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Keep your Dogs and Cats Safe During Marana’s Star Spangled Spectacular

In Marana, the Fourth of July means a day of community festivities and fireworks for people, but for pets, it can be a stressful experience.  Because pets—and especially dogs—have heightened senses of smell and hearing, that means the explosions of fireworks can disorient them, even causing them to want to run away.

Don’t worry, though!  These tips, provided by the Humane Society of the United States, will help you and your best friend prepare for this holiday. 

1.       Keep your pets safely away from fireworks

There are a number of ways you can do this. Is your home close to Crossroads at Silverbell Park, where Marana’s Start Spangled Spectacular will be this year?  Consider taking your four-legged friend to a friend or relative’s house for the evening. 

Don’t worry if that’s not an option, though. You can still leave your pet indoors with radio or TV turned on to drown out loud noises.

If you can’t leave your dog at home during the event, please be sure to keep her on leash throughout the night. 

2.       Call your vet for help

There are several safe medications which can help lower animal anxiety during fireworks.  Consider asking your vet which ones are best suited for your best friend.

3.       Protect your pet from heat stroke during our summer temperatures

In Marana, we know how to cope with the summer heat, but our pets with their fur coats have it a little harder than we do.  During the hottest days, bring your pets inside and make sure they have plenty of water.  Never leave a dog in a car unattended, even for a few minutes.  If you see any signs of heatstroke in your pet, including heavy panting, glazed eyes, a rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing, excessive thirst, lethargy, fever, dizziness, lack of coordination, profuse salivation, vomiting, a deep red or purple tongue, seizure, and unconsciousness, see a veterinarian immediately.

4.       Make sure your pet is wearing a collar with an ID tag

Even indoor pets can become so anxious during fireworks that they will try to escape through windows or screen doors.  By keeping a collar with ID tag on your pet, you dramatically increase the likelihood of your pet making it home.  Micro-chipping your animal is also a great idea.

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Marana’s Star Spangled Spectacular is a one of the Town’s most well-attended events of the year.  We hope you will be able to join us for the festivities, but before you leave the house, please make sure that your pets are also ready for a stress-free evening. 

Marana News: Marana expecting biggest Star Spangled Spectacular yet

Article by Brad Allis, Marana News

The Town of Marana’s Star Spangled Spectacular promises to be the biggest and best yet. 

Last year’s event drew more than 10,000 people to Crossroads at Silverbell District Park and town officials are expecting to break that record this July 4.

Fireworks are the main event, but there is so much more to see and do. 

News Release: Town of Marana Council Briefed on Status of the Marana Regional Airport Master Plan and Strategic Business Plan

Marana, Arizona – The Marana Regional Airport Master Plan and Strategic Business Plan commenced in August of 2015 led by a team of consultants from Armstrong Consultants, Inc., The Genesis Consulting Group, LLC, and Woolpert Inc. The intent of the Airport Master and Strategic Business Plans is to ensure future airport development is designed to enhance air and ground operations and improve safety and airport services for the Town, as well as the public users of the airport. An Airport Master Plan (AMP) describes and depicts the overall concept for the long-term development of an airport, and the Strategic Business Plan (SBP) provides a financial and objective based plan to reach the business goals of the airport and support its development.

Both the Airport Master and Strategic Business Plans will be finalized in the next couple of months. It is anticipated that the Airport Master Plan will be completed in August 2016; once complete, the Airport Master Plan and corresponding Airport Layout Plan (ALP) will be sent to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for final approval. The Strategic Business Plan is anticipated to be completed shortly thereafter, in September 2016.

The Planning Advisory Committee (PAC) and Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), along with the Strategic Business Plan Committee (SBPC), have met three times during the project to provide input and guidance on draft Working Papers published for both the AMP and SBP. Meeting minutes and all published draft documents for both projects that have been completed thus far can be found on the Airport’s website at www.flymarana.com.  

