The holidays are almost upon us, but there are still some fun and productive activities around Marana over the next month or so. There are ways to have family holiday fun, get rid of old/unwanted electronics, and kick off your New Year’s fitness goals in style.
Mayor's Message: Promises made, promises kept
This Mayor’s Message originally ran in the Marana News/Explorer News.
Construction of the new Marana Police Facility has reached completion at the Marana Municipal Complex, and last month celebrated its grand opening. This project is a perfect example of local government delivering exactly what was promised to the constituents. This new police facility was built debt-free thanks to a temporary half cent sales tax that will be repealed on January 1, 2019.
Our police department and community can now welcome a state-of-the-art facility that will further support our Marana Police Department’s mission of unparalled service, unwavering protection and uncompromised integrity.
The increase went into effect with full community support on July 2015 after nearly a year of public outreach and research. Marana Police Chief Terry Rozema, senior staff, and Town Council members met with local residents and business leaders to garner the necessary support to build the project, including public meetings, direct business outreach, media interviews, survey cards, and open houses to show the need for the new facility. As Marana continues to grow and our police department expands, the existing facilities within the Marana Municipal Complex and at the Marana Operation Center were no longer meeting the safety needs of a responsive law enforcement agency.
Marana residents and businesses overwhelmingly supported the project and the use of a temporary sales tax increase as its funding source. They trusted us to implement and repeal the tax, as well as to use the money for what we said it was for. We did just that. In December we will collect the final portion of the $18,000,000 needed to build the police facility, and Marana Town Council has already instructed Town staff to lower the sales tax at the start of the new year. Per the original resolution, every dime raised went into a fund to pay specifically for the facility, including design, construction, and furniture.
Our citizens and business leaders supported the project because of the great relationship our police department has forged with the community. The Marana Police Department has earned the trust and respect of Marana and the public was all too happy to endorse the project.
We made a promise to the people of Marana, and we kept that promise. With this new facility, you can be rest assured that our Marana Police Department will continue to provide great service to the community, and is now equipped to keep Marana safe as our Town moves into the future.
Ed Honea is the Mayor of the Town of Marana
Go Full Steam This Spring
Where did the fall go? It seemed like just yesterday the Marana Parks and Recreation staff were gearing up for a busy fall after a very busy summer. Now we are excited to “Go Full Steam Into Spring.”
In November we held our first Art Expo at the Marana Community Center, and it was so successful we are bringing it back. This time we are going to feature some of the amazing student artists who live in the town.
Marana continues to be a certification destination as we once again partner with the American Red Cross to provide first aid, lifeguarding, and babysitting classes.
You want races? We’ve got races. Kick off the New Year with the Egg Nog Jog. Like to hike? Then the M.O.V.E. Across 2 Ranges Hike Challenge is something you’ll need to check out. In March we present our Cape Chase Adventure Fun Run, which is an inclusive superhero themed event for everyone. We’ll again celebrate Mother’s Day with our annual 5K and Fun Run, while those who like to mountain bike will have to check out the Marana Meltdown, a mountain bike timed trial on the Tortolita Preserve Trailhead.
Have kids that love the outdoors, but want something more mentally stimulating? We’ve created our Nature To You Garden Education Series at the Marana Heritage River Park. Those who want to be inspired artistically may want to take in one of our Paint Nights in the Park.
Pickleball continues to be one of our most popular sports and we’ll have leagues all spring. The first one runs from Feb-April, while the second runs from April until late June.
We’ll also continue to offer Coed Softball League, open gym for volleyball and basketball, and two sessions for Adult Tennis Lessons.
For the kids, there are also tennis lessons, basketball and football clinics, Pee Wee Soccer in north and south Marana, another speed and agility clinic, another Itty Bitty Open Tot Golf outing, and a brand new Mini Me – Sports Edition.
This spring we partner with Northwest Medical Center to provide health seminars. Other new programs include Tots & Me Story Art Class, STREAM Afterschool Club, Park & Stroll – Playground Explorer Club, and kids and teens Marana Police Academies. Of course all of your favorite classes, concerts, and activities will also be available.
