
confusion? Representative government
exists because not every decision can be
or should be made by the voters. Imagine
influence. People who do not live in
Prescott Valley can legally help push a
referendum forward. They don't live
here. They don't pay full belts of
taxes, and they often don't feel the
pain of bad decisions, but they can
shape the outcomes. Imagine how that
sits with residents who do pay taxes.
Imagine information. Most voters are
busy. They do not have time to research
most issues. They reply. They rely on
mailers, headlines, and slogans. Ballot
language is complex. Sometimes it's hard
to tell which option actually supports
which outcome. Placement on the B ball
ballot matters. Fatigue matters. Imagine
asking people to decide a highly
technical issue months after the
original debate based on a few lines of
text.
This is not
this is not our right for referendum.
It's awarded to understand what a
referendum does and what it does not do.
And in this case, it does not eliminate.
It only chooses which community.
>> Thank you, sir.
» Thank you, sir.
>> Trying to make that choice
» Trying to make that choice
a year from now.
>> Thank you, sir.
Welcome,
» vice ma'am, members of the council.
Thank you for being here and thank you
for being the type of people.
>> Okay, I'm sorry. Um, thank you for being
» Okay, I'm sorry. Um, thank you for being
here. Thank you for being the type of
people that really listen and take into
account the concerns of the residents. I
imagine that when you're not here, you
have to, you know, screen a lot of phone
calls, a lot of emails, and a lot of
meetings with well-connected people who
put a lot of pressure on you to push
this through.
That's a heavy burden to bear. Um, but
right now you sit as potential
protectors of the people. Uh, the
residents who seek protection from the
loud noises coming to disrupt peaceful
evenings, nights of sleep, work sessions
during the day. The residents who fear
the decline of their property values.
The residents who are aware of how much
a mining operation would tax and deplete
our already taxed water supply. and the
residents who seek protection from the
health impacts of the silicone dust in
the air. I don't believe it has to be an
eitheror for some residents to be safe
that other residents would necessarily
have to be exposed to those same
dangers. I believe that you can actually
say no to various things that put mining
in residential zones. So I I hope that
you guys will stand up for the neighbors
and not crush the hopes of concerned
citizens. I thank you for your attention
to this matter and I hope that each of
you will make the right call. Thank you.
Thank you, ma'am.
» Welcome, sir.
>> Good evening. Joe Colossimo, citizen of
» Good evening. Joe Colossimo, citizen of
Prescat Valley.
Elizabeth Willing Powell asked Benjamin
Franklin on September 18th, 1787 in
Philadelphia,
exiting the constitutional convention,
which kind of government we would have.
Franklin's response, a republic if we
can keep it. Franklin understood how
delicate keeping a representative
republic would be. We elect our
representatives to be our voice. If we
don't like how they are representing us,
we can elect others to replace them.
That is a representative republic.
Right here in Prescat Valley, we have
political groups that want to want the
town governed by referendum.
Many of their members do not live in
Prescuit Valley. How is it that these
groups that were only formed three years
ago insist they know what is best for
all of Prescat Valley? When they don't
get what they want, they pull out
petitions and blatantly lie to our
citizens. the scare. They scared them to
death with completely false information.
You don't believe me? You can read Sandy
Graham's opinion piece in the December
9th courier. She makes it clear that
this gravel pit will produce noise,
dust, poor air quality and health and
public health, threats to water, house
foundations being da d d d d d d d d d d
d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d
d d d d d d d d d dabilized and threats
to animals just to name a few. None of
these things have ever happened under
the management of APNS since they have
been here in Prescuit Valley. I can't
speak for other gravel pit managers, but
our local pit has been managed
responsibly for over 30 years. It's
there now and now you guys are
complaining about it. Starting tomorrow,
these groups will begin their referendum
petition drive. They will tell you all
the lies that I mentioned. I am asking
the citizens of Prescat Valley to demand
the proof of the allegations they will
make to you. Please do not sign anything
without the proof. Don't allow them to
govern by referendum. Remember, there is
no choice C in this situation.
Government tank has been proven to be
the best choice for the gravel pit
expansion. And uh governor, I just or
mayor, I just want to apologize for your
personal information and your family's
personal information being leaked by a
certain guy running for mayor. Thank
you.
» Do we have Raina Yoss here?
And last call for Jennifer Jones and
Deborah Laura.
» Miss Jones. Miss Laura, are you out
there?
Oh, this gentleman here, you'll be
you'll be our last person, sir. Welcome.
>> Hello. Okay. My name is Raina Yoss and
» Hello. Okay. My name is Raina Yoss and
I'm not a well person and I live at
Prriscuit Country Club. I live by Hopi
and Western Sunset Drive. I have
conditions
that if they started with that, I'm not
going to be able I'm my lungs are almost
cancer.
Even though I'm 75 years old, I still
want to live. I still want to do things.
