Follow Rules When Placing Campaign Signs
ADOT seizing signs located incorrectly
By Betty Swanson
The News
Political candidate campaign signs are popping up all over the landscape, reminding voters that it is an election year and the primary election date is fast approaching.
   In some cases, the signs are coming down quickly as well, courtesy of the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT).
   The bottom line is that candidates, cause supporters and campaign workers have to do their homework and become knowledgeable about the rules and regulations regarding political sign placement before they hit the street with a sign and pole.
   A lot of it involves utilizing common sense, but sign placers should know that regulations regarding political sign placement are being enforced by ADOT and all involved should take the time to check the many regulations involving campaign signs.
   Apache Junction Justice of the Peace Judge Dennis Lusk was among the first to note the “disappearing sign phenomena” that was claiming candidate signs along Highway 88 and at the corners of Old West Highway and Idaho Road late the week of June 7.

See A-1 and see Signs, A-5

Council Sees Draft Of Balanced General Fund Budget
No layoffs, no pay reduction
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
The News
Apache Junction City Manager George Hoffman presented a draft general fund budget proposal for fiscal year 2010-2011 to the City Council on Monday, June 14, that calls for no layoffs or pay reductions.
   The general fund, which makes up 55.4 percent of the $41,250,360 total budget, shows a $1,803,990 decrease from fiscal year 2009-2010, according to finance director Donna Meinerts.
   During his prepared speech at the work session, Hoffman touched on revenues and expenditures; the City’s level of bonded indebtedness; what’s on the horizon that can impact the City’s budget?; public safety/city attorney/court employees; roads; investments/ maintenance for the long run; grants and Superstition Vistas.
   “What we do know closer to home is that that our revenues have fallen dramatically in past years and that we’ve had to cut expenditures accordingly,” Hoffman said.
   “We’re cautiously optimistic that our sales tax numbers are beginning to bottom out. We do know that, because they’re lagged, stated shared income tax will continue to decline, both for fiscal year 2010-11 and fiscal year 2011-12.”
   For the current budget, the City budgeted almost $3 million of its savings, Hoffman said.

See A-1 and see Budget, A-9

Council Votes Against San Tan Incorporation
Serdy dissents in 5-1 vote
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
The News
The Apache Junction City Council voted 5-1 Tuesday, June 15, to request that surrounding cities and towns show support for their residents by rejecting the proposed “untimely” incorporation of San Tan Valley. Councilman Jeff Serdy was the lone dissenter among the council. Vice Mayor R.E. Eck was absent.
   “I’ve been anguishing back and forth about this,” Serdy told the council. “The more I think about it, these people pay this money in. In some ways, it’s their money. If you buy lunch and they give you too much money back, I feel obligated to give it back.
   “They’re paying a lot for us right now. ... I wish we would have stayed out of it and let it work out.”
 Apache Junction stands to lose $1.6 million a year if the San Tan Valley incorporation happens, said City Manager George Hoffman. Apache Junction’s population and distribution of state shared sales, income and gas taxes would be smaller.
   “The formula for distribution of these revenues is based upon the relation of the City’s population to the total state population,” said Bryant Powell in an e-mail to the Apache Junction/Gold Canyon News. “The state collects and distributes these funds. Apache Junction’s proportionate share of the population would be less.”
   In order for San Tan Valley’s incorporation to happen, cities and towns within six miles— Queen Creek, Gilbert, Mesa and Florence—must vote in favor of it. Apache Junction cannot vote although, as it did Tuesday night, it can voice its opposition. According to the Arizona League of Cities and Towns, “The County Board of Supervisors does not have jurisdiction to take action upon a petition for incorporation in an urbanized area unless each city or town within the six-mile vicinity has passed a resolution approving the proposed incorporation.”

See A-1 and see SanTan, A-8

AJ Baseball Goes 3-1 In Blue Ridge
By Chuck Baker
The News
The High Country hasn’t exactly been an “up” moment for the Prospector baseball team the past two summers but that all changed June 11-13 when Apache Junction, behind some solid pitching from John LaChapelle and Nick Saathoff and an offense that scored 41 runs, put together a 3-1 record in the Blue Ridge Tournament, including their first two wins over the host school.
   In the past two summers competing in the Blue Ridge Tournament, Apache Junction had gone a combined 1-7 and had never beaten Blue Ridge. But on Friday, June 11, LaChapelle came up with a complete effort from the mound, allowing just seven hits and four runs, and the Prospectors ended their jinx with a 7-4 victory.
   LaChapelle also sparked the AJHS offense with three hits. Seth Hanson and Josh Marsh both had two hits, Jared Kraps and Connor Erskine had one hit, and Saathoff reached base in all four of his at-bats, getting hit by a pitch on three of his at-bats and coming up with a single in his fourth plate appearance.
   On Saturday, the Prospectors battled Show Low in a twin bill and led the first game 8-1 before Show Low rallied for a 10-9 victory. But Apache Junction got their revenge in game two, pounding out fifteen base hits and run-ruling the Cougars, 16-6.
   In the first game, Nathaniel Gingrich was cruising along on the mound and enjoying an 8-1 lead until his defense fell apart, allowing Show Low to rally.

See B-1 and see Bats B-2