The Camp Verde Town Council directed staff to move forward with the Town of Camp Verde Wayfinding Signage Project and approved a change order for the Camp Verde Sports Complex during its meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 20.
The signage project will highlight key locations in Camp Verde by implementing a signage system that helps visitors easily navigate the town while prioritizing certain character areas such as downtown.
The council had previously approved funding for the project for the purpose of enhancing business development, improving the tourism economy and making sure signage is visible and navigable.
The signage system will focus on highlighting the downtown, Finnie Flat and Pecan Lane character areas. The new signs will communicate to visitors that these areas are friendly and unique. There is limited signage off State Route 260 to lead visitors into the shopping districts or town attractions.
“We need this very much for all of our businesses, but particularly for our Main Street businesses that have struggled along for so many years,” Councilwoman Jackie Baker said.
Town staff have prepared solicitation paperwork and are beginning the process of acquiring proposals from interested contractors. The council voted unanimously to continue with the process.
The council also approved Change Order 20 for the Camp Verde Sports Complex for $28,531.70, which was requested by Tierra Verde Builders to cover additional costs to complete the irrigation system at the sports complex. While the irrigation system was originally designed to run on mains electricity, the sod was put down before the power lines were installed and the irrigation system has since been running on battery power. Electrical service is now online and the system needs to be connected to the grid.
Capital improvement project manager Martin Smith said that connecting the irrigation system to the power grid will be more reliable and less expensive than having to replace batteries constantly.
Vice Mayor Marie Moore said it seemed like the sports complex has been suffering from neverending change orders.
Director of Public Works Ken Krebbs said that this is the last piece of actual construction Tierra Verde has left and that this should be the last change order.
Councilwoman Cris McPhail said that the town will benefit from the change because they can take the solenoids from the sports complex and reuse them at another park. She suggested reusing them for an irrigation system at Verde Lakes.
Councilwoman Wendy Escoffier pointed out that some, if not all, of the change orders have had to do with decisions made by previous staff, management and council back in 2019.
“We’re just kind of stuck with those decisions and we don’t really have a choice,” Escoffier said. “It’s not the contractor’s fault.”
Council approved the change order unanimously.
