News

City News Briefs

Monday, July 12, 2010

City News Briefs is published twice per month. The content originates from the city's various departments in an effort to keep council and the public updated on positive staff results.

Summer Reading Makes a Splash

As of July 2, 2010 readers have signed up to read and visit the library over the summer - 687 kids (who have logged more than 1270 hours of reading), 147 teens (who have reviewed 216 books), and 177 adults (who have reviewed 222 books). The number of teens is nearly double the record set last year!

New Look and Feel

Upgrade complete! PPL's new online catalog http://catalog.yln.info has an all-new look and feel. The new catalog shows more information, including item availability, right on the Search Results page. 1-click access to Best Sellers and the Kids' Library search will be big hits. Advanced Search allows you to limit by format, library, year of publication and more. Want a list of every DVD in the Yavapai Library Network? No problem! Logging in with your Barcode and PIN activates special 'members only' features like email notification when a new book by your favorite author is available.

Wastewater Report Results

The master plan final report is anticipated to be completed in August with presentation to City Council scheduled later this summer. The study will define necessary improvements for both the Sundog and Airport wastewater treatment plants necessary to maintain regulatory compliance and provide needed capacity.

Ahead of Schedule

Flatau Drive and Overstreet Drive, Leroux Street and Granite Street: Flatau Drive and Overstreet are substantially complete. Construction has begun on South Granite Street and Leroux Street. The project is ahead of schedule and on budget. Rodeo Grounds, Tolemac Drive to Wildwood Drive Connection, Ute Road: Construction should be complete on Ute Road by July 2nd with work on Tolemac and Wildwood following the week of July 6th. The project is ahead of schedule and on budget.

FY 2011 Pavement Rehabilitation Project

Bids for rehabilitating existing pavements (milling existing asphalt and replacing with new asphalt pavement) for portions of Miller Valley Road, Grove Avenue, and Montezuma Street (south of Goodwin) are due July 22, 2010. The project also includes pavement repairs along segments of Prescott Lakes Parkway.

Rubberized Streets

The project is expected to start July 19, 2010, to overlay existing asphalt pavements with rubberized-asphalt concrete friction course (ACFC) on segments of Demerse Avenue, Rosser Street, and Gail Gardner Way. The rubberized ACFC will improve skid resistance and extend pavement life on the treated streets.

Drug Dealer Busted

Thanks to information gained from confidential informants, Prescott Police Department's Special Enforcement Section recently conducted surveillance and served a search warrant on a Prescott residence. The search resulted in the discovery of 23 pounds of marijuana and a large amount of cash. The suspect in the case is suspected of being a dealer moving large quantities of drugs in the area.

Call for Officers

The Prescott Police Department has begun the search to fill three Police Officer vacancies. Due to the lack of sufficient response to fill all of the positions, the initial posting for AZ Lateral Certified Police Officers was recently expanded to include Recruit Police Officers.

Competition High for Records Clerk

The Police Department recently posted for a Records Clerk to fill a vacancy. The application process yielded 92 applications without any advertising other than the City employment web site. The review and testing processes have trimmed the pool down to 11 people who will be interviewed in the next week.

Building Boom

Overall building permits are up 6.5% this year compared this time last year, 128 permits were issued in June; 597 permits to date this calendar year. Over 1000 people were helped at the community development front counter and over 1600 phone calls taken during the month of June.

Ready to Gala? The new lobby carpet, Opera boxes, entryways, and Grand drapes are scheduled for completion by July 9th. Sound and lights will be completed by the same date, with testing and positioning scheduled for completion by July 16th.

Rehearsals for the Gala begin the week of July 16 with the doors opening to the Gala at 6:00 pm on Saturday, July 24th. The Phoenix Opera will begin their performances at 7:00 PM.

The Gala is sold out, but tickets are now available for the Phoenix Opera's matinee performance on Sunday, July 25th at 2:00 PM. Matinee tickets are priced from $30. Call the Elks (777-1366) or go on-line at www.elksoperahouse.com to purchase tickets for the Phoenix Opera matinee on Sunday, July 25th.

The Hills have Friends

"I am pleased to announce that we are forming a group which will be known as 'Friends of Antelope Hills,' says course GM Mack McCarley. While we know that our golf facility is one of the best, we also know that there is always room for improvement. There are lots of people in our community, golfers and non-golfers, who are interested in helping and our 'Friends' will be a key group that will help us organize and assist with projects that will make the facility more enjoyable for everyone. Robert Thomas, a long time resident at the golf course and big supporter of Antelope Hills, has consented to be our chairman and more people will come forward as we grow. As we get organized more information will become available, but my hope is that by forming a group of interested volunteers, we will have a vehicle for people to have a direct effect on projects that will make Antelope Hills even better. Stay tuned!

More Brown, Less Green

Russ McGarry, President of the AHMGA, gave me an interesting article from a golf magazine in which the President of the USGA indicated the trend in golf course design and maintenance to go to 'more brown and less green.' What he is saying is that the emphasis today is to refrain from over watering fringe areas of a course and concentrate on greens, fairways and tees. This is being done to conserve water and to get away from 'wall to wall green'. We have new sand on the way to start improving the green side bunkers this month and we think this will be a big improvement.

Everyone Loves Larry!

Congratulations to Larry Vollert our great bar manager for being awarded the 'Raving Fan' award which is given by the City Manager to city employees who go 'above and beyond' in serving the public. Larry is just one of our fine staff and we are proud of the job they do. A reminder that our Friday Fish Fry continues to be very popular as well as our Saturday Prime Rib special. Thanks for supporting the Manzanita Grille!

MAKE SURE YOU GET THOSE REWARD POINTS FOR FREE GOLF!

A reminder to present your Player Card/Reward Card at the counter when you check in. Many people forget their card or don't present it when they check in, so they are not getting their points. Also it slows down the check in line if people do not present their cards when they pay. Thanks for your help.