Home » City Council, Community » Eddie Maddock: City Council Deals Are Destroying Our Sedona Dream

Eddie Maddock: City Council Deals Are Destroying Our Sedona Dream

SedonaEye.com columnist Eddie S. Maddock revisits the City of Sedona Dream and why Home Rule and the City Council are destroying it.

Sedona AZ  – Whether an idiom, proverb or adage, the saying ““a watched pot never boils”” takes on a totally new meaning in Sedona, Arizona. It might more appropriately be changed to “”watched pots never STOP boiling” in this neck of the woods.”

And as election time approaches, there are so many pots a-boiling that keeping track can be a fulltime job, if not mission impossible.

Adding fuel to keep those pots active are many, many rumors, some without merit and, in particular, relate to the periodic return of the ballot measure Alternate Expenditure Limitation, a.k.a Home Rule. Much has been written elsewhere about the concept of the measure, but “alternate expenditure limitation” defines it in a nutshell.

It’ has frequently been repeated in the event voters deny continuation of Home Rule it will either eliminate or vastly decrease funding for such “city services” as, for example, the library. While such a possibility cannot be denied, let’’s first get something clear.

Our library was established prior to the incorporation of Sedona by volunteers and, to this day, although the city presently provides funding for the operation, it is not owned by “the city.” Volunteers and private contributions made it happen, including design and construction of the present beautiful facility, and the physical efforts to relocate from the former location on Jordan Road.

1958: A volunteer group, Friends of the Library, established Sedona’s first library in donated space, with three shelves of books and magazines also donated. https://www.sedonalibrary.org/history.html

The same was true for the Humane Society of Sedona. Volunteers likewise made that happen without one penny from “a city.” Why? Because it didn’t exist. Minimal funds were, however, derived from both counties and perhaps a grant here and there. Keep Sedona Beautiful has the same story to tell. And, in fact, so does the original Sedona Oak-Creek Canyon Chamber of Commerce, established over 50 years ago and survived prior to incorporation, supported by private individuals, members and volunteers.

No matter where you go in the country, an Elks Lodge is right around the corner. With more than 850,000 members and 2,000 Lodges nationwide, Elks are providing charitable services that help build stronger communities. Join today.

Fundraising galas occurred frequently up at the Elks Club and were always well-attended with proceeds dedicated to benefit one cause or another. People cared. There wasn’t a tug of war for funding as exists this day and age. Community support prevailed.

Posse Grounds was alive and well, and accommodated many local events. We had the Art Barn uptown with a stage for performances, and all did very well without city funding.

We had no boundaries. People actually got along and smiled at each other. That old-fashioned way of life has been traded in for a new trend of power and money grabbing, in what all too often appears to be a result of self-indulgence for quite possibly the wrong reasons.

And unlike other cities/town, Sedona doesn’’t provide such things as water and garbage pick-up. So no, Folks, they cannot cut service in the event Home Rule is denied by voters. YOU pay the providers and it has nothing to do with our city government. The same is true of the Sedona Oak Creek Fire District and the Sedona Oak Creek Unified School District. They are NOT part of incorporated Sedona, but function through regional districts. And unlike, for example, Cottonwood, the City of Sedona does not own the airport.

Same as the fire and school districts, the Chamber of Commerce provides a regional service, but somehow manages to reap huge financial benefits from the City of Sedona which, of course, remain highly contentious.

How many folks would be brokenhearted if eliminating “Home Rule” would force cancellation of the city/chamber contract, headed up by people who seem to be unable to give an accounting of just how many of their members are located outside Sedona City Limits and do not deserve to be promoted via incorporated city funding? That remains a mystery since a simple cursory review of the members listed in the Chamber’s publication (providing such information reveals exactly where they are located) and maybe one or two not even in Arizona?

Further, not all 86336 zip codes are located within Sedona City Limits; however, a quick physical count of the onsite location of members really shouldn’t be that difficult to ascertain those who legitimately are entitled to be promoted at the alleged “official City of Sedona Visitors Center.”

In fact, again unlike most municipalities, actual necessary services provided by Sedona government are pretty much limited to the police department, wastewater treatment plant, providing and maintaining infrastructure which even at that is also limited considering our two major routes belong and are maintained by the State of Arizona.

