Opinion
www.SanTanSun.com
September 20 - October 3, 2014
Community Commentary
Letters to the editor Attend university for promising jobs
Flooding a serious issue throughout Arizona BY DENNY BARNEY
Arizonans have been warned all year of a looming decade of “mega-drought” threatening the Southwestern United States. And yet, Maricopa County has been drenched—twice within a month— Denny Barney. by unprecedented Submitted photo rainfalls. Monday, Sept. 8, will be remembered as a historic day in the East Valley: the single wettest day in recorded history. Cars were stranded, roads impassable, businesses and homes burdened with several inches of thick mud and water. The Valley’s long-term challenge is drought, but, with our nearly sea-level altitude, soil, topography and wide natural network of riverbeds, washes and arroyos, heavy rainfall can fill up those normally dry creeks quickly. Ironically, all that rain did little to impact the Salt River watershed or our long-term water challenge. Winter snowpack up north is much more critical to alleviate the drought. Our county dams and structures were tested severely. Some 14 feet of water accumulated behind Guadalupe Dam, and more than 11 feet of water rose behind the Rittenhouse Flood Restraining Structure. Events like this emphasize the importance of the county Flood Control District. Because of the significance of the damage suffered by businesses and residents, both Gov. Brewer and the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors declared a “state of emergency,” which provides increased administrative flexibility and allows governments to implement emergency plans. Anyone who saw the dramatic rescue
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the developer’s plans. This is especially important if the development is not in your city as, for example, in the areas where Chandler and Gilbert zigzag back and forth on Gilbert Road. Pay very close attention to the heights of, for example, buildings that are called one-story buildings. How tall is a one-story building? Well, apparently they can be at least as much as 38 feet. We have a project going in near us that has a three-story building I understand will be approximately 50 feet, but the one-story building in that project built near our development is 38 feet. Definitely not what we expected. We were lax in paying sufficient attention to the drawings; we listened to the words. So, nothing we can do about it now but maybe encourage others to watch out. The City fathers are very pro-revenue and, if you watch zoning and development cases, unless there is a loud public outcry, are not particularly sensitive to community issues when revenue is at stake. When the possible revenue source and elected officials are not even in your city, you need to pay attention and start early if you want to have a prayer of not waking up staring at a 38-foot, one-story wall that covers about 90 degrees of the view from your patio.
Dear editor, In these difficult economic times, by sheriff’s officers of the woman trapped it is more important than ever to get in a van in New River will better appreciate a good college degree. However, many the effort, the professionalism and young people wonder what their job heroism of the first responders, including prospects will be. The first thing they Maricopa County workers from the Flood should do is get a college education in Control District, Sheriff’s office and the a field where job opportunities in the departments of Emergency Management future are promising—health, math, and Transportation. Setting up barricades, computers or marketing. closing roads, passing out sandbags—County There are three wonderful state personnel were deployed with militaryuniversities in Arizona and, with a little like precision and speed. It is an impressive research, you can find out how easy operation. And in no small way, the County it is to attend and prepare for your response played a role in coming out of the future. storms without a single loss of life or serious Things have changed in the state injury in Maricopa County. university system and Arizona I visited the Flood Control District’s ALERT universities offer affordable assistance Operations Center. The “ALERT Center” is the resources. This is an opportunity to hub for a host of public and private agencies, invest in your future. Don’t pass it up. monitoring rainfall on gauges, checking water levels behind the dams and retention basins Sean Rogers across the Valley and responding to hundreds Chandler of worried phone calls. The operations that flood control and other agencies performed during the emergency had been planned, studied and practiced throughout the year. That’s a valuable lesson for all of us. If you haven’t done so before, I’d encourage you to visit the Dear editor, When you get a notification of Flood Control District’s website, www.fcd. maricopa.gov/. The website offers everyone a development going in near you, Walter Wright some valuable information and useful tips on pay close attention. Do your due Peterson Farms diligence, attend the meetings, pay the dangers of flooding—and what you can close attention to the dimensions on do to protect yourself. Remember the basics: Stay out of flooded washes and streets. Six inches of water can sweep you off your feet. Stay out of your car. Nearly half of flood-related fatalities involve Correction motorists. If you live in a flood-prone area, buy flood insurance and have emergency In a story on Page 27 of the Sept. 6, 2014, issue of the SanTan Sun News, the wrong supplies on hand. phone number was listed for Spanish 4 Kids. It can be reached at (480) 258-8810 or We live in a desert. Rain is always Spanish4kids@carebearpreschool.com. welcome. Except when it’s too much. These past weeks’ events serve as a brutal reminder.
Pay attention to plans
Denny Barney is a Gilbert resident and chairman of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors.
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