FOUNTAIN HILLS INSIDER - SUMMER 2024

Insider

RESIDENT INPUT HELPS DEVELOP DOWNTOWN STRATEGY

Our downtown is not just a physical space but the very heart of our community. It’s where we gather for business, dining, shopping, and special events, making it a vibrant and integral part of Fountain Hills.

Since January, Town staff have held a series of focus groups and online surveys to gather information that will help develop a downtown strategy. In 2009, the town produced a Downtown Strategy report describing concepts of attractions and a vision for what the downtown area could become.

The New Downtown Strategy initiative, a pivotal component of the Town Councilapproved 2023-2026 Community Economic Development Strategy, is poised to shape the future of our downtown area. The Fountain Hills downtown area is east of La Montana Drive, west of Saguaro Boulevard, and north of El Lago Boulevard.

The recent surveys and focus groups asked participants for feedback on focused areas, land use (housing, mix of uses, zoning, design guidelines, streetscape, property maintenance), infrastructure (streets, sidewalks, shade, connectivity, lighting), economic (infill, business mix, marketing, recruitment, retention, tourism, arts and culture), and public space (parks, sidewalks, events, Town campus, wayfinding, placemaking) needs for the area. The survey results can be found on the Town’s website.

A community-wide open house was held on May 15, sharing the themes generated by the earlier focus groups and surveys. The participants reviewed the concepts and highlighted the ideas and projects they felt should be considered for a revitalized downtown.

Staff will use the information gained at this open house to prepare the Downtown Strategy for Council consideration in September.

FEDERALLY FUNDED SIDEWALK PROJECT WILL HELP CONNECT THE TOWN

In March 2022, the Town was awarded a $2 million federal grant for a sidewalk infill project along Palisades Boulevard between Fountain Hills and Saguaro Blvd. and Saguaro Blvd. between Fountain Hills Blvd. to Colony Drive and El Lago Boulevard near Saguaro Boulevard. The gap infill project includes the construction of a meandering 8-foot sidewalk, utility relocations, driveway improvements, roadway narrowing, pavement obliteration and restriping, retaining walls, landscape restoration, and sign relocation.

The Arizona Department of Transportation, in coordination with the Town of Fountain Hills, is initiating this project, which will include:

• Improving sidewalks and driveways

• Constructing curbs and gutters to improve drainage

• Adjusting utilities

• Restoring landscaping

• Modifying the roadway

• Replacing signs and road striping

• Adding retaining walls

Construction is expected to begin in June 2024 and take approximately nine months to complete. Work will occur on weekdays between 5:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. and include lane restrictions.

NEW PARK BENCHES USING OLD WIND TURBINE BLADES

Benches in public spaces generally look the same across the country. These seats have armrests and backrests, are made of steel, cement, plastic, or wood, and are not too distinctive. The benches Community Services uses in Town parks have fit these descriptions until now.

While searching for new benches for the upgrades in Centennial Pavilion, Community Services

Director Kevin Snipes was introduced to a new type of bench that are not only artistically creative but also environmentally friendly and still at a cost savings to the Town. Each bench will have a hand-painted mural depicting a unique feature of Fountain Hills. The new benches in the Centennial Pavilion will highlight the 5Cs representing Arizona: Copper, Cattle, Cotton, Citrus, and Climate.

5,000-8,000 wind turbine blades are retired each year. Due to their massive size, durability, and fiberglass material, the wind industry has struggled to recycle them. A company called Canvus created a solution for these blades by recycling them into benches and other outdoor furnishings designed for communities, parks, and schools.

These upcycled benches and picnic sets are not just environmentally friendly, they’re also built to last. Fully assembled and maintenancefree, they’re designed to serve for 25+ years. The Town of Fountain Hills, in a partnership with Canvus, has purchased all their benches and picnic sets at a buy one get one price, ensuring many products will be used around town.

A publication by the Town of Fountain Hills

TOWN COUNCIL MEETINGS

FOUNTAIN HILLS COUNCIL MEMBERS

Mayor Ginny Dickey

Vice Mayor Brenda Kalivianakis

Councilmember Gerry Friedel

Councilmember Sharron Grzybowski

Councilmember Peggy McMahon

Councilmember Allen Skillicorn

Councilmember Hannah Toth

To review previous and upcoming Town Council agenda items, go the www.fountainhillsaz.gov/agendas.

