May 4 – 17, 2013
www.SanTanSun.com
CUSD governing board to decide ‘Pay for Participation’ proposal By Tracy House
As the close of the school year draws near and the anticipation for summer builds, the Chandler Unified School District (CUSD) governing board convenes May 22 to decide on the “Pay for Participation” proposal presented in February. The “Pay for Participation” fee would MARCUS WILLIAMS: “Pay for go into effect for the Participation monies can be 2013-14 school year for utilized to improve upon and maintain the championship caliber interscholastic athletics, programs that we already represent spiritline—cheer and while addressing the reduction pom—and marching in revenues the district has band. A letter sent to encountered.” Submitted photo parents explains that the money from the fees would be used to offset some of the costs of running 11 interscholastic athletic programs. Marcus Williams, CUSD director of athletics, explains the premise is that the district spends approximately $3.3 million a year for overall maintenance and operation of interscholastic programs including the four band programs. Some of the expenses incurred include: AIA membership dues, transportation, equipment purchases and repairs, uniforms, officials, facility preparations and operation and maintenance.
WATER IN THE DESERT: Temperatures are climbing, and southern Chandler residents are once again soaking up the sun and staying cool at Mesquite Groves Aquatic Center. STSN photo by Ron Lang
Expansion underway at wastewater facility By Tracy House
Costs
“The money doesn’t go directly back to the program it goes to offset the overall costs,” Williams explains. He continues to say that the money may not go to extracurricular opportunities but to a classroom that see Pay page 6
BIG CRANES: As cranes hover over the Airport Water Reclamation Facility, construction continues on the project which is scheduled for completion in 2014. The project is in conjunction with Intel’s FAB 42 project and will provide an increase in 7 million gallons a day of reclaimed water. STSN photo by Ron Lang.
Cranes tower 200 feet above the landscape at Chandler’s Airport Water Reclamation Facility (AWRF) as expansion continues at the facility. “We have to coordinate with the FAA to make sure the guys in the tower at the airport notify the pilots,” says John Pinkston, wastewater facilities superintendent in Chandler’s municipal utilities department. The 99acre facility, at Queen Creek and McQueen roads, is right off the end of the runway and there are limits to how high the cranes can go. Opened in 1998, AWRF was originally designed to treat 5 million gallons a day (MGD) of wastewater. Two subsequent expansions brought the capacity up to 10 and 15 MGD, respectively. This is the third expansion of see Water Treatment page 8
SRP project concerns some area residents By Alison Stanton
Some residents who live in the Ocotillo area of Chandler are concerned about SRP’s plans to build new power facilities and transmission lines in the Price Road Corridor. Announced in December, the plan involves building two 230 kilovolt (kV) substations and new 230-kV power lines, which will increase electric service reliability in the area and serve light industrial and large commercial customers in south Tempe and southwest Chandler.
According to information released by SRP, the Price Road Corridor Project will include a new single-circuit 230-kV power line to connect the Schrader Substation east of Arizona Avenue and Ocotillo Road with a new substation in the southern part of the corridor. A new double-circuit 230-kV power line will connect the Knox Substation, which is north of Pecos Road, west of 56th Street, with a new 230-kV substation in the northern part of the area. The two new substations will
be connected by a double-circuit 230-kV line, and a single-circuit 23kV power line will also be needed between the Knox Substation and the Kyrene Substation, which is located on the northeast corner of Elliot and Kyrene roads in Tempe. Chrystie Cherry, who lives with husband Jay in Ocotillo, says the thought of 130-foot power poles with the power lines running through her neighborhood is very troubling. Cherry is also concerned that many residents throughout see SRP page 9
COMING SOON?: Some Ocotillo residents are concerned that large power lines may run through their neighborhood, as the result of SRP’s Price Road Corridor Project. STSN photo by Ron Lang
F E AT U R E STO R I E S Volunteers recognized for library service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . community . . . Page 4 Orangetheory offers affordable motivation to stay fit . . business . . . . . Page 14 Free lessons at SWIMkids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . youth . . . . . . Page 27 Pecan Grove offers slice of home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . neighbors . . . Page 47 Farewell to spring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . arts . . . . . . . Page 60
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