And, of course, perhaps the primary reason voters approved incorporation? Community development – for the purpose of issuing permits in order to control such things as high density projects and ensure tasteful architecture to blend with our special environment.

Keep that in mind as you observe approval of at least two more major resort hotels in the near future; Upper Red Rock Loop and Soldiers Pass Road/89A, formerly Biddles. Will defeating Home Rule negate anything like that?

Since the basic services provided by incorporated Sedona are essentially limited to a Police Department, Wastewater Treatment Plant, Community Development and limited activity by the Public Works Department, how badly would Sedona residents suffer if Home Rule were to be denied?

Certainly it would be unfortunate if grants to non-profits are reduced or eliminated; however, does the public in general have enough grit and determination to keep these services up and running if such a thing were to occur? After all, most were established without Sedona city funding in the first place.

For example, a very recent event was paramount in precipitating the effort to pull this information together.

Featured in “Kudos The Good Life” (May 16-22, 2018) is a recap of The Rotary Club of Sedona’s 2018 Chili Cook-off: In addition to chili-chef winners, there are impressive lists of the names of sponsors for the event. For example, a total of nine sponsored “Beverage, Parking, Shuttle and Judges’ Gifts, seven sponsored “Habanero” and two people were “Serano” sponsors. A total of thirty-two stood up for “Jalepeno and Chili Pepper” while an impressive one hundred eleven donated to the “Rotary Silent Auction.” Keep in mind those numbers, totaling one hundred sixty-one businesses and individuals willing to give of their time, effort and products to make this annual event happen, remain really quite impressive…and prove that community spirit has not taken a leave of absence and grit and desire to make things happen. It can be done with or without incorporated Sedona.

After all, prior to 1988, when boundaries didn’t officially define Sedona City Limits, that’s how folks lived, cooperatively, and in unity without beating a path to a City Hall for funding.

Each and every civic organization offered not only group unification, but brought the community together at events such as the Chili Cookoff sponsored by the Rotary Club.

For so many years Sedona lived “the Impossible Dream.” Has that purpose become so faded and distorted that it no longer exists?

IMPOSSIBLE DREAM LYRICS:

To dream the impossible dream,
To fight the unbeatable foe,
To bear with unbearable sorrow,
To run where the brave dare not go.
To right the unrightable wrong,
To love pure and chaste from afar,
To try when your arms are too weary,
To reach the unreachable star,

This is my quest,
To follow that star
No matter how hopeless,
No matter how far.

To fight for the right
Without question or pause,
To be willing to march
Into hell for a heavenly cause.
And I know if I’ll only be true
To this glorious quest
That my heart will be peaceful and calm
When I’m laid to my rest.

And the world will be better for this,
That one man scorned and covered with scars
Still strove with his last ounce of courage.
To fight the unbeatable foe.
To reach the unreachable star.

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

 

684 Comments

  1. @Dana varney says:

    Awesome very very cool..

    Now we can all HATE the library as well..
    Imagine funneling our tax money for books and such.. Disgusting…

    Keep up the great detective work there Varneys(also the gluten free brownies).
    Lol

  2. Facts over Fiction says:

    @Steve Segner Thank you continuing to show imo the public you lie.

    Read the FACTS tax returns DON”T LIE page 7 of the 2016 tax return PROVE it HE IS GETTING PAID

    Tax returns are public.

    http://www.sedonacity.com/SedonaFactCollective/Library/2017-866052627-0ef168c7-9.pdf

    Sedona Library Overview 2016:
    The Sedona Public Library has an affinity group
    Friends of The Sedona Library
    The combined assets occurring to the 2016 Tax returns are
    $7,577,363.
    No mortgage payments.
    They have 28 employees that they pay $903,480.
    Virginia Volkman Executive Director, salary in 2016 was $95,699
    Joel DeTar, president was $22,357
    They also have 140 volunteers.
    The income for 2016 was $1,787,687
    Includes $583,932 gifted from the city.
    The Library is funded through our property taxes and
    they are NOT part of the city of Sedona.

  3. Facts over LIES says:

    Have you had enough LIES Sedona?

    Have you had enough of Steve’s lies?