As you can see, there is so much to do, so please “Go Full Steam” this Spring with Marana Parks and Recreation
Jim Conroy, Marana Parks and Recreation Director
December 8 Dispose-A-Med
The Dispose-A-Med event that will be taking place Saturday, December 8 , 2018 at Fry's Food & Drug Store located at 7870 N. Silverbell Road, from 10am-Noon.
The Marana Police Department, in partnership with the Marana-Foothills Optimist Club, Marana Prevention Alliance, and Vistoso Funeral Home, encourage citizens, businesses and schools to join us in sharing information about drug awareness and preventive measures.
The Police Department provides this opportunity for the proper disposal of unused and/or expired prescription drugs. Prescription and over-the-counter tablets and capsules will be collected. For safety and confidentiality reasons, any items turned over for collection cannot be returned. We cannot accept drugs from commercial organizations. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
THE MARANA POLICE DEPARTMENT WOULD LIKE TO LET EVERYONE KNOW OF A CHANGE WHEN IT COMES TO THIS EVENT. SYRINGES, CREAMS OR LOTIONS WILL NO LONGER BE COLLECTED. SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCE.
Tangerine Phase I officially complete
The Town of Marana, the Town of Oro Valley and Pima County, along with the Psomas design team and contractor Tangerine Corridor Constructors (TCC) - a Granite Construction/Borderland Construction joint venture, are pleased to announce the completion of Phase I of the Tangerine Corridor Project.
The completion of the five-mile segment of Tangerine Road from Dove Mountain Boulevard/Twin Peaks Road to La Cañada Drive was celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony on September 21, 2018.
The newly constructed roadway has delivered to the public:
A four-lane roadway with landscaped medians
The elimination of dip crossings and upgraded culverts to provide 100-year flood access
Pedestrian and bicycle facilities
The installation of additional turn lanes and signalization at key intersections
Wildlife linkages for wildlife corridors along this stretch of roadway
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks for your constant support and patience while we worked to complete this project. It did not go unnoticed.
Marana Reclamation Facility and Recharge Project Grand Opening ceremony
Marana Water Director John Kmiec speaks at the grand opening ceremony.
On Tuesday, November 27, Marana Water held the Marana Reclamation Facility and Recharge Project Grand Opening ceremony. The facility opened earlier this fall and is the culmination of two years of hard work by Marana Water staff.
“This celebration has been a long time coming for the Town,” said Marana Water and Reclamation Director John Kmiec. “For over ten years the Town has embarked on this journey [to control] its own destiny as far as water resource management.”
The new wastewater facility can treat triple its previous capacity, equating to a total of 1.5 million gallons per day. Marana can now handle up to 10,000 new homes or businesses coming into the area.
“Our day here is about the future,” Kmiec said. It is about the future of the Town of Marana, in particular the north part of Marana where we have these water resources. “Where we are the wastewater provider for the community, and throughout the whole Marana Water system that will be benefitting from the resources that will be managed out of this facility.”
The new facility uses a process known as conventional activated sludge treatment. The process uses bacteria and biological matter to break down waste and help purify the water. The facility utilizes two separate treatment trains that can treat up to 750,000 gallons per day each. The two treatment trains also allow for redundancy should maintenance be required. This expansion was designed to allow further expansion with room for additional basins, which was another reason that Council selected this process.
In addition to making improvements on the facility, Town Council decided to enter the sewer business to enhance Marana’s water portfolio. The recharge facility is able to recharge 100 percent of the effluent from the new water reclamation facility. Marana will receive recharge credits for 100 percent of the water stored in the facility from the Arizona Department of Water Resources. These credits allow the town to provide safe, reliable and sustainable resources for its customers.
“For a successful community in the state of Arizona to be enduring…we have to have proper resource management of our local water supplies,” said Kmiec. “It is critical, and that is what today is about.”
Marana took over the previous facility from Pima County in 2012 with the ability to treat 500,000 gallons per day. The Town Council voted to fund the expansion in 2016, and the project went on line two years later this June.
“This celebration has been a long time coming for the town,” Kmiec said. “For over 10 years the Town has embarked on this journey of its own destiny.”
Marana Mayor Ed Honea spoke at the ceremony and reminded everyone that Marana incorporated in large part as a way for area residents to control their ground water, so it was only fitting that the plant will help Marana continue to grow.
