Taylor Council Tables Request To Set Consolidation Election

By Naomi Hatch
   In the beginning, it appeared the Taylor Town Council would pass a resolution that would put the question of consolidation of Taylor and Snowflake to a vote of the people, but as a two-hour discussion went on last week, the council became more concerned with the details of consolidation, rather than the right to vote.
   A resolution petitioning the Navajo County Board of Supervisors to conduct an election on the question of consolidation of the towns, establishing the date of the election, identifying the common polling places and providing two to four choices of names for the new consolidated town was the first item on the agenda for the May 13 council meeting.
   Mayor John Cole began the discussion with a question regarding redistricting, because it had been brought to his attention that there is a law relating to the difference in population on consolidation or incorporation of two towns.
   Tom Belshe, deputy director of the League of Arizona Cities and Towns, said that he continues to research and has finally found an expert in redistricting. He pointed out that his information is regarding state election districts. He explained that when changes are made to a district, the Department of Justice checks to make sure that no minority voting blocks are disenfranchised. “State statute will make sure all are complied with,” he said.
   Regarding compliance, Belshe said, “One, as we’ve known all along, is that when the districts are formed in the town, the smallest and the largest can only have a 10 percent difference in population.” He explained that what changed was that instead of using the 2000 Census numbers, the population estimates were used and they show a greater difference than first thought. He said that Snowflake has a population of approximately 5,500 and Taylor has 4,400, which means if only two districts were created and they were drawn along the present town boundaries, there would be more than a 10 percent difference.
   Belshe then showed how they could create six districts, two Taylor, two Snowflake, and two with Taylor and Snowflake mixed. One of the mixed districts would have a majority of Taylor residents and one a majority of Snowflake residents. He said one mixed district would have approximately 1,000 Taylor and 600 Snowflake and the other district would have approximately 1,500 Snowflake and 200 Taylor.
   Councilman Brian Birtcher said, “In my opinion on the matter, it (the redistricting) won’t be the only stumbling block we’ll come across,” noting that the resolution before the council is not to address the questions. “The resolution is, do the people in our community have the right to vote, and I think they do.” The councilman noted that he was not saying whether or not the towns should consolidate, but stated again that the resolution says the issue should be put to a vote. “Every person in town should have a vote, should have a say, nobody’s vote is more important than anybody else’s,” Birtcher continued, commenting that regardless of whether they put their opinions together, have more money or have more friends, everybody’s vote counts. “I don’t know if it would be a strictly favorable thing to consolidate or a strictly negative thing to consolidate, but I believe everyone should have the right to vote.” He then moved to approve Resolution No. R2009-07. There was no second of the motion at that time.
   Councilwoman Jane Lee said that she felt somewhat like Birtcher, but then expressed a fear because of the apathy of citizens, noting that the percentage of registered voters who do vote is very low. She added, “but I hate to see us seven make that decision.”
   Mayor Cole said, “I think most people don’t care,” and noted that if you look at the percentage of registered voters who have historically voted, it is below 20 percent.
   There were many in the audience opposing consolidation and encouraging the council not to take this to a vote of the people.
   Eddie Hancock said, “It seems we’re moving rather quickly here for the vote. Many citizens have assembled to express some concerns and we ask for a few minutes, but please don’t push this thing to a quick vote…We think it is risky to move to an election.” He pointed out that Snowflake had less than a six percent vote at the last election, as well as the cost of an election.
   “This is not an issue of ill feelings one to another, it is an issue of finding the common sense of running our communities,” said Hancock. He then stated that there was no well defined plan. He expressed concern that Snowflake officials had said there will be no job loss and asked, “Where are the reductions going to be to bring these costs down?” He said that in visiting with council members on this issue, he has been told they will not eliminate jobs, but will get rid of equipment, and then pointed out that there will not be fewer streets or utilities required.
   Hancock said one of the pros claimed for consolidation is the ability to get grants, then pointed out that town officials looked for grants for the wastewater treatment plant and were not able to get one. “Grants are not free,” he said, noting that taxpayers who are working their hearts and souls out are paying the cost of grants.
   Hancock then discussed the assertion that a consolidated town would have more clout and asked, “In common sense, what does clout get us?” He also expressed concern regarding redistricting.
   Another area of his concern was the new name for the consolidated town. He cited the sacrifices of many great pioneers for Taylor, then said, “Please don’t rush to this vote.”