    Document Proof

    DeTar own Website http://www.detarconstruction.com/the-owner.html
    “This spirt of giving has led me to move to a position of trying to give something back to the community that has given my family and me so much. I have spent 23 years coaching youth sports and now that my sons are grown, I sit on the Board of the Sedona Community Foundation, which manages a permanent Philanthropic Endowment Fund, to benefit the nonprofit organizations of the greater Sedona area. The sheer numbers of nonprofits in Sedona is a testament to the volunteerism that pervades our community. I am also a recent inductee to the Sedona 30. This group is one of the largest fund-raising groups, in Sedona, for the support of area nonprofits in a more immediate fashion. These groups both have tremendous impact on supporting the people who make Sedona one of the finest communities to call “home”.”

    Recorded record for library http://www.sedonacity.com/SedonaFactCollective/Library/JoelDeTar/Screenshot-lib.jpg

    Time to TAKE our SEDONA BACK!!!!
    Vote out ALL incumbents cronies of SS & Chamber.
    Vote Out Home RULE this is OUR safety net to PROTECT we the PEOPLE!

  4. Dana Varney says:

    The truth will set you free. Somebody should get help with anger management.

  5. Dumb & Dumber says:

    Wow pretty stupid when people making comments here don’t know the difference between “Dana” & “Donna” Varney. Really brilliant.

    Miss those apple pies and other baked goods. The best in town!! So to the stupid fool who asked what Dana/Donna Varney did for Sedona, apparently you never had the pleasure to patronize their former bakery – Sedona Sweet Arts. So happy, however, to recently learn you provide special order decorative cakes from your home studio.

  6. SteveSegner says:

    fact , sedona funds the Library to the toon of $400,000+ and it will stop if home rules does not pass…. fact you information is wrong is not a member of sedona 30 and is not president of the Library and he get no money from the Library…. for being on the board.
    Are you saying Sedona Library will be better off with $400,000 loss of city funding?
    what about Parks and rec? what about the police dept? what about paving streets? what about fixing the Y and new $30,000,000 traffic program…..
    (deleted by editor) for the truth… not hate

  7. @dumb and dumber says:

    You really are dumb

    (deleted by editor)

    Your silly..

    Also never saw such nonsense as those alternate facts(lies) found on the sedona city webpage … I guess if you hate long enough you’ll believe any conspiracy theory that any moron creates.. lol

  8. Tony Tonsich says:

    I don’t know how many times I have called Steve Segner out on lies on the Sedona Eye. For those of you too busy to verify the facts in the links above,

    STEVE SEGNER IS LYING

    AGAIN !!

    Vote No on Home Rule. I’m running for Mayor. Vote out all incumbents.

  9. Jess W says:

    Well if you want the REAL Facts you must look for yourself. Segner is being enriched with taxes collected by the hard working flatlanders. IMO Cause he feels ENTITLED.

    Thank you for posting real facts. The library is loved but they don’t really need more funding from city they get over a million from counties.

    Throwing to money money around is NOT Healthy. They can do VERY nicely with the OVER 1 million from your property taxes.

    The only HATE I see is from THOSE STEALING from the taxpayers. Greed makes you thingise fall off Stevie wevie.

  10. @@dumb and dumber says:

    You are admitting the Sedona City web page is corroded with “alternate facts?”

    Holy smithereens – sounds as if a legitimate reason for an investigation by the Arizona Attorney General’s office has just surfaced. Thanks for the info. Sensational!!

    “Also never saw such nonsense as those alternate facts(lies) found on the sedona city webpage”

  11. Facts over LIES says:

    Document Proof

    DeTar own Website http://www.detarconstruction.com/the-owner.html
    “This spirt of giving has led me to move to a position of trying to give something back to the community that has given my family and me so much. I have spent 23 years coaching youth sports and now that my sons are grown, I sit on the Board of the Sedona Community Foundation, which manages a permanent Philanthropic Endowment Fund, to benefit the nonprofit organizations of the greater Sedona area. The sheer numbers of nonprofits in Sedona is a testament to the volunteerism that pervades our community. I am also a recent inductee to the Sedona 30. This group is one of the largest fund-raising groups, in Sedona, for the support of area nonprofits in a more immediate fashion. These groups both have tremendous impact on supporting the people who make Sedona one of the finest communities to call “home”.”