But also, it's going to bring the value
down on my house. Do you think I'm going
to be able to sell it or anybody around
there?
I mean, there's other people probably
have the conditions like me, but my
lungs are almost cancer. I'm not going
to be able to leave there, live there.
And if I try to sell it, you think I'm
going to be able to sell that house
knowing what I know.
Right by Hopie, where am I going to go?
I'm all alone. I don't have anybody
try selling my house.
But that's what I think about the fame.
They can go f themsel because, you know,
they can go anywhere else. They've got a
lot of money, but Oh, maybe should I
bring a couple of bottles of whiskey and
maybe they might change their mind.
>> Thank you, sir. Welcome. Come on up.
» Welcome, sir.
>> Hi, my name is Mark Johnson. Excuse
» Hi, my name is Mark Johnson. Excuse
[clears throat] me.
>> Uh, I'm a homeowner in the Press Country
» Uh, I'm a homeowner in the Press Country
Club. My family moved from the valley
area here in 2001. We located here
because of the cleaner air and cooler
comments it provides. [clears throat]
Firstly, I would like to commend the
founding fathers, the Feain family that
established the country club and has
donated property to the town of Prescat
Valley. I met Bill Feain about 15 years
ago. My first impression was that he was
a humble man with integrity and cared
greatly about our community. Sadly, he
is no longer with us. We are gathered
here today to strongly object to this
proposed pit mine. There are many
reasons to oppose this. The major ones
are contamination of our air that we
breathe and soil toxins that will likely
affect major neighborhoods, including
the country club. The prevailing winds
come from the west.
So, we will likely be the first area
contaminated.
When the wind blows, the silica sand is
a forever mineral derived from quartz
and used
to make glass. Think about that.
When when when breathed into the lungs,
it remains there forever causing COPD,
cancer, emphyma, asthma, heart problems,
and death. Many people in the club are
elderly and have health conditions and
already struggle with respiratory
issues. Soil contamination to help
control dust.
The mine will require vast amounts of
water to the site. This will likely
cause toxins to leech into our
groundwater affecting our drinking water
for generations.
Silica dust or very fine particles that
collect in air conditioning units will
be in our homes, our vehicles and cause
much damage to them and our bodies.
Also, there will also be noise issues
from large trucks and and drilling and
blasting from the and the and the
crushing the new crushing plant they're
going to put in.
State law allows for this type of mine
to continue 247. They talk about doing
six days a week, but they are allowed to
do that much.
Think about that. Wildlife displacement
and vegetation removal.
Strip mining can cause ground fishers,
foundation cracks, and drywall cracks
surrounding neighborhoods. That this
operation is approved. could could be in
operation for decades. The result could
be devastating for our local
communities.
The founding fathers zoned land for
residential with godly wisdom. I don't
believe they would have approved a
reszoning of this property. They were
interested in environmentalship
and loved our community and people.
And
>> when you say longer, it 10 seconds or
» when you say longer, it 10 seconds or
less. How's that? No, sir.
Thank you, sir.
>> Thank you.
» No one else. Mayor.
>> Thank you, ma'am. Moving on. Item seven,
» Thank you, ma'am. Moving on. Item seven,
council communications. I'll start to my
right. Councilwoman Keel, anything to
add? Councilman Freud?
>> There's
» There's
Thank you. Um, I think there's a a lot
of interest in having some sort of a uh
a motorsports uh park or activities in
town. And now we have uh we have at
least two groups that are interested uh
one for go-karting and one for
motocross. And uh I think that it it's
it's great to get our youth involved in
some healthy activities and take them
away from the uh the the computer games
and the uh playing with their phone and
becoming sedentary. So I just wanted to
add that.
>> Thank you, sir.
» Thank you, sir.
>> Manager's report. Mr. Davidson,
» Manager's report. Mr. Davidson,
>> uh Mr. Mayor, uh mayor, Mr. Mayor,
» uh Mr. Mayor, uh mayor, Mr. Mayor,
members of the council, there's two
things. Uh we have a special study
session next Thursday the 15th. Um
normally our study sessions are at 3:00.
This is going to be at 5:30. It's a
joint study session between planning and
zoning and the town council. And the
topic is on our wildlife quarter
planning efforts. And so we're going to
have a report out by the outside
consulting group on where we're at with
uh that effort and get direction and
feedback from council and members of the
planning and zoning. And the second
thing is a positive um as everyone knows
u 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of
our country and like many communities
across our nation. Uh we we here in
Prescat Valley are going to be
celebrating that. So throughout the year
you're going to begin to see uh the 250
kind of shout out uh for that
anniversary. So, in all of our special
events and some of the different
activities that we're going to be doing,
you're going to begin to see that 250
logo uh to celebrate our country. Thank
you.
>> Thank you, sir. Next up, consent agenda.
» Thank you, sir. Next up, consent agenda.