“We’ve come a long way and we have a wonderful staff and I am proud of all of them,” Honea said.
KVOA TV came out and did a nice feature on the facility and what it means to Marana:
Another successful Marana Segment of El Tour de Tucson
Over 1,000 cyclists and their supporters showed up at Heritage River Park on Saturday, November 17 for the 25-Mile Marana Segment of the El Tour de Tucson Event. It was the third year Marana has hosted their own segment of the race, and the shorter distance has proven to be an attraction for less experienced riders, or those riding with their families.
Marana Parks and Recreation helps to put on the event and believes it helps represents the Town’s strategic goals of Community and Recreation.
“This was an outstanding event,” said Marana Parks and Recreation Director Jim Conroy. “It is exciting to see so many people getting out and exercising.”
The Town also believes that the race is not only a great way to get residents to experience the Marana Heritage River Park, but is also a great attraction for people to visit Marana.
“It was a perfect day for our visitors to enjoy Heritage River Park and learn a little more about our great community,” Conroy said.
The first two years of the event saw the race begin near the playground and splash pad portion of the park. This year the race began in front of the farm portion of the park and actually had riders leaving the area in the opposite direction. The idea was to create more room for the riders and spectators.
Marana Parks and Recreation staff worked with Perimeter Bicycling Association of America Inc. (PBAA).staff to organize this event at Heritage Park, while Marana Police Department and Town Traffic Engineering staff did an outstanding job with traffic signage, signals and point control keeping cyclist safe while riding on Marana roads.
“As always it was a total team effort by Town of Marana staff to execute this exceptional community and fitness event,” Conroy said.
Marana Water Festival teaches students about water conservation
On Thursday, November 15 the Town of Marana participated in the third annual Marana Water Festival at Crossroads at Silverbell District Park. The event was put on by Arizona Project Wet and staffed by Marana Water and other Town of Marana employees, as well as Tucson Water and the University of Arizona.
Over 800 Marana Unified School District fourth-graders attended the event and learned about the watershed, water conservation, groundwater, and the water cycle. The idea behind the event, and events like it all over the state, is to give students a greater understanding of where their water comes from and why water conservation is so important.
“Once they learn about these concepts at the Marana Water Festival, they will take this information home and apply it there,” said Marana Water Director John Kmiec.
Kmiec noted that water conservation is always very important in Southern Arizona, but even more so with drought conditions impacting the Colorado River, from which Marana receives a lot of its water.
The students attended the event in two separate shifts and went through four different stations. Each station focused on a different aspect of the program and allowed the students hands-on activities to reinforce the ideas.
The volunteers at the event went through a training program to aid them in teaching the program’s lessons.
The Marana Water Festival is one of many Arizona Water Festivals. The hope is that they will instill a deeper understanding of water in the earth system and Arizona’s water resources through a community water festival event, teacher professional development workshop, and extensive volunteer and community involvement.
Interstate 10 lane closures near Ina Road set for Nov. 17
Motorists on Interstate 10 near Ina Road should expect overnight lane closures the night of Saturday, Nov. 17.
Westbound I-10 is scheduled to be reduced to a single lane from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. between Orange Grove and Ina roads for paving.
This work is in addition to a previously announced lane closure on westbound I-10 scheduled between 9 p.m. and 4 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 20.
Drivers should proceed through the work zone with caution, slow down and watch for construction personnel and equipment.
Schedules are subject to change based on weather and other unforeseen factors. For more information, please call the ADOT Project Information Line at 855.712.8530 or email Projects@azdot.gov. For real-time highway conditions statewide, visit ADOT's Traveler Information Site at www.az511.gov, follow ADOT on Twitter (@ArizonaDOT) or call 511, except when driving.
Marana Police Facility Dedication Ceremony
MARANA - The Marana Police Facility has been operational for a few weeks, but on Wednesday, November 14 the Marana Police Department held a formal dedication ceremony in celebration of its completion.
“This building is a tribute to this community’s unwavering support and to the support and teamwork of all the Town’s departments,” said Marana Deputy Chief Ruben Nunez, who served as the Master of Ceremonies for the event.
Ground was broken on the $23 million project in June of 2017, but it has been in the works since 2011. Police Chief Terry Rozema said that he saw the need for a new facility prior to accepting the job, and he got the ball rolling for the project shortly after becoming police chief.