    Recorded record for library http://www.sedonacity.com/SedonaFactCollective/Library/JoelDeTar/Screenshot-lib.jpg

    Joel DeTar, president was $22,357
    page 7 of the 2016 tax return show income going to Joel DeTar

    Link to Tx Return http://www.sedonacity.com/SedonaFactCollective/Library/2017-866052627-0ef168c7-9.pdf

    Link to Jpeg page 7 http://www.sedonacity.com/SedonaFactCollective/Library/JoelDeTar/2016Taxjpeg.jpg

    Screenshot Sedona 30 http://www.sedonacity.com/SedonaFactCollective/Library/JoelDeTar/Screenshot-lib.jpg

    They also have 140 volunteers.
    The income for 2016 was $1,787,687
    Includes $583,932 gifted from the city.
    The Library is funded through our property taxes and
    they are NOT part of the city of Sedona.

    Time to TAKE our SEDONA BACK!!!!
    Vote out ALL incumbents cronies of SS & Chamber.
    Vote Out Home RULE this is OUR safety net to PROTECT we the PEOPLE!
    your BEING DOUBLE TAXED Time to stop the games.

  12. @Tony Tonsich says:

    Tony, why don’t you and Segner stop this bantering and hold a public meeting at the library to debate both points of view on Home Rule???

  13. JJ says:

    I can’t take it I am laughing so hard. Proof of the lies and the bilking of the tax payers. Cottonwood city manager has been indicted. Can Justin and the city council be far behind. Stay tuned for more Sedona sitcom. It’s better than TV. Thank You losers.

  14. Tony Tonsich says:

    I love the library. It is a constant threat that it will be closed if No on Home Rule passes.

    The city of Sedona gave the Sedona Library about $400,000 in the last fiscal year. Wow, a lot of money to lose you say. I agree. One little detail, the library’s total income was $1,693,177 per the 2016 Federal tax return. Your property taxes provide the bulk of that. The library’s expenses were $1,295,279.

    What did the library do with the city of Sedona’s generous support? They put it in the bank. All of it. The library’s net assets were according to the 2016 tax return were $6,140,496.

    I’m all for giving support to needy non profits. But taxing us to give money to institutions that don’t spend it, and threatening us they will close if we stop giving them money they don’t need, is just a lie.

    I’m running for mayor. I won’t give away your money needlessly.

    Vote No on Home Rule

  15. @jj says:

    Why JJ did someone at sedona city council fake water test results?
    You moron

  16. Tony Tonsich says:

    Why would I debate Segner? He will just lie. I could show him a copy of the tax return I got my facts from, and he would just say it is fake. I don’t waste my time with liars.

    I’m hoping the voters are wise enough to see the truth. The city is out of control. We need a No on Home Rule, a new mayor and city council to reset things and clean house.

  17. Showboat! says:

    “Our Sedona Dream?” …typical of the hubris! associated with this little berg. WTH majes it yours?

  18. Love it says:

    Tonsich is afraid to debate Steve!

    Gotta love it.. Cone on Tony Show is how smart you think you are you coward.
    Afraid of looking foolish?

    Yourvthe one with the alternate facts(lies).
    Come on Tony ….be a man

  19. Norma says:

    Is Steve running for City council or Mayor? Why would anyone debate a lobbyist like Steve Segner?

  20. JJ says:

    No they did much more than that. Thief.

  21. Wake Up Sedona says:

    It is time to wake up STOP believing the city, Council or Lobbyists.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lobbying
    Lobbying is done by many types of types of people, associations and organized groups, including individuals in the private sector, corporations, fellow legislators or government officials, or advocacy groups (interest groups). Lobbyists may be among a legislator’s constituencies, meaning a voter or bloc of voters within their electoral district; they may engage in lobbying as a business.

    Time to take our city back VOTE NO on HomeRULE

  22. Donna Joy Varney says:

    We need transparency. A public town hall meeting is being worked on.
    We have a team working on it now. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1261758333957563/

    Meetings will be conducted by a moderator.

    Two are being planned as we speak.

    I would be happy to do a presentation on Home rule and let opposition have equal time. Questions & answers even debate.