All matters listed under consent agenda
are considered routine by the town
council and will be enacted by one
motion. There will be no separate
discussion of these items. If discussion
is desired, that item will be removed
from the consent agenda and will be
considered separately. Council, we've
had a chance to review our packet.
Seeing no items being removed, I'll
entertain a motion.
>> Mr. Mr. May I'll make a motion to
» Mr. Mr. May I'll make a motion to
approve all items listed under consent
agenda by electronic vote.
>> A second.
» A second.
>> Clerk, please call a vote.
» Mayor, thank you. Council member Fry
and Council Member Ke.
>> Yes,
» Yes,
>> Mayor. That passes unanimously.
» Mayor. That passes unanimously.
>> Thank you, ma'am. Next up, item 10A,
» Thank you, ma'am. Next up, item 10A,
ordinance number 2026-974,
adopting CMC 25-008, government tank
rock harvest site from RL-2 or 70
residential single family limited to IG
industrial general limited zoning for
purposes of a sand and gravel operation.
Sir, welcome.
>> Thank you, mayor, vice mayor, council. I
» Thank you, mayor, vice mayor, council. I
have nothing further to add. Just here
for any questions you guys might have.
>> Council, we have any questions for staff
» Council, we have any questions for staff
at this time before I bring up the
applicant's representative?
You're good, sir. Is the applicant's
representative here?
Welcome, sir.
>> Yes. Thank you, Mayor and Council. For
» Yes. Thank you, Mayor and Council. For
the record, Bill Ali, Tiffany Bosow,
tonight as representing the applicant.
We don't have a presentation or anything
to add. Obviously, we went through a lot
of the Q&A at the last hearing, but
certainly here to answer any questions.
>> Great. Council, is there any additional
» Great. Council, is there any additional
questions? Councilman Ke.
>> Uh, so I was reviewing the Presca Valley
» Uh, so I was reviewing the Presca Valley
material source um reclamation
and um it had stated that you anticipate
that being active for 10 years and then
um I believe the government tank Pete
had said uh that that that um should be
productive for about 8 to 10 years.
What's the plan after that? Uh, mayor
and councilwoman Keiel, I don't have the
reclamation plan in front of me, so I
can't tell you regarding the ultimate
plan for the mining operation. I will
tell you informally what we are hearing
from the experts on our team, which is
really the APNS folks, is that we don't
know until we get out there and we
scrape the surface and we see what's
underneath the surface as as to how long
it'll take to extract that and then how
long and how much rock is there. It
could be 10 years. It could be 30 years.
It could be 50 years. A little bit
different on Stone Ridge or West Fane
Park. The rock sticks out of the ground
today. We can see the rock and so they
have a bit bit of a better understanding
of the the longevity of the rock source
there. Probably 50 to 75 years there.
>> You state that that's 50 to 70 years.
» You state that that's 50 to 70 years.
Yet the reclamation plan says it's for
10 years.
>> Again, m Mr. Mayor and Councilwoman, I
» Again, m Mr. Mayor and Councilwoman, I
don't I didn't draft the reclamation
plan. I didn't design the reclamation
plan. Uh APNS submitted that as a first
draft to this to the state. I don't know
if that is a condition that they can't
exceed. Um but all I can tell you is I'm
the FN zoning attorney. I'm not the APNS
uh reclamation attorney.
» Whoops. I have another question. I know
that one of my biggest concerns is the
tax rebate that's in within the
development agreement and you had said
that that the fans never want to see a
dime out of that. Um can we just remove
that?
Mr. Mayor and Councilwoman, so the
development agreement is not in front of
us tonight. Uh it was approved last
month and it has been vested. Um so that
is a done deal. Uh clearly there are
some sections in the development
agreement that you have read and you
have noticed that uh if this goes to
referendum where if this case fails
tonight, we have the obligation to undo
all of those agreements. And so we would
be not donating the land. We would not
be asking for a tax rebate. We would be
mining that site.
Uh just uh one more thing, another
concern within the development agreement
is um that
that it could be revoked at any point
within the next year. So I don't feel
like there was ever a meeting of the
mind. Um,
is it possible to continue negotiations,
maybe get a mediator in place to help
um, you know, to to try to find
consensus to try to find a deal where
this gentleman was saying there there
could be a win-win or not such a
terrible lose and such a and a win?
>> And mayor and Councilwoman Ke, we
» And mayor and Councilwoman Ke, we
believe the negotiation of it was a
win-win. We believe that there are a lot
of extra regulations that the town
doesn't have today and would not have on
Stone Ridge that are incorporated in
that agreement uh in exchange for the
the development of this of the
government tank site. So although the
development agreement is vested, it's
recorded, it is a contract now that is
enforceable by all the parties, um we
believe that it was negotiated uh with
the town. There was a lot of things that
the fains wanted and that the APNS
wanted or didn't want in that agreement
that they gave into in terms of
additional regulation. So, it was not a
one-sided agreement. I actually advised
both of them that not to go down the
path of development agreement. I don't
see what you're getting. You're giving
away land and you're giving away reg
overregulation on a site that is
normally only regulated by the state in
exchange for potentially down the road
having a reimbursement if a potential
new tax goes in place. So I in my
opinion legally it's one-sided in favor
of the town.
