Off-Grid Solutions Increasingly
Power Local Homes
Robert Lucas
The Pioneer
Sales of small wind generators to power homes increased 14% last
year according to the American Wind Energy Association. This Air 403
model, manufactured by Southwest Windpower, is installed on a home
in Flagstaff, with the San Francisco Peaks in the background. (US Dept.
of Energy, National Renewable Energy Laboratory photo)
The cost of carbon-based fuels and extending power lines to remote
homesteads have led many Apache and Navajo county families to
consider life off the public utility transmission grid.  They make their own
energy at home with solar panels, wind generators and solar hot water
collectors.  They can purchase the equipment from retailers like Val-U
Solar in Snowflake or Terrapin Wind & Solar in St. Johns, or on the
internet, and then rely on a local installer like Jonathan Avalon at
Off-Grid Solutions to design, build and maintain the system.
  But Avalon urges families to call him first.  He will visit the homestead
and begin with an energy audit to determine how much power you
consume and what kind of lifestyle you want to support with renewable
energy.  Then a site survey identifies the availability of sun and shade,
wind speeds and water supply.
  "A complete site survey, energy audit, and your desired level of
participation with your power system," he explains, "will be combined to
determine the system's final energy requirements and the types of
renewable energy to include or exclude."  The result may be living totally
off-grid, or supplementing the power company supply with renewable
energy.  In either case, you will end up buying only the equipment that you
need and you know in advance will work to power your "personal
relationship with energy," he says.
  "I got into this," Avalon relates, "because I saw there was a need in the
area for a different viewpoint on how people go about acquiring renewable
energy as a power source.  I truly believe, because I live off the grid, that
everybody has a different relationship with energy."
  And these days there are a great number of options available to provide
comfort off the grid.  You can heat, or partially heat, your dwelling with
propane, electricity, a wood stove, pellet stove, bio-gas or active and
passive solar designs.  Electricity for lights, appliances and electronics
can be purchased from the utility with the local government franchise or
generated on-site by an engine-driven generator, a wind turbine or
photovoltaic panels.
  "I have been living seven years off the grid," notes Avalon.  Using
photovoltaic panels with storage batteries, he designed a power system
that provides 1.5 kilowatts of electricity, abundant energy to run his very
efficient appliances.  Though he lives near power lines in Hunt, living off
the grid gives his family energy independence.  "I believe it is every
American's responsibility to seek independence.  And today, it happens to
be independence from big corporations--corporate electricity, the big
corporate food supply and fuel supply.  And to bring it all the way around,
it's about personal economic security."
  When designing a renewable energy system, Avalon visits the home to
measure the potential of the site and measure existing energy use.  He
will ask the homeowner to describe the degree of comfort and
convenience associated with the desired lifestyle.  All this factors into a
preliminary design, which can be costly, either in dollars or kilowatts.  
"Renewable energy is not a cheap source of energy," he advises.  "So it's
not so much about saving money as choosing to live a different lifestyle."  
One that saves energy.
  "My hope for the future is that Americans take personal responsibility
for their own survival.  We can't depend on the government or big
corporations.  We have to do it ourselves.  My wife calls it 'going back,'"
he explains.  "I like to call it going forward--using older wisdom but newer
technology.  We wanted a more personal relationship with our survival, so
we live off the grid."
  Generally, living off-grid with photovoltaic electricity costs about
$15-$20 a watt, Avalon estimates.  "Someone needs to look at the site
and understand your power needs before you pay, say, $30,000 for a
complete 1.5 kilowatt electric system."  Changing to low energy use
appliances and eliminating waste is important to keep the price close to
that figure.  Avalon's family uses laptop computers instead of more power
hungry desktops, for example.  You will have to choose between a
guaranteed power supply or what Avalon calls "days of autonomy" when
you can't use certain appliances.  To limit those days, he prefers to start
with solar power and then add wind if you can afford it.  There are not
enough wind efficient days for a wind generator alone.  
  Solar, wind, solar hot water and solar hot air systems are perfected and
readily available. "A lot of the other stuff I call 'fun-tech,' not yet proven
or not being manufactured."  You would have to enjoy the fun of building it
yourself.  When designing a package for a client, Avalon uses technology
that has been proven to work and is commercially available here.  (See his
website,
www.EmpowerMeOffGrid.com for his fees.)  "But in another
handful, or two handfuls of years we are going to see tremendous
improvements in efficiency."