  23. Tony Tonsich says:

    We can take our town back from the liars and those that do not believe in fiscal responsibility.

    How desperate is someone you when you show them the facts, give them sources, and they call you a liar? Would you debate a thief and someone who denies facts?

    I usually never speak to them again. Let’s make that happen.

    Taking money you do not deserve and is not yours is theft.

  24. Tim, Uptown says:

    Has anyone else picked up on how @Steve Segner lists all the things Sedona residents will lose if Home Rule is voted down and yet conspicuous by absence is the idiotic contract with the Chamber of Commerce, probably the biggest source of annoyance and certainly an unnecessary city expense? Sure here comes the big deal about the bed tax increase and state requirement to dedicate a percentage of the “proven????” profits from that tax increase back to benefit the lodging industry. SO WHAT? Since the city will be restricted from spending money then rescind the stupid bed tax increase!

    If Segner read the article above he’d realize the library was established in 1958 – 30 years before there was a City of Sedona! THIRTY YEARS! DUH! THIRTY YEARS!

    Maybe if the city & staff canceled the Chamber contract then Home Rule would sail through with flying colors???? Ever think about that, Wise Guys????

  25. Love it says:

    @ Love it

    Like an abusive spouse. You’re wrong. Who are you going to believe, me or your lying eyes.

    Stop resident abuse !!
    Throw the bums out !!
    No on Home Rule.

  26. Tony Tonsich says:

    To quote someone I admire: “You are a den of vipers and thieves. I intend to rout you out, and by the eternal God, I will rout you out.” ― Andrew Jackson

    Join me, WE can change this.

    I can’t do it by myself.

    WE as a group can not be beaten.

    Reject all incumbents. No on home rule.

  27. Richard Saunders says:

    Say what….
    Tiny Tonsich is calling someone a liar….

    Now isn’t that the pot calling the kettle black..
    (deleted by editor)

  28. Steve Segner says:

    Tony Tonsich says:
    May 24, 2018 at 10:33 pm Why would I debate Segner? He will just lie. I could show him a copy of the tax return I got my facts from, and he would just say it is fake. I don’t waste my time with liars.

    Tony, I said I would debate you on home rule, please do not change the subject,
    you can say why Home Rule is bad for Sedona and I will talk about why Home rule is great for Sedona, then people can ask us each questions.

    Could not be more democratic..

    Tony, you are running for public office and you want to kill Home Rule, You need to show Sedona your plan and be able to defend it in public.
    I’m sure we can get the league of woman voters or some other group to put it together. If you have a better argument against home rule then we all gain!!
    I will pay for some Ads in Red Rock news to announce the place and time.
    Steve Segner

  29. Linda says:

    @steve You aren’t running for office. You don’t get debated. You aren’t in any position to argue whether home rule is or isn’t a good or bad idea. You aren’t part of this process, sir. BTW no one I know reads the RRN. Save your money. Neither you or it are relevant to Sedona beyond being recipients of its gifting programs in my humble opinion. If Mr. Tonsich is smart, he’ll ignore your entreaties to set him up for a one sided festival of worthlessness. Debates aren’t necessary in this election. Good information dissemination to voters is. Nobody worth their salt goes to a stupid debate, only people debating and their families and friends and a few bored at home old people go. You must be a Hillary Clinton fan? Didn’t you learn anything from being an idiot for her? Elections are about the subject matter mattering. Our taxes matter and all this council has done is raise them and then give to their friends and favorite nonprofits. Linda (editor removed last name and Sedona address per request)

  30. Mark says:

    Calling Tony Tonsich a coward for not debating Segner is the same as saying the Mayor is a coward for not debating the village idiot. You would be an idiot to debate the village idiot. Segner has proven himself an idiot and a liar.

    Maybe we should give him a break and just go with senile steve Segner.

  31. @Steve Segner says:

    To the Steve Segner (both esses in Caps): “Could not be more democratic..” 5/25; 12:38 PM

    “Democratic” from a man who has preached his version of the virtues of “socialism” time and time again on SedonaEye? PULEEZE! If that doesn’t give you the creepy crawlies then what will?