>> We'll have to disagree.
» We'll have to disagree.
>> Yes ma'am. And as a reminder to council,
» Yes ma'am. And as a reminder to council,
let's stay on the itemized item and not
drift into the development agreement,
which is not on our agenda tonight.
Councilman Fry,
Mr. Lai, I I uh during the meetings, a
series of meetings, we were told that
all the water that was going to be used
uh millions of gallons that would be
used uh would be recycled. And uh that
was including somehow there it was uh
there's going to let's face it over over
the years with a 4 and a half mile hall
road if you do keep the dust down it's
going to be it's going to entail
millions of gallons of water. Could you
explain to me how you're going to
recycle the water that's sprayed on the
hall road?
>> And Mr. Mayor and and Councilman I've
» And Mr. Mayor and and Councilman I've
attended every single public hearing.
Never once has it come out of my mouth
or fins or APNS that we're going to
recycle the water. There's absolutely no
way to water dust and dirt roads and
then recycle that same exact water. What
we have said is that we are not drilling
a new well at the government tank site
that we're not extracting new water
sources out of that area. We will be
trucking water from the Stone Ridge site
today, the the East Fain Park site
today, trucking that water over to use
it for the operations at the government
tank. We've never said that we're going
to recycle. We said we weren't going to
um drill and get new water sources at
the site.
>> So, so these uh public meetings that I
» So, so these uh public meetings that I
attended uh they were not authorized by
the fins. Then
>> m Mr. Mayor and and Councilman Freud, I
» m Mr. Mayor and and Councilman Freud, I
don't know which one you're referring
to. I know that every meeting that I
attended where I was answering the
questions, nobody on our team ever said
the water would be recycled. I'm not
sure how you do that.
>> Well, for example, I attended one at
» Well, for example, I attended one at
Quailwood
and uh it was clearly stated that all
the water was going to be recycled
and I questioned that and uh never got
an answer.
>> And Mr. Mayor and Councilman Freud, I've
» And Mr. Mayor and Councilman Freud, I've
never attended a meeting at Quailwood,
so I I can't speak to that.
Thank you, Councilwoman.
>> So, I've been in construction for a long
» So, I've been in construction for a long
time as well, and I know that they use
non-pottable water in a lot of those
water trucks, and so that might be where
the misunderstanding is. It's
non-pottable. Um, and it does not have
to be freshwater source. But, um, all
construction companies try to keep the
dust down and by watering the roads. So,
my only other question is um right
behind Denny's there is a very large
modular home or mobile home park. I
believe the sign still says mobile home
park of 55 and over. And the quarry was
there before the mobile home park went
in. And I have multiple times gone back
and seen homes that are for sale that
are also bought up very quickly. So
depending on the real estate market at
the time, um, and being that it's 55 and
over, it's not necessarily a family
neighborhood to where they can do that.
But I've not heard that group be
represented being disgruntled by their
homes of where they're already at. And
it's a very older park. It's not um, new
mobile homes. It's not a, you know,
within 10 years. I'm sure it's been
there for a very long time. And so I
just wanted to make that um question is
do you happen to know how many homes are
over there already because we have not
heard from any of that group.
>> And Mr. Mayor and Madam Councilwoman,
» And Mr. Mayor and Madam Councilwoman,
we've heard from a lot of the residents
in and around the existing mining site.
Some of them are legislators and many of
them were shocked that there was ever a
blasting activity or that the activity
is that intense. Some of those homes are
300 feet away from the existing activity
today. Right.
>> Uh are there have there been complaints
» Uh are there have there been complaints
over the years? They have. We we have
questioned the operator multiple times.
I need to know what we're talking about.
And he says, "We we have had some
complaints about the truck beeping
backing up. It's a safety mechanism
that's that's mandated on the trucks.
Nobody likes to hear that beeping.
Nobody likes to hear the beeping behind,
you know, Walmarts or Targets. Uh if you
live near there, it is required of those
trucks. And unfortunately uh that does
have an impact at the existing site. But
that site has been there for 30 years.
It has operated for 30 years. It's 300
acres. 300 acres. Uh we're talking about
a 40 acre site at Government Tank. We're
talking about potentially if government
tank and again let me remind everyone a
vote of no tonight isn't stopping
mining.
>> I think there is a little misconception.
» I think there is a little misconception.
I'm listening to some of the comments
tonight and I think there's some folks
who have been told that if you go and
you oppose tonight's action, you're
stopping mining in the entire town. No
more mining in Prescuit Valley. That is
not the case tonight. There are two
options. There's not a third site.