2020 Vision Committee
Presents Results of Town Hall
Nodal Meetings
Karen Warnick
The Pioneer
Pinetop-Lakeside Town Manager, Kelly Udall talks to over 80
people present for the 2020 Vision Committee meeting on the
Town Plan.
A public meeting was held on Tuesday, July 29 in the Blue Ridge High
School auditorium to present the results of four town hall meetings held
last fall.  The 2020 Vision Committee is a group of volunteers who have
been working with the Town of Pinetop-Lakeside and the residents to
facilitate communication about the Town’s master plan.  Over 80 people
showed up to hear members of the committee and the town council
speak about what the residents want and the steps being made to
implement the master plan.
Wayne Morton, Chairman of the Committee presented the speakers
who explained the specific areas they worked on.  A power point
presentation and handouts were used to help those present better
understand the information collected from the nodal meetings and
presented in a report to the town council. The two main concerns of
residents are the acquisition of Woodland Lake Park and keeping and
expanding open spaces within the town limits.
Eight major themes centered on the comments gathered:  Better
communication between citizens and government, commercial
development should be visually unobtrusive and themed in certain
areas, improvement of Billy and Walnut creeks with connecting trails,
create and maintain open spaces, create neighborhood parks and
preserve historic areas, roads and traffic need to be carefully planned
for in each nodal area, the town master plan was well accepted and
needs to be followed, and a trail system needs to be created that has
bicycle access and is connected to creeks and parks.
The 13 members of the 2020 committee put in a lot of hard work and
effort on this plan and came up with more specific priorities:  strict
zoning regulations with enforcement to support town plan, open spaces,
trails and parks should get first priority for all funding sources, the
Walnut creek node needs to provide a “sense of place” and connect
Walnut and Billy creeks, the relocation of government facilities out of
“old town” and residential neighborhoods, and future town hall
meetings to communicate with and educate the public.
Town manager, Kelly Udall, talked about implementing the plans with
the focus of the Strategic Management Plan.  This plan identifies the
goals and uses report cards to show what has been accomplished.  He
mentioned that some goals have already been reached.  New signs have
been put up around the town; a grant of $250,000 has been awarded for
a restoration project on Billy creek, and talks have been conducted with
developers along the creeks to allow a 20 foot easement for an 8 foot
trail.  Mr. Udall also talked about the need to mark trees to save them
from being cut down during development.
The Pinetop-Lakeside Master Plan won the 2007 Plan of the year
award from the Arizona Planning Association.  This award is a
significant high point for the town as it covered architectural plans in
the whole state, both public and private.
Sue Sitko, who is on the open spaces subcommittee, explained how the
committee did an assessment and worked with the town and developers
to identify open areas to be preserved.  The committee worked in the
field and came up with 25 sites, 12 public and 13 private, with a total of
1,756 acres.  Each site assessed includes features, management
scenarios, funding estimates, potential partners, maps and photos.  She
stressed the commitment to protecting private property rights.
Norris Dodd, town council member, gave an update on the progress of
the Woodland Lake Park acquisition.  Mr. Dodd called the park the,
“Crown jewel of the Town, the heart and soul of the community.  The
park is crucial to the town plan and a biological treasure.”   So far over
$40,000 has been raised by various funding activities.  He also
mentioned that one of the first steps is getting an appraisal of the
property which has to been done by the Forest Service.  He was pleased
to report that the appraisal process will start in the next few weeks and
should be completed by the end of the year.
Everyone who spoke expressed the hope that the residents would
continue to be involved in the process and that all committee meetings
are open to the public.  Anyone wishing further information can go to
the town website, www.ci.pinetop-lakeside.az.us.
Wolf Survey by Environmentalists
Fails to Tell Real Story
By Karen Warnick
The Pioneer
The survey was conducted by Research & Polling Inc. and commissioned by
conservation and wildlife organizations, including the New Mexico Audubon
Council, Arizona Zoological Society and the Southwest Environmental
Center.  All of these groups have an agenda for supporting the wolf program
that has been discussed in previous articles in this paper.  Why weren’t
groups who are opposed to the way the wolf program is being conducted,
invited to participate in the creation of the survey, just to keep everything
fair?
