Home » Community, From The Readers, Letters to the Editor » Big Park VOC Sewer: A Substantial Source of Money

Big Park VOC Sewer: A Substantial Source of Money

Sedona AZ – The following is a letter to the SedonaEye.com editor. The author, a Sedona Village of Oak Creek resident, has requested anonymity:

Securing the Big Park Sewer honeypot.

honeypot
Definition of honeypot
1: one that is attractive or desirable
2: a substantial source of money.

Controversial for over two decades because of its size and view obstruction, the Village of Oak Creek Outlets sign was replaced in 2019 with a four story hotel and taller and brighter signage. Citing secrecy by county officials and local government to line its tax and fee revenue at the expense of Big Park residents, and without community involvement or regard for its America Scenic Highway designation, hundreds of stunned Sedona residents have circulated petitions and attended County and local civic meetings. Activists point to the stunning Bell Rock Vista, once the signature viewshed upon entering the Village of Oak Creek on Scenic Highway 179, as being negatively impacted and that its Scenic Highway designation requires its community to protect highway viewsheds, development, and ecosystems and prevent commercialization from encroaching on same. The Outlets had petitioned several times over the past decades for bigger signage, but community activists thwarted its approval, even to disallowing neon signage except from inside and turned off at the end of the business day. It is rumored that the VOC Dark Skies designation will be reviewed and a decision reached whether new construction has violated its restricted light pollution requirement. As locals begin to organize opposition, the role of its County officials including its elected Supervisor, and all local community organizations are being questioned. An organizer said, “We will not be Sedona’s doormat. We voted no to incorporating into Sedona and we were right because currently Sedona is spiraling out of control with taxes and development. They came after us again from left field and we were asleep at the wheel. But we’re awake now and we vote and we take names.”                                                                                                
        Exclusive SedonaEye.com photo

BIG PARK DOMESTIC WASTEWATER IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT

CALL OF ELECTION

Big Park Sewer Board needs your time and help!!!

Community Members needed to take back control of our Wastewater District – our Big Park Special Improvement District honeypot.

Petitions must be filed no later than August 7, 2019, at 5:00 p.m. with the Yavapai County Elections Department, 1015 Fair Street, Prescott, Arizona.

Please forward to neighbors and friends.

This Special Improvement District/Taxing District does not answer to the County. The County is only handling the election process because it is our special taxing district.

Most complaints must be handled by filing a lawsuit and past personal experience, as well as those of my neighbors, has found parts of this entity very uncooperative and difficult with little to no communication or responses to inquirys. There is no way to contact the board directly. You are forced to drive to Prescott for many things, making our community participation difficult.

Why not eliminate the complaints at a local level?
Please become part of our current Big Park Community Clean Up Efforts.

Over the years, the sewer board has held very few elections and, if only one person ran, then they could APPOINT which, seemed to us, in line with the wishes and desires of those in charge.

ABOUT THE CURRENT BOARD

David Sheets
2021
Jim Kautz
2019
Joanne Johnson
2019
Lee Meiner
2019
Gary Livermont
2021
Ruth Kane
2021
Moneesh Chatterjee
2019

Big Park Sewer formed another layer, called a Finance Board, a couple years ago comprised of three of the board members. Somehow they advise the rest of the board. The Finance Board has not published any minutes from May of 2018 through March of 2019.

An example of why this seems very unacceptable, there were critical issues during this time between Oakcreek Country Club Golf Course and the Sewer Board. No Finance minutes posted.

VOCA Board member Jim Kautz also sits on the Finance and Sewer board. We feel this is in conflict. We need transparency.

Finance Committee members are Jim Kautz, Gary Livermont, and David Sheets.

The district is administered by IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT SERVICES, Inc. and that administrative job is NEVER bid out, as well as engineering and other businesses within the wastewater operation. Many are out of community and out of state businesses. The money leaves our community.

This administrative business alone is currently paid over $350,000 per year and rising. They use QuickBooks. The auditors report is not posted on the website which would be nice, in our opinion.

https://www.improvementdistrictservices.com

https://www.bigparksewer.com/bpdwwid-budgets

http://www.yavapai.us/sd/domestic-wastewater-improvement-districts

Please consider stepping up to the plate and helping our community to keep the meetings local, start bidding out the jobs, and enhancing transparency. Four positions are open.

