8 SEPTEMBER 2010 LA PAZ COUNTY RECALL EFFORT

La Paz County recall effort continues against Sheriff and County Attorney

To many, the anonymous messages posted in the Parker Pioneer speak for themselves.

One such post berates Lowery for being unwilling to 'work with' the La Paz County Supervisors, the County Manager and the Finance Department on key issues pertaining to the agency."

"These posts often seem to lend greater credibility to Lowery's accusations of politically motivated attacks than they do in building the case against him," stated one Lowery supporter.

Lowery's filing of a suit against the La Paz County Supervisors was unsuccessful in obtaining the necessary funds to  properly finance the Sheriff's Department through the difficult financial issues plaguing La Paz County, particularly since a judgment rendered against the county resulted in an award to the plaintiff of $12.3 million, a judgment La Paz County officials yet to payaid reportedly  due to a lack of funds.

The county administrators have been investigating the possibility of filing bankruptcy and have yet to reach a decision on that issue. While it was discussed previously, no announcements have been forthcoming since the Board of Supervisors recently retained a bankruptcy attorney.




25 AUGUST 2010 HEAT WAVE  Cooling Station List

Heat wave continues, power outage to be resolved by 3 p.m.

Most Quartzsite people are accustomed to high temps -- but not to being unable to escape the heat.  Today's power outage caught many without generators.

Those needing a reprieve from the heat can go to the following locations:

The Quartzsite Fire Department 927-6556
The Isaiah Project  927-3124

If you have a heat related emergency, contact Town hall for assistance at 927-4333 or the Quartzsite Police Department at 927-4644.



QUARTZSITE -- 7 AUGUST 2010 BATTLES RAGE  Con't.

When will the Town's officials finally let the battles rest?

Most believe the problems stem from an unwillingness  on the part of of some of the players to allow older issues to settle. But as more things are said and issues escalate once more,  it appears only litigation will stop the sit-uation from continuing to worsen.

Recall efforts in Quartzsite are at an all-time high as citizens have supported them. Lawyers are in constant contact with those on both sides of the issues: last month town attorney Pamela   Walsma   was   reportedly   paid    over
$ 14,000.00 to handle a variety of legal issues for the town -- and critics wonder how much of those monies were spent trying to maneuver Foster out of his position as Mayor.

In the meantime, Freedom Of Information Act specialists have consistently weighed in in favor of Foster's positions -- and they have been in touch with  the Town's officials, asking them to properly observe the law in these instances and produce the documentation Foster has requested without further delay.

Certainly each matter raised has seemingly antagonized further those on the 'other side' of the issues.

Could the opposing parties find 'common ground?'

There is little doubt that the conflicts could be resolved with consistent effort on both sides  of the issue -- watch for our upcoming report.

Why are Winslow and Cowell's Recall Petitions succeeding so rapidly?

Quartzsite Councilman Joe Winslow is at the center of a controversy regarding comments he made at the beginning of a meeting, just before
it was called to order.

Winslow's comments were reportedly received by citizens as 'shocking - distressing - disconcerting.'

What did he say and when did he say it?

It was just before the council session of 23 March 2010 and heit has been verified that he did, indeed, make a comment about 'machine gunning about five of em' in the front row.

It is believed he was talking about the council's political detractors -- and the comments appeared on the Town of Quartzsite's own tapes of the meetings copies of which were subsequently provided those people who requested them.

[We are not publishing the audio of his comments as the incident has already created a backlash for Winslow that is likely to culminate in his removal from office by Quartzsite voters.]

Councilman Barbara Cowell had initially heard recall efforts would move forward against her when she moved to assist Wesley Huntley's appointment to the seat of Mayor -- without an election. But in the position of Vice Mayor, Cowell supported efforts to disempower the newly elected Mayor Ed Foster, prompting recall petition circulators to quickly move to complete recall documents.

"Who are they listening to?" asked citizen activist Dean Taylor. "Why didn't they know their activities could be stopped by a referendum? Everyone but Bob Kelley seemed to be more than willing to forfeit their council seats in a baseless and impossible effort to disempower the Mayor. They were told at that time that they were committing political suicide," Taylor concluded.

Recall petitions are still circulating against Anderson, Lukkasson and Lizarraga. Robert Kelley has indicated his intent to work with Foster, in spite of efforts to quash his support of the candidate who quickly gained a base of support as 'the People's Mayor.'