One has to wonder how objective a survey is if the groups paying for it have
a vested interest in the outcome and don’t offer a balanced view of the many
sides of the controversial issue.  One also has to wonder how the results can
be skewed as being pro wolf when over half the people questioned had no
knowledge of the wolf recovery program and it wasn’t explained in any
detail.  In Arizona, 75% had no knowledge or only a little.  
It is a pitiful attempt by the environmental groups and the federal
government to show that their expensive, less then successful wolf program
is supported by the vast amount of residents of Arizona and New Mexico,
when only 500 were surveyed in each state.  If 75% of them don’t know
anything about the program, then how can it be stated that most are in favor
of the program?  Several articles written by the Associated Press had titles
of “Poll: Most in N.M., Ariz. Back wolf recovery” and “Poll finds broad
support for wolf reintroduction”.  How can less than 250 residents in each
state be classified as “broad support” and “most in favor”?
The results of the survey, as reported, failed to take into account the
questions that were asked.  The results of the responses that were not in
favor of the wolves were not mentioned in the glowing reports of support for
the program.  In the summary of the wolf survey by the polling company it is
stated, “In any survey, there are some respondents who will refuse to speak
to the professional interviewer.  A lower response rate among certain types
of individuals can result in a sample wherein certain types of individuals are
over-represented or under-represented.  The potential for sampling bias
increases as the response rate decreases.  Research & Polling, Inc. often
sets quotas for various segments of the population who are historically
undercounted.  This has the effect of minimizing, but not necessarily
eliminating, sample bias.”
The bias is in the survey questions themselves.  While much as been made
over the results of the survey, little attention has been paid to the actual
questionnaire and how it’s not possible to get a fair assessment of a
population’s ideas when the questions don’t allow for in depth information.
The Pioneer obtained a copy of the survey questions and present most of
them here.  It should be noted that only registered voters were allowed to
respond.  The very first question asked was,
“Do you think things in (Arizona,
New Mexico) are generally headed in the right direction or are things off on the
wrong track?”
 This question is asked without any information other than
that the survey is about the wolf recovery program.  What things are they
talking about?  What is meant by the right or wrong direction?  What
happens if you ask these questions of the interviewer?  The second question
asks,
“When you think of wolves, what is the first thing that comes to mind?”  
How does this question show what a person thinks about the wolf recovery
program which is what this is really about?  What does it matter what you
think about wolves in general?  The question is too open ended and does not
allow for a specific response.
Question 3 uses a scale to rate overall feelings about wolves…..not the
program.  The 4th question asks,
“Why do you feel this way?”  How does the
interviewer know to interpret the answers?  Again, how does this show
specific answers about the program itself?
 Questions 5, 6 and 7 ask for a response that specifies how strongly the
agreement or disagreement is.  5.
We need to do more to protect endangered
species.
 What has that got to do with wolves?  Shouldn’t it depend on what
species and what is meant by protection?  6.
I feel a strong emotional bond
with animals.
 I love my cat, but I’m not sure you can have a strong
emotional bond with a wolf or bear or a mountain lion, especially if they are
threatening you or your pet.  Again, what does that have to do with the
specific question of the wolf recovery program?  7.
Livestock grazing is good
for the environment.
 How can someone who doesn’t own livestock or know
anything about whether it’s good or not answer that question?  It should be
noted that the “don’t know” and “won’t say” responses are lumped
together.  How valid is the answer if someone who doesn’t know anything
about the subject “strongly agrees or strongly disagrees”?
Questions 11, 12 and 13 begin with the statement,
“Now, I am going to read
you a series of statements about Mexican gray wolves.  Please tell me which of
the two statements you agree with more.”
 The only answers were, one or the
other statement, both, neither, don’t know/won’t say.  
11. The wolf is a
benefit to the West and helps maintain the balance of nature, or The wolf kills
too many elk, deer, and livestock and does more harm than good.
 How would
any one not educated on any of these facts be able to give a valid answer to
this question?  
12. The US Fish and Wildlife Service should manage Mexican
gray wolves to ensure their recovery and not risk extinction again, or The
USFWS should do what it takes to prevent wolves from preying on livestock,
including trapping and shooting them.