NOTABLE

TOWN COUNCIL ACTIONS

All meetings start at 5:30 p.m. in the Town Hall Council Chamber 16705 E. Avenue of the Fountains.

February 2024

Approved Lease Agreement between the Town of Fountain Hills and the International Dark Sky Discovery Center Town Council Budget Retreat

Proclamation for Government Communicators Day

March 2024

• IGA with the City of Scottsdale for mutual assistance for fire and EMS related incidents

• Approved additional funding for construction of sidewalk gap elimination along Saguaro Boulevard and Palisades Boulevard

April 2024

• Approved Ethical Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy

• Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Proposed Budget

May 2024

• Approved Tentative Budget

Note – The Town Council will be on summer recess following the June 18 Regular Council Meeting until Monday, August 19

All meetings may be watched live on Cox Channel 11 and the Town’s YouTube Channel.

See the Town Council agenda at www.fountainhillsaz.gov/agendas for more information on how to participate and submit comment cards.

POWER OUTAGES

During the Monsoon season, June 15 through September 30, Fountain Hills may see severe storms that bring heavy winds, rains, and lightening. It’s possible that these storms may cause power outages, which are usually short in duration however, these outages may last longer. Understanding how to prepare for a power outage, and what to do if one occurs will protect you and your property.

What to do during an outage

Stay inside – if you see fallen power lines, keep your distance and call 911. Power down – turn off lights and appliances to avoid a power surge when your power comes back on.

Report the outage – call SRP or log in to SRP My Account™ if you have access to a smart phone or laptop

*You can stay abreast of outages in the metro area on SRPs Outage Map at https://myaccount.srpnet.com/power/myaccount/outages

You can also call us at (602) 236-8888. We’re here to help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Sign up for alerts – get real-time outage information and estimated restoration times.

Allow SRP crews safe access to equipment

Whether it’s visible or buried underground, SRP electrical equipment is often located on the property of homeowners. During an outage, it’s critical to allow SRP crew members access to that equipment for repairs and maintenance.

SRP will inform customers in advance; however, crews may need immediate access during planned maintenance, emergencies or storm-related damages and outages.

It’s crucial that customers willingly allow SRP crew members access so they can maintain the grid and avoid less-than-ideal situations (cutting locks, climbing walls and negative encounters with pets, to name a few).

ELECTION DATES

First Day to Cast an Early Ballot

Last

LEAVE A LEGACY AT THE FOUNTAIN HILLS CENTENNIAL PAVILION

IMPORTANT DATES AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER

Candidate Forums are June 6 and June 13. The Mayoral Candidates Forum is Thursday, June 6 at 6 p.m. in the Community Center.

In-person voting for local and state elections are Monday, July 29 from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Tuesday, July 30

Town of Fountain Hills Town Council, front row left to right: Councilmember Peggy McMahon, Mayor Ginny Dickey, and Councilmember Gerry Friedel. Back row, left to right: Councilmember Sharron Grzybowski, Vice Mayor

Brenda Kalivianakis, Councilmember Allen Skillicorn, and Councilmember Hannah Toth.

FROM GROUNDBREAKING TO HARD HATS

Article by Vicky Derksen, Board Member of International Dark Sky Discovery Center

The International Dark Sky Discovery Center’s groundbreaking ceremony was a huge celebration as more than 1,000 residents attended the festivities, which included viewing a partial solar eclipse.

While the construction fence goes up and ground-moving equipment arrives, the IDSDC team will continue driving their fundraising efforts to the finish line.

“We have raised $19 million of the $26 million needed to complete this project and open the doors,” said Joe Bill, president of the IDSDC.

“The remaining $7 million is needed to install our STEM-based exhibits,

complete the furnishings in the planetarium, observatory, and theater, and hire staff to develop programs and ready us for opening to the public.”

Unique naming rights opportunities are still available for several facility components. At the groundbreaking, Bill introduced Craig and Ruth Gimbel, who secured naming rights for the Hyperspace Planetarium. This is a special way for our community members to leave a lasting legacy. For more information on the IDSDC and how to donate, visit darkskycenter.org.

ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS AND HELP FOR SENIORS

There are programs throughout Maricopa County to help residents with their utility bills and programs to reduce energy usage. To see some of the services available to residents in Fountain Hills go to www.fountainhillsaz.gov/Energy-Assistance.