A briefing with the Marana Town Council was held on Tuesday June 28, 2016. The purpose of the briefing was to provide Council members an update on the status of both the AMP and SBP, and the anticipated schedule for completion for both projects. At this stage in the process, future planned development has been identified within the draft AMP and a development strategy which includes grouping the airport into three distinct sectors (general aviation, specialty aviation services, and corporate development) has been created. In addition, the proposed plan includes providing space for more hangars, making some adjustment to the airfield geometry, and identifying where a future terminal building can be constructed to accommodate the increase in corporate jet traffic. Likewise, the SBP has analyzed the regional market factors, opportunities, and possible development scenarios, both at the Marana Regional Airport, and in the immediate areas adjacent to the airport. As a result, a market focus and a current economic depiction of the area has been developed.   

The FAA and ADOT will participate in funding eligible projects, thereby reducing the costs to the Town of Marana. Under current Federal and State legislation, the FAA will fund 91.06 percent of eligible costs and the ADOT will fund 4.47 percent. The Town will fund the remaining 4.47 percent. Projects that are not funded by the FAA may be funded solely by ADOT; in this case, the State would fund 90 percent of eligible costs and the Town would be responsible for 10 percent of the remaining costs. Funding for eligible projects, regardless of FAA or State participation, is not guaranteed and is subject to funding availability. Additionally, under Airport Sponsor Assurance #24, the FAA requires that any AIP-funded airport be as financially self-sustaining as possible given the circumstances that exist at the airport. The development and implementation of an airport business plan provides the opportunity for the airport manager and policymakers to demonstrate that fiduciary responsibilities and the requirements of the FAA are being taken seriously.  An airport’s financial statements, budgets, and performance measures are considered essential tools for achieving goals and realizing the mission and vision for the airport.

The final steps in the AMP process include a brief environmental overview, finalization of the ALP, and a concise financial plan which will provide an estimate of the costs associated with the proposed development and potential funding sources to pay for the development over the course of the 20-year planning period. The final steps in the SBP process will take into account all of the information and analysis that has been developed to date, and address the final goals and objectives of the airport. The final report will make recommendations for a stronger business structure, and will map a path to successful development for the future.

Marana Water News: Working in the lab...

Marana Water operates several drinking water systems and a wastewater treatment facility (WWTF). Between these systems and the WWTF, the Marana Water team collects many samples to ensure water quality requirements are being met. These samples are then analyzed by a licensed laboratory to ensure all water systems are in compliance with the Drinking Water Act (for drinking water systems) and the Clean Water Act (for the WWTF). To learn more about the samples taken and what compounds are being analyzed, click here.

Based on the system sizes, Marana Water participates in the state's Monitoring Assistance Program (MAP) for compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act. The purpose of this program is to help water providers that serve less than 10,000 people share the burden of sampling costs with other small water providers. The fees paid into this program are used by the state to procure a contract to collect, transport, organize and report results of samples to the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. This program gives a more economical option for smaller water departments to complete the required water sampling.

The operation of the WWTF requires additional sampling due to separate testing requirements and to maintain plant operations. These samples are analyzed by contract laboratories due to the high expense of operating a licensed laboratory for our small system.

Sharing a campus with the Agua Nueva Water Reclamation Facility is the Compliance and Regulatory Affairs (CRAO) Laboratory; a lab that analyzes wastewater samples. This lab, run by the Pima County Water Reclamation Department, is a state certified facility by the Arizona Department of Health Services. This certification means the lab has provided sets of standards, collection procedures, testing procedures, and other requirements to ensure the tests and results are as accurate as possible. Having this certification also means that the lab can analyze samples from various public entities including universities and state and local governments. While the sampling done for Marana Water is not done at this facility, it is an example of the types of processes done to ensure the water samples are analyzed properly to meet all regulations from the EPA.

As part of the $600 million investment made by Pima County, the CRAO Laboratory opened in 2011, and allows the lab the ability to test for even smaller result values including parts per trillion. This site includes labs for microbiology, organic compounds, inorganic compounds, effluent testing, biosolid testing, mercury, and wet chemistry. CRAO is currently constructing a whole effluent toxicity testing lab, which will include aquariums for culturing fish to meet discharge monitoring requirements.