  32. F.Y.I. says:

    Tim, have you been smokin’ something? There is no state requirement to dedicate a percentage of the bed tax increase profits back to benefit the lodging industry. As is known, the reason the city is restricted from spending 55% of the 3.5% bed tax revenue is because the bozos on City Council made a law gifting it to the Chamber of Commerce each year. Ditto the increase in bed tax collections from one year to the next.

    Sedona voters need to elect Council candidates who will promise to give the Chamber the required two months cancellation notice. Only the bed tax increase of .5 percent (approximately $500K) must be spent on tourism promotion or planning, and the City could do this.

  33. @Tony Tonsich says:

    Hay Tony so let me get this straight, you have all this and more to say to Segner, he’s asking for a debate where you can kick his butt, and you’re turning him down????? Doesn’t sound much like a true leader.

  34. Tony Tonsich says:

    I’ll be happy to debate anyone else running for Mayor of Sedona. You still have time to pull your packet and get you signatures in , you’ll have to hurry.

    You can join my opponents,
    1)The current Mayor, Chairman and CEO of the wine fest and Mayor who never met a so called non profit she did not want to give money to, needful or not.
    2)The guy who advertised he was looking for Air B&B’s to manage.
    3) Mystery socialist, you still have time !!!

    I’ll have to honest, with opponents like this , any debate will be the most entertaining thing in Sedona in a long time. I predict standing room only.

  35. @tony t says:

    Yea ok (deleted by editor)

  36. Jerry, Legitimate Sedona Voter says:

    Gotta love it!

    @Linda says [May 25 2018 at 1:28 pm]

    @steve You aren’t running for office. You don’t get debated. You aren’t in any position to argue whether home rule is or isn’t a good or bad idea. You aren’t part of this process, sir.

    However, doesn’t it go even farther than that? Aren’t elected members on the City Council (includes Mayor) supposed to be representing the will of the people?

    Why then so often do they pull a switcharoo after sitting upon their thrones and then make decisions to cater to special interests and what “they” think is best.

    There are so many examples but let’s stick to the old standby – Chamber of Commerce. To acquiesce to a whiny woman pleading “It’s too difficult” stand before them and almost bawl when asked to give an accounting of how many Chamber members are located outside city limits was both pathetic and brazen! And then for City of Sedona to continue acting as the cash cow and feeding more and more $$$$ to a group who isn’t legitimately held accountable for how they are spending Sedona taxes – OUTRAGEOUS!

    Time for them to be kicked to the curb and to let them know it is OUR town – doesn’t belong exclusively to arrogant CEO’s of Special Interest “gangs” who walk around with their hands in the pockets of Council AND Staff.

    And further, the Chamber of Commerce is NOT an official department of Sedona City Government – anymore than the Library and/or other far more worthwhile, beneficial, and legitimate “non-profits” but nevertheless not appointed and not elected by voters.

    Adding insult to injury is the recent rumor of an effort to have a third party run for Mayor! Yep, Folks – apparently more allies of Mayor Moriarty, and who has done a fine job for the last four years, but nevertheless and reasonably observed as having served her community over and above the call of duty and it’s time for her to move on. After all, her original commitment was to serve for only one term – TWO YEARS that turned into FOUR YEARS!

    But not so fast – with three candidates in the running, that places Ms. Moriarty in a solid position to serve for another two years! Fact, Folks. But for one thing, let this be a plea to Tony Tonsich: Please, please Mr. T, do NOT back out! You have a lot of the common people out here rooting for you. We may not have the high-roller financial assistance the new kid on the block will be getting for support, but the suckers they are able to reel in will have no more power at the polls than yours truly and other fans of YOURS.

    We are on to the schemes of city council, staff, and those who are attempting to split the vote for Mayor. Only the majority of voters will be able to confirm that statement.

    No more funding to Chamber of Commerce.
    No to incumbents.
    No on Home Rule.

  37. steve Segner says:

    Tony
    This in not about mayor, you said we should not pass Home Rule the mayor can not take about Home Rule.

    Tony I have asked how you will run a city under home rule.. Just stand up in front of a group and tell us.

    I am not worried about you running for office nor is anyone else in town, you will loose big. I am just calling you out on Home Rule that elections comes first.
    Tony you can not hide forever….