CALL OF ELECTION

To the qualified electors of the Big Park Domestic Wastewater Improvement District of Yavapai County, Arizona: Notice is hereby given for a District Board Member mail ballot election to be held in and for the Big Park Domestic Wastewater Improvement District of Yavapai County, Arizona.

The District Board Member election will be held November 5, 2019.

The election will be held for the following purpose:

To fill the expired term for four positions on the District Board beginning December 1, 2019 and ending November 30, 2023.

The last date to register to vote is October 7, 2019 at 5:00 p.m. Petitions must be filed no later than August 7, 2019, at 5:00 p.m. with the Yavapai County Elections Department, 1015 Fair Street, Prescott, Arizona.

Yavapai County Elections Department, 1015 Fair Street, Prescott, Arizona, 928-771-3250.

CONVOCACION DE ELECCION

A LOS ELECTORES CALIFICADOS DEL DISTRITO BIG PARK DOMESTIC WASTEWATER IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT DEL CONDADO DE YAVAPAI, ARIZONA: POR LA PRESENTE SE DA AVISO DE UNA ELECCION PARA ELEGIR MIEMBROS A LA JUNTA DIRECTIVA CUAL SE LLEVARA A CABO EN Y PARA EL DISTRITO BIG PARK DOMESTIC WASTEWATER IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT DEL CONDAD DE YAVAPAI, ARIZONA.

LA ELECCION PARA ELEGIR MIEMBROS A LA JUNTA DIRECTIVA SE LLEVARA A CABO EL NOVEMBER 5, 2019 EN LA SIGUIENTE UNICACION.

LA ELECCION SE LLEVARA A CABO CON EL SIGUIENT PROPOSITO:

Para ocupar el plazo vencide de 4 puestos en la Junta Directiva principiando el December 1, 2019 y terminando el November 30, 2023.

La fecha senalda para registrarse para votar es el October 7, 2019 hasta la MEDIANOCHE.

El Departamento de Elecciones del Condado de Yavapai ubicado al 1015 Fair Street, Prescott, Arizona tiene que recibir las Peticiones de Nombramiento no mas tarde que las 5:00 de la tarde el August 9, 2019.

The following information is NOT posted on Big Park Sewer Website:

  1. Four (4) Positions open!

2. How to file a petition to run for the board!

Petitions must be filed with the County. To apply or ask direct questions go to:

http://www.yavapai.us/electionsvr/contact-us

Hover over Candidate and Finance info
Click on Special Districts Packet
Download the Packet and follow the instructions.

This is a great opportunity to help the community. This is a very important election year.

Thank you and with sincerity,

A Big Park/VOC neighbor

Read www.SedonaEye.com for daily news and interactive views!

19 Comments

  1. Liz Orde says:

    Thx for coverage & views SE.

  2. WANTED: Vision and Character says:

    Here It is. Just what the VOC has been asking for. Local control. We need four responsible residents to step up to the plate. The sewer board manages OUR tax dollars. Surely we can get four, new and different people to file for election. No contest, and they are in. Let’s do this.

  3. David Ortiz says:

    I’m from a New Mexico town. People need to learn that doing your duty is not a choice it’s a responsibility. You need to be sure that those with anti resident agendas don’t get their other goon friends to run. Get out in front now. Run a slate of four not five not six but four people that will fight together as a TEAM. One person alone can’t fight all that insidious group. At every meeting and every petition find the ones willing to work together. Do it now.

  4. that roth girl says:

    copy link
    share everywhere
    #VOCneedshelp
    #BigParkneedshelp
    #SedonaStayawaycation

  5. Gary Stiller says:

    I’m curious what county supervisors & employees are shoving this hotel & Patel’s rezoning down our throats? Who is Planning & Zoning group? Why aren’t the small businesses screaming louder because corporate franchises will put our adorable little VOC hotels and AirBnbs out of business when times are tough. I used to tell friends that it didn’t matter what room you rented because everybody had views. It’s cruel that statement isn’t true now. Let’s ask for example whose going to see the view from Desert Quail and others with a monster blocking it? I want a small one story business that doesn’t need property lines redrawn or adjusted or a beautiful home. Because the VOC is about beauty and quiet and views. Becuz my HOA CCRs say so. Sue them all. Let’s have a class action suit somebody? Is everyone in the VOC registered to vote? Is everyone attending their next HOA meeting and election to get the ones out who vote in favor of rezoning Patel’s? I haven’t seen a petition or door knocker yet.