Housed at this same facility is the University of Arizona Water and Energy Sustainable Technology (WEST) Center. This highly regarded research center aspires to be a venue for research and development of water treatment technologies, contaminant monitoring tools, energy minimization and production, and innovative education and training components. The access to the lab facilities, the reclaimed water system, and the Santa Cruz river all provide a unique environment for emerging technologies the WEST center may discover.

While the CRAO Laboratory may have different equipment than the labs contracted by Marana Water, the abilities of this lab are very similar to what we require of the labs that analyze our samples. Sending samples to labs like this one allow Marana Water staff to accurately and knowledgeably address potential issues that may arise in the drinking water and wastewater systems. The CRAO Laboratory is another facet to the water and water reclamation industry. The people working at labs like this are chemists, biologists, or have other science backgrounds. Further, there are operators, samplers, and administrative staff that help keep everything running smoothly. This is another example of the diversity of the water industry.

Marana Water News: A Living River - The Lower Santa Cruz

UPDATE

The new results for the Living River project have been published. Several highlights include the reduction of odors from the reclamation facility, identification of several new fish species in the river, and improved water quality. To find out more about the changes seen this year, and to read the full report check out this link.

Last week, members of the Technical Advisory team for the Living River project took a helicopter ride over the Lower Santa Cruz river. Water Director, John Kmiec, and other water professionals from around the region flew the 23-mile stretch of the river in Pima County as part of the annual data collection process. The water flowing in the Santa Cruz is mainly highly treated wastewater, which accounts for most of the daily streamflow. There are other sources that contribute to the water flow including run off from rains throughout the Tucson region. The future of water in the region can be seen in the work being done at the Water Reclamation facilities. The water introduced into the river and the runoff from other sources helps to recharge the aquifer and support the long term health of the water system.

An excerpt from the 2014 Living River annual report.

In the mid-20th century, the Lower Santa Cruz largely began to disappear due to the pumping of groundwater. Highly treated effluent water was introduced into the system at two treatment facilities that has allowed for some areas of the river to flow year round. This also helped to create important wildlife habitat, and a community amenity connected to several parks and The Loop system. The two treatment facilities have been in operation since the 1970s. In 2013, almost $600 million capital investment to increase the water quality from these facilities was completed. One of the goals of this capital investment was to increase the quality of the water being introduced to the river. The water from Agua Nueva and Tres Rios has provided an increase in water quality that has been the catalyst for the increased vegetation and wildlife presence.

The indicators used to determine the health of the Lower Santa Cruz

The Living River project gathers data on the health of the Lower Santa Cruz. Partnering with the Sonoran Institute, Pima County put together a monitoring program to asses the conditions of the river and the surrounding ecosystem. These represent "a breadth of biological, chemical, physical and social properties" that will identify how the river is doing. The analysis of the 2014 conditions can be found in the report here.

From left to right: John Kmiec, Marana Water Director; Evan Canfield, Pima County Flood Control; Molly Collins, Tucson Water; Tad Bommarito, US Bureau of Reclamation; Brian Powell, Pima County Office of Sustainability & Conservation

From left to right: John Kmiec, Marana Water Director; Evan Canfield, Pima County Flood Control; Molly Collins, Tucson Water; Tad Bommarito, US Bureau of Reclamation; Brian Powell, Pima County Office of Sustainability & Conservation

Mr. Kmiec serves on the Technical Advisory team for the project. His extensive knowledge of hydrology and geology helps the group analyze the current status of the river flows, sediment transport, water quality, and other indicators. This group also prepares the sampling schedule and the final draft document.

The Lower Santa Cruz flows through the Town of Marana, and is an important part of the history of the region. Marana Water works collaboratively with organizations like the Sonoran Institute to ensure that this amenity remains viable for future generations.

Marana competes in the All-America City 2016 competition

For many months, students, community members, and the staff of the Town of Marana have prepared for the All-America City Award Competition.  Every year, these awards recognize communities across the country who work together to identify and tackle community-wide challenges and achieve uncommon results. For two years in a row, the National Civic League has honored Marana as a finalist for this prestigious award. On June 17-19, Marana's delegation represented our community in Denver, Colorado in an effort to bring him this honor. Learn more about the delegation. 