  38. Bernice, Sedona says:

    @stevesegner Please stop bullying. You’re a bully. Who’re YOU to CALL ANYONE OUT ON HOME RULE ? The Mayor will do and say what the Mayor wants to do and say and be held accountable for what she does do and doesn’t do, and or does say or doesn’t say. You’re not Sandra Moriarty and don’t have authorization to speak for her.

    Or do you?

    You’re a motel owner. You are a capitalist. Turn your motel into a nonprofit organization for the homeless and provide bicycles and jobs for them at the same time on site, it can be self sustaining! Then you’ll earn my respect.

  39. Lonnie says:

    For quite a while I’ve been trying to believe this Segner guy is a self appointed mouthpiece for Sedona. The grim truth is surfacing —- City Council and Staff apparently listen this this blowhard and that’s scary.

    How dare he make threats to Tony Tonsich or any other candidate running for office ——in Sedona or elsewhere.

    The one thing Sedona should approve in their budget is a one-way train track to run people like that buzzard OUT OF TOWN. An alternative —— a platform in the plaza at City Hall with a noose for a public hanging!!!

    IMO (of course) Segner well he can be obnoxious, overbearing, ugly, a sorehead, domineering, and selfish and many other descriptive words that would be bleeped by the SedonaEye editor.

    New council members and a NO vote on Home Rule might well serve as the noose Sedona so desperately needs. P-U-L-E-E-Z-E!!!

  40. @steve Segner says:

    As the president of the lodging Council an affinity group od chamber WHY oh WHY do you lie???????
    Why don’t YOU APOLOGIZE to Dana Varney?
    Better yet you need to give back the money you and the chamber took.

    Even when you get Document Proof you go right past it.

    DeTar own Website http://www.detarconstruction.com/the-owner.html

    “This spirt of giving has led me to move to a position of trying to give something back to the community that has given my family and me so much. I have spent 23 years coaching youth sports and now that my sons are grown, I sit on the Board of the Sedona Community Foundation, which manages a permanent Philanthropic Endowment Fund, to benefit the nonprofit organizations of the greater Sedona area. The sheer numbers of nonprofits in Sedona is a testament to the volunteerism that pervades our community. I am also a recent inductee to the Sedona 30. This group is one of the largest fund-raising groups, in Sedona, for the support of area nonprofits in a more immediate fashion. These groups both have tremendous impact on supporting the people who make Sedona one of the finest communities to call “home”.”

    Recorded record for library http://www.sedonacity.com/SedonaFactCollective/Library/JoelDeTar/Screenshot-lib.jpg

    Joel DeTar, president was $22,357
    page 7 of the 2016 tax return show income going to Joel DeTar

    Link to Tx Return http://www.sedonacity.com/SedonaFactCollective/Library/2017-866052627-0ef168c7-9.pdf

    Link to Jpeg page 7 http://www.sedonacity.com/SedonaFactCollective/Library/JoelDeTar/2016Taxjpeg.jpg

    Screenshot Sedona 30 http://www.sedonacity.com/SedonaFactCollective/Library/JoelDeTar/Screenshot-lib.jpg

    They also have 140 volunteers.
    The income for 2016 was $1,787,687
    Includes $583,932 gifted from the city.
    The Library is funded through our property taxes and
    they are NOT part of the city of Sedona.

    Time to TAKE our SEDONA BACK!!!!
    Vote out ALL incumbents cronies of SS & Chamber.
    Vote Out Home RULE this is OUR safety net to PROTECT we the PEOPLE!
    your BEING DOUBLE TAXED Time to stop the games.

  41. JJ says:

    Segner you couldn’t run for Mayor. I think one of the qualificatiions is you have to be able to spell better than a first grader.

  42. Tony Tonsich says:

    I’ll be on the ballot for Mayor of Sedona. I’ve filed all the paperwork.

    I will NOT drop out of the race.

    Let’s win this. With your help WE can take our town back !!

  43. Let Us Pray says:

    For City Hall to drop into a giant sink hole when S. Segner is at the podium giving instructions to the city council and staff :-) = YES:-)

  44. Dana Varney says:

    That is great Tony. We will support you all the way. Win this!