QUARTZSITE -- 9 JUNE  2010 REFERENDUM Con't.

In an interesting and enlightening open meeting of the Quartzsite Town Council Tuesday evening [8 JUNE 2010] a large number of citizens and Quartzsite's elected officials stood opposed to each other  while a packed gallery looked on.

Foster has essentially taken on the council, Town Manager Alexandra Taft and the town attorney, Pamela Walsma in a confrontation designed to finally establish propriety in the various areas of contention in which Foster has stood against the council in the past.

"I have the law on my side," Foster stated. "It's not a matter of who wants what whose way -- these are issues in which the council has acted improperly -- and these very issues are those that caused the voters to vote for me in this election. There are rules and regulations that are intended to restrict the type of behavior Quartzsite has become known for and I fully intend to honor the commitments I made to  voters when I a promised to bring Quartzsite's issues out into the open -- where they belong."

Perhaps most indicative of the fact that these issues are as Foster has presented them, Foster arrived Tuesday evening to find a meeting happening among several council members and others behind locked doors -- with the Mayor unable to enter.  Present at that meeting were Town Attorney Pamela Walsma,  Councilman Joe Winslow, Vice Mayor Barbara Cowell, Councilman Robert Kelley and Town Inspector Al Johnson.

Why behind a locked door?

When Foster requested a key, he was advised that he would have to wait until the town clerk returned from training sessions next week.

Foster also has yet to receive his Mayor's badge and his assigned office at the Town Hall.

When Foster asked Town Attorney Pamela Walsma of Shadle & Walsma for information pertinent to his responsibilities under his position as Mayor, Walsma treated Foster's inquiries as though he were not an elected official.

Further, she wrote of them as though Foster were intending to release the information to the public -- even though Foster had clearly indicated to Walsma the information was being requested by Foster, as Mayor. [Walsma is not available to the press for interviews, nor for questions clarifying her position -- or the town's -- on any matter: a position which is not at all typical for municipal attorneys.]

When Walsma did answer Foster's inquiries, the answers conflicted with the laws regarding various aspects of Foster's inquiries, prompting him to have to seek outside legal assistance to obtain  accurate information. [The details of these inquiries will soon be published in a separate story on QUARTZSITENEWS.COM.]

Ms. Walsma, an independent municipal attorney has stated, is in error.

"Mr. Foster, as Mayor, is now a client. He cannot release information at ill but he can see essentially any and all town documentation -- without exception."

During the meeting, Walsma attempted several times to orchestrate the direction of the meeting, advising Foster at one point that since the question had been called, Foster should demand the speaker stop speaking.

Critics have charged that this is a common ploy utilized in Quartzsite as simply a means of preventing speakers from addressing issues publicly the council does not want addressed.

Foster did not allow Walsma to interrupt the speaker utilizing this method, gaining even more allies in his 'People's Mayor' camp.

                      VIDEO COMING SOON

Foster took time to address the critical water issue that the council brought to an open forum when they accused him [Alex Taft brought the allegations at the last meeting in May]  of mishandling of the situation.

Foster brought a baby bottle to the meeting containing a sample of water and apprised the packed room of the details of the situation in which he was called to the residence of Quartzsite ex-Mayor Steve Bennett when Bennett's pool was initially filled and seemed to contain some foreign material.

[Steve Bennett's Letter Here.]

Bennett had initially contacted the town and Councilman Jose Lizarraga was present when the pool was drained and refilled.

The sample Foster brought to the meeting contained a sample from the second filling -- and this water appeared only slightly different from that described earlier.

Foster stated that he called QUARTZSITENEWS and DESERT MESSENGER representatives and the second call resulted in the acting Mayor of Quartzsite being notified. He stipulated that the report he saw verified that Alex Taft and Sgt.. Frausto chose not to contact Foster to let him know they knew of his questions.

Foster, a retired engineer with Wrigley in Chicago, has extensive experience in this field and found the situation critical enough to justify the evaluation of the water at his own expense.

Foster's test results were more considerably more extensive than those taken of the pool water by town employees [which tested only for biological issues and were destroyed before a more detailed analysis could take place.]

Foster's sample was found to contain several areas of concern, and further evaluation is in order.