Though the Town did not receive the All-America City Award this year, Marana's delegation admirably represented this community. This year, the competition targeted community programs which address the health and well-being of youth. With a performance celebrating many of the outstanding programs offered by Marana Unified School District,  a Spoken Word performance delivered eloquently and enthusiastically by Marana High School's Maddie Miller, and impromptu sing-a-longs on a city bus and in a conference center lobby, the delegation demonstrated how effectively Marana accomplishes that goal. These photos and videos offer a glimpse into the Marana delegation's incredible efforts.  

on the road

The Marana Delegation traveled for 15 hours to Denver, Colorado, and on the way they made several stops to admire the beautiful Colorado scenery. The first stop was at the City of Trinidad for breakfast, and the second was at the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs. By the time they reached their destination, they were ready to begin rehearsals. 

REHEARSALS

The Marana Delegation had already practiced for hours back home, but now they were able to run dress rehearsals on the actual competition stage. They continued to run rehearsals until their performance. 

OFFICIAL MARANA PRESENTATION

The Marana Delegation had exactly 2.5 minutes to enter the room and setup on stage, and then 10 minutes to give their presentation. This year, the National Civic League wanted to hear from cities that show collaboration in programs that support students to succeed in school and life. The Marana Delegation emphasized the importance of a strong heart, body, and mind in order to succeed. 

ALL-AMERICA CITY CULTURAL ENTERTAINMENT SHOWCASE

After a long day of presentations, the 20 cities had a chance to unwind and get to know each other better during the All-America City Civic Fair and Cultural Entertainment Showcase. The Marana Delegation presented a moving Spoken Word performance followed by a joyful Haitian song. 

MAKING CONNECTIONS WITH OTHER CITIES

Before the opening plenary, the Marana Delegation brought out their instruments and began playing and singing popular radio songs while waiting in the lobby. It didn't take long before other cities wanted to join in, and everyone bonded over music. 

COMMUNITY CONVERSATION AND IDEA SHARING

Cities shared program details with one another during the Festival of Ideas. Marana Delegate and Marana principal Tawnya Caldwell presented on the Marana Cares Mobile, a refurbished school bus that serves as a food truck during school holidays, vacations, and summer months. All children under the age of 18 receive free meals, and just this month doctors began conducting free health checks on the bus. Learn more about the Marana Cares Mobile here and here. 

LOOKING FORWARD

Despite falling short of the All-America City designation, the Marana Delegation did not come home empty-handed. Filled with community pride and inspiration, the delegation is now eager to begin implementing new ideas in the Marana community. Before going on this Denver adventure, many of the students had little knowledge of local government. Now, they are ready to continue their civic engagement and bring more opportunities to youth in the Marana community. The students will meet with Town staff in the coming months to further develop their ideas and share their unique perspectives. 

Thank you to our community partners for their support:

Marana School Resource Officer Receives SRO of the Year Award

During the 2016 Arizona School Resource Officer Association Conference on June 21, Marana Police Department’s own Melissa Larkin received the School Resource Officer of the Year Award.  This recognition honors Officer Larkin’s dedication and service to the students and community of Marana Middle School.

Officer Larkin recently completed her second year working with seventh and eighth grade students at Marana Middle School.  In her time at this school, she has not only forged strong relationships with students, parents, teachers, and staff, but she has also gone above and beyond the call of duty. The federal grant which funds her position requires that she teach 180 hours each school year.  Last year, she clocked a total of 240 hours. 

“I teach an internet safety class which every seventh grader will take at some point.  There are over 500 seventh graders at Marana Middle, and every one of them will spend time in my classroom,” states Officer Larkin.

While internet safety is hardly a new topic for schools, rarely is it taught by a uniformed law enforcement officer. Officer Larkin’s unique position has helped her structure her curriculum. Heather Pletnick, principal Marana Middle School, says “Officer Larkin has a classroom that supports safety and collaboration. She works closely with teachers to establish a curriculum that is timely, educating our students on the dangers of the internet and cyber bullying. Furthermore, she has also developed a Police Explorers class for our 21st century grant class which allows students the opportunity to experience what it is like to be a police officer.”

