Marana PD participating in Take Back Day 2018

On Saturday, April 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Marana Police Department (Marana PD) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will give the public its 15th opportunity in 7 years to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.  Bring your pills for disposal to Target at 3901 W Ina Rd.  (The DEA cannot accept liquids or needles or sharps, only pills or patches.) The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

Last fall Americans turned in 456 tons (912,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at more than 5,300 sites operated by the DEA and almost 4,300 of its state and local law enforcement partners.  Overall, in its 14 previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in more than 9 million pounds—more than 4,500 tons—of pills. 

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue.  Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.  The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health shows year after year that the majority of misused and abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including someone else’s medication being stolen from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards.

For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the October 28 Take Back Day event, go to www.DEATakeBack.com

Alicia Sanchez receives 2018 Marana Youth Legacy Award

Alicia Sanchez accepts the Youth Legacy Award from Mayor Honea on the 2018 State of the Town stage.

As part of the 2018 Marana State of the Town Luncheon last week, the Town handed out their second annual Youth Legacy Award.

Award History

The Marana Town Council created the Youth Legacy Award in order to acknowledge youth in the community who make Marana a better place for everyone. Recipients of this award benefit others in the community through acts supporting:

Heart: promoting a healthy and supportive environment for youth;

Body: Fulfilling essential needs such as food, shelter, and safety; or

Mind: Creating educational opportunities enriching young minds. 

This year the nominees were evaluated by a panel made up of Town staff and members of the Marana Citizens Forum.

Alicia Sanchez

Alicia Sanchez is a Marana High School alumni and is highly engaged in her community. Passionate about public safety, her involvement began when she participated in the Criminal Justice Career and Technical Education course at Marana High school. During her senior year, she participated in the Marana 2.0 internship program where she hosted an event to create relationships between Marana Police Officers and Marana high schoolers.

By bringing officers and students together, Alicia has contributed toward promoting a healthy and supportive environment for youth and has created an educational opportunity to enrich the minds of her peers. Alicia plans to pursue a career in Criminal Justice to eventually become a detective.

Dr. Monica Fowler and Northwest Landscaping receive the 2018 Marana Branding Iron Awards

As part of the 2018 Marana State of the Town Luncheon, the Town handed out their Branding Iron Awards. The Marana Branding Irons are awarded to on individual and one organization who have made a "mark" on the community.

Some of the past recipients of the awards  include former U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, former Mayor Ora Mae Harn, Wheeler & Charlene Abbett, and Sargent Aerospace & Defense. 

This year the nominees were evaluated by a panel made up of Town staff and members of the Marana Citizens Forum.

Individual: Dr. Monic Fowler

Dr. Fowler receives the Branding Iron Award from Mayor Honea on the 2018 State of the Town stage.

Dr. Monica Fowler is a Marana resident and owner of Fowler Chiropractic. She is a licensed chiropractor specializing in sports medicine and prenatal care. In addition to providing care throughout the region, she takes every opportunity to give back to the community.

Every holiday she collects the names of children in need and will hand-deliver purchased and donated items to well over 800 children. She is a devoted member and ambassador of the Marana Chamber of Commerce as well as the Chair of the Health and Wellness Committee.

Northwest Landscaping LLC

Greg Brchan and Chris Fisher accept the Branding Iron Award from Mayor Honea on behalf of Northwest Landscaping on the 2018 State of the Town stage.

Northwest Landscaping LLC is owned by Chad Berg, Glenn Brchan, and Steven Chrismer and was founded in 2000 as “Landscaping by Northwest”. They serve residential and commercial markets from Nogales to Casa Grande and have based the company’s services on a proactive approach to Sonoran Desert landscape services. 

In the case for Gladden Farms and Saguaro Bloom neighborhoods, they are considered a true community partner. They have a strong commitment to community values and go much further than just providing professional landscape services.

Northwest Landscaping regularly participates in neighborhood events, often volunteering to set up, tear down, and provide staff members in order to ensure a successful event for the community. They support residents in hard times by volunteering their services to those enduring medical hardships or deployments.

This organization has made themselves an essential part of the community and serves as an excellent example of how businesses can create impactful relationships with their neighbors.