  45. Too Late says:

    @Let Us Pray – Prayers should have been heavy duty when the idiotic city council gave that advertising contract to the amateur chamber of commerce without benefit of bids from professional legitimate advertising agencies. Had that been the course followed they would’ve given better direction to valid “destination marketing” instead of spending unlimited amounts to overcrowd Sedona with day trippers.

    When does the dog and pony show perform their final act? Or could it be now? With fresh faces on City Council (including mayor) will they have the gumption to pull the plug on giving away funding to undeserving and under-qualified groups and individuals and stop throwing caution to the wind?

    Vote “NO” on incumbents.
    Vote “NO” on Home Rule.

  46. Showboat says:

    “Destroying our dream!” “Our,” meaning like 6 out of 10,000 people. It’s not “your” dream. Greater good rules, just not for HWY-179 and all those traffic circles. Remember when you all supported that mess? …of course not.

  47. Air B+B says:

    (From the SedonaEye.com editor: You are welcome to resubmit this comment with all corroborating research and proof to support the 1) quote, and 2) the bankruptcy filing, and 3) all other referenced public records. We suggest a letter to the editor rather than a comment to express your opinion. Due to its content, your name and address must accompany any comment and or letter. Thank you.)

  48. @Showboat says:

    Your ignorance exceeds your stupidity. If ADOT had proceeded with four lanes on 179, what do you think the “Y” would be like now? OMG – duplicate the 89/Rodeo Road intersection backed up from Sedona to probably VOC waiting endlessly for traffic lights to change.

    Roundabouts at least keep traffic moving. How about putting blame where it’s deserved. Ask city council why they approved Tlaquepaque North without giving a hoot about foot traffic across an existing bottleneck.

    It’s stupid unfounded analysis from idiots like you that created the mess in the first place. Poor planning. The “Y” is the “Y” regardless of whether there’s a roundabout or traffic signal. And entering into uptown Sedona is still approaching a two-lane SR89 all the way up Oak Creek Canyon. Are you, by chance, working for City of Sedona as an engineer?

  49. Joyce Macdonald says:

    It is a good idea to remind people like @Showboat how a short time ago it was those “6 out of 10,000” people who rallied and overturned a very bad deal city council made to take ownership of the entire W89A within Sedona City Limits? Et tu, @Showboat?

    After the ugly and utter mess Sedona made of Uptown’s less than one mile, it’s little wonder folks were up in arms. And FYI, that four lane version you think would have been so much better than a Scenic Highway would have been wider than I-17. Just visualize the land acquisition for a project like that. Bye Bye Red Rocks. Bye Bye Cathedral Rock & Bell Rock and others.

    Your stupidity might anger even more people to rise up and take back what belongs to them .. and not just the handful feeding the egos at City Hall. Let’s reverse the living nightmare Sedona has become. Take a stand to live the impossible dream Maddock reminded us about. Save Our Sedona from city council.

  50. Steve segner says:

    Tlaquepaque North without giving a hoot about foot traffic across an existing bottleneck. The crosswalk on 179 allows brakes and the traffic makes it easier for people at the Y to merge. I use the 179 Traffic Circle at least 20 times a day in the crosswalk is not that big problem. 95% of the tome.
    tlaquepaque North did not need to be approved, it had the zoning the owners had the right to build the the city mandated a few more parking places . as for the crossing 179 that is in the jurisdiction of a ADOT[not the city) Zoning supersedes city supervision. Tlaquepaque put money aside for a light at the crosswalk a adot studies show that wasn’t necessary so if you have somebody to blame blame a ADOT if you want blame for traffic then look to our , governor and his sb 1350 that allowed more than 1000 new rentals in Sedona and devastated or low income housing overturning local zoning rules , and protects people who lives in HOA‘s from nightly rentals doesn’t seem fair does it, just an FYI
    No one answered my question Are you saying Sedona Library will be better off with $400,000 loss of city funding?
    what about Parks and rec? what about the police dept? what about paving streets? what about fixing the Y and new $30,000,000 traffic program…..
    Tony show us your budget on how we’re better off without home rule or is it a secret plan
    And Donna you were wrong you said Joel Detar (was ) president of Sedona 30 and president of the library he is not a member and is not president of the library you used numbers from two years ago. jole has done more for this city then you were any of your friends put together and you attacked him

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