Larkin says, “We talk a lot about the legal ramifications of cyber-bullying and sexting.  We address how to avoid predators on social media.  Overall, I want my students to be informed users of the powerful tools available online, not scared of them.  I try to use a debate-based approach in my instruction, so that students can grapple with the challenging questions around using the internet appropriately.”

 “Officer Larkin has made an indelible impact in her work at Marana Middle School,” Pletnick further states. “She represents the rights, the safety, the knowledge, and the relationship skills needed to not only connect with students, but to leave a lasting impact on them.”

Officer Larkin is a constant presence at Marana Middle School, a fact which students and teachers are quick to point out.

As she circulates through the lunch room and out on the playing fields, her familiarity with the students is evident.  Energetic throngs of adolescents quickly assemble around her, ready to discuss their latest middle school drama.  Dispassionately, Officer Larkin lets them tell their story, and fortunately, that’s almost all she’ll ever need to do.  By the time the students have reached the end of the saga, they’ve found a resolution. 

Whether she’s maintaining a safe environment, building relationships, helping sort out middle school drama, or educating students on the importance of making good choices, Officer Larkin’s role in the education environment makes a tremendous difference for the community she serves.  Police officers and teachers are natural allies, but that doesn’t mean they always understand each other.  At Marana Middle, though, they do.  Everyone, from the receptionist who has worked at the school for 17 years to the principal who just started last August, knows and trusts Officer Larkin.  She’s part of the “Falcon Family,” as they like to say. 

The Marana Police Department currently has two School Resource Officers.  This award marks the second straight year a Marana Police Officer has won this award.  Officer Cole Hunter, who is assigned to the Marana High School, was last year’s recipient.  

Summer Schooling 2016, Part 2: Let's Get Chemical

This week’s adventures had me rotating through the water and water reclamation divisions of Marana Water.  The water department has an awesome network of wells, tanks, and pumps that are using cutting edge technology and innovative practices to ensure we have a clean sustainable water supply.  

I don’t want to take anything away from the water guys, but what was really cool was learning about water reclamation. 

That’s right boys and girls, I learned more about sewage in one day than I ever thought I would. For a guy that grew up watching Mr. Wizard and Bill Nye, I was completely fascinated with the whole process because the facility is a giant chemistry set.  It is a smorgasbord of organic processes relying on several different scientific disciplines that result in water that is pathogen- and contaminant-free.  Currently the clean water is released into the Santa Cruz River; however that is going to change soon.

The planned expansion to the water reclamation facility will build upon the existing technology creating a more efficient process that is capable of processing more effluent faster and in a smaller footprint.  Instead of releasing the water back into the Santa Cruz, the reclaimed water will then be allowed to perk into the water table via infiltration basins recharging our water supply and ensuring a sustainable water source for years to come. 

These investments in new infrastructure will provide better services to the residents of Marana.  More importantly, they are key to allowing more businesses, jobs, and amenities to start growing in the area. Investing in a clean, sustainable water supply and expanding our water reclamation system is yet another example of future growth and prosperity in Marana. 

 

 

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Utility work on I-10 frontage road and Starcommerce Way north of Tucson

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Utility work is underway at the intersection of the eastbound Interstate 10 frontage road and Starcommerce Way in Marana, north of Tucson. The work is in preparation of the Interstate 10, Ina Road Traffic Interchange project to fully reconstruct the interchange scheduled to begin next month. The utility work is planned as follows:

Lane closures on the eastbound Interstate 10 frontage road and on Starcommerce Way are in place from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. through mid-July for utility work.

  • Message boards and crews will guide drivers through the work zone.
  • Two-way traffic will be maintained at all times.
  • Interstate 10 will remain open in both directions during the work.
  • This work is expected to conclude in mid-July.

The reconstruction project will improve traffic operations on I-10 and on the Ina Road traffic interchange. The project consists of widening I-10 to three lanes in each direction and Ina Road to two lanes in each direction from Silverbell Road to Camino de la Cruz.

The construction is scheduled to begin in July 2016 with Ina Road, east and west of I-10, remaining open until early 2017.

ADOT works to inform the public about planned roadway restrictions, but there is a possibility that unscheduled closures or restrictions may occur due to weather or equipment issues.