There's never been a third site. We've
never talked about a third site. If you
vote yes tonight, government tank can be
authorized for uh gravel extraction and
rock extraction. If you vote no or if
the referendum is successful,
it will go to Stone Ridge and there's 80
acres there that can be mined as opposed
to the 40 acres at Government Tank. So,
um, as much as we feel like we can be a
good neighbor at Stone Ridge and as much
as the development agreement has put
extra obligations on us if we do go to I
say Stone Ridge, but the West Fain Park
site that don't exist on the 300 acres
today. That is not our preference. We
have gone through all of these public
hearings because our preference is to be
a good neighbor and move to government
tank. And then the only other thing I
wanted to make comment on is that if you
look at your deed in most housing areas,
you don't have mineral rights, water
rights, or airspace rights even. And for
a company or a corporation that is
protecting a legacy of a long-term
family trust, um for them to say that
they they do retain the rights, they
have the mineral rights to the
properties that they have. And that's a
small smart business plan. Um, and if
they weren't trying to protect their own
group, then they would don't have the
wherewithal in my opinion for staying in
business. So, that's a business
decision. It's a business process and
it's a good business model. And so, I'm
just saying that um, you know, when
people are saying they don't have the
right to do something, well, that would
be like saying you're not allowed to
plant a tree because you're going to dig
a hole in your property. And that's not
how this is going. So I know that when
this all first started, it was mostly
about travesting or going across the
Black Canyon Road or the Black Canyon
Highway Road. And they were asking for
permission to go across a road that they
are the ones who put it in. So they're
going to fix it if they were to destroy
it, but that's not the plan. They're not
trying to drive across it in order to
hurt it. And you know, the processing
plant has been there for a very long
time. I've never heard anybody in our
town having problems with silica
poisoning or dust or anything like that.
And I live on an Aoya. And trust me,
with all the building going on between
Granville behind me and Jasper behind
that, there's a lot of trucks that are
digging in the road that, you know,
they're plowing it down. They removed
mountains in order to put in a level
yard for you for the homes that are
being built there. So, you know, there's
dust in the air to begin with. this is
Arizona, you know, you're going to have
a lot of dust and I've never yet heard
of anybody having silica dust as a as an
issue. So, I just want to say thank you
for that.
>> Councilwoman,
» Councilwoman,
>> first I want to say thank you very much
» first I want to say thank you very much
for bringing up the um the information
on this wonderful piece of paper that
keeps going around. Um, this was
actually dropped off at my personal home
and it's talking it's it's
fear-mongering is what this is. I live
in an HOA and I have the right and I pay
for no solicitation in my HOA. This
piece of paper goes around and talks
about things that are not true and you
violated the rights of my HOA for no
solicitation.
So for all the people out there that
want to go hand out these little pieces
of paper in an HOA,
if you're going to violate my right,
what makes you think I'm going to read
this and think that what you said was
true?
So I would ask for those that want to go
distribute this, please follow the rules
of people who live in HOAs and get it
out any other way other than dropping it
off at my home. And the person that did
it, just know there are nine cameras in
the front of my house and I know exactly
who you are.
» Council,
>> um, I just wanted to comment on on the
» um, I just wanted to comment on on the
silica dust situation. A lot of people
are very frightened, clearly very
frightened about silica dust. Um, I did
a I did a tour of all of the sites. I
did a tour of the government tank and of
the uh Fain Park area and of the
existing quarry. That quarry has existed
before Stone Ridge existed and and it's
right up against Stone Ridge and not a
single member of Stone Ridge nor any of
their employees have ever gotten any
health problems from silica dust. Now,
when I toured it, there was a there was
a uh wind going on. Um, I didn't have to
wear a mask because the level of silica
dust in that area is lower than what is
allowed. So, you really you really are
not in any danger from the silica dust.
And I and I really object to the people
who go around saying you could die from
it. You could, but not here.
>> Vice Mayor,
» Vice Mayor,
>> Mr. Lai, I want to go back to something
» Mr. Lai, I want to go back to something
you said just a few minutes ago with
regard to a no vote on referendum. I I I
think and I don't know it seems like
there's a lot of confusion out there as
oo as to the you know site one and the
sites on the east and west side of stone
drive currently they're in the county
they're not in the town of Prescuit
Valley they're unincorporated uh
basically they're islands of
unincorporated land not in the town
limits um the town really from what I
understand and correct me staff if I'm
wrong we really have no say what
actually happens there. Um, but you did
say that if Government Tank is not
approved, and from what I understand,
you guys can start mining site one
pretty much by the end of the first
quarter. Is that correct, Mr. Mayor and
Mr. Vice Mayor? Um, there are some some
commitments we made in the development
agreement, but in general, you're
absolutely right. We do have an out
clause in there that if you know if this
gets referred and we can start operating
there if we exercise our out clause. Um
again it is true there are two sites
today. The Stone Ridge site which is
about 80 acres has approvals to go and
extract rock. It's in Yavapai County.
