MR. BLACK FRIDAY SETS UP CAMP, PAGE A2
the newspaper of Avondale, Buckeye, Goodyear, Litchfield Park & Tolleson, AZ 50¢ Wednesday, November 23, 2016 westvalleyview.com — (623) 535-8439
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Recall election in the works Buckeye residents disputing water billing want mayor, others out of office by Glenn Gullickson staff writer
Leaders of a group of Buckeye residents who are angry about disputed water bills are preparing a recall campaign to remove the city’s
longtime mayor and up to three other members of the City Council. It’s an effort that could take months that one of the possible targets called “a distraction” from working on the water customers’ issues.
Papers were expected to be filed this week to start the process of collecting signatures for an election to recall Buckeye Mayor Jackie Meck (See Recall on Page A4)
Community to vote on sex offender ban A DOG’S LIFE Program teaches children how to properly treat pets — Page B6.
A ROSIE BY ANY OTHER NAME … Rosie the Riveters share stories with W.V. pupils — Page B3.
HOME SWEET HOME Veteran gets keys to mortgage-free home — Page B1.
DAILY UPDATES! News Updates and fresh Classified ads posted Monday - Friday at 4:30 p.m. online at www.westvalleyview.com Volume 31, No. 33 32 Pages 2 Sections Circulation: 77,869 INDEX Classifieds .................. B12 Editorials & Letters ........ A5 Obituaries .................... A14 Sports ........................... A7 Briefcase ....................... A3 9 Days a Week............... B9 Recycle this paper
Palm Valley Phase I in Goodyear could prohibit Level II, III offenders by Emily Toepfer assistant editor
One Goodyear neighborhood is gearing up to vote on whether or not to ban some sex offenders, even if they currently live there. The homeowners association for Palm Valley Phase I recently sent a letter to homeowners stating it has determined that Level II and III sex offenders, who are classified as intermediate and high risk, present an “unreasonable danger” to the community. Homeowners are being asked to vote on an amendment to the community’s declaration of covenants, conditions and restrictions that would prohibit offenders from living there, said Curtis Ekmark, an attorney representing the homeowners association. Furthermore, if approved, Level II and III sex offenders who currently live in the community would be forced to move in 60 days, even if they own the property, he said. The vote will take place Dec. 2 during the annual meeting of the homeowners association, but people can also mail in their votes ahead of time, Ekmark said. He said the decision wasn’t spurred by an incident, but because the Legislature passed a bill last year allowing HOAs to regulate sex offenders living in their communities if it’s included in their covenants, conditions and restrictions. “I think when the board read that, a light bulb went off that said, ‘Oh, if we put that in the CC&Rs, we can ban sex offenders,’” Ekmark said. Palm Valley Phase I has about 1,300 houses in a one-squaremile area between McDowell and Thomas roads and Litchfield and Dysart roads. It also has one elementary school and a city-owned park within its boundaries. According to the Goodyear Police Department, one Level II sex offender lives in the community, a 33-year-old man who was convicted in 2004 of attempted sexual conduct with a minor and sexual abuse. His two victims were known to him. The police department sent a notice to the West Valley View on April 5 stating he had moved into the neighborhood, residing about 520 feet from Palm Valley Elementary. His Level II status doesn’t meet the criteria to prohibit him from living near a school, said Lisa
Kutis, a spokeswoman with the Goodyear Police Department. Level III sex offenders who have been convicted of dangerous crimes against children must live more than 1,000 feet from a school or child care facility, according to Arizona statute. State law also requires registered sex offenders to notify the sheriff’s office of their new address within 72 hours of moving. Local police must then alert residents within 45 days about a sex offender moving into their neighborhood. If the person doesn’t have a permanent address, he must register with the sheriff as a transient every 90 days, providing a description and physical location of any temporary housing. Ekmark said he’s sure the homeowners association would work with any sex offenders who would be required to move. “My guess is, if they come and say, ‘Hey, we need a little bit more time,’ I’m sure the association would accommodate that based on the fact that the law would just be going into effect,” he said. It’s also not completely clear how the HOA plans to keep future sex offenders from moving into the community, but Ekmark said homeowners would be responsible for knowing who they’re renting to. “I think it’s just like anything else — they’re not going to like set up a police force or anything,” he said. “If they become aware of it, then they’ll address it. It’s like if somebody paints their house purple or something, people see it and go, ‘Hey, you’re not allowed to do that.’” The proposed ban on sex offenders appears to only apply to Palm Valley Phase I at this time. Palm Valley has five communities that are managed by five separate HOAs — Phase I; Phase II and III, which are combined; Phase V; Phase 8 North Parcel; and Phase 8 South Parcel. Residents in Phase II and III received an email Nov. 16 from manager Jocelyn Badley stating the “issue” in Phase I is not related to their communities, and her administrative assistant responded to an email from the View, saying she’s not aware that their board is considering the same proposal. Lori Grove, a managing agent for
TOLLESON VOLUNTEER SYLVIA MORTENSEN cuts ham Monday in preparation for the annual Dr. Charles A. Landis Thanksgiving Day Dinner in Tolleson.
(See Ban on Page A4)
(See Dinners on Page A2)
View photo by Jordan Christopher
Come one, come all Annual free dinners bring communities together on Thanksgiving Day holiday by Emily Toepfer assistant editor
The early birds started prepping for Thanksgiving dinner almost a week ago, because they have thousands of mouths to feed. In Tolleson, volunteers have been hard at work cooking food for 2,000 people who will attend the annual Dr. Charles A. Landis Thanksgiving Day Dinner. The free meal has become a tradition since it was started in 1982 by a group of city and school district leaders who saw a need in the community and formed the nonprofit Tolleson Service Committee. Dinner is open to everyone, and consists of turkey, ham and all the fixings, including mashed potatoes, broccoli, stuffing, rolls and
pumpkin pie, said Charles Landis, who the event is named after. Landis was the superintendent of the Tolleson Union High School District from 1978 to 1992, and is among the dinner’s founders. This year’s meal will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday at Tolleson Union High School, 9419 W. Van Buren St. in Tolleson. Take-out food will also be offered starting at 1:30 p.m. More than 150 volunteers helped with the event last year, including adults and students from the Tolleson Union High School District’s five campuses. Frank Leon, 72, has volunteered with the meal for more than