HEAT SAFETY

BE SURE TO CHECK ON NEIGHBORS

Fountain Hills is a community of good neighbors doing good works. Many of our town’s faithbased organizations provide services and shelter when a family is in need.

Like all of south-central Arizona, Fountain Hills experiences high temperatures from late spring to early fall. Most residents are used to these conditions, but many visitors still need to be acclimated to our weather. Although many may understand the seriousness of heat-related illnesses as a resident of Arizona, you may put yourself in danger if you don’t follow the basic precautions.

Tips to Avoid Heat-Related Illness

Heat illness occurs when the body becomes too hot and is no longer able to regulate its own temperature. There are several types of heat illness; three of the most common are heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. Follow these suggestions to avoid heat illness.

• Increase fluid intake regardless of activity level. Staying hydrated is extremely important.

• Limit exercise or outdoor activity between the hours of 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

• When outdoors, wear a sunscreen with a minimum SPF 15 and re-apply often. Wear a hat, lightweight clothing and sunglasses.

• Rest frequently in shady or cool areas to give the body’s temperature a chance to recover and cool down.

• Never leave adults, children or pets inside a parked vehicle.

• Respectfully check on elderly neighbors to make sure their air conditioning is working and in use.

• If possible, take advantage of free air-conditioning by visiting recreation activities such as library to read a book; community center and join in the activities offered, or go to a movie theater. (These locations are not designated as official cooling stations.)

HOME DELIVERED MEALS

The Town of Fountain Hills offers the Home Delivered Meals program which delivers nutritious meals to residents who are convalescing at home. Volunteers will check on the well-being of the home-bound to ensure their safety. For more information about this program visit https://fountainhillsaz.gov/Home-Delivered-Meals or call 480-816-5229.

THE HISTORY OF THE P-BAR RANCH, A FOUNTAIN HILLS

The full version of this story first ran in the Fountain Hills Times Jan. 22, 2020 beginning a year-long series on Fountain Hills history to commemorate the town’s 30/50 Celebration. This as been edited to meet space requirements for Insider.

In 1935 Lee Barkdoll, his wife, Delsie, and his good friend Dick Robbins arrived at a dusty ranch house just north of what is now Fountain Hills. Barkdoll had acquired a 33,000-acre desert ranch spread known as the P-Bar, which covered much of the land that Fountain Hills and McDowell Mountain Park now occupy.

The ranch house they found was constructed of saguaro ribs and sealed with adobe mud. It was located not far from the center of today’s regional park.

Cowboys to the core, the first thing Barkdoll and Robbins did when they arrived was find a place to build a roping area. They left Delsie alone to unload the wagon and tend to a young daughter, Renee.

In February of 1938 Barkdoll was killed in a railroad accident in southern Arizona, leaving the ranch for his wife, daughter and Robbins to run.

Sometime later Robbins and Delsie were headed to town for supplies when Robbins suggested that, as long as they were making the trip, they should get married while they were in town. He pledged his love by braiding a ring from a piece of rope.

Robbins and Delsie had two daughters of their own, Annie and Nancy. Nancy and step-sister, Renee, along with their own daughters and nephew (Annie’s son), visited Fountain Hills in 2001 to see how their ranch had changed over the years. They also shared memories of growing up on this land some 70 years ago.

In 1946 the ranch was in need of an additional water supply and a site was selected toward the south end of the property near a ranch hand’s line shack. A man named Addison Day financed the drilling of the well in what is now the student parking lot at Fountain Hills High School. The site became known to the family as Add’s Well and Robbins expanded the line shack until it became the primary ranch residence. At this location the Fountain Hills and Lower Verde Valley Historical Society placed a historical marker remembering the P-Bar. Ranch life

Tending to some 300 head of cattle on the P-Bar was the primary function of the family and required a lot of work, even from the young girls. Nancy and Annie worked hard with regular chores as well as roundup and branding.

The cattle munched on desert grasses and small bushes and the occasional cactus, although that usually meant cactus spines around the mouth for the cattle.

Robbins brought a combination of cottonseed, salt and grain feed to the ranch in 50 or 100-pound bags and broke them down to smaller bags that the girls could handle. They placed the feed around the ranch at various locations in feeders that resembled something like a large bird feeder. The girls had access to a Jeep that they used for some of their ranch chores, one of which was hauling the feed out to the feeders. “I learned to drive when I was about seven,” Nancy said.

