Quartzsite Town Council plans special meeting Mon. Jan. 28 at 2pm

Quartzsite Town Council will hold a special meeting 

MONDAY, JANUARY 28, 2013 at 2:00 pm

Three items on the agenda are regarding the Planning and Zoning Commission.

1.  Members of the Planning and Zoning Commission serve at the pleasure of the Council.
At the Discretion of the council, terminate all current appointments to the Planning and
Zoning Commission.  Mark Orgeron, Council Member

2.  Discussion and Interview of applicants to serve on the Planning and Zoning Commission.  Mark Orgeron, Council Member

3.  Discussion and possible appointment of members to the Planning and Zoning
Commission.         Mark Orgeron, Council Member


4.  Executive Session:
•  An executive session pursuant to A.R.S.§ 38-431.03(A)(3) for discussion or consultation for legal advice with Special Counsel for the Town regarding an employment contract with Police Chief Jeff Gilbert dated February 8, 2011.
•  An executive session pursuant to A.R.S.§ 38-431.03(A)(4) for discussion or consultation with Special Counsel for the Town in order to consider its position and instruct Special Counsel regarding the Town's position regarding an employment contract with Police Chief Jeff Gilbert dated February 8, 2011.



The online agenda does not have the time posted nor is it signed by the Town Clerk. Discussions held at the Jan. 22nd Council meeting infer the council wants to "release" the whole volunteer Planning & Zoning Board and start all over, but current members may reapply. Interim Town Manger and the council agreed the meeting to discuss P & Z would be held Wed. Jan. 30th.

   However, Desert Messenger confirmed that five of the seven board members did not receive phone calls from Town Hall notifying them of the change to the Monday meeting until late Friday afternoon. Calls were placed from Town Hall between 3:41 pm - 4:13 pm Friday. There are only seven Volunteer Interest Forms posted online for the seven P & Z seats available. The Volunteer Interest Forms for the current five board members were NOT included.

Can the council include the currently seated Commissions in Monday's discussion if their Interest Forms were excluded from the council packet?

It was also confirmed that at least one council member was not notified the council packet was ready until about 4:15 pm Friday afternoon.

TOWN OF QUARTZSITE  Planning and Zoning Commission Membership Roster 

                    Last Council  Approved          Last Council  Approved    Term Status

                    Term Start                              Term End                     

Bearcat, Starr            August 2010                August 2013                         Current
Bowman, Barbara      August 2010                August 2013                         Current
Kiss, Violet               November 2009           March 2012                          Term Exp
Kuehl, Dennis            November 2012           January 2015                        Current
Murphy, James          June 2007                    June 2010                             Term Exp
Ross,  Doug              October 2010              October 2013                        Current
Wall, Dennis              February 2012             None                                    Current

   
For the full agenda visit:    http://ci.quartzsite.az.us/Support%20Docs/Council_NTS_AGD/2013/012813%20Special%20Meeting%20Agenda.pdf

Happy New Year Quartzsite!

As we enter the new year, and the old year fades behind us, I encourage everyone to embrace the peace of the season. This past year has brought many shades of sadness and challenges, but together we can move forward in the hopes of a better future for our community and beyond.


It's natural for us to look back upon the previous year, along with all our successes and learning experiences. When I reflect upon our community, I see that our volunteers are the heart of Quartzsite. Without Volunteers, our community would not be the beautiful place I call home. For a small town, the incredible amount of participation from volunteers is totally amazing! No where else can you see the level of volunteerism as in Quartzsite, Arizona!

Some of the places you'll find Volunteers in Quartzsite are:
The Quartzsite Improvement Association (QIA), Senior Center, Food Bank, Quartzsite Business Chamber of Commerce, Quartzsite Community Thrift Store, the Salvation Army, Citizens on Patrol (COP), Quartzsite Historical Society and Museum, La Paz County Search & Rescue, VFW Post 769, Operation Hero Comfort, Quartzsite Rotary, GFWC Women's Club, Proud Neighbors of Quartzsite (PNQ) Quartzsite Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition and Youth Coalition, Isaiah 58 Project, Friends of the Library, Quartzsite Art Guild,  Adults Sharing with Kids (ASK), Quilters Club, "Heart"ists, Boy Scout Troop,  Metal Detector Club, Roadrunner Gem and Mineral Club, Ham Radio Club, RC Flyers, PTA, Cactus Dodgers Dancers, Volunteer Parents at the Rec Program, our incredible BLM Camp Hosts and Volunteers, Musicians at all the Jams and Events, the countless Volunteers at RV Park events, RV Rally Organizers, Event Coordinators, and all our Church Volunteers who lovingly serve their congregations. There are other folks who generously give, supporting quietly behind the scenes, such as our local business owners and vendors.


