Town Hall Tues. Dec. 4th at 4pm, Quartzsite Improvement Assoc

The Town of Quartzsite will hold a Town Hall meeting Tuesday, Dec. 4th at 4pm in the Quartzsite Improvement Assoc.(QIA) hall. The town posted a possible quorum notice that council members may appear. This will be the first Town Hall meeting for Quartzsite's Interim Town Manager, Laura Bruno.

Bring your questions and ideas for the meeting.

Huge turnout for today's Quartzsite Community Center Groundbreaking Ceremony

Quartzsite, Arizona- There was a great turnout 

from community for the 

Quartzsite Community Center Groundbreaking 

this morning at Town Park.

Participating in the traditional ground breaking were (Left to Right) 

Council Member Patricia Anderson, Parks Board Member Shirley Phillips, 

Town Manager Alex Taft,  Pastor Mike Hobby of Isaiah 58 Project, 

Angie Howell in honor of her father Gary Howell, 

and Recreation Director Tracey Hess.

Speakers included,  Alex Taft, Patricia Anderson, La Paz County Supervisor Holly Irwin 

and Parks Board Member Kevin Cushman.

Pastor Mike Hobby was the Master of Ceremonies and led with a heartwarming prayer.

All the speakers focused on the positive addition the Community Center brings to the community. Groundbreaking ceremonies are an expression of optimism, hope for the future, and celebration. They are an opportunity to bring people together in celebration of a new beginning;  a historic time in the life of a community.

A surprising discovery was made recently during the process of clearing the building site. 

According to Town Manager, Alex Taft, this Ironwood tree is over 1200 years old. 

The tree is located just east of the building site for the Community Center. Ironwoods are a protected species, so the town has taken measures to protect it by cordoning it off. Taft told Desert Messenger that she is planning on having a special plaque made to honor this old tree.

This tree is two hundred years older than the Arizona Witness Tree located behind the County Court. Taft said, "We are so excited to make this discovery!" 

Many La Paz County candidates were in attendance at today's ceremony. All three La Paz County Supervisors were in attendance. All Quartzsite Town Council Members were present except Carol Kelley, who was at work as Director of Food Bank (open only on Tues. and Thurs.) and newly elected Pat Workman. Conspicuously missing were Ed Foster and local government reform political activists, which created a lot of discussion among attendees. The event was co-sponsored by the Quartzsite Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition (QSAPC) who felt this is the perfect time for the community to come together and work towards a positive future for Quartzsite.

Quartzsite represented at Focused Future II - La Paz County, Arizona

Parker, AZ - Community members, local government officials and staff attended the APS Sponsored Focused Future II Economic Development Town Hall Meeting on June 13, 2012. 


Of the almost 70 participants, Quartzsite was represented by 10 community members, including Council members Mike Jewitt and Patricia Anderson (both also of Quartzsite Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition-QSAPC) Town staff members Al Johnson and Nora Yackley, Pastor Bruce Swart (of First Assembly of God Church, QSAPC and PNQ), Norm Simpson (of Mountain Quail Cafe, Bouse Chamber and AZ Outback), Shanana Rain Golden-Bear (of Desert Messenger, PNQ, QSAPC, and AZ Centennial), Richard Trusty (of Nature's Nuggets, PNQ and AZ Centennial), residents Mark Goldberg (of Art Guild and PNQ), and Dennis Wall (of PNQ).


The jam packed event had attendees addressing difficult questions such as
~ How do we work together as a community?
~ How are we strengthening our community's ability to solve problems?
~ Prioritize Strategies to improve: 
   - Business Development, 
   - Hospitality and Tourism, 
   - Healthcare and 
   - Promoting Quality of Life and Livability.


The busy event kept the group working during lunch, preparing for the afternoon presentations. Participants left with a sense of hope for the future of La Paz County, but knowing there is much work to do.


The La Paz Focused Future II program was co-sponsored by APS and the La Paz Economic Development Corporation. The lunch everyone enjoyed was sponsored by about a dozen businesses and organizations from across the La Paz area, as listed on the last page of the document below. 
The following is the report with details of the meeting, goals and strategies.


