Snowflake Council Hears Report From Consolidation Committee

By Naomi Hatch
   Chuck Dutcher, a member of the Consolidation Committee for the Towns of Snowflake and Taylor, made a presentation at the March 17 Snowflake Town Council meeting, advising the council, “We want people to vote informed, knowing the facts.”
   Dutcher read a letter written March 11 by the committee. The letter was read to the Taylor Town Coun-cil March 11 by Tom Belshe of the League of Arizona Cities and Towns.
   Dutcher noted that each town council invited seven people from their respective community to explore the idea of joining into one city government. The committee enlisted the League of Arizona Cities and Towns to help with the legal side, conduct the discussions of pros and cons of consolidation, and help with the final report given to both councils.
   “There have followed many warm discussions,” said Dutcher, who explained that the committee was made up of ordinary people just like the council members who took time from busy schedules to look at consolidation. “Our only agenda was not hidden, it was open and the committee developed a desire to search the value of a combined community. That goal was uppermost in our minds.”
   Dutcher advised the council that the committee determined that there was value in a combined city gov-ernment that would need to have equal representation from each town. Committee members also felt that individual town traditions should be protected at all costs.
   One of the pros Dutcher explained was that the consolidated town would be one of the largest in Navajo County, so they would be able to attract steady economic growth. Consolidation would also bring savings and value to the communities.
   The committee has recommended holding monthly public hearings beginning on Thursday, April 2, at an as yet undetermined location. Dutcher said that they anticipate the first meeting would have a large crowd with crowds decreasing as citizens receive answers to their questions.
   Mayor Kelly Willis thanked Dutcher and all other committee members, saying, “I know they have taken a lot of time and a lot of effort.”
   The mayor also noted that he hopes the information will get out to people so they can make an informed decision.
   “We want people to vote informed, knowing the facts,” he said.
   Willis concluded the presentation, saying, “We agree with you, the greatest thing we want to do is keep peace and harmony throughout the whole process.”