Fire Board Approves Tax Rate Cut
Rate to drop .28 cents to even $2— Board also OKs reserve fund and proposal with architects
By Meghan McCoy
The News
APACHE JUNCTION — The Apache Junction Fire District (AJFD) Governing Board approved a tax rate of $2 per thousand of evaluation last Wednesday, April 16, 2008 at their monthly board meeting, along with the discussion regarding the new fire station and also fiscal year budget items. '
    The new AJFD tax rate of $2 is down from just over $2.28 and takes affect on July 1, 2008, according to Fire Marshal David Montgomery. The current tax rate is $2.2850 per hundred dollars of the secondary assessed valuations, which includes a base tax rate of $2.1150 plus 17 cents for the bond monies, he added. The AJFD has not increased their tax rate since the fiscal year, 1998-1999, when the tax rate was raised 5 cents.
    The board members also approved a reserve fund that was designed by Fire Chief Dan Campbell to help offset costs for major capital projects. Montgomery explained that the reserve fund is an effort to plan for future growth in the fire district without having to rely on special bond elections or lease type debts.
   Campbell said the reserve fund will allow the district to make purchases in the future. “It is a savings for future projects,” he said.
   The reserve fund is maintained during each budget cycle and assists the district with costs for land purchases for future fire station locations, fire station construction, fire apparatus purchases and any other major capital projects.
    The funds accumulated are placed into reserve and are inaccessible during the current budget year. Montgomery explained as the next budget year approaches, the fire board can determine if the district needs to use any of the reserve funds for applicable projects as they plan for major capital expenditures.
    The board also approved a 4 percent Cost of Living Allowance for employees, an incentive pay for employees who meet certain physical fitness standards, one floating holiday for all employees and an increased health and retirement funds of $26 per pay period.
    New Fire Station 265 was discussed as an agenda item at last Wednesday’s board meeting. An architectural and engineering services proposal dated April 9, 2008 from Perlman Architects in the amount of $242,405 was approved. The proposal scope provided by Perlman will consist of required geotechnical report, civil engineering services, programming phase, design phase, design development phase and the construction document phase.
    The AJFD is hoping to complete fire station 265 in the spring of 2009, which will accommodate a total of 12 firefighters.

See A-1

City Adopts New Animal Code Ordinance
Measure deals with multiple animals, kennels, fees, etc. — Council approves new code with 6-1 vote
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
The News
APACHE JUNCTION- After going through several drafts, the Apache Junction City Council approved a new animal code 6-1 and related fees 7-0 during its meeting Tuesday, April 15, 2008.
   Councilman Joe Severs was the lone hold out regarding animal codes because he disagreed with required kennel inspections. He said he would like to “work this in a way in which people don’t mind complying.
   “My fear is the adoption rate that we worked so hard to improve is going to go down,” Severs added.
   Chapter Six “Animals,” Article 6-1, has 11 sections that spell out rules and regulations regarding new and existing definitions, dangerous animals, noises, strays and housing, swine prohibited, pet shops, commercial animal kennels, personal animal kennels, veterinary hospitals, wild animals and cruelty and neglect.
   City Attorney Joel Stern explained the new changes to the chapter on the recommendation of Vice Mayor R.E. Eck.
   The definitions section, Section 6-1-1, gives meaning to several animal-related words and phrases including “altered,” “at large,” “enforcement officer,” “owner,” “unsanitary premises” and “vicious animal.” “At large” and “vicious animal” are new additions.
   Section 6-1-2 makes it unlawful to permit any dangerous, vicious animal of any kind to run at large within the city. Exhibitions or parades of animals which are, ferae naturae in the eyes of the law, may be conducted only upon securing a permit from the director of public safety.
   Among the notable changes is in Section 6-1-3, “Noises.” It is unlawful and declared a public nuisance for any person to harbor or keep any animals that habitually bark, howl, yelp, squeal, shriek or many any other sounds which disturb the peace and quiet of the neighborhood, or in such a manner as to interfere with comfortable enjoyment of life or property by an entire community or neighborhood or by a considerable number of persons.

See A-1 and see Animal Codes, A-5

AJHS Student State Finalist
Cristy Martinez picked in Entrepreneurship Program
Cristy Martinez plans one day to start her own business and she’s preparing now. Martinez, a junior at Apache Junction High School (AJHS), received notice that she is one of the three top finalists in the annual Arizona Youth Entrepreneurship Program. As part of the program, Martinez has been invited to participate in the McGuire Entrepreneurship Program annual business plans competition on Friday, April 18, at the University of Arizona (U of A) campus in Tucson.
   Martinez will have the opportunity to present her business plan idea to a panel of judges from the Eller College of Management and the business community. She will also have the opportunity to meet with an undergraduate mentor, tour the campus and be recognized at an awards reception at the conclusion of the day. At the reception, sponsors of the competition will present cash awards ranging from $500 to $2,000. Participants who decide to attend the U of A and chose a major within the Eller College of Management will receive a scholarship matching their award.
   Martinez’s business plan was an assignment in her Career Technical Education class at AJHS taught by Erik Nesheim. The business plan she constructed was for a photography business.

AJHS Boys Win Blue Ridge Track Invitational
McCullen records fourth fastest 100 meters and sixth fastest 200 meters in Arizona track and field this season
By Chuck Baker
The News
Winning nine of seventeen events, the Apache Junction boys track and field team captured first place out of seventeen schools at the Blue Ridge Invitational held April 11. The Prospectors tallied 138 overall team points to defeat the host school and runner-up, Blue Ridge, by eighteen overall points.
    Junior Shane McCullen led the way for the Prospectors with four first place finishes. McCullen won the 100 meters with a blazing time of 10:86, which is now the fourth fastest time in Arizona this track season using electronic timers, won the 200 meters with a time of 21:95, the sixth fastest time in the state, tied the school record in high jump with a winning leap of 6-04, and then anchored the boys 4x100 relay that combined for a winning time of 43:19, which shattered the school record of 44:50 set back in 2003 and was tied for the 10th fastest time recorded this season along with Mesa Red Mountain.
    McCullen’s time in the 200 meters at Blue Ridge is also a new AJHS school record, eclipsing the 22:10 set back in 2003 by former Prospector speedster Ryan Allan.
   Senior Josh Morgan was credited with three first place finishes, winning long jump with a leap of 20-01.50, winning triple jump with a leap of 43-00.25, as well as running a leg of the 4x100 relay.
    Senior Rusty Fernando also ran a leg of the 4x100 relay and then captured first place in the 300 intermediate hurdles with his time of 41:06, senior Louie Crespo won shot put with a throw of 51-08, the eighth best throw in the state this season, and the foursome of Frankie Baker, Mike Orr, Nick Cross and Zane Morgan combined to win the 4x800 relay with their time of 9:04.10.

See C-1 and see Track, C-3