The Camp Verde Town Council approved the purchase of two new soccer goalposts for the soccer fields at the town’s sports complex during its Wednesday, Aug. 2 meeting.
During the public forum on the sports complex held on July 24, residents had expressed concern over the park’s lack of adequate soccer goals.
The complex is currently using a set of refurbished donated goals. Vice Mayor Marie Moore pointed out that the town has spent millions on the complex but is using used soccer goals and that the children deserve better than that.
“We want to have a professional soccer field out there for the kids,” Mayor Dee Jenkins said.
The council unanimously approved the purchase of two full sets of goals for the sports complex.
Water Rates
Dan Jackson, a consulting economist hired by the town, discussed its new water and wastewater rate study and long-term financial plan for making utility rate adjustments. During the May 24 council meeting, council members had decided that the proposed wastewater rate increase would need to be restructured and that a new well and arsenic removal were also needed.
Jackson said that the average utility has been increasing its rates by 5% to 6% every year, with utility expenses expected to increase another 4% to 6% between 2023 and 2025. He argued that the more money a municipality puts into its system, the higher rates become, and the challenge is to balance investment with affordability.
In addition to the proposed rate increases, town staff recommended that the council increase the current rate cap for wastewater rates from $75 to $85.
The council unanimously approved a motion to post a notice of intent to adjust the water and wastewater rates. Sixty days after the notice is posted, a public hearing will be held on the new rate plan before it goes before council. If approved, the first rate increase will go into effect in January 2024.
Property Buy
The council also approved a real estate purchase contract for a property located near west Head Street and south First Street, as the town has been interested in obtaining a property for a future town hall building off Main Street.
The move would make the town’s current property available to businesses better suited to the town’s main thoroughfare.
The new property is close to downtown yet not on the main thoroughfare and is adjacent to other
properties that the town owns.
Jenkins commented that whether they end up moving the town hall or not, the town and its operations are going to grow and will need a place to expand.
