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Martial arts, spectacle on Chandler stage
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Chandler/Tempe Edition
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This This Week Week
NEWS ........................ 3 EVIT superintendent can go back on campus.
COMMUNITY ........ 12 Mesa couple collects tons of can tabs.
BUSINESS ................. 15
Mesa veteran gets underfoot.
OPINION ..................16 They’re our neighbors too.
FOOD ....................... 22 Let the holiday baking begin with this.
COMMUNITY ............... 12 BUSINESS .......................15 OPINION ....................... 16 SPORTS ..........................17 GETOUT......................... 19 CLASSIFIED....................24
Chandler High ready for the big rumble Sunday, November 10, 2019
Mesa preparing $60M water meter replacement BY JIM WALSH Tribune Staff Writer
A
nother “emerging technology’’ will soon reach the yards of virtually every Mesa homeowner – improving ef�iciency, reducing theft and helping consumers save money, of�icials predict. It also will cost taxpayers $60 million by the time the project is completed in May 2022. City of�icials outlined plans last week for Mesa’s conversion to “smart water meters’’ that can be read remotely, eliminating meter readers and instantly pinpointing water leaks and other issues. Despite the cost, the project generally was received warmly by Mesa City Council. “I think this is something badly needed in the community,’’ said Councilman Dave Luna. “I like the idea that a customer will be able to go in and monitor their consumption.’’ Councilman Francisco Heredia recommend-
Whew! Schools breath sigh of relief on vote
ed an educational effort to instruct Mesa residents about how to use the system wisely and to save the most money possible. “I am very excited about the technology as a resident,’’ Councilwoman Jen Duff said. “Maybe we have a leak in our irrigation’’ that would be identi�ied by the system. Jake West, Mesa’s water resources manager whose job usually focuses on obtaining and delivering water, said, “I think this will be a big part of our conservation effort.’’ Phase One involves replaceming about 2,000 meters downtown and in Superstition Springs in East Mesa. It also includes building a computer network that will allow the city to turn on and turn off meters electronically from a central location. Residents also will be able to use a portal to monitor their use of electricity and water, to see the impact of replacing an old heat pump or to spot a potentially expensive water leak. Once Phase One is tested and checks out, the
next step is a costly and time-consuming one: replacing more than 200,000 meters citywide. “We are going fast and furious on this project, to get this project through,’’ said Candace Cannistraro, the city’s management and budget director who is heading up the multi-dimensional project. Her presentation said a �irm with experience in rolling out such systems, called Arcadis, has been retained to direct the project, with four different city departments participating. Phase One is anticipated to launch in May 2021 and the entire city is expected to be covered about a year later. She told the City Council at a study session that the cost of phase one would be $5 million and the citywide buildout would cost another $55 million. The entire effort is considered a capital improvement project and could be funded with a
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Honoring our heroes
TRIBUNE NEWS STAFF
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oters last week approved all East Valley school districts’ bond and budget override requests, prompting jubilation and gratitude among of�icials – especially in Mesa. Mesa Public Schools this time saw victory for its 15 percent budget override – one year after it lost a similar election – although its 54 to 46 percent margin of victory was the smallest among all the districts’ results. Mike Hutchinson, East Valley Partnership vice president and chairman of the political action committee that worked for passage of the measure, hailed the vote. “Last year there were two Mesa Public Schools items on a very lengthy ballot. The $300 million bond request was approved and
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The East Valley Veterans Day Parade will be held tomorrow, Nov. 11, in downtown Mesa to honor, thank and celebrate local veterans and active military. More than 40,000 spectators watched more than 2,000 parade participants from East Valley communities including Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Tempe, Scottsdale, Apache Junction, Queen Creek and Higley last year. Commemorating the 100th anniversary of Veterans Day and the 75th anniversary of D-Day, Presentation begins at 10:30 a.m. and the flyover and parade start at 11 a.m. from University Drive and Center Street. For complete details, see the special insert in today’s Tribune. (Special to the Tribune)