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ECRWSS Carrier Route PreSorted Standard U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit No. 371 Cave Creek, AZ
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This Week
Cave Creek - Carefree Area Edition
NEWS ................. 8
BUSINESS ......... 13 Melissa Trinkl completes luxury home training
FEATURES ........ 21 Foothills Empty Bowls Art auction returns in person
OPINION ......................9 BUSINESS ................. 13 FEATURES ................ 17 CLASSIFIEDS ............ 26 2
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Wednesday, October 13, 2021
Council debates commissioner’s removal BY ALLISON BROWN Foothills Focus Staff Writer
American Legion Post 34 celebrates Poppy Month
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ave Creek Town Council voted to allow Paul Eelkema, vice chairman of the planning commission, to stay on the board after he breached the proper chain of communication in a 5-2 decision at the Oct. 4 meeting. Eelkema sent a letter to Councilman Bob Morris and Councilwoman Kathryn Royer with questions regarding the proposed — and strongly opposed — Hidden Canyon subdivision. This occurred before the planning commission had voted whether or not to allow certain exceptions to the subdivision ordinance to be made in a meeting on Sept. 16. “Is it inappropriate for a commission member to be, from my point of view, lobbying the council members in ad-
vance of a commission meeting, relative to what’s going to be discussed at the commission?” asked Vice Mayor David Smith. The commission approved the exceptions for the property at the Sept. 26 meeting, which means the site plan would go forward to be presented by and voted on by the town council. While he only asked questions in the letter sent out, Smith said it was still an act to lobby council members and was “absolutely and totally inappropriate.” Eelkema has since recused himself from the planning commission to try to right his wrongdoing. However, by skipping the chain of communication and potentially violating the applicant’s constitutional rights of due process, he was subject to be removed from the planning commission. Town Attorney Bill Sims ex-
plained the issue further. “Even Mr. Eelkema agrees, by the fact that he recused himself, that there may have been some inappropriate conduct,” Sims said. “The way this is supposed to work is when there’s a matter coming before a governing body, you have to keep an open mind so that the applicant and the neighbors understand that you haven’t made a determination without looking at all the facts.” Sims agreed Eelkema made a mistake but said he has taken positive steps to correct it. Sims’ recommendation as the town attorney was that Eelkema’s recusal was a satisfactory solution. Some council members agreed that it was an honest mistake that was made with good intentions. Others, however, said it was
young people,” said Carefree Mayor Les Peterson. “A school district functioning at its best can have a dramatic, long-term impact upon both the happiness and success of students attending… I fully support this bond issue and would encourage others in the district to vote yes as well.” The cost to the average homeowner would be $42 a year. The total estimated cost of the bond would be $59,077,000
including principal and interest. The funds will be split up with $4.8 million for new technology, $1 million for safety and security, $3 million for sports facility upgrades, $27.4 million for general facility upgrades and maintenance, $3.8 million for buses and $11 million to pay off debt from a solar and energy saving project.
see DEBATES page 4
Voters to decide CCUSD $40M bond issue BY ALLISON BROWN Foothills Focus Staff Writer
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ave Creek Unified School District will have a special election Nov. 2 so voters can decide on a $40 million bond. “I believe that one of the primary responsibilities each of us have as adults is to provide for a quality education for our
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