It doesn’t say what “manage” means
nor does it explain why shooting them may be necessary or what happens to
them when they are trapped.  (At this point, they are held in captivity for
awhile and re-released into another area.)  It also fails to point out that the
government paid to eradicate the wolves in the first place.
13. When it comes
to taxpayer money in managing wolves, which would you prefer….Helping
ranchers prevent or reduce conflicts with wolves, or Removing and killing wolves
that come into conflict with livestock.
 How much taxpayer money are we
talking about?  They also haven’t explained that in the 10 years this
program has been in effect, very little has been done to help ranchers or the
various other individuals and businesses who are negatively affected by
wolves.  This isn’t only about ranchers versus wolves, this is about rural
communities and the loss of economic viability, hunters and the revenue
they bring and the threat to humans which is not talked about.
Questions 14-19 ask,
“Please rate how strongly you either support or oppose
the following management strategies for the wolf population…”
  They don’t
offer the respondent a chance to offer alternative strategies.  
It should be apparent that the survey itself is questionable, how it fails to be
specific, how it fails to tell all sides of the story, and how it fails to explain
what has really been going on with the wolf recovery program.
The Pioneer has created a survey of its own and we have included it both in
the paper and on our website,
take the survey here.  We invite our readers
to answer this survey and tell us what you think of it and the wolf recovery
program.  We will publish the results of the survey, without bias, in a future
edition.

Northeastern Arizona's Most Read Newspaper
The Silent Tsunami: Global Food Crisis
Causes and Effects; Oil & Gas Prices
Karen Warnick
The Pioneer
Using the analogy of a tsunami for the food crisis works equally well for the
rising costs of gas and oil and the belief by many experts that we are running
out of oil.  Except in this case, the tsunami has not been so silent.  We’ve
known for decades that we would reach the tipping point that we are at today,
and we haven’t done anything about it.  There is a raging debate about whether
there is enough oil to continue our consumptive lifestyle, especially with the
rise in demand from developing countries.  Scientists who support the idea of
“peak oil” say the amount of oil produced in the world each year has already or
will soon begin a downward slide.
What is “peak oil”?  It is the idea that, whether or not we have a limited supply
in the ground or not, the rising demand and the ability to extract that oil follow
a bell curve.  Oil will not just "run out". This is true whether we're talking
about an individual field, a country, or on the planet as a whole.  Oil is
increasingly plentiful on the upslope of the bell curve, increasingly scarce and
expensive on the down slope. The peak of the curve coincides with the point at
which the endowment of oil has been 50 percent depleted. Once the peak is
passed, oil production begins to go down while cost begins to go up.
We have been living on the upslope of that curve.  Light, sweet crude was easy
to reach and pump out of the ground.  Supply was meeting demand.  But as the
demand for oil has risen, we no longer have vast amounts of the easy oil to
meet our needs, the price of energy expended in extracting that oil is not equal
to the energy output of that oil, and it will continue to be more expensive to
find, extract and use that oil.  We are at the top of the curve and, according to
which expert you believe, are poised to start a steep downward spiral or have
already gone over the edge.  Many believe that technology will save the day,
that there is plenty of oil and gas and the oil companies are just trying to make
a buck.  Okay, but why have prices risen so suddenly?  Why have we enjoyed a
slow, steady, stable rise in gas prices for decades and this year alone has seen
over a $1 a gallon increase in a few short months?  It doesn’t really matter.  As
soon as we face a crisis, the finger pointing starts, the blame game is practiced
by all, and trying to find solutions takes a back seat.
If there is enough oil to last forever, why has there been such a huge increase
in the prices all of a sudden?  If there is price speculation and gouging and
those few who are getting rich while the rest of the world goes broke, why are
we allowing it?  Why, all of a sudden, do those in control feel it necessary to
make all the money they can as quickly as the can?  Do they know something
we don’t?  Why haven’t new oil refineries been built in this country in the last
30 years?  
