MAYOR’S REPORT: November 2023

CITIZENS ACADEMY GRADUATION: At the November 14 Council meeting, the graduates of the city’s fifth Citizens Academy were presented with their certificates. We want to thank the participants for their commitment to this program. Congratulations to the following students: James Yostrum, Maria Hannah, Tammie Grenier, Joseph Skamel, Marsha Skamel, Jesse Robertson, Bonnie Stidham, William Goslin, and Anthony Toner.

FREEPORT MCMORAN FOUNDATION COMMUNITY INVESTMENT GRANT: We were informed that the City of Globe was one of the recipients of this year’s Community Investment Grant. This is an annual competitive local grant sponsored by the Freeport McMoRan Foundation. This a very complex grant application that requires partnerships, a scope of work, and has to be a sustainable project. The amount of this grant is for $160,000 that will be used to help stabilize the walls and roof of the ruins at Besh Ba Gowah. This grant does require a city match of $32,500. The city match will be split up in two payments. The first payment will come from the Economic Development Capital Outlay account and the second payment will be allocated as part of the FY-2025 budget.  

ARIZONA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION GRANT: The City of Globe was awarded $25,000 from the Arizona Community Foundation. These funds will be used to construct the concession stand at the Community Center Pool. Our staff continues to work to raise the amount needed to complete this project. 

ADDITIONAL MISCELLANEOUS GRANTS AWARDED: Our staff was also notified of the awarding of these additional grants. A $25,000 APS grant was awarded to purchase a 6-foot by 12-foot trailer to store equipment for Globe’s First Friday events. 

A Boyce Thompson Arboretum grant was awarded for purchasing six Indigenous Trees (three Velvet Mesquite and three Foothills Palo Verde). The Fire Department received an Arizona Foundation Grant for $500 to cover the 2023 State Fire School Tuition. The Police Department received a Walmart Community Grant for $3,600 to be used for local events and operational costs.

SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS: The Council approved an IGA with the Globe Unified School District after being awarded state funds in the amount of $420,000 per year for three years, which covers the cost for three School Resource Officers in three schools. This amount is for salaries, benefits, training, and equipment. There is no match to the city.

CITY WATER SUSTAINABILITY STUDY: The Council approved a contract for professional services from EUSI to perform a city-wide water sustainability study to evaluate the pumping capacities of our groundwater wells. The study’s cost is $60,000, and it has already been allocated in this year’s budget. This is another part of the continued efforts to evaluate and secure water for our city’s future. 

WATER METER PROJECT: Council approved to set aside $750,000 from the budgeted line item, “securing future water account” to be used as matching funds for the $3 million Water Conservation Grant that was awarded to the city. The scope of the project is to upgrade 3,299 AMR meters to AMI meters, complete a meter inventory, complete a lead and copper assessment, replace 475 lineal feet of waterlines on 4th street, replace 1,790 lineal feet of waterlines on Daybreak and upgrades to our water billing system. The upgrade to AMI meters offers significant advantages to both the citizens and the city staff. AMI meters communicate to the city utilizing cell towers providing real time data updates to the customer and utility office. These meters eliminate the need for city staff to collect data that improves billing, offers real time leak detection, and water resource management.

FIRST FRIDAYS: First Fridays have become a monthly signature event and continue to grow each month with more participation from downtown businesses, vendors, and cruisers. Our Economic Development team spends an enormous number of hours planning this event. This event is not only enjoyed by our local residents in the community, but by many more people who are now coming from out of town on this day with an average participation of approximately 9,000 people. Everyone is invited to participate in the downtown cruise that begins at 5:30 p.m. starting at the Active Adult Center. We invite the community to come downtown and support the participating businesses and enjoy live music, food trucks, and vendors. Anyone wishing to set up a vendor booth during any First Friday event may do so at no cost by contacting Melissa Steele at 425-7146.