Yavapai County has begun studying the idea of constructing a new road to connect State Route 260 with Cornville Road, dubbed Verde Connect. The county has contracted Jacobs Engineering to produce a study and sought public input, both requesting input at VerdeConnect.com, and holding public forums to discuss desires by members of the community.
One of those events was held in Camp Verde on Oct. 2. On Oct. 24, the Camp Verde Town Council discussed the town’s stance on the project.
By the end of the meeting, that stance remained unclear. Two different proposed resolutions related to giving the project input directly from the town were voted down by the council.
Both were proposed by Councilwoman Jackie Baker, but neither received even a second when she proposed them, meaning they failed without even being put up for a vote.
“I will not be supporting this resolution,” said Vice Mayor Jessie Murdock at the meeting. “I think that we still need to have an official meeting and presentation from our county supervisors. I just don’t think that there’s been enough information gathered to present to us as a council, and I look forward to having accurate, current information when it’s available, presented to our council.”
At the council meeting, several members of the public expressed opposition to the idea of the road. A former member of the Camp Verde Town Council argued that any traffic study about the impact of the new road would be incomplete with construction on State Route 260 still unfinished, and made the case that the council should be wary of any bypass near Camp Verde, since a bypass away from State Route 260 could mean traffic avoiding Camp Verde businesses.
Others spoke before the council warning of the effect new construction could have on residents of Camp Verde who enjoy its remote, desert lifestyle.
“I have some friends who live way out on Middle Verde Road, and they’re sort of isolated out there, and you know what, they like it that way,” Bruce George, another former council member, said. He hoped that the road, which would likely go through that area, does not ruin its character.
Troy Sieglitz from Jacobs Engineering and Roger McCormack, the assistant public works director for the county, attended the meeting and made their case for the project. They highlighted the continued uncertainty of the project that would allow them to listen to public input and respond accordingly. They insisted that the county was seeking a solution that would please as many as possible, whether that be a whole new road, or perhaps something as simple as just widening Cornville Road.
Even as the council chose not to put its stamp on any aspect of the project or make any official decisions, members did express some hope that a project could be planned that would improve the area.
“The concern out there was the traf c on the roads and not having an alternative exit,” Mayor Charlie German said, recalling his time with the re district. “Who knows what can happen on Interstate 17 that would require evacuation? So, I’m looking at it from a life safety standpoint and the possibility of having another access.”
The mayor expressed hope that there would be a way to deal with these safety issues while taking seriously the concerns about the area’s character brought up at the meeting.
“We want to make sure our growth in the community is correct, and that it would preserve who we are and what we’ve been and how we want to be in the future.”
Jon Hecht can be reached at 634-8551, or email jhecht@larsonnewspapers.com
