Post-fire flooding environmental study tops Council agenda at October 11 meeting

Members of the Globe City Council: Mayor Al Gameros, Vice Mayor Mike Stapleton (District 4), and Council members Freddy Rios (District 1), Mike Pastor (District 2), Jesse Leetham (District 3), Mariano Gonzalez (District 5), and Fernando Shipley (District 6). All members were in attendance.

UA researcher performing study on possible contaminants from post-Telegraph flooding

Monica Ramirez-Andreotta of the University of Arizona Department of Environmental Science presented on a study currently underway on whether the floods in the aftermath of the Telegraph Fire caused contamination to soils, sediments or dust. 

Ramirez-Andreotta is a professor of environmental science and public health at UA. She said after the post-Telegraph floods, area people had environmental health concerns related to pollutants that could have washed in with the sediments.

As a result, the Town of Miami and ADEQ reached out to Monica to conduct research on the question. The study is being funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the UA College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

The end goal of the research will be to help the community prepare for future events. 

Ramirez-Andreotta highlighted that the Pinal Creek area already has contaminants that could pose risks, which underscores the need to investigate the effects on environmental quality from the fires and floods.

The contaminants that will be examined include lead, aluminum, iron, manganese, copper, cobalt, nickel, zinc, cadmium, sulfate, arsenic, antimony, acidity, and dissolved solids. The study will also look at polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which are byproducts of burned material, and perfluorinated compounds (PFAS), which are chemicals that have been used in industry and consumer products for many years – such as in nonstick pans and stain-repellent carpeting – and have been found to be highly toxic. Since these chemicals are being found in many locations, they are being included in the study.

This study focuses on characterizing contaminants and determining exposure risk so people can take action, and not on tracing the sources of the contaminants. This project also doesn’t include cleanup.

Monica said simple ways to reduce risk include taking shoes off outside so you don’t track material into the house, damp mopping instead of sweeping, and reducing the amount of dust generated from topsoil by mulching and planting. 

The project will involve four goals:

1) Gathering information. The researchers will conduct a survey of local families about the impacts of post-fire debris flows and about people’s vulnerabilities and strengths on the individual and community level. People who complete the survey will receive a $10 gift card for their time, and it would take about 20 to 30 minutes.

Monica is also leading the establishment of a community advisory board. 

2) Building capacity by training people on collecting environmental samples and interpreting data. People will be able to participate in the research as a form of community science, and local community health workers will be involved. Two individuals will be hired as community outreach assistants, through UA. These are paid positions.

3) Studying any contaminants that were released during the wildfires. Community participants can help by taking samples from soil, sediment and dust in and around residential areas. The samples will be taken over time, across the monsoon season. 

Monica has already been working with the Town of Miami and has collected samples in nonresidential areas of Miami, including the wash. On October 15, samples will be taken in Claypool and Globe on public land, including in Ice House Canyon and near the Walmart and the hospital.

4) Sharing the data in such a way that everyone can understand and use it. The data will be made available in  hard copies and online, and solutions and strategies will be provided so people can prevent and reduce exposure.

GUSD asking for Nov. 8 votes to lease BLM land

During call to the public, Superintendent of GUSD Jerry Jennex pointed out GUSD is on the ballot on November 8 requesting permission to use school funds to enter into a long-term lease on currently held BLM land adjacent to ADOT and across the road from ADOT – about 135 acres in total. GUSD plans to build on the property, including a maintenance facility and other potential uses.

Downtown Association update

Molly Cornwell of the Downtown Association updated Council on sponsored events and programs. Molly highlighted the draw of Globe’s paranormal aspect and upcoming events in October, including the Ghosts of Globe tour and the Halloween event.

She said the 1915 Train Depot is seeing lots of use as an events venue, and one paranormal group recently found activity there. Molly noted the huge amount of filming that takes place in Globe, including music videos, TikTok videos and films. The crews often use the upstairs of the depot while other events are taking place downstairs.