Drivers are reminded to share the road, be cautious, and slow down while traveling through the work zone.

For more information about this project, please call Paki Rico at 520-388-4233, email prico@azdot.gov or visit the website at http://azdot.gov/inati.

Summer Schooling 2016, Part 1: Marana Police are here to make our community better

Like most of you reading this, I live in the Town of Marana.  I shop in Marana, my kids are in MUSD, and now I have accepted an opportunity to work for Marana.  My name is Chris Laria and I am the Town’s newest Management Intern.  I am thrilled to be here and have an opportunity to gain better understanding of what it takes to make a town run.    I hope you don’t mind, but over the next few months, I am going to share my thoughts and experiences with you.

The first month of my internship has me rotating through all of the different departments in the town.    I have met a myriad of people in different positions and levels of authority that are all thrilled to work here.  Everyone has told me the same few things:

“You are going to love working here!”

“Let me know if you need anything at all!”

“Welcome to Marana!”

At first I thought these were the typical greetings you get when starting a new job, but in the short amount of time I have been here it is apparent that those greetings are heartfelt and everyone really is happy to work for the Town and serve the community. 

The men and women that perform the day to day tasks of making our Town run have adopted a set of values that sets them apart from other municipalities.  They are respect, teamwork, dedicated service, and engaged innovation.  While they are all important, I have noticed an emphasis on dedicated service.  Of all the departments I have rotated through so far, this has been the most apparent in the police department.

Last week, I spent two days with the police and it has changed how I think about them.   From the moment I met with the chief to the time I spent on a ride along, I have realized their job is not about giving out tickets, it is about serving us.  They are intelligent, rational, and do far more than keep us safe.  They are here to make our community better. 

I encourage everyone to get involved with some of the programs they offer.  Go on a ride along, spend some time with the Citizens Police Academy, or get the kids involved with the Explorers of Post 77.  These community programs are a fantastic way to get to know the men and women that serve us and learn a little at the same time. 

So the next time your foot goes to the floor board and you see cherries and berries in the rear view mirror, remember they are providing a service to the community.  Have your license, registration and proof of insurance ready and do more than thank a cop, befriend one instead.

Chris Laria is a Management Intern at the Town of Marana in the Town Manager's Office.  He will be writing weekly stories for the Marana Newsroom through the end of August.

Marana Water News: Future of Wastewater - WRF Master Plan

In the Town Code Title 14, Town Council may adopt all infrastructure master plans to ensure projects align with growth and Council vision for the Town. On June 21, Marana Water is bringing the Marana Water Reclamation Facility Master Plan forward to final adoption.

In 2012, the Town acquired the Marana Water Reclamation Facility including the infrastructure and water rights of the treated water. Currently, the plant is operating at 70% of its capacity or approximately 355,000 gallons each day, and these flows are only expected to increase as residents and businesses come into the sewer service area. There are projections in this Plan that suggest the plant may require 1 - 1.5 million gallons per day within the next ten years. This Master Plan outlines the plant expansion to an eventual 4.5 million gallons per day. To reach this capacity, the project is divided into several phases. The first phase will expand the plant capacity to 1.5 million gallons per day and update the treatment process.

This picture shows a conceptual layout of what the plant could look like after the first phased expansion to 1.5 million gallons per day.

This picture shows a conceptual layout of what the plant could look like after the first phased expansion to 1.5 million gallons per day.

Also mentioned in the Master Plan is the construction of a several aquifer recharge basins that will collect highly treated water and recharge it back into the aquifer. These recharge credits will be added to the overall water portfolio and allow additional sustainability for future growth. As this portion of the project gets closer, there will be posts related to the specifics of this project. Stay tuned!

This Master Plan allows the Town to better prepare and plan for the future, especially with the ability to take the treated water and recharge it into the aquifer for future use. For more on these resources and the future of our water, click here and be sure to watch the video!

A full copy of the Master Plan can be found on the Water Reclamation page here.

Marana Water News: Professional Development - AZWater Conference 2016

A few weeks ago a few staff members from Marana Water attended the annual AZ Water conference in Glendale, AZ. This was the 89th Annual conference for those in the water profession in Arizona to come together to share ideas and experiences.