During dry summer months and drought years Robbins came up with an unusual method of getting the cattle a little more food off the desert. He prepared for each of the girls a torch using a saguaro spine and canvas rag dipped in oil. The girls would light the torches and drive around the desert where there was plenty of jumping cholla cactus. They would use the torch to light the cholla and it would flash burn all the spines off the plant. The denuded cholla became fodder for the cattle with a little water inside and no painful spines.

Another use Robbins found for the saguaro spines was to collect the fruit of the cactus for jelly.

He would attach a tin can to the end of the spine and sharpen the edge of the can so it could be used to cut the fruit loose. Using the spine for a pole the girls could reach up and collect the fruit off the taller cacti.

Living at the base of the McDowell Mountains also meant a danger of flash floods. The sisters remembered two occasions when rain brought particularly high water. In one of those instances they were nearly driven from the house at the north end.

Nancy remembers another time she was at Add’s well near what is now Ashbrook Wash. “You could hear it coming,” Nancy said of the floodwater. “I stood there watching and a cow was going down the wash head over heels in the water.”

Rabbits and birds

Life on a desert ranch was not easy, but Nancy said they never had a problem finding good food. There was beef, of course, but also an abundance of deer for venison and lots of quail and rabbits.

Nancy remembers a time she and Annie were headed out to load the cattle feeders.

“Once we finished arguing over who was going to drive – Annie won out because she was older – we headed out across the ranch with the feed,” Nancy said. “We came across this rabbit sitting along the road and we thought it would be great if we could take dinner home.”

There was usually a loaded gun in the Jeep.

“[Dad’s] philosophy was that an unloaded gun was not going to do you any good if you needed it,” Nancy said.

The gun they found under the canvas in the Jeep was a 30-30 rifle. This is a good deer rifle, but a little more than what’s needed to hunt rabbit. After a little more arguing it was Nancy who did the shooting.

“I got down and took careful aim and fired,” she said. “I missed by quite a bit and the rabbit went scurrying into the brush.”

However, she failed to carefully lock the lever and it kicked back and hit her in the face, leaving a long cut.

They finished their feeding chores before going back to the house. “I explained the cut on my face by saying we were trying to bring home dinner,” Nancy said. A short time after that Robbins got each of the girls a BB gun.

In 1955 the government told the Robbins they would be cutting their cattle permit in half – instead of 300 they would only be allowed to graze 150 on the ranch. That proved to be too much of a cut to make the ranch pay and the family moved to Scottsdale.

After Robert McCulloch started work at Fountain Hills officials asked Dick Robbins for some help and converted the old ranch house into an arts and crafts center. It was later torn down in 1979.

During their visit in 2001 the family stood in the high school parking lot near the Add’s well marker. The only familiar view from their childhood is of the distant Four Peaks.

That doesn’t matter, since they seemed to relish the fact that their old homestead had become home to 20,000.

This article is part of an ongoing series to share the history of Fountain Hills by the History & Culture Advisory Commission.

Acknowledgements: In 2001 author Bob Mason of Rio Verde and Fountain Hills resident Dave Roberts arranged for The Times to hear the stories that Nancy Robbins and Aminah Raheem (Renee) had to tell. The original story ran in The Times on March 21, 2001.

Photos courtesy River of Time Museum & Exploration Center

4TH OF JULY

A BLAST OF A GOOD TIME

Join us on Thursday, July 4th as we celebrate Independence Day.

Put on your red, white, and blue and join friends and neighbors at Fountain Park on Thursday, July 4th to celebrate Independence Day in Fountain Hills! The festivities will kick off at 7:00 p.m. with music and prizes. Rock Lobster will be performing from 7:30-9:00 p.m. The evening will conclude with a majestic fireworks display at 9:00 PM over the Park’s picturesque Fountain Lake. Our world-famous fountain will be lit up with red, white, and blue.

Fourth at the Fountain has been designed to be a community-wide event open to guests of all ages and completely free of charge. This year, attendees are encouraged to bring chairs, blankets, and picnic baskets to relax and enjoy an evening full of fun throughout the park. Food vendors will also be on hand with Italian ice, frozen lemonade, and other goodies to help you beat the heat as well as 10 different dinner options.