Regardless of whether or not you believe any of the experts about our future
way of life, the facts remain:  energy prices have a direct impact on food prices
and prices of everything have never gone back down.  Indeed, high oil prices
affect most all prices.  Oil is used both to make and transport most products,
including food.  As the price of crude rises, (at this writing the price of oil has
surpassed $146 a barrel) so does the price of almost everything.  Many are
blaming speculators on the stock markets.  An article by Nomi Prins, who is a
writer for Mother Jones and a former Bear Stearns analyst, published last
month points the finger at the commodity speculators. “Indeed, the current
agricultural price bubble has produced record highs in soybeans and wheat as
well. Against this backdrop, a clueless Congress passed US farmer and food-
stamp aid within the recent farm bill, without addressing the possibility that
speculation could be to blame, or that curtailing speculation could help alleviate
the domestic and global food crisis.”  The article can be found
here.
Again, it doesn’t really matter to the average person who is to blame.  The
problem lies with us, a society that assumes food comes from a grocery store
and that we could easily feed everyone who comes in the door (The US has 30%
less food than what it takes to feed our own population on any given day).  
Many continue to believe that everyone in government is looking out for us and
will fix the problems we have.  All we have to do is to continue to ignore the
problem and it will go away.   
With the way our current system of production is setup, everything depends on
cheap gas.  We have outsourced our manufacturing base (although that is
starting to reverse itself, due ironically to high fuel costs), we import more than
we export, food is shipped thousands of miles before it reaches your plate, and
everything is dependent on someone else getting us what we need.  As was
covered in previous articles, those someone’s are profit-driven corporations who
don’t care about doing things fairly, humanely or for the benefit of mankind,
they want their money the cheapest way possible.
Over the past few articles about the food crisis, we have covered the main
causes and some of how it’s affecting us.  The world-wide problems are a lot
worse than what is being mentioned in mainstream media.  The problems facing
this country are a lot worse then most realize.  The housing crisis, the credit
crisis, bank failures, huge job losses, natural disasters, the price of everything
skyrocketing; it is not going to go away.  Everything is related.  Everything and
everyone on this planet are now connected and problems half way around the
world do cause problems for everyone.  This is most evident when it comes down
to being able to feed yourself and your family.  What will you do when the
trucks stop running because they can no longer afford the price of gas?  What
will you do when the grocery store shelves are empty and won’t be filled in the
near future?  Forget about paying the mortgage, filling the gas tank so you can
get to work…how are you going to survive it you can’t eat?  It’s kind of hard to
outrun a tsunami, unless you have advance warning.  
In the last few articles on The Silent Tsunami, we will look at what is being
done by those who have paid attention to the warning signs and have started to
find solutions for themselves.  It is no longer smart to wait for someone else to
fix things.  It is no longer in our best interests to let the corporations and
governments decide what is best for us.  It’s time for each of us individually, in
families and in local communities to prepare for the coming tsunami.
We Stand for the Rights of the People to be
Heard
The Pioneer Staff
There’s a verse in the Bible, Ezekiel 33.6 that says: “But if the watchman see the sword come and blow not the trumpet and the people be not warned, if the sword
take any person from among them…his blood will I require at the watchman’s hands.”
The media’s job is to be the “watchman”, the guardian of truth, the investigator of wrongs, whether they are committed by individuals, corporations or government.  
The media should be the well-read, the analytical thinkers, the risk-takers, truth-seekers and liberty protectors.  The purpose of the news in a society is to be a
check on the abuses of the powerful and to keep the public informed with what they need to know to be free and self-governing.  A journalist’s first obligation is the
truth and their first loyalty should be to the citizens.
Unfortunately, those high ideals don’t sell to enough people these days, so instead we have a mostly bought-off media pandering to scandals, gossip and
sensationalism instead of reporting on the overwhelming issues that effect our way of life, health, safety and future.  Over 99% of all media today is owned by 5 or 6
corporations that have ties to everything from the oil industry to the food and drug industries.  Private corporations that decide what the news is with profit as the
main motive.  No longer is the news thought of as the “watchman” of liberty and freedom.  Instead, the media is considered co-conspirators in pulling the wool over
the eyes of the people.  A prime example of this is the lack of media attention to ALL of the candidates who were running for President.  What happened to the
public’s right to know?  
