Payson Roundup

Payson pays $137 per stray in animal shelter

Report sheds light on contract between town and Humane Society

By Pete Aleshire

January 27, 2012

Payson paid $137 for each dog and cat impounded by the Central Arizona Humane Society last year, Payson Police Chief Don Engler reported to the town council last week. The council approved Engler’s report without comment, although the town’s $7,400 monthly contract with the Humane Society has sometimes spurred controversy. Engler said that the Humane Society impounded in the town limits 170 dogs and 100 cats between July 1, 2011 and November 30, 2011. Out of those 270 animals, the town’s animal control officer accounted for 102 of the animals turned over to the animal shelter on Main Street. “Therefore,” concluded Engler’s memo, “one could surmise that out of the 270 total impoundments, 168 of those were provided by citizens of the community.” The $88,000 annual contract with the Humane Society has repeatedly spurred debate in the several years since Engler proposed slashing it by about two-thirds, on the grounds that the town should only be responsible for animals its own animal control officer captures and turns over to the shelter.

Payson financial systems show ‘vast improvement’

By Pete Aleshire

January 27, 2012

Payson this year cleared its state-mandated annual audit with flying colors. “We didn’t find any significant issues at all this year,” said Dennis Osuch, with Larson Allen CPAs, Consultants and Advisors. The town’s financial accounting system has corrected the problems revealed two years ago when Town Manager Debra Galbraith discovered nearly $1 million stashed away in “restricted” accounts that weren’t really restricted. Moreover, the town staff has instituted monthly and quarterly reports to the town council that have eliminated the lack of oversight that four years ago prompted the councilors to approve budget changes that consumed the reserve fund before they even knew they’d done it.

Payson ‘takes the fright out’ of Star Valley’s water deal

By Alexis Bechman

January 24, 2012

In the event of an emergency, Payson has agreed to provide backup water and help to Star Valley. The Star Valley Town Council lauded the agreement Tuesday night, Jan. 17, as the next step in the town’s development and working relationship with Payson. The town plans on May 1 to take over the Payson Water Company in Star Valley from Brooke Utilities. The town will run the 360-hookup system and is in the process of establishing water ordinances and rates. One of the requirements is having water available in an emergency and an operator on duty around the clock. Star Valley does not have the work force or resources, but Payson has agreed to supply both when needed. Earlier this month, the Payson council approved an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) where Payson would pump water to Star Valley and respond to after-hours calls when Star Valley’s water operator is unavailable. Behind the scenes, Payson’s staff has also helped Star Valley work through the technicalities of establishing a water department.

Payson economy holding its own

By Pete Aleshire

January 17, 2012

Despite three years of turmoil and trauma, Payson’s economy this year has held its own, according to a year-end financial summary released this week. The summary shows town revenues have held surprisingly steady for the past three years, which is fortunate since the town has absorbed significant cuts in state-shared revenues from income taxes and gasoline taxes. Moreover, the town has given up on a federal grant for police officers and firefighters, leaving both departments staffed at well below levels envisioned when the council adopted its budget back in June. Fortunately, spending in most departments remains below projections — cushioning the decline in state-shared revenue.

Agreement provides SV with backup water supply

By Pete Aleshire

January 10, 2012

The Payson Town Council last week agreed unanimously to provide water services in an emergency for neighboring Star Valley. The agreement would provide Star Valley backup should a well break down or a water pipe burst, now that Star Valley has entered into the water business by buying out Brooke Utilities. “I don’t think that Star Valley will ever necessarily use it — but they can call Payson as a last resort to provide backup services if they have a break in a water main or a well out of service. It’s like ‘hey, give us a call, we’ll help out,’” said Buzz Walker, Payson’s water director.

Payson streamlines small subdivision development

By Pete Aleshire

January 10, 2012

In a rare split vote, the Payson Town Council last week agreed to streamline the process of approving small subdivisions. The new rule will allow town staff to approve preliminary plat maps on subdivisions with less than 10 lots. The council will still approve the final map, but state law requires automatic approval so long as the final map is in “substantial compliance” with the preliminary map, according to Town Attorney Tim Wright. The new rules included other changes, but taking the council out of the process of approving the initial plan for the subdivision spurred the most debate.

Campus plans make big strides forward

ASU, Alliance put finishing touches on final IGA agreement

By Pete Aleshire

December 27, 2011

Plans for a university in Payson have made big strides in the past week, according to Payson Mayor Kenny Evans. Last week, backers finished drawing up the final “terms and conditions” for the key intergovernmental agreement with Arizona State University to build a 6,000-student campus here. “We’re basically down to a single issue and I think we have a solution,” said Evans of the end game on the three-year effort to strike a deal with ASU. “We’ve made great progress with the Forest Service, with the county, with ASU.” Hailing his “best week in 18 months” Evans said he’s still hoping to have the campus open by the fall of 2013. “It’s like putting a bullet train on the Durango to Silverton railroad line, but I think we can get it done,” said Evans. Last week the Educational Alliance and the U.S. Forest Service settled on a timeline for the direct purchase of a 260-acre parcel south of Highway 260 near the location of the Payson Ranger Station.