    I heard somebody say that we might get worse if we don’t let Patel’s build what they want. That is the great asinine statement! What’s worse than what Patel’s want? It’s not about lesser of evils, it’s about the greater good. Stop being ignorant sheeple.

  6. Chas says:

    Domestic Wastewater Improvement Districts
    http://www.yavapai.us/sd/domestic-wastewater-improvement-districts

    Big Park DWWID* Converted from Improvement District to Domestic Wastewater Imp. District 11/10/97 for Tax Year 1998. County collects budget. IDS collects sewer user fees.

  7. It's all relative says:

    IDS, Inc.
    Owned by Jennifer Bartos and Karen Davis from 1998 until 2014.
    Karen Davis exited in 2014 and Diana King entered.
    Run as a for profit and also several earlier years as a non profit.
    350,000 per year administrative fee plus. That is a lot of money for administration.
    It should be bid.

  8. Enlighten corruption now? says:

    When is there enough evidence of corruption in the VOC to get the majority to take action? Do you know your rep at Big Park Council? Do you know what they support, their own interests or the best interest of the community? Why is any new rep bullied out? Do you know what decisions are made at the sewer board? Do you know where your tax dollars are spent? Time to get new and different people representing you. Time to get representation that is transparent and acting on your behalf not their own behalf. If nothing else, a new perspective can conform good action or corruption. Good acting representatives are not afraid of new ideas or review.

  9. Liz Touhey says:

    Thanks Sedona Eye! NO new high rises.

  10. Rick says:

    who stepped up to run?

  11. @Rick says:

    Call Yavapai County and ask how many packets have been taken and returned and get back to us.

  12. Hoe to run for the Big Park DWWID says:

    Want to run for the Big Park DWWID? Go to the Yavapai County Elections and Voter Registration web site. Download the Special District packet.

    There are FOUR spots open for election on this sewer board that governs and establishes taxes for the VOC sewer. There are 3629 registered voters in the district. It takes NINETEEN signatures on a Nomination Petition to get on the ballot. You need to submit a Nomination Paper too. If only FOUR people file, they get in without an election.

    The filing time is between July 8 and August 7, 2019. Do you see how easy this is?!

    Can’t the VOC find FOUR new and different candidates to help our community and make some changes?

    The sewer board has a finance committee that meets outside of the regular sewer board meetings. That is not transparent!

    Get on the board and get transparency in place. WHY is this accessible news site the only place you are hearing about this!? The county should be spreading the news.

  13. Nealey Finer says:

    4 show up to the party yet?

  14. @Nealy says:

    Call Yavapai County and ask how many packets have been taken and returned and get back to us.
    or ask Rick. We are still waiting for him to report back.

  15. TICK TOCK says:

    The clock is ticking. Run for a board seat and help your neighbors take back control of our Wastewater District.

    Stop Shady dealings.

  16. No candidates yet - get your 19 signatures says:

    The Yavapai County Elections website shows no candidates have filed any financial reports. That is one indication of candidate applications. Only takes 19 signatures on a petition and a simple Nomination Petition to get on the ballot.

    If only 4 apply, they will get appointed. How easy to get on a board that SETS OUR TAXES for the sewer. The board only meets once a monthly. You just need to be able to read a report and exercise some common sense. Please apply and get involved. We need new people who do not have a hidden agenda. Download the Special Districts packet from the Yavapai County Elections web site.

  17. AUGUST 7, 2019 says:

    Petitions must be filed no later than August 7, 2019, at 5:00 p.m. with the Yavapai County Elections Department, 1015 Fair Street, Prescott, Arizona

    AUGUST 7, 2019

  18. VOC says:

    . [Trackback] .

    […] There you will find 85436 more Infos: sedonaeye.com/big-park-voc-sewer-a-substantial-source-of-money/ […]

  19. Lisa says:

    reading this story again & comments is infuriating, residents are second class wallets for regulators filling their purses

Leave a Reply

Copyright © 2008-2017 · Sedona Eye · All Rights Reserved · Posts · Comments · Facebook · Twitter ·