In the past week, representatives of the Yavapai County government presented before multiple municipal governments in the area, explaining to councils the ongoing progress of the Verde Connect project, intended to build a road connecting State Route 260 with Cornville Road.
The county was awarded a $25 million grant in December from the U.S. Department of Transportation to pay for much of the construction and it is reaching the end of its public comment period before settling on a plan for the new road.
When county representatives spoke to the Cottonwood City Council on March 19, it was a relatively easy and uneventful presentation. However, when they showed up to the Camp Verde Town Council the following night, they faced a crowd of opposition, as members of two different groups fighting the project, Verde Disconnect and Save the Middle Verde, showed up in force to register their opinions on the project.
“Those working for the Verde Connect will tell you about the long commute suffered by the residents of the Middle Verde community,” Zach Wolfe, a leader of Verde Disconnect, wrote in a letter he sent to the Camp Verde Town Council before Wednesday’s meeting. “They will not tell you that the vast majority of residents chose this commute and do not want their peaceful, quiet, traffic-free neighborhood connected. They will not tell you about a small tight-knit community where neighbors look out for each other because we are our own first responders. They will not tell you about the farms, the ranches and the rural lifestyles that will be destroyed by this project if a road is built. They will not tell you that Middle Verde does not want this road.”
The two opposition groups share many members, most of whom come from the Middle Verde area but include others from outside it. Each one aims to oppose the project through different means. Wolfe and Verde Disconnect are focused on highlighting the Middle Verde character that they are trying to preserve, while Save the Middle Verde is more focused on the potential economic impact of a road bypassing Camp Verde, which could stifle the town’s consumer growth if people do not drive through the area.
In addition to the main concerns, both a Middle Verde resident and Wolfe expressed doubts that the county would be able to stay within its budget on the project, especially with the difficulty of building through the desert area near Middle Verde. Both insisted that they were not opposed to building any roads to deal with business and population expansion in the area, but hoped that the county could find a way to make construction fit the desires of residents in the affected area.
Mayor Charlie German started off Wednesday’s meeting by informing those opposing Verde Connect that they would not have a chance to speak during the county’s presentation, but nevertheless members of the Camp Verde Town Council asked the county representatives tough questions.
“In essence, this is going to be a second bypass of Camp Verde, isn’t it?” Councilman Joe Butner said.
Councilman Buck Buchanan asked about the possible alternate options, which might be able to ease the concerns of Middle Verde residents.
“Most of the routes you’re seeking go through Camp Verde and Camp Verde should have a significant voice in which one is chosen,” Buchanan said at the meeting.
The presentation at Wednesday’s meeting did not lead to any conclusions about the fate of the project, but many opposed the project said they felt emboldened by the council’s consideration and representation of their concerns.
“I was very surprised that they took that approach,” Wolfe said. “I was glad that they did. I’m glad they took a very hard stance and asked hard questions because those needed to be asked. I really felt it’s important that they hear the other side of this.”