John Officer appointed Marana Town Councilmember

On Tuesday, April 17, Marana Town Council appointed John Officer to the Town Council. Officer will serve the remainder of the term left vacant by the passing of Councilmember Carol McGorray.

Officer was one of nine applicants for the position, eight of whom made presentations to the Council at the  April 17 meeting.

The position is one of four that will be part of this year’s election and his term will last until the winner of the election is sworn in.

John Officer has lived, worked, and volunteered in the Town of Marana for 25 years. He was raised in Buckeye, Arizona and moved to the Marana area in 1990. He spent over 30 years working with the Central Arizona Project, and currently owns a weed control business. He volunteers regularly for the Marana Public Works Department and hadserved on the Parks and Recreation Commission. He served on the Planning Commission before being appointed to the Marana Town Council.

Officer also volunteers with Marana Little League and helps to find donors to build additional facilities at Ora Mae Harn Park. He also worked with the Marana Heritage Conservancy, formerly serving as the group’s president for two years. He currently serves on the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona Advisory Board.

Parks & Rec: Plenty to do this summer

As the Director of Marana Parks and Recreation Department, my Recreation team and I are very excited to invite you to participate in our summer programs. The lineup of recreation programs and activities are designed to provide summer fun opportunities for all members of our community.

Also keep an eye out for the opening of our new Tangerine Sky Community Park and  Honea Heights Pocket park as well as our new Splash Pad in Crossroads District Park all scheduled to open this summer.

Jim Conroy
Director
Marana Parks and Recreation Department

Summer is coming and Marana is inviting you to soak in the summer with us. We have a number of great activities for all interest and skill levels as well as all ages. As Director of Marana Parks and Recreation, my team has created programs designed to provide fun opportunities for all members of our community.

We finish our Tortolita adventures as the weather gets warmer with two more Guided Horseback Rides of the Tortolitas. On June 2, we will host the Headlight Hike, our nighttime headlight hike. Come out and enjoy the beauty of the southwest with us.

Saturday, May 12 is our annual Mother’s Day 5k, and this year we are adding a half mile fun run. This fifth annual race is a great way to celebrate all moms, grandmothers, and moms-to-be. Or you can just come out, strap on the shoes, and race for the love of it.

We are also providing a number of adult sports leagues and lessons. Co-ed Softball League begins in May, and Men’s Basketball League at the Leman Academy begins in July. Get ready to dust off your high tops and bring your basketball skills to the court.

Not sure you want to commit to a basketball league? There are weekly open gyms for both basketball and volleyball. Racquet sports more your style? Then join our Pickleball League or sign up for tennis lessons.

There are also a number of sports options for kids including leagues, lessons, and camps. We offer golf and tennis lessons for all ages, and for athletes wanting to take their skills to the next level there is speed, agility, and quickness training at the end of the summer. We will also offer clinics for youth football, basketball, and volleyball players, as well as horse riding camps for burgeoning equestrians.

We are again partnering with Pima Community College this summer to offer courses in photography, retirement planning, and BBQ 101. There are full and half day youth STEAM Camps as well.

Another summer camp option is our popular Create with a Beat Creative Camps. These camps have been very popular during holiday breaks, and they will continue all summer long for students looking for something fun to do.

Still haven’t found an activity? Marana Parks and Recreation is offering parent/tot classes, Community Music Theatre Choir, Make & Take Crafts, a needlework group, music workshops, and dog obedience classes. For our seniors, we’ve planned trips to Biosphere 2, Mount Lemmon, and the Gaslight Theatre.

There is plenty to do in Marana this summer. Our Parks & Rec Department has a little something for everyone, and maybe a lot just for you.

Our Parks & Rec Department has a little something for everyone, and maybe a lot just for you. For more information and to sign up, visit MaranaAZ.gov/recreation .

Sneak Preview Photo Gallery: Tangerine Sky playground

Construction has gone vertical at Tangerine Sky Park. Located just south of Tangerine road, between Camino de Oeste and Camino de Manana, Marana’s newest park project will be the largest park in east Marana.

The project is due to be completed later this summer. The park will feature a play area, a basketball court, a large turf area, two dog parks and several ramadas, as well as access to the neighboring trail system.

