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City Council To
Consider Fee Waiver
 Preliminary pizza/pub charges total
$52,948
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
The News
The City Council during its
Tuesday, February 17, meeting
will consider a development
fee waiver for a proposed
pizza/pub to be located
in a 2,800-square-foot warehouse
attached to the Dash-In
Mini Mart.
Mehmood Mohiuddin is requesting
the waiver for the
property at 2341 N. Apache
Trail. The appealed development
fee amount is $52,948.
A public hearing will be held
during the meeting.
On January 20, Mayor John
Insalaco and the City Council
held a public hearing on the
matter pursuant to the Development
Fee Ordinance and
unanimously directed staff
to negotiate a development
agreement with Mohiuddin,
taking into consideration the
waiver request. Two weeks
ago, staff met with Mohiuddin
and will now present Insalaco
and the City Council
with a development agreement
as directed.
Brad Steinke, director of
Development Services, said
he could not reveal before the
City Council meeting the new
development fee.
“The City Council did go
into executive session and
the city attorney (Joel Stern)
is working with the applicant
on a development agreement,”
Steinke said. “The
hope is that at the next council
meeting that we will all be
in agreement.”
The contractor for the project
is former councilman Joe
Severs. He said during a recent
Call to the Public that
the development fees were
too high. The council agreed.
During the January 20 meeting,
Mohiuddin explained he
believed a reasonable development
fee would be $7,140,
a figure he arrived at by subtracting
fees that benefits the
likes of roads, open spaces
and the library.
See
A-1
New Presiding Judge
Simply Loves To Work
 Hazel plans to ‘improve’ Apache Junction
Municipal Court
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
The News
For Apache Junction Municipal
Court Presiding Judge
James Hazel Jr. it’s simple:
He loves to work.
“I think people who work
with me will tell you that,”
said Hazel, who took over
for Judge David Alexander
who retired in mid-January.
“I have a good time. I enjoy
doing court. I enjoy helping
people and I enjoy talking.
If you treat everyone with
respect and understanding,
they’ll do the same to you.
I’ve been very impressed
with the people who come
into court. They seem very
respectful and they all want
to get their cases resolved.”
Hazel’s court handles misdemeanor
criminal cases,
civil traffic violations and
city code offenses that occur
within the city limits of
Apache Junction. Any court
in Arizona can hear petitions
for Order of Protections or
Injunctions Prohibiting Harassment.
These are the only
type of civil matters (person
versus person) heard in the
Apache Junction Municipal
Court. Apache Junction Municipal
Court operates under
the authority of the Arizona
Supreme Court.
Before Hazel arrived in
Apache Junction, the Gilbert
resident served as a judge for
six years in Mesa. The 1986
University of Toledo (Ohio)
graduate said he applied for
Alexander’s position because
“it was a wonderful opportunity.”
“It’s a challenge to be
the
presiding judge,” Hazel said.
“When I came out to meet
Judge Alexander and his staff,
I saw what great people they
were and then it was an easy
decision.”
See
A-1
and See Hazel,
A-5
AJUSD
Board To Select New Superintendent
Governing body decides not to renew
Wyman’s contract
The Apache Junction Unified
School District Governing
Board, meeting on Tuesday,
February 10, declined to
renew the 2009-10 contract
of Superintendent of Schools
Dr. Greg Wyman.
The vote was 3-2 following
the conclusion of an executive
session called for the purpose
of contract discussions. Board
President Wendy Moore cited
philosophical differences between
the superintendent and
the board concerning the future
direction of the district.
Board members Moore,
Linda Newkirk and Debbie
Skinner voted not to renew.
Lucy Young and Jeff Cranmer
voted in favor of a new
contract.
“The board will initiate measures
to move forward with
the selection process of a new
Superintendent of Schools
in the coming days,” Moore
said.
“The board wishes to thank
Dr. Wyman for his service and
contribution to our district.”
Dr. Wyman is completing his
fourth year with the district
as superintendent of schools.
His contract will end June 30,
2009.
 Farewell Seniors
By Chuck Baker
The News
Three Apache Junction
senior basketball players,
Ian Firnbach, Brandon
Robbins and Gabe
Weaver, played their final
game for the “Black and
Gold” last Thursday as the
Prospectors hosted Scottsdale
Chaparral for “Senior
Night.”
After jumping out to a
12-11 lead over Chaparral
midway through the opening
quarter, the Firebirds
went on a torrid shooting
pace, putting up 31 firstquarter
points and led by
fifteen when the quarter
ended.
Prospectors played
very well the remainder of
the game and ended up losing
by twelve points, 77-65,
meaning Apache Junction
actually outscored heavily
favored Chaparral over the
final three quarters. The
Firebirds are listed with
a 15-4 overall record and
are ranked number three
overall in the 4A-I power
points.
Robbins led the Prospectors
with 14 points. The
senior center also pulled
down five rebounds and
handed out three assists.
Firnbach netted 13 points,
including 10 alone in the
second quarter, and finished
the game with seven
rebounds as well.
Despite fouling out with
over four minutes left in
the final quarter, junior
Colt Grandstaff finished
with 7 points, seven rebounds,
seven assists and
three steals.
Demario Hill knocked
down three, three-pointers
and finished with 9 points
for Apache Junction, Kyrel
Parker contributed with 8
points, Ravi Patel tossed in
7 points, Mike Cano scored
5 points to go with his six
assists, and Weaver added
a bucket.
Apache Junction also hosted
Scottsdale Chaparral
last Tuesday and dropped a
67-46 decision. Grandstaff
tallied 17 points to lead
AJHS, Firnbach and Cano
each scored 7 points, Hill
netted 6 points, Stephen
Copeland scored 3 points
and Patel, Paul Miles
and Robbins all scored 2
points.
See
B-1
and see Signs,
page
B-2
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