   Ron Bish said he felt that Taylor and Snowflake residents need to know why Miami-Globe and Prescott-Prescott Valley walked away from consolidation. He also expressed concern that there was not a defined plan. He asked the council to name names of staff members who will go if the towns consolidate and who will stay, and asked if they would be able to sell enough backhoes to cover the $1 million mark. “We need to know those facts,” he said, adding, “We seem to have somewhat of a tyranny of the minority.”
   Bish also asserted that because Snowflake is the larger community, Taylor would have to adopt Snowflake’s ordinances and Snowflake has a much stricter ordinance regarding home based business. He was concerned because Taylor has many home based businesses.
   “We understand there are many issues,” said Mayor Cole.
   Tom Wing, who serves as a Navajo County Superior Court judge, said he was concerned because the night the council is asked to vote on the resolution, they have different information regarding the districting. “It seems to me a little premature to ask for a vote,” he said, then asked if in the resolution a name was proposed for the new town “If it hasn’t, I think the resolution is incomplete.”
   When the council was going to take a vote there was discussion on adding suggestions for a name and the council members agreed that they didn’t want to make that decision.
   Wing said that he understood why the council wanted to have a vote, but said according to statute it is too late, stating, “I believe there must be a six-month period between when the Board of Supervisors acts on that resolution and when the vote is held.” He noted that the earliest they could have an election would be March.
   Town Attorney Sterling Solomon said the last phrase of the statute states, “It shall be held not more than 180 days,” and explained that the people must vote within the 180 days and so an election could be held in November.
   Faye Hatch said that members of a committee opposing consolidation had a petition with 750 names. “My question to you tonight, and I know some feel like you need to represent the citizens of Taylor, but my question is, who on this council represents the 750 names on that signed petition to stop this?” Hatch asked.
   Mayor Cole responded that they did not receive a copy of the petition.
   Ken Hatch, who had presented the petitions at a previous meeting, said, “You ignored it.”
   The mayor replied, “I’m not ignoring it.”
   Gary Solomon brought several pages of the petition to Mayor Cole and said he could get the rest of the signatures, but they were using them to contact people to attend this meeting.
   Hatch pointed out that more than double the number of people who voted in the last election signed the petitions and asked, “What about the hard feelings, the turmoil, the rift between communities, the rift between the people? The only way to stop that is to not send this to a vote.”
   He then brought up the fact that Taylor officials had expressed concern over the control of the police department.
   Hatch ended his comments by stating, “We guarantee you, it will be a hard battle, but we’re going to win it and ask you to join us and put a stop to it right now before it gets started.”
   Lynn Hatch said that the council wanted to let the people vote, but noted that the council doesn’t let the people vote on other issues such as the rodeo grounds and water lines, and asked whether it passes or not what kind of feelings will it make with their neighbors.
   Erin Amos said that a lot of people had asked for her to give them an opinion, so she went to Town Clerk Kelly Jones’ office and researched Arizona law. “I left feeling pretty good about consolidation,” said Amos. “I felt well educated.” She then had more people ask her questions she couldn’t answer and came across the Arizona law book that she felt contradicts everything the League of Cities had in its presentation. She asserted that when two towns join, the larger will maintain its ordinances and said, “I think that’s a responsibility of the town council, before it goes to vote that people need to be informed so they can make a good informed decision.” She suggested a list of pros and cons be compiled.
   Day Ellsworth said he felt one of the big issues is money and stated, “Everybody will have more money and be able to accomplish more things.” He went on to say that Taylor has the best streets, cemetery, rodeo grounds, town hall and sewer system in the area. “We’re in great shape in the town of Taylor; Snowflake not so, their streets are terrible,” said Ellsworth, noting that he didn’t want to go into that. He then said that he felt the public meeting on consolidation held at the auditorium was primarily a fact meeting about consolidation, but nothing has been said about why not to consolidate. He expressed concern of what would happen if Taylor residents felt like they didn’t get their share, “Can you imagine the problems that would arise?” he asked. “Let’s nip it in the bud. We don’t have to have the county decide about the voting and what they’re going to do. This is a Taylor issue, let’s stay Taylor.”
   Norris Baldwin began his comments by saying that most people who had spoken have been dear friends of his for many years. “I don’t know why they worry about the vote, if they feel like when the plan is made and the plan doesn’t meet the requirements, then let’s vote on it and it will get voted down,” he said. “I think we deserve to have a vote.”