Now that the project is complete, the police station is even better than Rozema envisioned.
“I had an idea of what this facility would be like,” said Rozema. “I had this vision of what it was going to be like and how it would work…nothing could have prepared me how amazing this facility is when you actually walk through it.”
The bulk of the facility was paid for with a temporary half-cent sales tax that will be repealed on January 1, 2019. The tax had the support of the public and the business community.
Marana Mayor Ed Honea spoke on the public outreach process prior to initiating the sales tax. “We went to the Chamber of Commerce, we went to HOA’s, we went to [the businesses]. The Chief lobbied every single person in this town. I think he spoke to all 45,000 people! We said ‘what do you think of the idea of a half-cent sales tax, so that when we build this new police facility we are not going to have a debt for 30 years?’ Everybody seemed to agree with it.”
Town Manager Jamsheed Mehta explained that the Town had a number of options as to where the facility would be build, but in the end placing it in North Marana made the most sense from a growth standpoint, as well as the facility being a perfect complement to the Marana Municipal Complex campus.
Also speaking at the dedication were Project Manager Rick Carr from Abacus, architect Michael Rosso of Architekton, and Todd Steffen, the president of CORE Construction.
Chief Rozema said some people have suggested that the building serves as his legacy, but he disagreed with that.
“I really hope that is not my legacy,” Rozema said. “I did not become a cop to build buildings. I didn’t even become a police chief and come to Marana to build buildings…Our legacy, I hope, is one where we have instilled and implemented a philosophy, an ideology and a culture of policing that transcends time. That we go out and provide a level of service to this community that is un-paralleled. To the extent that this building assists us in doing that, then that is part of the legacy.”
Marana begins grease recycling and collection on Nov. 19
Marana begins grease recycling and collection on Nov. 19
The Town of Marana is doing their part to protect the local sewer systems by once again hosting a Holiday Season grease collection and recycling event.
Just a little bit of cooking grease, if poured down the drain, can clog pipes, cause sewage to back up, and lead to costly repair bills.
The Town will collect grease beginning on Monday, November 19 at the Marana Water Operations Yard at 12775 N. Sanders Road. The collection will conclude on Friday, January 4.
The collected grease will be recycled into biodiesel.
Town staff participate in Southern Arizona Construction Career Days
The Town of Marana was well represented at the Southern Arizona Construction Career Days earlier this week. Marana Water staff, engineers and Traffic Technicians from Public Works were on site on Wednesday, November 7 and Thursday, November 8 at the Pima County Rodeo Grounds.
Southern Arizona Construction Career Days is an annual event to introduce students to careers in and related to the construction industry. Area high school and middle school students attended.
The event began six years ago, and has grown. This year 1,880 students from at least 65 schools attended The students came from as far away as f Rio Ricco, Bisbee, Safford and Globe, as well as the Tucson area.
Vendors, including the team from Marana, were able to share their stories about their experiences in the construction industry, as well as introduce students to new careers in construction that they previously were not exposed to.
According to Public Works Deputy Director Fausto Burruel, there are a number of careers in the construction industry that are struggling to find qualified applicants and exposure to these careers are a great way to spark enthusiasm in young people who will be joining the workforce in a few years.
Vendors not only spoke to students and answered their questions, but many had hands on activities that brought the information they were presenting to life.
Traffic Signal on Arizona Pavilions to blink through Tuesday morning
The Town of Marana and PACE Electrical are happy to announce that the new traffic signal installed just south of Cortaro Road on Arizona Pavilions will be going to flash mode after the morning rush hour this Thursday, November 8, 2018.
The traffic signal will flash throughout the weekend and Veteran’s Day Holiday and go fully functional after the Tuesday morning rush hour, November 13, 2018. Occasional traffic signal testing will be performed prior to going to full red flash on Thursday.
For your safety and that of the contractor’s personnel, please comply with traffic control devices, flagging personnel, and/or detour signs.
Travel time through the project area may increase during construction so please adjust your schedule accordingly. Construction may restrict traffic lanes and create congestion. Taking alternate routes is suggested.
If inclement weather or other events cause delays, the work may be rescheduled without further notice.