The Pioneer is a privately owned paper that still believes the people have a right to the truth, regardless of who pays the bills or who might be upset.  We believe
that the citizens need to be heard, not the politicians, the government, the corporate-controlled business world.  The people are supposed to be the rulers of this
country that was founded on the belief that we be self-governing.  Unless the people are heard, indeed, unless the people stand up and shout out the truth, we will
become the servants of the elite.  Unless the media return to being the “watchmen” of the truth and sounding out the warning trumpet, unless the public demands
their right to be informed and their right to be heard, we will become a nation of puppets whose strings are pulled by our masters.  This great country will be just
another failed democracy controlled by dictators and fascists.  Many believe we are well on the way already.
It is our intent to bring to light that which is hidden from the view of the people.  We believe that the media should still serve as watchdogs on government,
businesses and all leaders and the people should expect us to bring them the information needed to enable them to make informed decisions on the issues we face.  
It may not be pretty or pleasant and it may fuel controversy and dissent.  That’s what makes this country great.  To disagree and debate the issues are fundamental
rights that are being denied us in the name of “national security”.
The definition of the word pioneer means: One who ventures into unknown or unclaimed territory to settle; One who opens up new areas of thought, research, or
development; One who goes before, as into the wilderness, preparing the way for others to follow; as pioneers of civilization; pioneers of reform.  We are proud to be
The Pioneer and we invite you, the people, to join us in our quest for the truth.
DPS Lab Costs Passed to Local
Government
Press Release
Gary H. Butler, Sheriff
Holbrook, Az:  During a meeting with county sheriffs in Flagstaff on July 15,  
2008, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) informed local law enforcement
officers that the recently adopted state budget requires  DPS to start charging
local agencies for the use of the Arizona DPS Crime Labs located throughout
the State.  This unprecedented cost shift was included in the budget as a result
of Governor Napolitano’s attempt to balance the State Budget.  The DPS Crime
Lab budget was cut $7.8 million and the agency was directed to recover its costs
by charging users. Costs will not be effective until the new law comes into effect,
but likely be prorated back to July 1, 2008.
Because most law enforcement budgets were approved prior to the
announcement of this cost transfer, the Governor’s plan to shift the crime lab
costs to local law enforcement poses an enormous challenge to agencies like the
Navajo County Sheriff’s Office.  Communities in Navajo County have been
assessed $283,524.04 in prorated cost for the next year among the following
jurisdictions: Navajo County Narcotic Task Force (MCAT) $32,495.18, Navajo
County Sheriff’s Office $93,969.70, Holbrook Police Department $23,540.72,
Pinetop-Lakeside Police Department $58,972.00, Show Low Police Department
$27,978.46, Snowflake/Taylor Police Department $13,389.71, and Winslow Police
Department $33,178.26.  “Let me emphasize,” Butler declared.  “This is a
$100,000 hit on our County budget.”
DPS has not determined how the funds will be collected as of this date, but
several options have been presented.  Among the three presented are to bill
each County on a quarterly basis, bill each agency on a quarterly basis, or bill
each agency on a cost per case basis.  Billing the County would require an inter-
agency agreement to collect the funds.
Sheriff Butler said his department will have any necessary evidence processed
first and worry about the cost later.  “We will investigate all criminal cases,
collect and process evidence, as we have in the past,” Butler said.  “I don’t feel
victims should have to pay the price for the state’s fiscal mismanagement.”
Butler also expressed concerns with the precedent set by this cost shift.  “The
Governor’s Website indicates that the State Budget did not affect the criminal
justice system; did we miss something?” Butler explained that DPS was
originally established as a support agency for local law enforcement and the labs
were supported by all of law enforcement over the years.  “Many millions of
dollars were diverted from local law enforcement in order to maintain the costs
of the crime labs in Arizona.  Now those costs are being shifted entirely onto the
backs of local taxpayers and the city and county level.”
Butler continued.  “This is not only a law enforcement problem, it impacts the
County Attorney’s Office and their ability to properly introduce evidence in
court and convict suspects.  What will the cost be for DPS Crime Lab personnel
to travel to Navajo County and testify as to their findings?  As with most
contract assistance, this could be an enormous cost to the County.  This
information has not been provided to Law Enforcement yet.”
Butler hopes the County will continue working with state lawmakers next year
to reverse the cost shift and restore the state’s role in adequately funding the
DPS Crime Lab.