AZ Water was founded in 1928 and is an educational organization focusing on water/wastewater professional development, and "enhancing and protecting Arizona's water environment." It also is connected to two large national organizations, the American Water Works Association and the Water Environmental Federation. These organizations are dedicated to providing opportunities for water professionals to gain knowledge and insight on the industry.

There were six employees who attended the conference. Some who had been many times, and two that were first-time attendees. Our attendees were all levels of staff and areas of expertise. The Water Director and Water Resources Coordinator attended as well as Water Operator and Wastewater Operator. Every attendee said the networking with other departments and water professionals was a highlight of the conference. From the Wastewater division, Jacob said, "It was great to discuss issues with other operators that have many years in the industry and are willing to share their knowledge." Water Director John also said, "I look forward to meeting with other water and wastewater leaders throughout the state..learning from experiences that other communities have been or are facing."

Another important part of this conference is the educational components. There were sessions this year on Flint Water, wastewater treatment, energy management, new technology, utility management, construction of water projects, and many more. These sessions provide the continuing education requirements for keeping up certifications. Water Superintendent Paul said his most valuable sessions were the ones about the distribution system. In these classes he learned about preventive maintenance programs, water quality, asset management, and managing a workforce. Fred from the Water division said he learned a lot from the session on main breaks, valve assessment, and creating water system maps.

Another highlight for our attendees was the Keynote address by Kathy Ferris and the documentary by Michael Schiffer on the 1980 Groundwater Management Act. Discussing how the water laws were created and what decisions and discussions went into them, are the focus of the documentary. Having this background provides a broader perspective for the Marana Water team. Jacob put it very nicely saying, "It is easy to get caught up in a routine [at work] and lose sight of the broader implications of the work we do on a daily basis. It was great to see how much of an impact our work has in the bigger picture."

Marana Water is lucky we are able to send so many of our talented staff to a conference like this. It is only once a year, so the department tries to rotate those that are able to go to give everyone a chance to attend. The experiences from the sessions to meeting others in the industry has been invaluable for those that have had the chance to attend. Next year is the 90th anniversary of AZ Water. Looking forward to seeing what they have in store for such an incredible milestone.

Real Estate Daily News: Lot Sales Heat Up as Fast as the Weather in Marana

By Karen Schutte

Just as temperatures start to reach the 100 degree mark, residential lots sales are heating up too. Tucson has experienced a 40% increase in residential building permits this year, and it seems home builders are bracing themselves for existing labor and lot shortages. There were 328-platted lots sold in the Northwest Tucson submarket since May 12th with an aggregate sum of $9.1 million.

“We are definitely seeing the push into north Marana by the homebuilders. We are seeing land prices increasing due to strong demand and it is well documented that the “shovel ready” lots are in very short supply in this area,” said Will White of Land Adviors Organization in Tucson.

Marana to Participate in Pima County Warrant Resolution Court

The Pima County Consolidated Justice Court will hold their first Warrant Resolution Court Saturday, June 11, 2016 in order to serve individuals who currently have outstanding warrants or need to reestablish payment plans.

The Pima County Consolidated Justice Court will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. to handle cases from the Marana Municipal court as well as other courts in the Tucson-area. There will be up to six courtrooms available to hear cases and nine service windows for faster service. The court hopes the community sees this as an opportunity for people with weekday responsibilities to come in to resolve their warrants.

The goal of the Warrant Resolution Court is to settle some of the 20,000 active misdemeanor warrants issued from 31 different agencies while reducing the number of non-violent, misdemeanor offenders in jail. Those with Marana warrants are asked to call the Marana court at 520-382-2700 prior to June 11, to notify the court of their intent to attend Warrant Resolution Court on June 11, 2016.  This will guarantee the most efficient service upon arrival to the Pima County Consolidated Justice Court on June 11. 

 

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Utility work on Ina Road at Interstate 10 in Marana

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Map from the Ina Road Interchange Final Design information sheet.

Map from the Ina Road Interchange Final Design information sheet.

Utility work is underway near Interstate 10 and Ina Road traffic interchange in Marana. The work is in preparation of the Interstate 10, Ina Road Traffic Interchange reconstruction project, which is scheduled to begin in summer 2016.