Yavapai County controls that today.
There are no regulations that the town
has other than us being a good neighbor
on getting on your city roads. that
that's the only, you know, requirement
for us to work with you on how we get
our trucks onto the city roads. Um, and
that's important and and we would do
that, but that's not our preference. A
vote of yes tonight sends us to
Government Tank, sends us 8,000 ft away
from Stone Ridge, 6,000 ft away from the
other nearest community, and it does put
us 2500 feet away from um homes in Dwey.
It does. But today, if we were to go to
Stone Ridge, we would be, let me
reiterate, 600 feet away from Stone
Ridge. 600 feet. So, the impact is real
when you're looking at A and B.
And if you're looking at impact, the one
that's closest to homes and more homes
will absolutely have a negative impact
and it will go on your city roads. And
so, yes, a vote of yes today gives a
takes the sight to to government tank. A
vote of no today or a referendum sends
it to Stone Ridge. Absolutely.
>> Thank you.
» Thank you.
>> Anything else?
» Anything else?
Seeing none, clerk.
» Ordinance number 2026 974,
an ordinance of the mayor and common
council of the town of Presca Valley, a
municipal corporation of Arizona,
amending the town zoning map by changing
the zoning. district classification of
approximately 40 39.7 acres APN 402-14-4
in the southwest quarter of the
southwest quarter of section 31 township
14 north range one east of the Hill and
Salt River Basin Meridian government
tank rock harvest site from RL70
residential single family limited zoning
to IG industrial general limited zoning
for purposes of a sand and gravel
operation and providing that this
ordinance shall be effective 30 days
after its passage and approval according
to law.
Thank you ma'am. Shall this ordinance
pass?
Council member Lopez. Yes. Council
member Ke.
>> No.
» No.
>> Thank you. That passes 5 to two.
» Thank you. That passes 5 to two.
>> Thank you, ma'am. Moving on. Item 11 A.
Construction contract asphalt paving and
supply Glassford Hill Road. Long look to
SR89A. Project CIP number ST 2303 and
post design services Kimley Horn and
Associates Quality Testing LLC and Lion
Engineering and Survey. Welcome, sir.
>> Mayor, vice mayor, members of the
» Mayor, vice mayor, members of the
council. My name is John Lea, public
works engineer. This agenda item is to
seek approval to award a construction
contract and related post design
services for the Glford Hill Road
project.
Glford Hill Road is Prescuit Valley's
busiest road, a major arterial
connecting
>> Hang on a second, sir. Hang on, clerk.
» Hang on a second, sir. Hang on, clerk.
Or I'm sorry, Casey. We don't have any
of this on our screen right now. Or am
I? Oh, we have two. Two of us have it.
» It'll give time for the room to clear
out a little bit, too. So,
>> okay.
All
right.
Well, apparently you have to turn them
on in order for them to work. So,
» all right. Go ahead, sir. Sorry about
that. Thank you. Glford Hill Road is
Prescuit Valley's busiest road, a major
arterial connecting State Route 69 to
State Route 89A, serving as access for
businesses, residents, students,
employees, visitors alike. The annual
average daily traffic count is
approximately 25,000 per day. Glford
Hill Road is designated as a six-lane
arterial in the general plan 2035.
This project will fulfill this
designation and provide benefits of
safety and capacity. The project is a
2.3 mile section of Glford Hill Road
from Longlook Drive up to State Route
89A. Improvements will include widening
the roadway to include a northbound and
southbound third lane. Lanes will be
reduced to 11 foot lanes and the
widening will
will generally occur to the outside with
a five- foot paved shoulders
uh curb and gutter drainage improvements
such as catch basins and scuppers,
sidewalk ADA compliant curb ramps, and a
10-ft multi-use path section north of
Santa Fe loop to the end of Granville on
the east side of Glford Hill Road. The
existing asphalt will be resurfaced,
milled, and overlaid to improve
smoothness and longevity.
Signal upgrades will be done to
accommodate the widening. Negative
offsets will be improved at three
intersections that have a protective
permissive left turning movement at
Spouse, Santa Fe, and Tuskanyany
Granville Parkway. Another element of
the project is extending a 16-in
reclaimed water line from Bear Path up
to Tuscanyany.
The construction duration is anticipated
to take approximately 9 months pending
weather and other potential delays. This
project is currently budgeted this
fiscal year and will roll over into
fiscal year 27.
On behalf of the town, I want to extend
a big thank you and shout out to the
Arizona State Legislature for funding of
9.9 million. The remaining funding
coming from impact fees, construction
sales tax, Jasper development
contribution, and the affluent water
fund.
The town utilized a competitive
procurement process by advertising the
project for bids electronically via
Bonfire. Advertisement began on October
26th, 2025.