   Ray Hancock said he has not gotten involved, but feels he should. He asked the council to look back into history and the government that was set by our forefathers, which was to protect the citizens. “Why was that done?” he asked, then responded, “So we could govern ourselves. Why would we want to get bigger?”
   Mayor Cole thanked everyone for their participation, saying, “We appreciate your emotions and concerns.” He then explained that when he ran for town council, he made commitments. “I understand my responsibility to represent people and I am concerned,” said the mayor, noting that he was concerned with the plan or lack thereof, and noted that when a motion is made, it doesn’t mean that the entire council is in favor of that motion.
   Councilman Birtcher, who was criticized for categorizing groups of people who might be for and against consolidation, noted that he meant to convey that he believes there is a difference of opinion. “I believe the people who have been the most vocal don’t have the only opinion on the matter,” he said, then recalled where previously those in opposition had asked for this to go for a quick vote. “I’m actually surprised by the change in opinion.”
   Birtcher then noted that a steering committee met several times and came to the council with a recommendation that they proceed to a vote. “I don’t presume my vote is any more important than anybody else’s here,” said the councilman, noting that in many conversations he has been told by those involved with the community against consolidation that the votes from people born and raised in Taylor should count, and votes from someone not from Taylor should not. “I have never publicly said I would vote for consolidation, but I do think people have the right to vote.”
   Councilwoman Debbie Tuckfield said she was like Birtcher, commenting that because they sit on the council and brought this to the public does not mean they don’t care about Taylor. “We’re here to represent you,” she said, noting that they have to look neutral. She asked everyone to not jump to the conclusion that Snowflake and Taylor are trying to bring each other down. She acknowledged that at one time there were problems with the towns’ intergovernmental agreements.
   Tuckfield said they keep being asked to revisit consolidation and said, “My feeling was, bring it to a vote, let Snowflake know that Taylor wants to be Taylor and never revisit it again.” She said that she agreed that if consolidation is going to create two communities that totally dislike each other, she would rather stay Taylor and be sister cities with Snowflake. She also agreed that she had not seen a good plan.
   A member of the audience asked if something could be added when voting to state that this could never be voted on again.
   Councilman Robin Palmer said that he felt that if this went to a vote and the town said no, then if it were brought up again that would be a good way to stop it.
   Questions began coming up that had been answered at many previous meetings and Mayor Cole said, “I keep hearing that people want answers and people want information. At the last information meeting there were about 100 people there, 65 from Snowflake, just not a lot of people there.
   “We have a responsibility to allow people to voice their opinions on these matters,” the mayor continued, but he agreed with some of the concerns. “There are a lot of things that would have to change in my mind for me to be in favor of consolidation, but I haven’t given up on gathering information or giving up on it.”
   Town Manager Eric Duthie said, “These same questions have been answered many, many, many times over the last year. I’m sorry you weren’t here when the same questions have been asked and the same answers have been given.
   Duthie explained that at the beginning of the process, the council knew how emotional this would be. “I hope you see the emotion from the council tonight, they are not taking this lightly,” he said, then explained that the goal of the council was to let the public have the information and make sure they know the issues.
   “The council has a resolution now to decide whether or not to allow a vote from Taylor’s standpoint,” said Duthie. “All the campaigning goes on after that. It’s distressing to watch that some of the campaigning is to not let the public have a say, that’s distressing in itself.”
   The town manager noted that the council members knew that they would be beaten up by a lot of folks, but they knew the issue needed to be resolved and had the courage to push the information forward.
   Council members agreed that everyone should be allowed to vote, but began expressing concern that there was not a definitive plan and that more information was needed.
   Duthie pointed out that the public meetings would continue, including one scheduled May 19.
   Council members agreed that they needed more information.
   Solomon explained that with respect to the business plan, there were a lot of variables and unknowns that would depend on a future council if consolidation went to a vote. He pointed out that there would be no legal obligation for the new council to honor the wishes of this council or of Snowflake’s council.
   Solomon recommended the council include names they would like to have on the ballot in the resolution.
   Eddie Hancock said he was very opposed to the Board of Supervisors making the decision on choices such as the name and who would sit on the council.
   Solomon explained that the voters would select the name.
   Birtcher withdrew his motion and the council voted unanimously to table making a decision whether to petition the Board of Supervisors to set an election regarding consolidation of the towns.