Focused Future II La Paz County

Quartzsite Town Council beats challengers, unofficial results of today's election

The unofficial results are in and all five recalled council members retain their seats. The information below is provided by La Paz County Elections: http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/AZ/La_Paz/25842/43029/en/summary.html

The final results will be posted here when made available.



Town of Quartzsite-Recall of Patricia Anderson

1 of 1 Precincts Reporting

                                                  Percent Votes

ANDERSON, PATRICIA (NP)    53.04% 305

WORKMAN, PATRICIA (NP)    46.43% 267

Write-in (NP)                                   0.52% 3

                                                             575



Town of Quartzsite-Recall of Barbara Cowell
1 of 1 Precincts Reporting

                                              Percent Votes

COWELL, BARBARA (NP)    56.15% 324

JONES, JENNIFER (NP)         43.33% 250

Write-in (NP)                               0.52%   3

                                                           577



Town of Quartzsite-Recall of Jose Lizarraga
1 of 1 Precincts Reporting

                                         Percent Votes

LIZARRAGA, JOSE (NP)       63.69% 335

Write-in (NP)                         36.31% 191

                                                           526
 

Town of Quartzsite-Recall of Jerry Lukkasson
1 of 1 Precincts Reporting

                                             Percent Votes

LUKKASSON, JERRY (NP)    60.64% 322

Write-in (NP)                             39.36% 209

                                                            531



Town of Quartzsite-Recall of Joe Winslow 
1 of 1 Precincts Reporting

                                           Percent Votes

GJERDAHL, DAVID (NP)    44.87% 258

WINSLOW, JOE (NP)          53.22% 306

Write-in (NP)                            1.91% 11

                                                        575

Quartzsite Mayor sends letter to 3 council members

The following is a letter from Quartzsite Mayor Ed Foster delivered to three Council members' boxes on June 16, 2010. The Desert Messenger received a copy on June 17, 2010, from Quartzsite Town Hall, after filing the proper Public Record Request paperwork.

"To: Council members
Patricia Anderson, Joe Winslow, Jose Lizarraga
Subject:
Respect

If you can't respect me as Mayor you must respect the office of Mayor.

The Mayor calls meetings and if you have a problem with the schedule I propose then you can contact me by letter or phone and I will give consideration to you reasons. I am going to recognize the change you have made this time, but this will not be acceptable in the future.

No meetings of the common council of Quartzsite will be called in the future with out the consent of the Mayor.

The common council of Quartzsite was organize[d] under parliamentary rules and will be run in the future under those rules. The agenda will be set by the Mayor and nothing will be placed on the agenda unless the Mayor approves.

Ed Foster
Mayor"

With so much confusing information on the Internet and some articles/websites written as fact, but are more opinion/editorial in nature, I thought it would be good for the citizens to have more clarification regarding Town Council Procedures.

Here is the exact text from the town's policy procedure manual, which is an approved ordinance :

Quartzsite Town Council Procedure Policy
(also received after filling out the proper paperwork with Town of Quartziste)

Ord. No. 09-29:

Section II. General Rules
13 - Rules of Order:
" 'Robert's Rules of Order Revised' shall govern the proceeding of the Council. The Town Attorney shall serve as the parliamentarian."

Section III. Types of Meetings
3. Work Sessions

"The Council may meet informally in work sessions at the call of the Mayor or any three (3) Members of the Council. Work sessions are open to the public, with public participation. No official action can be taken at a work session."

Section V - Order of Business & Agenda
2. Agenda-Determination of Specific Items to be included:

"Requests for items to be placed on the agenda should be submitted to the Town Manager or Town Clerk in writing no later than 11:00 am on the Wednesday of the week proceding the scheduled Council meeting. The public shall request items to be placed on the agenda through a Council Member.
"The Town Manager shall prepare a proposed agenda and meet with the Mayor, and Town Attorney to discuss and prioritize the agenda itmes and decide their placement on the agenda. A finalized copy of the agenda along with all available information pertaining thereto will be placed in the Council Members' boxes by Friday afternoon."