Then there are the Quartzsite Residents serving on the municipal boards year-round: Hi Jolly Cemetery Board, Vendor Board, Parks Board, Health & Development Board, Library Board, Personnel Board, Municipal Utilities Board, Planning and Zoning Board, Municipal Property Board, Public Safety Retirement Board, and the Board of Adjustments. The Arizona Centennial Board recently completed their commission and provided the town with many events over the two years they were active. Funds raised provided metal camel silhouettes which will be placed in key locations around town... watch for three to be placed shortly at the new Community Center!

Volunteers do their work quietly, because they love serving their community. Of course, in every community there are those who love to complain, but do not participate in the joy of giving. Volunteers experience incredible gifts when they share freely of themselves.

I've heard it said, "there's just something special about Quartzsite..." Well, it's obviously the people. That's what makes Quartzsite so special. Our hundreds of volunteers who share their wisdom, strengths, and knowledge with others, encouraging each other along the way.

So as we welcome in a new year, let us remember to be kind to each other and thank the volunteers for their service to Quartzsite. Those of us who live full time in Quartzsite experience the blessings of our volunteers. Those visiting Quartzsite may marvel at how the heck can this little town handle the influx of millions of visitors. It's the volunteers... our amazing people!

I am so grateful to be living in a community where people smile at one another walking down the street, and strangers wave as I'm driving by. It's the simple things that make a difference!

I am so grateful for all of you!

Wishing you a wonderful New Year full of gratitude!

Shanana "Rain" Golden-Bear
Publisher/Editor Desert Messenger

Quartzsite Club Fair Thurs. Nov. 4, 10-2

Public Invited to get involved!


Quartzsite- On Thurs. Nov. 4, from 10-2 clubs and organizations will be set up at the Quartzsite Senior Center. Everyone is invited to meet and greet the many service organizations in town.

Quartzsite is a unique community that appeals to people from every walk of life. It is also a town that relies on its many volunteer clubs and organizations to make things happen. Our service organizations depend on volunteers whose desire is to help in any way they can.

Every club and organization in town could use a jolt of new blood- new ideas, new energy, and new volunteers to help share they load. Most people who belong to a club or organizations also belong to more than one, and it spreads them pretty thin sometimes. We need to get more people involved in our community to help keep these valuable organizations and clubs active!

We hope you will participate and join in helping to rejuvenate these much needed clubs and organizations. For more infomation, or to reserve a table for your organization, please call the Quartzsite Business Chamber of Commerce at 928-927-9321 or email quartzsitebusinesscoc@tds.net.

What an awesome day! Rockin' in Quartzsite and Red Ribbon Week kickoff!

Thank you Quartzsite for another beautiful event for the whole community! This post will have more personal touches than normal, as I am so grateful for the countless volunteers that helped make yesterday's event such a positive experience for the community!

Rockin' in Quartzsite is a public art event focusing on the uniqueness of what drew many folks to this area, the rocks! Artists paint rock art pieces which go on display around town for the whole season. In March, the rock art will be auctioned at the Rock Auction! Using a Volunteer Equity Program, funds raised will be donated back to the community through the various organizations designated by the volunteers.

The 2nd Annual Rockin' in Quartzsite kicked off yesterday!  Quartzsite Community Prevention Coalition joined the event this year with kid's events, free hot dogs and t-shirts. The theme was "If you abuse..." alcohol, prescription and illicite drugs. There was a special guest teenager, who shared her pain of losing 4 friends over the last two years to drug abuse.

This year, Proud Neighbors of Quartzsite decided to change it up a bit, by using flagstone slabs instead of boulders. Last year, some boulders were difficult to see on the ground. By using the slabs, the level of visibility will increase. Many hours of discussion were held about how to display the rock art. Mark Goldberg, an artist and creative genius, designed and built a protype stand for the stones.  Many volunteers gathered at his workshop to cut, drill, sand, and paint the beautiful stands to showcase the artists work. Mr. Goldberg worked very hard on attention to details and his concern for safety was paramount! Thank you, Mark Goldberg for the untold hours of work you have put into this project.