Public parking throughout downtown Fountain Hills will be available. Please note temporary road closures will be in effect from 4 to 11 p.m. to allow pedestrians to enter and exit the park. Event guests are welcome to bring Frisbees, balls, and other games, but please observe the following:

• No glass

• No alcohol

• No personal fireworks, sparklers, or other open flames

• Due to the fireworks, we suggest all pets be kept home for their safety

Park Address: 12925 N Saguaro Boulevard, Fountain Hills, AZ 85268

For more information, please e-mail us at rpreston@fountainhillsaz.gov

FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY GO COWBOY

Yippee Ki‐Yay! The popular OK Chorale Cowboy Trio is returning to the Community Center on Saturday, August 10, 4-5 p.m. Saddle up, come in out of the heat, and enjoy the flavor of real cowboy songs. This very special event is sponsored by the Community Center in partnership with Fountain Hills Friends of the Library.

FH Friends of the Library, through proceeds from its Resale Book Shop and supporting memberships, provides funding for free community events, programs and furnishings not covered by the Maricopa County budget. Examples include the Opportunities and Falcon Scholarships, Storytelling events, Annual Shred-A-Thon, a “Quiet Room,” Front Porch Performances, and most recently, all new furniture for the Children’s Area.

For more information about the Friends of the Library, supporting the Fountain Hills Library, go to www.FHFL.org.

RECEIVE UP-TO-THE MINUTE INFORMATION ON EMERGENCIES

Most emergencies occur unexpectedly, and information provided by neighbors, social media, and many times, local media is often not current or accurate for the moment. Emergencies include wildfires, floods, public safety, and road closures. The Town of Fountain Hills is the critical resource for residents, businesses, and media partners for up-to-date information during emergencies in or near the Town of Fountain Hills. www.fountainhillsaz.gov – Home page notices are updated as new information becomes available. A date and time stamp will show the most current updates.

Social Media – The Town will use Facebook – @TownofFountainHills and Twitter – @fhazgov to send up-to-the-minute information as it becomes available.

Fountain Hills Emergency Hotline 480-816-5234 – Some residents may not feel comfortable using digital communications. In the event of an emergency, the Town has a special phone line that will provide a message with updates on any local public safety emergency.

HOW TO PLAN FOR AN EMERGENCY?

While we can’t always predict when a disaster will strike, we can take measures to lessen the impact. Being prepared and planning ahead is important. Here are some general guidelines for all types of emergencies:

WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION?

National Weather Service

(301) 713-0622 | www.nws.noaa.gov

Arizona Department of Transportation www.azfms.com

Road conditions: 1-(888) 411-ROAD

The Weather Channel (Channel 69 on Cox Cable in Fountain Hills) www.weather.com Phoenix area | (602) 275-0073 www.phx.noaa.gov

• Make a family emergency plan by choosing three places to meet if you can’t get back to your house – for example, the home of a neighbor or relative, a local school or a church. Prioritize the meeting places.

• Stock and maintain emergency preparedness and first aid kits, and plan to be self-sufficient for a minimum of 3-5 days.

• Always keep flashlights, portable radios, and fresh batteries on hand.

• Establish a personal support network to check on each other in case of emergencies.

• Store important documents in a safety deposit box, fire safe, or watertight container.

• Know the locations of the shutoff valves for your household electric, gas, and water services.

CodeRED

CodeRED is a FREE emergency notification service provided to all residents within Fountain Hills. The system sends an emergency message through phone calls, text messages, emails, social media and the CodeRED Mobile Alert app. The system is used to keep residents informed of local events that may immediately impact their safety.

For more information and to register for CodeRed www.fountainhillsaz.gov/codered

EPCOR WATER OFFERS WATER SAVING TIPS

Arizona is in the cross-hairs of any national discussion concerning drought and water shortages. With last winter’s rains and mountain snow, Arizona seems to be in much better shape than what was forecasted. In 2022, EPCOR Water, the town’s drinking water resource, shared with Town Council that Fountain Hills is in a good position regarding its current and future water supplies. This does not mean residents should waste this valuable natural resource.

EPCOR offers a variety of tips and resources to help you conserve water and save money. (Water-Saving Tips From A to Z, 45+ RealWorld Conservation Tips!) – see epcor.com for details.

POOLS, SPAS, WATER FEATURES

• Cover pools and spas to prevent evaporation.

• Check pipes, hoses and connections for leaks on a regular basis.

• Adjust the direction and pressure of spraying water to prevent splashing and avoid evaporation.