The location of the park is conveniently located near both Dove Mountain and the Twin Peaks Corridor, benefiting a wide array of visitors. The Town of Marana recently wrapped up their portion of the project to widen Tangerine Road between Dove Mountain Blvd and La Cholla Drive. As part of this project, a shared-use path will allow cyclists, walkers, joggers, and any other non-motorized users to enjoy a car-free pathway. Tangerine Sky Community Park, when complete, will serve as an ideal trailhead for this route.

Work is currently being done on installing the play area equipment. See the images below to get a sneak peek at all of the fun.

Certifications make Aquatic Maintenance Team more effective

With the addition of the Crossroads Splash Pad coming on-line in July, it is essential that "Parks Maintenance Division" staff be a key part of the Parks & Recreation Department's Aquatic Maintenance team. Nate Jansky, Carlos Ochoa, John Smith, Mario Luna, Rene Romero and Ruben Cruz have earned their Aquatic Facility Operator (AFO) certification and are now properly trained and certified to work on Aquatic facilities.

Prior to these staff receiving this certification, the Parks & Rec. Dept. only had a few staffers who possess the Aquatic Facility Operator certification. This training has provided our staff with Health Dept. Requirements training, Water Chemistry training, Identifying Chemical types for Sanitizing and Treating Water, and understanding  Water Collection Systems, Pumps and proper water Filtration.
 
“This training is a good example of the professional training Town management is committed to providing our staff,” said Marana’s Parks and Recreation Director Jim Conroy.

The Town’s other splash pad at the Marana Heritage River Park opened earlier this month to great popularity. Anticipation for the facility’s opening was so great that the Facebook post announcing the opening had more than 25,000 views.

“Facilities like the Splash Pad are a great way for families to engage in safe water fun, and the popularity is a true testament to the positive impact public parks can have on our community,” Conroy said.

The Marana Pool at Ora Mae Harn Park is due to open on May 29 and offers free admission as well as seven swim lanes, a diving bay and ramada-style seating. The pool is 25 yards in length and has depths ranging from 3 to 12 feet.

The Town is still looking for a few lifeguards for the pool.

Splash Pad Hours- Daily;  8am-7pm
Splash Pad Rules

Ina Interchange Progress Report

The Ina Interchange Project is not only a major project for Marana, but for the entire region. The project continues to be on schedule and quite a bit has been accomplished since the project began in 2017.

Crews have completed the removal both bridges that traffic travelling on I-10 over Ina Road. One of the primary goals of the project is to now have Ina travel over I-10 and the Union Pacific Railroad, which will eliminate the need for traffic to stop for trains, speeding up travel, as well as making the area safer.  

A portion of the new Ina Road bridge has been completed, with the bridge over the new eastbound travel lanes complete. By completing this half of the bridge, it allows workers to complete the construction without working over live traffic or restricting freeway travel.

The new eastbound I-10 pavement is complete and in place. With the pavement in place, it has allowed all interstate traffic in both directions to be moved to that new pavement. Currently there are three lanes of traffic in each direction, and at completion this same pavement will carry four lanes of eastbound traffic.

Another portion of the project is the construction of two new bridges that will carry Ina Road over the Santa Cruz River. One of the new is complete and is now carrying the traffic on West Ina in both directions. After completion of the first new bridge, it allowed for the previous bridge to be removed. Currently work has begun on the second and upon its completion, the two bridges will each hold two lanes of traffic.

The bridges are not the only work being done on Ina Road west of the freeway. Crews have begun their work to widen Ina Road to two lanes in each direction from I-10 west to Silverbell Road. Ina Road is already two lanes in each direction east of I-10 and this expansion, along with the bridge, will give Ina Road a consistent flow the entire way.

A large amount of work has already gone into constructing the bridge supports and infrastructure for the remaining portion of the bridge over I-10 and the railroad tracks. Once completed, the bridge will connect with Ina Road east of the railroad tracks. Crews have also begun developing the on and off ramps that will connect I-10 and Ina Road. Additionally, workers have started to build the new westbound lanes of I-10.

Upon the project’s completion there will be four lanes of interstate highway in each direction.

The project is due to be completed in early 2019 and is a joint project by ADOT, the Town of Marana, Pima County, Pima Association of Governments, and the RTA.

Learn more on the project website.