Hats off to

• Inland Builders, Ace Hardware in Blythe, CA for donating all the flagstone slabs and building materials for the Rock Art Pieces and stands. Thank you sooo much for your generousity and support of our community!
• Kym Scott, of Tyson Wells Showgrounds for the extremely generous donation of his warehouse for two weeks! We couldn't do it without you, Kym! Hearts of gratitude for how much to contribute to the community of Quartzsite!
• Mark Goldberg, for his incredible design, hard work, and long hours assembling the stands for the slabs. And to the many volunteers he recruited to help, even Council member Patricia Anderson and her husband, Floyd,  pounded a few nails!
• Roger Williams for stepping up to take on the position of project manager for an event about which he knew little. Thank you to his wife, Patty, also for her long hours of volunteering! Awesome job!
• All the artists who are donating their time and creative energies for this public art event! Jesse Koontz (Ray Ray), Tina Moore, Nan Burrows, Carol Brainerd, Patricia Oechslin, Mary Jo Gilder, Ron Stoltz, Jo Foster Snow, QES Students, Penai Bettmann, Mark Goldberg, Rainbow Patrick, Betty Michel, Annette Crandall, Rita Wilson. Artists Rock in Quartzsite!
• Quartzsite Elementary School (QES) 3rd & 4th grade teacher, Mr. Wymer. Also of QES: Linda Ward (who's brilliant idea got the kids motivated) and Trina LaFontane for their many hours of volunteering.
• 16 QES students who painted two Rock Art Pieces and their parents for allowing them to participate. 3rd graders, Ashley Coen, Frederick Hull, Gabriel Norris, Daniel Perez. 4th graders, Savana Adams, Isadore Baeza, Daniel Bedzyk, Cherokee Frazier, Cobey Hager, Zachary Hager, Rober Hull, Maleiah Sharp, Colton Robertson, Laianni Sales, Jeffrey Scott, Jasmine Tinoco. It was a pleasure to have you all there! We hope to see you on Nov. 6th at the Artist Reception! 
• Thank you to Quartzsite Community Prevention Coalition coordinators, Tracey Richardson and Yesenia Jackson and all their volunteers. Isaiah 58 Project cooked the hot dogs, Mike and Linda Hobby coordinated a great effort for this event!
• John D. "Skip" Gallup volunteered many hours of photography, both for the 1st Annual Rockin' in Quartzsite and this year's event. You can see his photos of last year's event hanging at Quartzsite Town Hall.  Thanks, Skip, for also taking photos of the Ribbon Cutting yesterday at Alternative Therapies!
• Thank you, Monica Timberlake, for your tireless volunteering for this and many other events for the community! You Rock!
• Town of Quartzsite helped with the use of the fork lift to get the pallet of stones off the truck. Thank you so much, Town Manager Alex Taft for your help and flexibility!
• To the volunteer membership of Proud Neighbors of Quartzsite, I say a heartfelt thank you!  Awesome job everyone! I really appreciate the cooperation of everyone working together. Every event seems to have a few glitches, but ya'll worked together great and without losing your sense of humor! We have many more hours ahead of us, getting ready for the Artist Reception. Let's show Quartzsite what an amazing community we have when we all get together for the benefit of Quartzsite!

Tyson Wells Showgrounds allowed us to transform a warehouse into the Rock Motel where the Rock Art Pieces are now asleep in their "beds". The artists will be painting for the next couple of weeks, away from public viewing. (We don't want to "disturb the rocks" or "awake them" before it's time! tee hee) And then....

Please join us for the

Artist Reception Gala on Saturday, Nov. 6th from 5-8pm.

The public is invited to meet the artists and help wake up the Rocks so they can move onto their next locations all around town for the whole winter season! Here's your chance to get the first look at all the rock art, in one place, before they "hit the town"! This fancy event will honor our artists and allow them to shine! Please join us for the free elegant meet and greet evening of fun, food and entertainment.

Sponsor locations will be found in the Rock Map, published in the Desert Messenger. The public will be able to vote on their favorite for the People's Choice Award at each sponsor's location. Make sure to say thank you to the sponsors, also! It does take a village for an event of this magnitude to happen, so please spread the word and thank everyone involved.