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.

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684 Comments

  1. Really Chamber says:

    Really Chamber!? Folks our illustrious Chamber folks are all having a “Fun time” in Denver Colorado on our dime! Kegn Marissa Moorcroft a chamber employee along with a whole bunch of other Chamber folks are on vacation at the 2018 IPW convention. Check Kegns Facebook posts. Looks like all play and no work with a free vacation from Sedona citizens Bank accounts. This convention claims to be the world’s travel industry premiere market place and the largest generator of travel to the US! It’s All on-line, check for yourself. Really Chamber we don’t need more visitors, we already have enough, we are full! Please stop! And quit taking vacations on the taxpayers dime!

  2. ATTN CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES says:

    Those who support continuation of the Great Sedona Give-Away, kindly refrain from submitting your application(s) for a seat on the Sedona City Council. This includes candidates for Mayor as well. We are sick of your bias interests and the comment from “Really Chamber” is just one example of why this needs to STOP – NOW.

    And, Voters, to enforce change, in addition to voting OUT all dead beats on council and reducing city staff accordingly, vote NO on Home Rule.

  3. Henry Twombly says:

    Great article, Eddie. Points well made hopefully will be points well taken. May we residents come together and achieve what may seem to be “an impossible dream” and defeat Home Rule.

  4. Pat, west Sedona says:

    @eddiemaddock ………….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………

    government & business & media & one goal make it impossible to dream

  5. Eddie Maddock says:

    @Pat, west Sedona

    Not quite certain I grasp the meaning of your comment. However, as a point of clarification, specifically Sedona residents had concerns about development being controlled by TWO counties.

    Coconino County codes were far more restrictive than those in Yavapai County. In fact, to my recollection Coconino didn’t approve of the addition to Poco Diablo and it wasn’t until after incorporation Hillside was approved.

    As for Yavapai, they were much more lenient – in fact that portion of W89 was the biggest concern. Residents were worried because that was where growth would occur, and folks were upset with what was the “White House Inn” (not sure if that still exists) because they didn’t want white and glaring colors.

    Yes – control of development was a huge concern and local code restriction was primary in voter approval of incorporation. And, of course, the threat of property condemnation if we didn’t get a sewer treatment plant. That, of course, was a lie proven so by the number of subdivisions still not on sewer. Septics still up and running and no homes condemned.

    And let us not forget, the wastewater treatment plant along with incorporation of Sedona open Pandora’s box for the plethora of development that quickly ensued after incorporation.

  6. Jim says:

    Last councils failed like last administrations and its time to make room for change.

  7. Port Royale says:

    Last visit to Sedona was last visit to Sedona! 2 hrs in traffic, 2 meals not better than mediocre cost $430 total. Paid $20 for a bracelet that my friend saw in a discount store for $3 in another store. Giving BAD YELP.

  8. Rear view mirror says:

    Thanks Eddie for caring about our community, which is rapidly slipping away from us. Developers and corporations have taken over this once wonderful little town. Now it is choked with traffic, road rage abounds to the point we are afraid to drive, mountain bikes have taken over the trails as they speed around every curve on the trail causing older residents to avoid hiking anymore, rude tourists make life here nasty, Safeway is bogged down day and night with AirBNB people who deplete the shelves and create havoc, and the big restaurants buy up all sale items at Safeway so we can’t even get good deals at our own stores because they use it for their supply vendor. The restaurants buy up the cases of lobster tails and scallops before we even get a chance, send crews in to buy up to the daily customer limit. Prime cuts of meats on sale are gone instantly as restaurants buy it all.
    This town is ruined. We have to hope that sound fiscal responsibility and common sense is voted in next election. Vote people! Enough overfunding the Chamber and choking our town with excess tourists. We need a mayor and council that will reverse course…..hope it isn’t too far gone already!

  9. Memory lane says:

    Oh please Eddie Maddock

    Tell us what towns in the USA have not changed in the last 30 plus years!?
    Thanks for the stroll down memory lane…But that’s all it is…..A stroll down memory lane…

  10. Get Educated says:

    Seems to me there are a lot of blow holes out there who are not smart enough to educate themselves…. those will be the one especially who later He a loved one in need of assistance from public safety which will be compromised if Home Rule doesn’t pass. The same ones will still be complaining about traffic because by not passing Home Rule all budgets to manage traffic will be cut. And the same residents who are not open minded enough to educate themselves do the understand that the Chamber did exactly what they were hired to do – bring business to Sedona to keep small businesses running. Shame on all residents who have nothing better to do than to be bitter. You live in a destination. If you can’t live here then move. There are some of us that desire love, support, partnership, acceptance and open arms. And by the way, if anyone intelligent enough to know what a business trip is really like exists among the complaining minions, it’s not FUN to be away from family for the sake of the job. Especially when the job is serving mean-spirited comments from residents. If you want Mayberry, then go live there.

  11. Get Educated says:

    Gee, I wonder how many Einstein are going to look at history and see that negating Home Rule back in the 90’same failed miserably and hasn’t been passed since. Are there that many of you Barney Fifes our there waiting to take the bullet our of your lapel pockets? Go get lives and learn what love means. All you old people can lose any equity on your homes and suffer without public safety because of your ignorance.

  12. Get Educated says:

    And there still isn’t anyone educated enough to address the air bnb’s lack of financial support, contribution and bed tax like our current mayor.