St. Johns Will Ask Voters To
Borrow Then Pay Back With First
City Property Tax
By Robert Lucas
The Pioneer
Interested residents listened as St. Johns City Council discussed a
number of items on the June 12 agenda, then voted unanimously to
ask taxpayers to OK the sale of more than $2.8 million in bonds. The
money is needed to drill a third well in Concho Valley and install a
larger water main to St. Johns. The bonds will most likely be repaid
with revenue from the city’s first property tax.
ST. JOHNS, AZ-After recently celebrating 60 years of incorporation, the
City of St. Johns will ask voters this November to borrow money that will
likely be paid back via a new city property tax, the first in its history.  City
councilors see the move as the only way to pay for a larger drinking water
line and drilling of a third well at Concho spring in Concho Valley, about
14 miles to the west.
  "The wells are pumping as best they can now," City Clerk Amy Bigelow
told the Council at their June meeting, "But they are still not keeping up
with need during the summer."  She said water use peaked at about
880,000 gallons a day in June.
  The City has been awarded a grant of $481,000 "from the EPA,"
continued Bigelow, to drill a third well.  Matching funds from the City will
be required in the sum of $416,000.  The cost of a bigger transmission line
will be the bulk of the expense, however, about $3 million "off the top of
my head."  Selling municipal bonds is probably the only way at this point
to come up with the $3 million.  Possible ways to pay back the bond
amount include a secondary property tax, a sales tax increase or a
surcharge added to water bills.  Bigelow recommended a property tax.
  "We've had a water issue for years and years and years," commented
Mayor Ross Overson, Jr.  "And now its come down to we have to do
something.  It's not a matter of choice."
  Councilmember Cristian Patterson asked if approval of the bond sale
commits the Council to funding it with a secondary property tax.
  "No," replied Bigelow.  "Most likely a portion of it would be funded
with a secondary property tax."
  Patterson then indicated his support for the plan.  "We really don't have
any other options at this point."  He said he would also support a
surcharge on every user of water.
  Vice Mayor Roger Rothlisberger said he believes that state statute
bars the City from installing a new water line in-house using city workers.  
A statute requires "going out to bid," he pointed out.  He asked Bigelow
for a worst case scenario cost to property taxpayers.
  About $400 a year per homeowner based on the average cost of a home,
she answered.
  A unanimous vote by those present, Mayor Overson, Vice Mayor
Rothlisberger, and Councilmembers Michael Cirivello, Delos Bond,
Kevin Lee and Cristian Patterson, adopted the resolution calling a special
bond election on November 4, 2008.  Councilmember Becky Orona was
not present.  The resolution declares an emergency in order to expedite
the process.  Voters will be asked to approve the "sale of $2,805,000
principal amount of general obligation bonds."
  Then City Council voted to adopt a new ordinance "restricting water
usage, prohibiting the waste of water, and implementing penalties for
violation."  Above ground watering, such as automatic lawn sprinklers can
not be turned on between the hours of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.  If sprinklers use
well water instead of the municipal supply then a sign must be posted
notifying passersby.  City workers will turn off the water supply of
violators and demand payment of the reconnection fee.
  Throughout history, local residents have struggled to supply their homes
with water.  Before the first drinking water mains were laid in 1911, a
horse-drawn tanker used to fill at McIntosh Spring and sell water door to
door for five cents a bucket.  Shallow wells in town didn't supply enough or
acceptable quality.  The same spring was the supply when the Patterson
family organized St. Johns Water Works in 1910, but a few years later
they had to add water from Schuster Spring west of town.  Water from
Lyman Lake was added after the dam was rebuilt in 1921.  When city
government was incorporated in 1946, Don R. Patterson sold it his water
company.
  In the mid-1960s, St. Johns tapped the Concho spring water owned by
Arizona Game and Fish Department to replace Schuster Spring and
drinking water collected in Patterson ponds from Lyman irrigation ditch.  
Wells within the city limits of St. Johns usually produce inferior quality
water with high levels of dissolved minerals, or better quality water at
flows too low to supply the whole town.