MPD Officer earns award for her work in schools

Marana Police Officer Melissa Larkin was named the Law Related Education Officer of the Year by the Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education. The award recognizes exceptional contributions of Arizona police and probation officers in furthering education and understanding of the role of the law in a democratic society.

Ofc. Larkin is the School Resource Officer at Marana Middle School and was praised by the organization for "promoting access to justice for all Arizonans."

The award focuses on public awareness on the contributions that Ofc. Larkin provides to the school, as well as the community as a whole.

Larkin was also named the 2016 School Resource Officer of the Year by the Arizona School Resource Officer Association Conference.

KVOA: Unclaimed remains of veterans laid to rest in Marana

KVOA provided a story on a special ceremony at Marana's Veteran's Cemetery. 

The unclaimed remains of 29 U.S. Veterans were laid to rest on Saturday during a special ceremony in Marana. The ceremony is part of an annual effort led by the Veterans Recovery Program that works to make sure unclaimed remains are identified and properly interred.

"We have veterans that have cremated remains that have been sitting on shelves for years," said Veteran Paul Marsh.

Marsh has been part of the effort to get the Veteran Cemetery in Marana. 

The 29 veterans that were honored on Saturday may have never been identified had it not been for the Veterans Recovery Program.

"They deserve as good of treatment as we can give them as veterans. We do this type of thing twice a year to take good care of our veterans who don't have anybody to take care of them," said Marsh.

Read the rest of the story on KVOA's website. 

12 News in Phoenix also ran a story on the ceremony. 

Mayor's Message: Saying ‘goodbye’ to one of Marana’s dearest friends

Marana Mayor Ed Honea provided a Mayor's Message for the latest issue of the Marana News/Explorer News

Last week, we said goodbye to Councilmember Carol McGorray. Marana said goodbye to a great champion who loved this community. Many of us said goodbye to a dear friend. 

While it is easy to be sad at her passing, it is also easy to smile and remember all of the great things she did. I was friends with Carol long before we began working on the Marana Town Council, and through our civic duties we accomplished great things together. 

First and foremost, Carol loved her family. She was a mother of seven children, 13 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren with two more on the way. In her various roles in the community, she often looked at issues from the perspective of how they would impact families. 

She had a tremendous impact on the community through her various boards and positions, and was a kind, hard-working person who put the community first. She served on the board of the Marana Health Center, and was a member of the Marana Food Bank’s Advisory Board since its inception. For her work with the food bank, she was recently awarded emeritus status. In addition, she was very involved with the Dove Mountain Civic Group, the Marana School District and the Dove Mountain Rotary Club. 

One constant theme in her work was her desire to protect those who needed it most and try to be an advocate for those who were struggling. She was compassionate. She cared.

I have been asked a number of times recently about who Carol McGorray was, and I usually say she was a “great lady.” But that does not cover it. She believed in rolling up her sleeves and working to help her neighbors, and she saw everybody in Marana as her neighbor. She believed in treating everyone with respect.

She served on the Council for 17 years and was proud of what we accomplished, but at the end she felt there were still things to get done to make the community stronger. She was preparing to run for re-election. 

We may have said goodbye to Carol McGoray last week, but her impact will not soon be forgotten. She wore many hats, served many causes and worked hard to have them all mean something important. We need more spirited individuals like Carol McGorray on the Town Council and our boards and commissions, so that Marana will continue to be the most favored place.

April 7 service will honor victims of Nighthawk crash

On Saturday, April 7 at 10:00am at the Marana Regional Airport, the Marine Corps League Nighthawk 72 will host the 18th Anniversary Memorial Service to honor the 19 Marines who lost their lives in an training accident. 

A devastating tragedy occurred on the night of April 8, 2000, when an Air Force training mission went awry and an Osprey aircraft crashed at the Marana Regional Airport killing all 19 Marines on board. The investigation into the accident took over a year, but finally the survivors were able to have some closure during a memorial service near the site of the crash.

The Marana Town Council and Staff came together to erect a flagpole flying the U.S. flag, the Arizona State Flag, and the Marine Corps flag at the memorial site along with a plaque with the names and ranks of each serviceman. Many federal, state and local officials were on hand to honor these brave men.  A memorial service has been held each year since then, and the local Marine Corps league, named Nighthawk 72 in honor of the fallen aircraft, have added memorial artifacts over the years dedicated to keeping the memory of the event alive, never to be forgotten by the families and friends.