Motions approved

Council also approved motions for the following:

• Accounts payable in the amount of $428,959.49
• Notification of a special event liquor license issued to the Cobre Valley Youth Club for the Miami High School alumni reunion to take place on October 22 at 900 E. Fairground Rd.
• Distribution of bed tax funds for FY 2021-2022 in the amount of $12,243.12 for the first quarter, $12,265.85 for the second quarter, $9,092.13 for the third quarter, and $12,422.41 for the fourth quarter, for a total of $58,266.63, to the Globe Downtown Association.
• An application for a National Children’s Alliance Grant in the amount of $25,000, submitted by the Globe Police Department Copper Hills Family Advocacy Center.
• A request for a 248-square-foot wall sign to be located at 2448 E. Highway 60 (the former Safeway building), for the new Cal Ranch store. Planning and Zoning Administrator Dana Burkhardt explained that the zoning code says signs larger than 100 square feet need Council approval. The sign is approximately the same size as the previous Safeway sign. P&Z recommended approval.
• An invitation for bid for sewer manhole adjustments. Water Facilities Manager Vince Mariscal explained that this is for an approved CIP project and the adjustments will help smooth out the ride for drivers. The work involves jackhammering the manholes out and replacing them. The project will come back before Council once there is a successful bid.
• An amendment to a contract with the Pinal-Gila Council for Senior Citizens allowing the City of Globe Active Adult Center to receive $76,135 for FY2022-2023 to provide meals, both on-site and Meals on Wheels deliveries. Jepson explained that Pinal-Gila supports much of the City’s activity at the Active Adult center. This is a yearly renewal of the contract.
• An intergovernmental agreement with the Town of Miami, in the amount of $73,000, for the Copper Mountain Transit System program, for the period of July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023. Jepson explained that the transit system supports and benefits the residents and businesses of the entire region although the Town of Miami operates it. The City of Globe supports it by providing some funding every year. Normally the City pays an annual lump sum but this year will be making payments quarterly. The transit system is also funded by ADOT and is approximately a half-million-dollar program.
• A change order to a contract with Rodriguez Construction for the Amster Building roof repairs, in the amount of $34,765. City Engineer Jerry Barnes explained that the change is necessary because a structural issue int he roof has been identified that needs to be mitigated. The work will be taking place on the Broad Street side, so scaffolding has to be put in place to protect people and cars, which accounts for much of the cost of the change order. Without the scaffolding, access to Broad would have to be shut down, as well as access to the building for several days, so the City feels the cost is justified. Once the work is completed, the City will have some non-public-facing offices in the Amster Building.
• Withdrawal from an intergovernmental agreement with ADOT for the Pinal Creek Bridge Cottonwood Street Bridge Replacement. Barnes explained that the City was awarded a $1 million grant for the bridge project, but the work came in at almost $2 million. The City had budgeted only $500,000 for the project and can’t cover the extra $1 million, so the City has arranged with ADOT to withdraw from the IGA and apply for a new grant that doesn’t have a match component. The new grant will be more favorable to the City, Barnes said.
• A contract with Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. to complete a Preliminary Engineering Report for sewer expansion in the northeast corridor and an upgrade to A+ effluent quality services for the City of Globe in the amount of $58,197. Barnes said once the PER is complete, the City will be able to seek funding for the sewer expansion.
• Acceptance of an award from the Tohono O’odham FY 2022-2023 12D Grant in the amount of $25,000 for a license plate reader system. Lt. Steve Williams explained that the PD had previously received approval from Council to apply for this award, and recently learned the PD had received the grant. It is a no-match grant that includes five license plate readers. This motion is to allow the PD to accept the grant. The readers will be placed around the city at strategic locations.
• A funding agreement with the Arizona Department of Housing for the FY2021 Community Development Block Grant in the amount of $179,878.92 for the Veterans Park Improvement Project.

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