• Shut off your water features when it’s rainy, windy or very hot to avoid evaporation.

• Check for leaks – see epcor.com for details.

SHOWERS

Depending on your showerhead’s size, a 10-minute shower can use 25-50 gallons of water.

• Replace your showerhead with a low-flow model – use 25 percent less water without affecting water pressure.

• Try to limit showers to 5 minutes.

• Repair faucet leaks as soon as you spot them.

SPRINKLERS AND DRIPPERS

A leaking irrigation system can go beyond wasting water to seriously impacting your landscaping.

• Looked for dark spots in a portion of the landscape – then look for a leak.

• Watch for moss or mushrooms growing – a sign that you’re water too much.

• Adjust your irrigation system throughout the year to ensure that plants are getting the correct amount of water for each season. EPCOR has the resources to help customers seeking to conserve water in their home or business. The items available include selfaudit kits, interior low-flow retrofit kits, landscaping watering guide [as much as 60% of residential water use is for landscaping], desert landscaping low water use plant guide, leak detection assistance, new enhanced billing allows for self-notification in the event of excess use, and online tutorials.

KEEP YOURSELF AND YOUR PROPERTY SAFE

Fountain Hills is recognized as one of the safest communities in Arizona thanks to the dedicated public safety professionals of the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) and the eyes and ears of engaged residents. However, crime can and will happen without the fundamentals of prevention.

VEHICLE BURGLARY

Secure Your Vehicle: Roll your car windows up all the way and engage the car alarm, but do not depend on it as the only way to deter a thief. A car thief can break into your car and be out in about 30 seconds, fast enough that an alarm doesn’t scare most of them away.

Keep Your Vehicle Tidy: Thieves like to window shop! Avoid leaving anything visible in the car. Almost any item that’s visible from the outside - even if you think it is worthless – could be seen as valuable to a thief. Your spare change, sunglasses, even an empty bag (a thief may think there is something inside the bag) could be valuable in the mind of a thief.

Conceal All Proof: Stow your electronics and accessories well out of sight, or just take it along with you. The proof alone might be enough to pique the interest of thieves, including items such as power cords, adapters, and GPS windshield suction-cup mounts. If you remove the suction cup, make sure to wipe the ring off the windshield; it’s a dead giveaway that you own a GPS.

Stash Before You Park: Get in the habit of putting items you want hidden in the trunk of your car before you arrive at your destination. Thieves will linger in busy parking lots looking for you to stash your valuable items.

Park Smart: Park in a busy, well-lit area and avoid concealment from larger vehicles, fences, or foliage. Avoid parking in isolated and poorlylit areas.

PREVENTING

CRIME

You can prevent crime in your community in several different ways. These tips are very basic habits you can implement for yourselves, your children, your neighbors and friends to help prevent crime and improve the quality of life in our community.

Report crime or suspicious activity to Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office immediately. If you are suspicious, don’t post a question on social media. Call 911!

SISTER CITIES

SUPPORTING ONE OF ITS OWN

Fountain Hills Sister Cities and Mountain View Kitchen recently hosted a Sister City Ataco fundraiser to support humanitarian relief for Ataco, El Salvado. Over the past years, the Covid pandemic, along with repeated natural disasters, have left their mark on the small town of Ataco. Floods and mudslides in this mountainous region of El Salvador have severely reduced output of their primary cash crops. Coffee bean harvests are a major contributor to the health of the local economy. Without them, the community suffers. The result is that many of its citizens, particularly the elderly, have experienced food insecurities. For 2024, Fountain Hills Sister Cities will host fundraising events and collect donations to provide Ataco with nutritious meal kits. To learn more about this activity go to www.fountainhillssistercities.org/donate.

INDOOR YOUTH SPORTS CLASSES THIS SUMMER!

Keep your kids active and engaged this summer with indoor sports classes offered by the Town of Fountain Hills! Partnering with Hot Shots Sports and Soccer Shots, these programs provide a fun and safe environment for children to develop skills, build confidence, and make new friends.

TO REGISTER: Hot Shots Sports: www.fountainhillsaz.gov/REC and Soccer Shots: www.soccershots.com

• Be aware of your surroundings

• Become familiar with the vehicles on your street

• Don’t leave your car idling unattended

• Get to know your neighbors

• Make your home look occupied, and make it difficult to break in.

• Lock all outside doors and windows before you leave the house or go to bed. Even if it is for a short time, lock your doors.