April promises to be a busy month in Marana

April is a very busy month in the Town of Marana. No matter what your interest ,there are plenty of things to do in the Town. 

The Marana Police Department will hold their annual Tip-A-Cop fundraiser for Special Olympics On Wednesday, April 4 from 4:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. at Texas Roadhouse. MPD Officers will be present working as servers and earning tips which will benefit the Special Olympics.
Tip-A-Cop

On Saturday, May 7 bring your dancing shoes for a night of free music in the park with local talent Sonora Borealis! Sonora Borealis play their own take on classic rock from the 70's and 80's. Enjoy music while lounging in a chair or on a blanket (borrow one from us if you don't have one).  We are always located in the field behind the Wheeler Taft Library.
Sonora Borealis

The Wings of Freedom Tour is coming to the Marana Regional Airport from April 6th to 8th. The tour will bring vintage World War II aircraft to the Town including a  Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, a B-24 Liberator, a B-25 Mitchell, and a P-51 Mustang.
Wings of Freedom Tour

The Desert Bluegrass Association and the Town of Marana have joined together to host The 2018 Marana Bluegrass & Acoustic Music Festival  on April 13-15 at the Gladden Farms Community Park (12205 N Tangerine Farms Rd, Marana, AZ 85653). The event features three days of music and other activities.
Marana Bluegrass & Acoustic Music Festival

On April 14, the Marana Police Department, in partnership with the Marana-Foothills Optimist Club; Vistoso Funeral Home, Arizona Youth Partnership and Pima County Wastewater, Marana Police Volunteers encourages Marana citizens, businesses and schools to join us in sharing information about drug awareness and preventive measures.
April 14 - Dispose-A-Med

Also on April 14 will be the Free Vaccination Clinic For Dogs hosted by the Town of Marana Animal Services and the Humane Society of Southern Arizona.
April 14 - Free Canine Rabies Vaccination Clinic

Join us on April 21 for the 11th Annual Camping Under the Stars event!! Experience the great outdoors by camping overnight in our beautiful Ora Mae Harn Park. Registration will include your tent site, movie in the park, camp fire, star gazing, crafts, games, and environmental exhibits.
Camping Under the Stars

Don't want to stay the night, come on out for our Free Movie in the Park "Coco".

• Apr. 19 - State of the Town
• April 21 - Coffee With A Cop
• April 21 - Comcast Fair at Crossroads at Silverbell Park
• May 5 - Free Music In Marana: OnesAll Band
• May 12 - Marana Mother's Day 5K- Family Fun Run
• May 19 - Free Movie In Marana: Wonder

MPD Tip-A-Cop to benefit Special Olympics

The Marana Police Department will hold their annual Tip-A-Cop fundraiser for Special Olympics On Wednesday, April 4 from 4:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. at Texas Roadhouse. MPD Officers will be present working as servers and earning tips which will benefit the Special Olympics.

Last year volunteers from nearly every portion of the MPD came out to serve the packed house at Texas Roadhouse. They collected over $5,000 in tips and every dime benefitted the Arizona Special Olympics.

The MPD has been involved with Special Olympics for over a decade and has raised over $100,000 for Southern Arizona Special Olympians. 

They had 32 volunteers on hand from the MPD including lieutenants, captains and Chief  Terry Rozema. They had volunteers from the bomb squad, K9 and motor patrol, as well as the youth Explorers program and the volunteer VIP’s.

Come to @texasroadhouse for the @MaranaPD Tip A Cop event benefiting the @SpecialOlympics Wednesday, April 4th at 4:30-9:30pm Marana, Texas Roadhouse
Bobby Francis & @ElisaCotaFranci will be there with @ArcLightPics . We hope to see you there! pic.twitter.com/tAhMBnA9LM

— ArcLight Pictures (@ArcLightPics) April 3, 2018

Marana News: Marana joins PCWIN system

The Marana News wrote an article about the Town replacing the current public safety communications system with the Pima County Wireless Integrated Network radio system, or PCWIN.