The utility work is planned as follows:

The westbound Interstate 10 frontage road will be closed from Orange Grove Road to Cortaro Road early in the morning Friday, June 3 from 12 A.M. - 5 A.M. for utility work.

  • The westbound I-10 on- and off-ramps at Ina Road will be closed during the work.
  • The ramps at Orange Grove Road and Cortaro Road will remain open.
  • Interstate 10 will remain open in both directions during the work.

The reconstruction project will improve traffic operations on I-10 and on the Ina Road traffic interchange. The project consists of widening I-10 to three lanes in each direction, and Ina Road to two lanes in each direction from Silverbell Road to Camino de la Cruz.

The construction is scheduled to begin in summer 2016 with Ina Road, east and west of I-10, remaining open until early 2017.

ADOT works to inform the public about planned roadway restrictions, but there is a possibility that unscheduled closures or restrictions may occur due to weather or equipment issues.

Drivers are reminded to share the road, be cautious, and slow down while traveling through the work zone.

For more information about this project, please visit the website.

Marana Water News: Bring a Nickel, Tap your Feet - a different kind of CCR

The Environmental Protection Agency oversees the Safe Drinking Water Act. This is one of the primary pieces of legislation that outlines the water quality rules community water systems are required to follow. A portion of this act requires an annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) to be provided to all customers. A CCR is an annual water quality report that includes information on water sources, levels of detected contaminants, and the water system's compliance with the drinking water rules. When these reports are prepared, they are presenting information from the previous year. For example, the versions that were mailed out last week by Marana Water includes the data from 2015. These must be delivered to customers by July 1st each year.

In previous years, Marana Water has published the CCR data in the newspaper, but now each customer is mailed a copy of the CCR for their water system each year. The documents can also be viewed on the water quality webpage for this year, and for many previous years.

There is a wide variety of content within the CCRs. Details about the wells used to provide water to the system, any violations of the drinking water rules in the past year, the safety concerns of certain elements that may be found in the water, a terrific glossary of water quality related terms, and sample results are areas covered in the CCR.

Examples of bottles used to collect samples for the CCR data.

Examples of bottles used to collect samples for the CCR data.

When reviewing the results chart, be sure to notice if the measurement is in parts per million (ppm) or parts per billion (ppb). Parts per million, also called milligrams per liter (mg/L) can be compared to one minute in two years, or a single penny in $10,000. If you multiply ppm by 1,000 you will get parts per billion. PPB is the equivalent of one minute in 2,000 years or a single penny in $10,000,000! Identifying the difference in these units can help to understand how much of a compound actually was detected in the water sample.

Some of the inorganic compounds tested for are arsenic, fluoride, and nitrates. Inorganic contaminants can be naturally occurring, or a result of run off from activities near by like mining, farming, or wastewater processing. Most of the minimal detected levels are likely due to erosion of natural deposits or run off from the sources mentioned above. Nitrate levels may rise quickly for short periods of time due to rainfall or agricultural activity. Fluoride, can be naturally occurring, and is sometimes added to water to help promote strong teeth. It is monitored because too much fluoride can, in fact, damage teeth. Marana Water does not add any fluoride to our systems. The Airport system is classified as a "non-transient, non-community water system" due to the number and type of customers using water in this system. This is why there is no test for fluoride below. A new rule was put in place in 2002 regarding arsenic. In high levels (50 ppb or more) arsenic is a carcinogen, so this new rule brought the MCL to 10 ppb to address any potential long term effects it may cause. As shown in the excerpt below, none of the systems approached the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for these compounds. The MCL is the highest level allowed in drinking water. There were no violations in 2015 in any of Marana Water's water systems in regard to nitrates, arsenic, or fluoride.

The CCR compiles water quality tests done throughout the year including total coliform tests and chlorine residuals, which you can read about here. There are close to 3,000 tests done annually by only four operators. These dedicated water professionals work all year to ensure the quality of the drinking water to our customers is safe.

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Marana Municipal Complex
11555 W Civic Center Drive
Marana, AZ 85653
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