Alliance board member asked to resign post

Law professor quits SLE board and complains of ‘opaque’ plans and financing

By Pete Aleshire

December 16, 2011

Rim Country Educational Alliance SLE board member Suzanne Cummins resigned Thursday in a dispute with board chairman Mike Vogel. Alliance chairman Vogel asked Cummins to resign and she complied, submitting a letter of resignation that cited concerns about the Alliance’s negotiations with Arizona State University on building a university in Payson. Cummins said Vogel approached her asserting he had heard from numerous sources that she did not believe in the project or trust Mayor Kenny Evans and Vogel. “I don’t believe it’s imminent. Every time I ask about when this project will be on the Board of Regents’ agenda, I hear it’s another two months out,” said Cummins.

Payson appoints new airport commission

Council agrees to take back airport, hire coordinator, revoke lease with independent group

By Pete Aleshire

December 16, 2011

The Payson Town Council Tuesday voted unanimously to revoke its lease with the Payson Regional Airport Authority (PRAA), appoint a new airport commission and hire a new airport coordinator. The special meeting set in motion the town’s resumption of control over the airport, after a roughly five-year experiment in relying on airport users to operate the facility. Several airport users made a last-ditch appeal to convince the town to make one more effort to iron out the financial problems that have beset the relationship with the PRAA. Jim Garner said the takeover will most certainly cost the town money. “I ask you to go back to the PRAA with a list of things to change and not cost the town money it can’t afford.”

Airport takeover advances

Payson council now poised to appoint airport commission

By Pete Aleshire

December 13, 2011

The Payson Council tonight will appoint a brand new Airport Commission as it moves to resume management of the Payson Regional Airport. Last week, the council took the first step in the sometimes-controversial effort to ease the airport’s financial problems and lay the groundwork for its expansion by agreeing to take over operations, despite the objections of some pilots and other airport users. At a special meeting tonight at 5:30, the council is scheduled approve contracts and ordinances to set the takeover in motion, hoping to finish the transition by February.

Payson council debates speeding up site plans

Even a minor loosening of restrictions on plat maps spurs council disagreement

By Pete Aleshire

December 13, 2011

Let’s move it along. At least when it comes to approving site plans for new development. That’s the gist of the Payson Town Council’s first move toward adopting changes that will streamline approval of preliminary plat maps — in the event that anyone ever starts actually building stuff in Payson again. The council would retain the job of approving final plat maps.

All town council incumbents, mayor seeking re-election

By Pete Aleshire

December 9, 2011

No one has yet filed to run against the four incumbent Payson council members seeking re-election as their terms expire. Incumbent Kenny Evans is so far the only person running for the two-year term as mayor. Meanwhile, only incumbents John Wilson, Rick Croy and Michael Hughes have taken out papers for the three open four-year council seats. Wednesday, Dec. 14 is the deadline for turning in the 199 signatures necessary to get on the ballot in the March primary. If no one else runs, the election will be decided in the primary. Otherwise, candidates who get more than 50 percent of the vote will win in the primary and others will face a runoff in the May general election. Town Clerk Silvia Smith said she couldn’t recall another election in which no one challenged the incumbents, who all ran for re-election.

Payson sales still lag behind state in sales tax receipts

By Pete Aleshire

December 9, 2011

Payson had a disappointing November when it came to local sales tax receipts, lagging behind both last year’s tally and the statewide figures. Local sales tax receipts from June through November declined $5,400 from last year’s bleak performance — although that amounted to a virtual break-even performance. Local sales tax collections for the period totaled $2 million. By contrast, statewide sales tax totals rose by about 4 percent. The state collects a share of the sales tax statewide, then returns it to cities based on population. The figures provide fresh evidence that Maricopa County has recovered more quickly than rural areas of the state.

GCC land sale qualms push ASU progress back 2 months

By Pete Aleshire

December 6, 2011

Arizona State University will not go to the Arizona Board of Regents for approval to build a new campus in Payson until February, the result of last-minute questions raised by the Gila Community College board. ASU had planned to seek approval from the Board of Regents at its quarterly meeting last week, but decided to wait until the Rim Country Educational Alliance actually obtains a 22-acre parcel on which it wants to build the first, 1,000-student phase of the campus. Gila County was poised to transfer the land to the Alliance several weeks ago, but held off after the GCC board asked the county to impose a series of conditions.

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