Switching to PCWIN will enhance communication between the Marana Police Department and all other law enforcement and fire departments in the county. According to Marana Chief of Police Terry Rozema, who spoke to council at the March 20 meeting, there’s been a push to increase interoperability between public safety organizations ever since the terror attcks on Sept. 11, 2001.

“From a public safety standpoint, this is really kind of a no brainer for us,” he said. 

MPD regularly works with the Pima County Sheriff’s Department and the Northwest Fire District. The current system doesn’t allow MPD ease of communication with those entities, or other Southern Arizona law enforcement or fire service agencies that use PCWIN. 

When MPD communicates with other jurisdictions, officers call MPD dispatch, who then call the other organizations on the phone—a process that takes time the officers don’t always have.

An example Rozema gave was MPD could be chasing a suspect that crosses into unincorporated Pima County, necessitating collaboration with Pima County Sheriff’s Department. By the time MPD conveys their location to the Sheriff’s Department, MPD officers are already in a different place, due to the time lapse.

Read the full story in the Marana News

Marana In The Media: I-10 Project in Marana Improves Traffic Flow

ConstructionEquipmentGuide.com had a detailed article about the Ina Interchange project. The story gave a through overview of the project.

Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) is improving traffic flow on Interstate-10 in Marana, Ariz., by constructing a new interchange bridge over I-10 and the Union Pacific Railroad Tracks at Ina Road. Besides providing better traffic movement, the $128 million project will improve safety at the location. Ina Road was closed in February 2017 and the project is on track to complete work in early 2019.

Funding for the work is provided by the Federal Highway Administration, Pima Association of Governments and the Regional Transportation Authority. Marana also contributed $7.9 million toward the cost of new bridges being built over the Santa Cruz River.

Ina Road will be widened to Silverbell Road west of I-10. An additional lane will be added, giving the highway four lanes in each direction. The project also will turn an aging intersection into a modern interchange. One of the major changes will be a new bridge to carry Ina Road traffic over I-10 and the railroad tracks.

The original bridge, which has been demolished, carried I-10 motorists over Ina Road. Crews have been working to rebuild a four-lane Ina Road west of the freeway. They dug holes for pillars to support the new bridge. A milestone was met at the end of January 2018 when westbound traffic was moved to the new eastbound pavement. That allowed for three lanes in both directions until the project is complete.

It also meant that the bridge and new westbound pavement could be completed.

“The new Ina Road bridge over I-10 is complete over the eastbound lanes,” said Tom Herrmann, public information officer of ADOT in Phoenix. “And with all traffic now on that pavement, we'll complete the bridge over the westbound lanes and the Union Pacific Railroad tracks.”

Once completed, motorists using Ina Road will enjoy smoother traffic flow without regular interruptions for trains passing through. Originally, it was two lanes in each direction on the east side of I-10 and a single lane in each west of I-10. The project will result in two lanes in each direction to Silverbell Road in the west. Ina Road will have two bridges, one eastbound and one westbound, each with two travel lanes.

About a half mile to the west, crews have been working on a two-lane bridge on eastbound Ina Road where it crosses the Santa Cruz River. In an early February update, Herrmann reported that the eastbound Ina Road bridge had been completed. In addition to bridges, the project includes new ramps.

“Because we are replacing the two I-10 bridges with a single Ina Road bridge, we are building an entirely new interchange, including on and offramps,” Herrmann said.

Read the Full Article at ConstructionEquipmentGuide.com

Marana Public Works employees win street repair competition

On March 22, the Public Works Asphalt Crew took first place in the Crack Sealing Competition at the 2018 Annual Tom Sheetz Rodeo at the Town of Gilbert Public Works facility

The rodeo is an annual event held by the Arizona Maintenance Superintendents Association (AMSA) to showcase various skills used in the maintenance and repair of public infrastructure. 

Marana’s winning crack seal team was made up of Adrian Rojel, Tomas Gonzalez, John Kaiama, and Fredy Castellanos. Two other Marana employees had good showings with Rich Jacinto competing in the Traffic Markings Event, while Shari Howard participated in the Wheel Loader Event. Competitors could only participate in a single event.

Other events included Asphalt Patch, Concrete Repair, Backhoe, Forklift, and Sign Placement.