Stay up-to-date on Town of Marana news, projects, and events. Visit MaranaAZ.gov, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter.
As construction winds down, remember to Shop Ina
Between the Ina Road Interchange Project and the Ina Road Beautification Project, things have been very busy on Ina Road between I-10 and Thornydale. There is light at the end of the tunnel and things are going to get better in a hurry, but area businesses are still feeling the pinch and could use the public’s support.
One major component of the Ina Beautification Project was the milling and resurfacing of a long stretch Ina Road. While the improved roadway will benefit all of those who live, work, and shop in the area, it also causes a number of delays and difficulties for drivers. There was no convenient time to do the project, but the decision was made to do that portion of the project during the larger Project Ina work and before the holiday shopping season began. Knowing that traffic delays were an unavoidable portion of the project, it seemed best to piggy back with the existing interchange project, rather than wait until after the project was completed and extend construction in the area even longer.
The good news is that the resurfacing portion of the project was completed on Monday, November 4, which will make travelling in the area easier. The previous week was the worst of the project and from now until spring 2019 when the projects are completed, things will get incrementally better.
Although travelling in the area can still be difficult at times, local businesses have remained open and need customer support now more than ever. While many have made it through the construction with only small losses in revenue, others have been hit hard during the project and need a strong holiday season to make it until the project is completed and access to the freeway is restored.
The Project Ina area includes a wide variety of businesses, from craft breweries to mechanics, a bowling alley to restaurants. There are all kinds of shops and stores, and with the final repaving of Ina, access is improved.
We invite you to Shop Ina and support these locally owned businesses. Go get an oil change or a beer. Go buy some cookies or take the family out to dinner. Buy a dozen donuts or a dozen tacos. Heck, make it two dozen.
We understand travel in the area can still be difficult, but it is getting better. Let’s help our fellow Marana business owners this holiday season and Shop Marana.
A full list of area businesses, as well as project updates and details, download the Project Ina App.
Things to do in Marana in November and beyond
November and early December is a busy time in the Town of Marana. Over the next month, the Town will host one of their biggest signature events, their annual Thanksgiving road race, a Marana specific leg of the El Tour de Tucson, and another edition of the Marana Game Day Cornhole Tournament.
On The Horizon
Dec 8 - Dispose-A-Med
Dec 15 - Electronic Recycling Event
Jan 1 - Egg Nog Jog
UPDATED Traffic Alert: Ina Road resurfacing extended
The Town of Marana’s Milling and Paving operations has been extended on Ina Road thru Monday November 5, 2018. Construction will begin at 6:00A.M. and end at 5:00 P.M. Expect lane closures, heavy delays, and increased truck traffic. The Town will mill 3 inches of the existing asphalt and then repave the section of Ina road, between Ulene Place and the Canada del Oro wash
For your safety and that of the contractor’s personnel, please comply with traffic control devices, flagging personnel, and/or detour signs.
Travel time through the project area may increase during construction so please adjust your schedule accordingly. Construction may restrict traffic lanes and create congestion. Taking alternate routes is suggested.
If inclement weather or other events cause delays, the work may be rescheduled without further notice.
Stay up-to-date on Town of Marana news, projects, and events. Visit MaranaAZ.gov, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter.
MPD wins inaugural Heroes Hoopfest
The Marana Police Department (MPD) defeated Northwest Fire Department (NWFD) 56-47 to win the first annual Heroes Hoopfest, and claim the Hoopfest Cup. The game was played on Monday, October 29 at the Solar/Shade Super Structure over the basketball courts at Crossroads at Silverbell District Park.
The game was part of the celebration of the new covered basketball courts, but also in conjunction with Friday night's National Night Out event put on by MPD.
MPD used a late run to earn the win. MPD held a slim 35-34 lead with 16:00 left in the game but proceeded to score 19 of the next 26 points and led 54-41 with just over a minute to play. NWFD finished strong, ending the game on a 6-2 mini-run.
Although the two organizations frequently square off on the hardwood, this organized game between the two will become an annual event. The trophy awarded by Marana Parks and Recreation has room to engrave the winner’s name.
“We’d like to make this game an annual event,” said Marana Parks and Recreation Director Jim Conroy.