A pre-bid meeting was held on November
17th.
Two addendums were issued during the
bidding period. Bids were due on
December 15th, 2025.
The town received five qualified bids,
addendums acknowledged, and bonds
present. Asphalt paving and supplies the
apparent low bidder bids were evaluated
by town staff and Kimley Horn, no
discrepancies were found.
On a related item, although staff may
direct select consultants for
professional services by town code and
state statutes, staff is additionally
seeking council approval on professional
service agreements with Kimley Horn
Quality Testing LLC and Lion Engineering
and Surveying Incorporated. Kimley Horn
is the designer and their scope is for
post design services including shop
drawing reviews, responding to requests
for information,
issuing any necessary plan revisions,
and providing asbuilt asbuilt plans upon
completion. Quality testing scope is to
assist the town with construction
management, inspection, and quality
assurance testing.
Lion's scope is to provide surveying and
staking for the project.
In conclusion, staff is requesting
council approval to award asphalt paving
and supply, the construction contract,
and additional votes on approving
professional service agreements with
Kimley Horn Quality Testing and Lion
Engineering. All of these contracts,
including a 10% contingency for a total
amount of 16,325,81
and 81 cents. I appreciate your time and
consideration. I am here for any
questions. Council, I have questions for
staff.
So, I just want to say first off, great
job. Um, this is a massive project for
Prescott Valley and the residents I know
are going to be a little inconvenienced
for what would you say about 9 months.
Is that what we're looking at for that's
correct? A 9-month build. But the end of
the day, it is going to be the first
north south from Highway 89A to Highway
69 where we're going to be three lanes
in each direction with bike lanes and
sidewalks. Um, I compare Glford Hill
Road to Willow Creek Road in Prescuit
with about the amount of traffic. And
right now, currently, Willow Creek is
still just two roads and they move a lot
of traffic every single day. So, this is
a great milestone for Prescali and I'm
excited for this to get going.
Anything else for staff? If not, I'll
entertain a motion and keep in mind
council, we need to do four separate
motions on this item.
Can I have
>> Mayor I'd like to make a motion to award
» Mayor I'd like to make a motion to award
the bid to and enter into a contract
with the apparent low bidder asphalt
paving and supply incorporated for
construction of the Glasford Hill Road
Longook Drive to State Route 89A project
number CIP number ST2303
in the amount of 13,933,300
$133.33
with a 10% owner contingency by
electronic vote.
>> A second.
» A second.
>> Cler, please call a vote.
» Vice Mayor Zer,
>> yes.
» yes.
>> Council member Keel,
» Council member Keel,
>> yes.
» yes.
>> That passes unanimously.
» That passes unanimously.
>> Thank you, ma'am.
» Thank you, ma'am.
Can I get another motion,
» Mr. Mr. Mayor, I'd like to make a motion
to approve a professional services
agreement with Kimley Horn and
Associates proposed design services in
the amount of $165,40
by electronic vote.
>> I'll second court, please call the vote.
» Vice Mayor Zer,
>> yes.
» yes.
>> Council member Keel,
» Council member Keel,
>> yes.
» yes.
>> That passes unanimously.
» That passes unanimously.
>> Thank you, ma'am. Can I get a third
» Thank you, ma'am. Can I get a third
motion, please?
And Mr. Mayor, I'd like to make a motion
to approve the cooperative agreement
with Quality Testing LLC in the amount
of $627,86468
for construction management inspection
and testing services by electronic vote.
>> I second. Cler,
» I second. Cler,
>> please call the vote.
» please call the vote.
>> Council member Keel,
» Council member Keel,
>> yes.
» yes.
>> Vice Mayor Zer,
» Vice Mayor Zer,
>> yes.
» yes.
>> That passes. Thank you, ma'am. And
» That passes. Thank you, ma'am. And
finally, last motion, please.
» Mr. Mayor, I'd like to make a motion to
approve a professional services
agreement with Lion Engineering in the
amount of $115,400
for survey and staking services by
electronic vote.
>> I'll second.
» I'll second.
>> Please hold vote.
» Please hold vote.
>> Vice Mayor Zer.
» Vice Mayor Zer.
>> Yes. Council member Keel.
» Yes. Council member Keel.
>> Yes.
» Yes.
>> That passes unanimously.
» That passes unanimously.
>> Thank you, ma'am. Final item 11B,
» Thank you, ma'am. Final item 11B,
professional service agreement for storm
water recharge and field trials with
West Consultants in the amount of
$659,358.
Miss Lun, welcome.