Also at issue is the lack of proper protocol [as stipulated by federal mandate] which has never been implemented in Quartzsite. [DETAILS]

"I understand that these issues are uncomfortable for officials to address at this point," Foster stated later. "But these are laws after all, not options. We need to be in compliance with the rules and regulations by which all municipalities in the state of Arizona are governed. And this water is a critical issue."

One long term citizen, Jan Fisher, stood to state that she had been told by then Town Attorney and Town Manager Dan Field [now La Paz County Administrator Dan Field] that the town knew the issues with the town's water supply were stemming from a problem created when a dry cleaning facility flushed their used solutions directly into the ground.

"This can't be cleaned," she said. "It's there!"

"There are also several toxic plumes throughout Quartzsite that are in various stages of being cleaned," Foster said in a separate interview. "This water situations needs to be closely monitored."

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QUARTZSITE -- 1 JUNE  2010 BATTLE LINES Con't.

Mayor Foster has compiled evidence to support his claims that the council has no right to challenge or to change state law pertinent to the restriction of his Mayoral duties.

Foster has refused to sign into law the restrictions, a letter explaining his position HERE. 

When Taft was questioned by members of the audience  concerning what the council was doing and why, she indicated that at the time of the Bennett water issue, Foster had indicated there was an emergency concerning the town's entire water supply, that there was no emergency and that turning off the town's water could have created one.

Foster has stated that these comments are misleading.

"First," Foster said, "when water of this quality comes from a town water tap, there is cause for concern.

"Elderly people and children drink from this supply. Bennett was justifiably concerned and properly contacted people to ask for their thoughts.

"I contacted media representatives to discuss not only the issue with the water but the fact that no one was responding. These measures are stipulated as correct according to the EMERGENCY RESPONSE ACT of 2002.

"I do, of course, well understand that this was a weekend -- but the rules governing municipal water supplies indicate that there is to be at least one official on duty that may be contacted should such an issue arise.

As a candidate for the office of Mayor at that time, it was of interest and concern to me that there was no criteria in Quartzsite that delineated precisely how to respond to an issue of this kind. As it turns out, it was first Dan Field's job and then Taft's following Field,  to establish such a program in Quartzsite under that protocol -- and it was never accomplished.

"For far too long, Quartzsite has lagged behind in following proper protocol. It was this platform that allowed my successful bid for the position of Mayor and I fully intend to honor the commitments I made during my candidacy.

"Our efforts at proper communication are sadly lacking. If nothing else, this situation illustrated the need for comprehensive communication -- and these are issues we cannot continue to ignore.

"Further, subsequent water tests showed significant levels of corrosion and unhealthy levels of sodium -- issues that also have yet to be rectified. The source of the corrosion needs to be located -- and Bennett's issue, along with some in the western portion of town, -- are indicative of where these problems are most evident.

"And, finally, Taft indicated that shutting off the 'town's entire water supply' would have resulted in further problems. I never suggested shutting off the town's entire water supply -- not even a portion of it.

"I suggested that people should be notified to consider the risk and boil their water or drink from another source -- again, simple, standard safety measures commonly utilized whenever there is a question -- to protect the health of the people and their right to know under the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Right To Know Act.

"These are not things our community's leaders can choose to ignore. They're the law by which we -- as elected officials -- must abide. Our citizens have RIGHTS that we have taken an oath to defend and protect and we must strive to accomplish those ends or be prepared to suffer the consequences."

Upon election, Foster requested to take a tour of the town's water and sewer systems, areas of expertise from Foster's background in engineering. He also requested that he be allowed to review copies of the resumes of those individuals that would be conducting the tour. That tour, finally scheduled for Wednes--day, June 2, specifically excluded press people from being allowed to participate.

Those that did participate in the tour expected to last from 9 am to about 1, quit an hour and a half

Taft refused Foster access to the resumes [readily available to anyone under FOIA], and advised that the tour was to include only Foster and council members.

Foster's requests to set certain policies so that they would be correct according to Arizona law and examine certain documents have also been ignored or have been met with flat refusals on the part of Taft.

When Foster removed the sign in the town's foyer prohibiting recorders of any kind, Taft promptly replaced it. When Foster requested Taft rescind an order to silence employees and apologize for having required it, Taft -- again --  flatly refused.