The trophy was awarded to Marana Police Chief Terry Rozema by Marana Town Manager Jamsheed Mehta. Rozema served as player and coach for the squad that was also guided by Officer Ira Sewell, who was in full uniform on the sideline.
The solar structure is the second installation at a Town park, and joins the existing 6,097 sq. ft. solar structure located in Ora Mae Harn District Park. This project not only provides electrical credits and environmentally friendly energy, it also serves as an outstanding amenity for the park. This structure will provide shade for park patrons watching swim meets in the pool or their children playing on the large playground.
The two structures, as well as future structures erected at the Marana Municipal Complex, are part of a power-purchase agreement with Solon. The company pays for the installation costs of the solar arrays, while the Town pays a discounted rate for the energy it uses. Estimates by the Town of Marana Public Works Department believe the installations will save the Town roughly $3 million over a 30-year period.
“When there is shade and savings, that is a win-win for everyone,” said Solon’s Luke Alms.
The event was also sponsored by Truly Nolan, who provided free hot dogs for spectators and participants.
After one year, Animal Services a success
The Marana Animal Services Division rounded out its inaugural year of operation on July 1, 2018. The program was implemented to provide top tier customer service to Marana residents, while trying to curtail skyrocketing costs. The data is in, and the first year of the program has been a success.
Town of Marana Community & Neighborhood Services Director Lisa Shafer, who oversees the Animal Services Division, gave an update to the Marana Town Council at their October 16 meeting.
“We had a very successful first year,” Shafer said.
The primary goal in creating the Animal Services Division was to provide a better level of service to the Marana Community. By having Animal Control Officers dedicated to the Town, response times are quicker based on their more intimate knowledge of the area. One immediate advantage to the Animal Services Division is their success rate in reuniting families with their pets. In the first year of the service, Town staff picked up 263 stray dogs and cats, and 133 were taken directly back to their owners. Another 38 strays were returned to their owners by the Humane Society of Southern Arizona, who the Town has contracted with for kenneling services.
The return rate for all Marana strays was 49.6 percent, with Marana Animal Control officers able to return more than half of the strays they encountered. The numbers are already showing an increase in performance this year, with over 72 percent of strays returned over the past three months.
“We are having a fabulous first three months,” said Shafer.
According to Shafer, the fast response by the Town’s Animal Control Officers has also reduced the burden on the Marana police officers. She explained that many residents had to rely on Marana Police Department for calls due to the long response times from the previous animal control services.
“[residents] were giving up and just calling 911,” Shafer said. “Our PD in years past were taking a lot of barking dog complaints, as well as vicious dogs.”
The Town of Marana Animal Services Division has also proven to be cost effective for the Town. The first year of the new division saw expenditures reduced by $9,635 or four percent from Fiscal Year 2017, while revenues were up by $12,069 (14 percent) from dog licensing and donations.
The Town issued over 4,400 Marana Dog Licenses in that first year.
Traffic Alert: Ina Road resurfacing
The Town of Marana will begin Milling and Paving operations on Ina Road beginning Monday, October 29th through Friday, November 2nd. Construction will begin at 6:00 a.m. and end at 5:00 p.m. daily. Expect lane closures, heavy delays, and increased truck traffic. The Town will mill (remove) three inches of existing asphalt and then repave the section of Ina Road between Ulene Place and the Canada del Oro Wash.
This is part of the Ina Road Beautification Project, which is being done in conjunction with Arizona Department of Transportation’s Ina Interchange Project. The beautification/improvement project is designed to make the area even more appealing for customers when the interchange is complete and Ina Road is fully accessible once again.
For your safety and that of the contractor’s personnel, please comply with traffic control devices, flagging personnel, and/or detour signs.
Travel time through the project area may increase during construction so please adjust your schedule accordingly. Construction may restrict traffic lanes and create congestion. Taking alternate routes is suggested.
If inclement weather or other events cause delays, the work may be rescheduled without further notice.
Stay up-to-date on Town of Marana news, projects, and events. Visit MaranaAZ.gov, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter.
Busy weekend in Marana
It is a very busy weekend in the Town of Marana. There is something for everyone, whether you want to meet the police, watch a free movie, view some art, or get your dogs vaccinated.