>> Thank you, uh, mayor, vice mayor,
» Thank you, uh, mayor, vice mayor,
[clears throat] councel. Uh it's my
pleasure to bring to you tonight the
last portion of this particular project
which would be the professional services
agreement for uh West Consulting who is
going to be directing the uh uh
construction and uh actual testing and
the fund science that's going to be uh
occurring at this facility. So just a
quick reminder, I know this you've seen
this three times now. Um the uh
developments in our uh city have
actually um uh uh they they contribute
to storm water runoff. We have clay rich
soils uh which impede water
infiltration. This is a way this project
is a way to test um ways to mitigate uh
increased flooding and erosion
downstream while also trying to uh
maintain the health of our aquifer. Uh
so project description here we'll be
constructing two basins a control and a
test basin up in uh the prongghorn 21 uh
proposed uh uh development and we'll be
comparing the amount of water that we
are a infiltrating in the two basins.
We'll be monitoring uh all the all the
water that we can in both of those
basins to compare uh performance of uh
parana Iris uh and um
picture of that on the previous slide
there the the churo looking device um
and we'll be engineering installing and
monitoring how those the two bases
comparing how those two basins can uh
perform.
So project description for this
particular uh uh contract that is in
front of you tonight is uh with West
Consulting who uh is going to be uh uh
over the course of approximately a year
and a half to two years. Um uh there'll
be a time and materials contract for
$659,358
and that covers pre-study activities. So
soil characterization, the actual design
layout of the the two basins, basin
construction, installation of those
parana iris, and then monitoring
uh the monitoring equipment installation
to actually be able to tease out all of
the uh hydraologic uh activities that
are going on for the water through
either through the uh subsurface or
evaporation into the uh uh environment.
Uh so we will also get um uh throughout
that that study period uh monitoring
data collection from the uh employees of
of sever of West and then several uh
subs that they will have and we will get
a final study report that we'll be able
to use to determine whether or not this
is a technology we need to be using
everywhere. Um my goal if this works is
to be able to look around, figure out a
place where we can implement this in
other areas. Uh either retrofitting
existing basins or um designing new
development basins where uh feasible.
And uh that covers everything for me
unless you have questions.
>> I do have a couple questions. So when do
» I do have a couple questions. So when do
you expect to actually quote unquote
break ground on this? So, the timeline
that we're looking at right now, we're
hoping to do a kickoff meeting with West
down at the site that they're currently
working on, the predecessor to ours. Uh
hopefully the first couple of weeks of
February. We're still scheduling that.
Um we're looking to potentially get this
uh going then obviously that uh the
kickoff will trigger all the design and
um uh potentially basin construction in
fairly short order. Um front to back.
I'm anticipating this being about
two-year period um uh with all of the
the uh uh monitoring and all of the all
of the uh basically data data analysis
on the back end.
>> Gotcha. And and during throughout the
» Gotcha. And and during throughout the
the two-year process, will you be
getting information like quarterly? Will
they be giving you upgrade or updates or
do you just wait until the end to see if
this is successful or not?
>> I'm hoping for updates. Um it that's
» I'm hoping for updates. Um it that's
basically um as as a nerd I'm going to
want to see all that data because this
is this is like my cup of tea here. So
um yeah I'll be I'll be part and parcel
at this process because like this is a
very important thing to be studying. So,
you know, um I have a wealth of
knowledge in my educational background
and and professional background to be
able to to look at this and potentially
um feed into some of this as well. If
there are questions, things that we need
to learn along the way, why not?
>> Excellent. Thank you, ma'am.
» Excellent. Thank you, ma'am.
>> Council, you have questions or comments
» Council, you have questions or comments
for staff? Yeah. I just want to make
sure that um the the developer he knows
your timeline because I know he wants to
put houses in there and so you guys are
coordinating all that.
>> We are coordinating that. Absolutely.
» We are coordinating that. Absolutely.
And he's been very eager to do this
project. So um I'm not anticipating any
issues with that um at this point.
>> Anything else for staff?
» Anything else for staff?
Seeing none, I'll entertain a motion.
Mr. Mayor, I'd like to make a motion to
approve the professional services
agreement for Stonewater Recharge Field
Trials with West Consultants
Incorporated by electronic vote.
>> I second.
» I second.
>> Please call the vote.
» Please call the vote.
>> Vice Mayor Zer,
» Vice Mayor Zer,
>> yes.
» yes.
>> Council member Fry,
» Council member Fry,
Council Member Ke,
>> yes.
» yes.
>> That passes unanimously.
» That passes unanimously.
>> Thank you, ma'am. We're at the end of
» Thank you, ma'am. We're at the end of
our agenda. Anything for the good of the
order? Oh, Councilman
>> Freud
development agreement separate.
» Mr. Le, you want to add that? But I
believe the development. All right. No,
the development.
>> Mr. Mayor and Council, the development
» Mr. Mayor and Council, the development
agreement was approved on December 11th.
>> But it was on my screen and then it
» But it was on my screen and then it
disappeared.
>> Oh, I don't know why it would have been
» Oh, I don't know why it would have been
on your screen. Anything else for the
good of the order? Seeing none, have a
great night, guys. Be safe.