Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Accomplishments of First Semester Celebrated By Globe City Council

Issued by : The Mayor & Council Members, City of Globe

To keep constituents informed of the amazing number of positive things happening around the City of Globe through your local government, the first of a two article series was published last week that reviewed the numerous achievements completed by the Globe City Council in their first two quarters. This week we will continue this series by examining just a few of the achievements made by individual council members on behalf of their districts and our city.

Besides working with what several council members described as “innumerable” constituent needs and concerns, individual council members have been very active with a wide variety of community projects. To allow you a reference point on whom to contact if you would like to get more involved in projects about which you are passionate, the following sections give only a partial list of the projects and committees on which council people are working and what they are accomplishing.

Mayor Fernando Shipley has been working to build bridges with the Town of Miami, Gila County, the San Carlos Apache Tribe, and other communities in the Copper Corridor. He is initiating several community collaborative projects, such as creating regional property maintenance standards and code. He is a mentor and sponsor for the City of Globe Youth Council and works with youth at his church. He stays active with the Globe Clean and Beautiful Committee. Finally, in what represents both an honor and a tremendous resource to our community, Shipley was elected to both the Board of Directors of the Arizona League of Cities and Towns and also serves as secretary on CAAG (the Central Arizona Association of Governments).

Vice-mayor Carmen Casillas chairs the Parks and Recreation committee, has been working hard to implement blight code compliance in District 5, chairs the Cinco de Mayo celebration, is very active with the building rehabilitation and opening of the Boys and Girls Club, and is involved in the Relay for Life as their Youth Chair. She also represents our city at meetings and conferences throughout the state.

Councilman Terry Wheeler in District 1 is council representative to the Water Committee and serves as chairman of this committee. He is working with the Arizona Water Company to increase water pressure and volume in District 6 to allow economic development in the Fry’s region, champions alternative property use of Gila County lands, speaks and works toward the on-going needs of ranchers in our area, and is our local expert on “payment in lieu of taxes” for state and federally-controlled lands.

Councilwoman Thea Wilshire in District 2 is the catalyst for the Globe Tool Lending Library which opened in December, chairs the Old Dominion Mine Park committee, sponsored a District 2 constituents’ meeting, helps with Globe Clean and Beautiful events, helped in the planning of the Southern Gila County Leadership Academy, is an ex officio board member of the Cobre Valley Center for the Arts board, participates in the Parks and Recreation Committee, sponsored a town hall meeting on recycling, wrote the “Southern Gila County Resource and Recycling Guide,” and volunteers with various Main Street initiatives for building improvement and revitalization of our community.

Councilwoman Mary Ann Uhl in District 3 is the council representative to the library board, is secretary-treasurer for the Fraternal Order of Police, is secretary-treasurer for the City of Globe Municipal Property Corporation, and continues in her role as compliance officer for Holy Angels Church. Councilman Dezi Baker in District 4 is the council representative for the Historic Downtown Committee and serves as president of the City of Globe Municipal Property Corporation. He is also active with international church development.

Councilman Lerry Alderman in District 6 is the council representative to the Southern Gila County Economic Development Corporation which is working on several projects including a brownfield redevelopment solar energy project with Gila Community College (GCC), the creation of an industrial complex, and is working with the mines to possible develop several unused local areas. He heads the local Habitat for Humanity group, volunteered to help do construction work to open the new cosmetology building at GCC and oversaw construction of the Globe Tool Lending Library façade. He also works on home and yard improvements for seniors and has worked hard to clean-up and stop illegal dumping throughout our region.

If you are interested in participating more in the positive developments of our city, learning more about what is happening in the City of Globe or contacting your district representative, please feel free to attend the City Council meetings on Mondays at 6 pm at the City Hall building or leave a message for your council member at 425-7146.