"It's as though we were still operating without a Mayor in place," Foster stated. "I have a responsibility to properly execute the duties of my office and I intend to do that. Neither will I allow any effort to circumvent my efforts to do so.

"It is also my responsibility to act as the town's information officer in the absence of a properly trained individual specifically assigned to that position.

"I am knowledgeable in this area and will be making information readily available for anyone that requests the same. I cannot make information available to the public that I am prohibited from having. The information that is to be publicly available is accessible under the Freedom of Information Act. We cannot -- will not -- stonewall those that rightfully request information."

In fact, the town was sharply divided over issues that were pending prior to the election in which leadership of the community was passed from acting Mayor Wesley Huntley to Mayor Foster.

Amidst a great deal of suspicion and speculation, the town was discovered to be 'broke, broke, broke' according to  Walter Akin -- also an acting Mayor -- when he stepped down quickly and with virtually no warning and little explanation.

Since that time, all efforts to investigate the town's financial status by conducting a forensic audit have been blocked -- a fact reiterated by the last elected Mayor, Steven Bennett,  and ex-councilman William Moore both of whom complained about this issue at that time.

Foster's popularity seems to have stemmed from his insistence that he will not stop until an audit is  forthcoming and proper protocol is established in the town according to the rules and regulations concerning the proper management of municipalities.

He established a strong following, and easily won the election by 27 votes, a tight lead but a landslide by Quartzsite standards.

 

In this week's ongoing battle over control of the town, the financial issue was raised again when Foster attempted to establish himself as part of the fiscal management team by implementing his right to be on the town's checking account.

He was denied access and advised that Quartzsite's Mayors are not given such 'privileges.'

"This town is broke," Foster stated, "that much is known. Without a comprehensive understanding of how we were fiscally mismanaged into this corner we're now in, we cannot hope to put aside this crisis and move toward solvency once more."

The council, at Taft's suggestion, als moved to remove the town clerk, Karen Norris, from the direction of the Mayor. Taft indicated that this effort was underway in July of 2008 but was never completed.

In July of 2008, the council was working to disempower Quartzsite's last elected Mayor, Steven Bennett.

Citizens have been very vocal in their frustration with the council, and recall efforts are currently underway. [One of the documents currently being circulated can be viewed here.]

At least one councilman has already aligned himself with Quartzsite's first 'duly elected' Mayor in two years: Robert A. Kelley.

Kelley made his position clear in his letter to the Mayor and Council [click to read]  wherein he explains his willingness to listen to the voters of Quartzsite and make every effort to support Foster  and welcome his input as Mayor.

"I would like to see us have a briefing or work session or whatever we can by law and be brought up to date on where we stand with our finances, grants and etc. So we are all on the same page going in the same direction that the citizens of Quartzsite demanded in this election," Kelley wrote.

"A lot of the problems we have were not of our making, but the citizens of Quartzsite want answers from us, the present Mayor and Council. In order to get anything done we need to have all the information we can get in order to make the best decision of what is good for the town. I feel that the more informed we are, the better informed the citizens can be, and maybe we can stop some of the unrest we have presently," Kelley concluded.

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DISEMPOWERED:

QUARTZSITE -- 24 MAY  2010 Continued from Page 1

In two separate  votes, the following council members voted to go along with Taft's unusual proposals: Lukkason, Anderson, Winslow and Cowell.

Bob Kelly voted against the measure and Lizarraga abstained.

While the council was told that the powers removed from the Mayor were being awarded to the council, this information was not entirely correct. The emergency  powers now are distributed throughout the council and no action can be taken in an emergency without a quorum.

 

Non emergency actions now allow Taft to develop emergency plans [something she has consistently failed to accomplish in the past]with no input from the council.

The mishandling of these issues has cost the town sizable amounts of money. Taft has yet to make available  publically any reports detailing the extent of these damages.  She is to act as the principal adviser during an emergency -- her and her alone.

Taft, who has no history as a Town Manager [and no training as an emergency official] has held the position of Town Manager in spite of strong opposition over the last few months.

 

Onlookers were stunned Monday when the agenda -- prepared much later than usual -- was finally seen, after Taft explained the delay by saying the town's website had been hacked.

This statement, however, did not explain why the agenda was not available Friday before that incident, or why the packet was not presented to Foster in a timely manner.

