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Wednesday, December 16, 2020
Carefree council OKs strategic work plan BY SARAH DONAHUE Foothills Focus Staff Writer
Cave Creek district struggles during COVID-19
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o lead the Carefree Town Council in its policy and decision making throughout the next council term, the governing body unanimously passed its strategic work plan. It was also adopted during the December 1 town council meeting. This strategic work plan outlines the
town’s guiding principles, value statement as well as associated core tasks for four different focus areas for the town. They include quality community development, infrastructure management, economic development and financial stability as well as communications, marketing and community engagement. This work plan lets the citizens know the targets and priorities of the town council and what it will be working on over the
course of the next 24 months, said Carefree Town Administrator Gary Neiss. “This is something that is not written in stone but meant to evolve over time to the different needs of the community as it evolves,” he said during the meeting. He added that future councils will revisit the value statement and guiding principles within the work plan and adjust it as leader-
see CAREFREE page 4
PAC trying to incorporate New River, Desert Hills
BUSINESS ........19
Ofrenda Cave Creek moves into town
YOUTH ...........31
Norterra teen sells macarons for charity
OPINION ................... 16 BUSINESS ................. 19 FEATURES ................ 20 YOUTH ...................... 28 CLASSIFIEDS ............ 33 Zone
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BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Foothills Focus Executive Editor
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group of New River and Desert Hills residents have formed a political action committee for a last-ditch effort to incorporate the two areas. The Let New River Desert Hills Decide Political Action Committee will meet on Wednesday, December 16, to discuss its plans to try to become a city. PAC Chairman Dave Thompson said the group believes self-governance is the best method to reach its goals. “We have filed our incorporation initiative for the ballot with the county,
see NEW RIVER page 5
Dave Thompson—chairman of the Let New River Desert Hills Decide Political Action Committee—has lived in New River since 2000. He is leading the charge to incorporate New River and Desert Hills. (Photo by Pablo Robles)