According to their website, “the AZMSA is comprised of a diverse group of professionals from Public Works Directors to Equipment Operators and is supported by a variety of vendors that provide the tools, equipment, materials and knowledge necessary for us to do our jobs with excellence.”

"Rake-O-Vac" improving Marana ball fields

The Rake-O-Vac was utilized to remove burrs from fields, but it is also improving the turf. 

The Marana Parks and Recreation Department has a very interactive Facebook page. Through the page they not only try to publicize their events and programs, but get feedback from those who participate in the program.

A few weeks back several parents of little leaguers who utilized the fields at Ora Mae Harn Park informed the staff that there were a large number of grass burrs in the baseball field grass and that they could not only be uncomfortable for the young athletes playing in them, but they were getting stuck to the uniforms, making it very difficult to get the uniforms clean.

Parks and Rec staff looked into the problem and found seeds down in the turf from kaki weed that have sharp points on them. This is how the plant propagates itself attaching to something walking through the area and being deposited elsewhere.

The Park Maintenance team was quick to respond and looked to figure out a solution to the problem. The maintenance team worked with the Town of Marana Fleet Division to refurbish equipment already in Town's inventory to help resolve the problem. They repaired the Rake-O-Vac and set out to see if it could fix the burr problem.

Not only did they reduce the number of burrs, but they found the machine was also helping to remove dead thatch from the turf. The thatch acts in a way that is similar to evaporative cooler pads and keeps the turf cooler. Once removed the Bermuda grass was able to thrive.  

“The Rake-O-Vac is now onsite and being used to reduce the burrs, improve overall grass conditions, and enhance park user experience,” said Marana Parks and Recreation Maintenance Superintendent David Herman. "We like to think no seed, no weed."

With the success of the Rake-O-Vac, the plan is to now hit all of the other fields in the Town. With Little League season about to begin, those fields will get the first treatments, but soon the rest of the multi-purpose fields will also see the Rake-O-Vac make a visit.

The device uses large “fingers” to both sweep and vacuum, but can also be fitted with other attachments that can handle grass cutting, sweeping, and even leaf removal.

Applicants wanted for open position on Marana Planning Commission

The Town of Marana is seeking qualified citizens for a position on the Planning Commission.  The term expires June 30, 2021.

The Marana Planning Commission is a Council-appointed seven-member advisory body which makes recommendations to the Marana Town Council on matters relating to zoning and land development, including the Marana General Plan (Marana's future vision for development) and applications for approval of rezoning cases, subdivision plats, development plans, and conditional uses.  Applicants must be Marana residents.

The Planning Commission meets at the Marana Municipal Complex at 6:30 p.m. on the last Wednesday of each month. Agendas are available at the Marana Development Services office on the Monday before the meeting.

Deadline to submit an application is April 27, 2018. All applications will remain active for one year from the date of receipt. 

Applications are available at http://marana.seamlessdocs.com/f/boards and can be submitted online.  Call 382-1960 or 382-2655  for more information.

Posted:  March 26, 2018

Marana Town Clerk

2018 Council Candidate Orientation and Voter Registration

On Wednesday, April 4, 2018, a candidate orientation will be held in the Council Chambers of the Marana Municipal Complex, 11555 W. Civic Center Drive, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. to assist prospective candidates with the process of running for office in the August 2018 primary election.

Marana holds staggered, non-partisan elections every two years.  This year, four seats are open.  Candidate packets will be available at the orientation and are also available online at http://www.maranaaz.gov/candidate-information in person at the Office of the Town Clerk.

The Town Clerk and the Deputy Town Clerk will give a brief presentation on candidate filing requirements, forms and campaign finance.  The Town Attorney will advise candidates on legal issues and give a short tutorial on the Arizona Open Meeting Law.  Also covered will be current law on posting political signs.

Information on registering to vote will also be part of the orientation. April 30 is the earliest date to turn in candidate filings, and May 30, 2018 is the deadline to file.

As of February 14, 2018, 24,992 Marana residents were registered to vote.

Historically, Marana’s Council Members have been elected at the Primary and then seated after the November general election.

For questions, contact Jocelyn Bronson, Marana Town Clerk, at 520-382-1960, or Hilary Hiser, Deputy Town Clerk, at 520-382-1962.