 
                                                       READ MORE

 

QUARTZSITE -- 24 MAY  2010 As the issues in Quartzsite continue to boil, a new Mayor plans to establish an improved attitude when it comes to serving his constituents: and he's determined to make it work.

 

Ed Foster, to be installed Tuesday evening, faces a tough battle with a council that may or may not be behind him as he begins his four year term.

"I hope that they will work with me," Foster stated Monday, "I hope that I can earn their respect in spite of what politics in Quartzsite has come to entail."

 

Foster's assessment may not be too far off.

Over the last few years, Quartzsite has been a battleground of dissatisfaction and suspicion -- fostering more antagonistic feelings from those who claim that they have been disenfranchised under the current [and past] councils while spending has been rampant and unabated, despite loud and constant complaints concerning the handling of the town's affairs.

"It would probably not have been this way, had people understood that the town was financially underwater," Foster stated. "We can only work with what we have to work with -- and it will now take some major care to turn the situation around. I think it can be done," he said, "and Quartzsite can thrive again."

 

Foster's major win in last week's run off Mayoral election against Wesley Huntley represented a major turnabout in the town's history.

Huntley, repeatedly challenged by voters for assuming the position of Mayor -- including the pay for that position --when he was never elected to hold it but appointed by others on the council has a constant source of contention among his constituents.

 

Critics charged that he should not have taken the extra $100 per month but should have continued with his pay rate of $400 unless and until he was officially elected -- something that never happened.

Foster's candidacy represented a significant shaft away from 'politics as usual' in Quartzsite and toward a new -- and progressive -- reformation.

But the failure of the 'Reform Slate' across the board left Foster alone, facing a council of newly elected officials who have been on the council just long enough to establish a pattern consistent with the council strategies of the past.

Stay Tuned.

 

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QUARTZSITE -- 28 FEBRUARY  2010 As the issues in Quartzsite continue to boil, one Mayoral candidate and several candidates for council are bringing the truth into the open and asking pertinent questions as to how -- and why -- the town is broke -- and how long it's been that way.               READ MORE

QUARTZSITE -- 8 FEBRUARY 2010 Mayoral Candidate Ed Foster was surprisedd to find he would be receiving no support from La Paz County Superior Court when the case was tossed -- but he plans to take it before a new court... Story Coming Soon!

 

 

QUARTZSITE -- 27 JANUARY 2010 While difficulties have plagued the council over the years, at least two of Quartzsite's newer council persons hope to work on rectifying the difficulties and finding solutions to the issues. Story Coming Soon!

 

 

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QUARTZSITE -- 27 JANUARY 2010 It's official: The referendum now underway could forestall implementation of water and sewer rate increases until the matter can be brought before the people.

The brainchild of Citizen's Coalition  moderator Dean Taylor, the referendum is a means of blocking the implementation of actions or activities of the council that are unpopular with the people.

Citing 'unfair rate structures and a lack of response' when questioned concerning just how these increases will be handled and whom they will effect, Taylor tried questioning the council at open session and during the Call to the Public with very little success. "In fact," he said, "It was tantamount to stonewalling. Although I asked repeatedly for clarification, they would not or could not offer a definitive answer."

 "And, as with the appointment of the mayor, they just proceeded without allowing public input," Taylor stated.  

"I began the research to discover that any action they pass in open meeting can be brought to a referendum for the purpose of bringing that matter before the public. After being repeatedly denied, I took this course of action since there seemed to be little other available to me as a citizen.

"All I asked was equal consideration as a citizen," Taylor stated. "Now that we have been pushed to this point, we will continue utilizing this method."
 

Taylor reiterated his concerns, citing situations in which he attempted to work from within the system to make a difference.

"I volunteered for two non-paying positions and was publicly ridiculed and even accused of 'extortion' and I am in serious doubt as to whether this councilperson even understood the definition of the term nor its meaning."

That councilperson was almost immediately recalled, and the recall itself was immediately successful.

Wesley Huntley whom the council has officially appointed as Mayor did agree to be interviewed but rescinded the offer after reading this story. We will be contacting the other council people to make sure the position of the town's councilmen  is properly presented.

 

Stay tuned.
                            

 

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They're  back and the season is underway again in Quartzsite as the winter visitors return.

But how will the economy creating havoc from coast to coast effect Quartzsite's tourism?
                                                READ MORE