• Leave lights on when you go out. If you are going to be away for a length of time, connect some lamps to automatic timers to turn them on in the evening and off during the day.

• Keep your garage door closed and locked.

• Don’t allow daily deliveries of mail, newspapers or flyers build up while you are away. Arrange with the Post Office to hold your mail, or arrange for a friend or neighbor to take them regularly.

• Check your locks on doors and windows and replace them with secure devices as necessary. Install deadbolt locks on all your outside doors.

• Sliding glass doors are vulnerable. Special locks are available for better security.

• Never leave keys under doormats, flowerpots, mailboxes or other “secret” hiding places – burglars know where to look for hidden keys.

• Keep a detailed inventory of your valuable possessions, including a description of the items, date of purchase and original value, and serial numbers, and keep a copy in a safe place away from home — this is a good precaution in case of fires or other disasters. Make a photographic or video record of valuable objects, heirlooms and antiques. Your insurance company can provide assistance in making and keeping your inventory.

• Trim your shrubbery around your home to reduce cover for burglars.

• Be a good neighbor. If you notice anything suspicious in your neighborhood, call 9-1-1 immediately.

The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office has an online mapping system to help you find crime statistics in the Town of Fountain Hills. Click on the link below to the Community Crime Map.

https://communitycrimemap.com/

Town of Fountain Hills

16705 E Avenue of the Fountains Fountain Hills, AZ 85268

Insider Insider

ECRWSS/EDDM

POSTAL CUSTOMER

BUSINESS OWNER’S TO-DO LIST

Did you know you are required to obtain a Business License from our Finance Department if you are operating a business within town limits? The license application is available online and simple to complete! www.fountainhillsaz.gov/Business-Licenses

Did your business relocate, and you are still within Town limits? If so, please contact the Town to ensure we have the most up-to-date information on file.

If you have any questions, please contact Stephanie Tahmahkera, Financial Services Technician at stahmahkera@fountainhillsaz.gov.

FOUNTAIN HILLS WATER STATIONS

The Town of Fountain Hills provides chilled and filtered water stations and water bottle filling stations for humans and pets at all of our town park restrooms. Town Hall and the Community Center also have water fountains for a quick refreshment. Fountain Park – 12925 N Saguaro Blvd

Desert Vista Park – 11800 Desert Vista

Golden Eagle Park – 15900 E Golden Eagle Blvd

Four Peaks Park - 14789-14827 N Del Cambre Ave

Avenue of the Fountains Linear Park – Avenue of the Fountains

Adero Canyon Trailhead – 14800 N Eagle Ridge Drive (Open sunrise to sunset)

Golden Eagle Trailhead – 14425 E. Golden Eagle Blvd (Open sunrise to sunset)

Fire Station 1 – 16426 E Palisades Blvd

Fire Station 2 – 10650 N Fountain Hills Blvd

Town Hall - 16705 E. Avenue of the Fountains

(Open Monday – Thursday, 7 a.m. - 6 p.m.)

Community Center – 13001 N La Montana Drive

(Open Monday to Thursday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

SANITARY DISTRICT

PROJECT

ADDS NEW RAMADA FOR PARK VISITORS WHILE RECYCLING WATER

Construction began in mid-April for an important component of the Fountain Hills Sanitary District (District) infrastructure. An above-ground control room structure will be constructed for one of the three Aquifer Storage & Recovery (ASR) wells at Fountain Park, to replace an aging underground vault. A large portion of this structure will serve park visitors as a ramada to provide shade and a place to reflect on the beauty of Fountain Park. The facility will be located at the south end of the park along Saguaro Boulevard.

The “Fount Rushmore” statues featuring the likes of presidents Abraham Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt will be relocated in collaboration with the Town of Fountain Hills, Fountain Hills Cultural & Civic Association, and the Public Arts Committee in a better arrangement for park visitors to experience. The existing sidewalk will be relocated for better access to the ramada and designated view spot by meandering around the ramada. Construction is expected to be complete the end of October 2024 to accommodate the many events at Fountain Park. During construction, the bike lane may be closed for contractors to access the site, and the sidewalk will be closed with pedestrians detoured to a temporary pedestrian walkway. Work is expected to take place daytime hours, Monday through Friday, with possible Saturday work (excluding major holidays).

For more details and to follow the construction progress visit www.fhrecycleseverydrop.com