  In 1989, state government started testing drinking water for naturally
occurring radium contamination.  A second well, drilled east of Concho
spring to increase supply, was found to have radium levels exceeding what
the state believed was a safe level.  In May 1996, Arizona Department of
Environmental Quality ordered the City of St. Johns to take steps to
reduce radium in its drinking water.  And by 1997, the supply of water
from both wells could not keep up with demand.  Every summer, storage
tank levels would drop, threatening loss of water if a pump broke down or
the transmission pipe sprung a leak.
  In June 1999, City Council scheduled a $3.5 million bond election for
that September, then postponed it.  A $4 million bond election was
scheduled for March 2000 and then cancelled.  Council scheduled a $1.5
million bond election for September 2000 to build a radium removal water
treatment plant and the measure was passed by voters.  Construction
began in 2004 and the plant has been reducing radium to safe levels since
it opened in February 2005.
  But storage tanks levels dropped ten feet in July 2005.  Voters gave
approval to annex the Mountain View subdivision in November 2000.  
Water lines were extended to those homes three years later.  Community
Development Block Grant money appropriated by Congress to benefit
low income families or seniors, and for "abatement of slum conditions"
has paid for additional water storage tanks and water lines in St. Johns
over the years.  A real estate boom in recent years led to construction of
many new homes on the north side and two new subdivisions along the
west bench.  City water mains were extended to recently annexed homes
in the northwest corner of town last year.  Now, city government is mulling
a property tax on those homes to safeguard the water supply.
Nutrioso BBQ and Dance Draws over 600
People
By Karen Warnick
The Pioneer
The annual Nutrioso BBQ and Dance drew a crowd of over 600 people
despite the rain.
Despite intermittent rain showers and thunder, over 600 people showed up
for the annual Nutrioso BBQ and dance held Saturday, July 26.  When asked
about the weather, most people said that they were used to it as it rains
pretty much every year.  They plan for it by bringing rain gear and umbrellas’
s and have a great time anyway.
This small town of about 250 residents situated in the hills 16 miles above
Springerville, has a wonderful sense of community and most everyone helps
in some way to make sure the annual event is a success.  In the center of this
small community stands the old school house built in the 1930’s and now the
headquarters of the Nutrioso Community Association.  The school is owned
by the county and the town has a contract to manage it.  The money raised
from the BBQ and dance goes towards repairing and restoring the school,
bettering the community and for scholarships for local kids.
Two years ago, an outdoor pavilion was built complete with a concrete floor,
roof and picnic tables and is used by everyone, including passersby for
picnics, weddings and family reunions.  With a little sawdust spread around,
it made a great dance floor for the blue grass band that played from 5 to 7
and the country band that played afterwards.  Young and old alike took to
the music like ducks to water and kicked up their heels.
This year’s profit from the event will go towards remodeling the kitchen said
Gregg Cross the association President.  He estimated that after expenses
they would probably make around $4000.  He also said that over 550 pounds
of beef were cooked for the BBQ.  The food line stretched out the door of
the school, down the sidewalk, out the gate of the grounds, around the corner
and down the street.  For 2 and a half hour’s people stood in line, sometimes
in a pouring rain, patiently waiting for their chance to eat.  No one
complained and all 600 plus people were fed.  
Besides the wonderful barbequed beef and chicken, the menu included
beans, coleslaw, sopapillas and drinks.  The sopapillas were made outside
under a tent and distributed in baskets throughout the crowd by children
volunteers.  Piping hot and fresh, with honey squirted on top, they were
gobbled up by everyone.  The ladies making them couldn’t keep up with the
demand.
Booths were set up on the grounds to showcase the silent auction items
donated by the community and to display local arts and crafts.  Drawings for
door prizes and a raffle of a custom-made wooden bed all helped in the effort
to raise money.  Some of the items that could be won included sports
equipment, fishing gear, food baskets and games.
One enterprising young man, 11 year old Jameson Jensen, decided that he
could make a little profit for himself and help those standing in the rain
waiting for their food.  So, knowing that it would rain, and with the help of a
silent partner, Jameson went to yard sales and thrift stores and bought a
bunch of umbrellas.  He made a big sign and rented out the umbrellas for a
dollar to anyone caught unprepared.  After everyone had eaten, he was seen
selling the umbrellas to all comes.  He plans on continuing his business next
year.
For anyone who wishes to experience the small town feel of an “old-
fashioned” barn dance and BBQ, plan on attending next years event.  You
won’t be disappointed.