  13. Terry says:

    AirBnB’s homes are economic plusses that have a natural nongovernmental reason for success; demand falls, no one suffers, no vacant timeshare, no vacant hotel rooms. End. Period. Read Government Budget Office report.

  14. Margie S. says:

    Another word about short-term (vacation) rentals. Contrary to what B&B’s and other lodging facilities would like you to believe, using private residents does NOT add to the traffic. Those people are visiting existing places and only take up garage and carport space as when occupied by the owners.

  15. Get Educated says:

    Okay so they don’t contribute to the traffic at all, right? OK so which is it? You are so ignorant that you complain about traffic in the same breath you complain about hotels. Each contributes to traffic but at least hotels contribute to the community. I do think understand any of you people that hard or hate in our community. Shame on all of you. You are embarrassing to our community, those that don’t support our destination.

  16. Get Educated says:

    I have never posted on this site before – or any for that matter – but those of you who continue to destroy us all through your narrow-minded un-educated un-kindness disgust me and it goes against everything our destination stands for.

  17. @Get Educated says:

    Barf Karen

  18. Tony Tonsich says:

    @Get Educated BULL

    This town is out of control. Bumper to bumper traffic makes response times by the Sedona Fire District dangerous. The same Sedona Fire district that will not be affected in any way but reduced traffic by the defeat of Home rule. The same Sedona Fire District that is in no way financially negatively affected by the defeat of Home rule. Less tourists to rescue will lower our fire district costs. Less tourists due to No on Home rule will be a plus for the Fire District.

    If keeping small business running is what the chamber was asked to do, and that meant bumper to bumper traffic to support t-shirt shops, ATV and jeep tours, they were asked to do the WRONG thing. We residents don’t want Sedona to be a tourist trap. We residents want it to be the wonderful place we fell in love with.

    The goal of the city council should not be to maximize tax revenue. The goal should be to provide the best place for residents to live and a place that tourists want to return to. You can see what a failure the past few city councils have been by the loss of about 1000 residents.

    @Get Educated, you are obviously part of the problem.

  19. JJ says:

    Thank You Eddie for once again for the truth in this maze of misinformation campaigning by those who have perverted this town in the name of money. The library is a perfect example of misguided funding while their bank account and assets grow. Assets now over 7 million. The fact that they are funded by two counties is another fact that most are not aware of. So Get educated should Get educated as clearly one of the takers showing ignorance and pedaling fear. No more lies and No on Home Rule.

  20. Eddie Maddock says:

    For those of you who fail to use legitimate first and last names, unlike “Henry Twombly”, obviously you prefer to lurk in the darkness during what is a very important issue. If you haven’t the courage of your convictions to appropriately identify yourselves – stand up and be proud to voice a decisive opinion here, then you are definitely guilty of the attacks you make on those with whom you disagree.

    Frequently it’s understandable why people prefer to remain anonymous – fear of retaliation, etc. However, on a ballot measure where it really might count? Stand up; be proud. Steve Segner never has a problem letting us know who he is. How about taking a page out of his book – just this once?

  21. Village People says:

    Don’t believe the people that preach doom under home rule. In the Village of Oak Creek we do just fine without Home Rule. Our roads are kept better by the county.
    We do just fine without Snidely Whiplash making $165,000 per year saying “Traffic is our Destiny !” and “Sedona is a tourist town.” We live without spend it all Karen making $135,000 per year. We don’t give $2.5 million to our chamber, we don’t have one. We are under Sedona Fire District, just like Sedona. You made a mistake voting in a city. It’s time for a change.

  22. Daniel Holland says:

    If a marketing campaign against home rule were started now with adds in the RRNews and other media outlets I think we may have a chance….
    The add campaign needs to be connected with reducing traffic and no accounting of the CoCs expenditures etc

  23. Home Equity says:

    It’s a hoot Get Educated says we will lose the equity in our homes. When I moved to Sedona just after incorporation it was the most expensive town in Arizona. The crazy policies of the city has lowered property values where one of the most beautiful places in the country now match prices in a Phoenix suburb. The best thing we could do is close the city down and salt the earth on which city hall sits. No on Home rule and a new city council should just be the beginning. Tar and feathers is too good for the people who did this to Sedona.

  24. Get Educated says:

    We insiders have the Red Rock News, The mayor and the city manager as our mouthpieces. We also have the millions you gave the Chamber of Commerce sitting in the chambers’s bank account. You flatlanders don’t stand a chance, we own Sedona. Just move.

  25. Rosemarie Arbuckle says:

    VRBO is the best for travel plans.

  26. steve Segner says:

    % Change April Year-Over-Year (April 2018 vs April 2017)
    Occupancy: +1.3%
    ADR: +2.9%
    RevPAR: +4.3%
    April rooms for rent up 1.3% so the traffic in west Sedona was from Air BnB fact
    so Ducy is the blame…. not the chamber

  27. Steve segner says:

    TERRI the only people who suffer are the people who used to rent those spaces year-round that were thrown out ,the only people who suffer are the people on the west side they now have traffic issues that were never there before the people that suffer are the people in the neighborhood with party house is next-door to them but the people who don’t suffer or people in home owners association they can stop it it’s just not fairHotel visitations was up one and a half percent of April traffic was jammed so put the blame where it belongs on Governor Ducey

  28. Donna Joy Varney says:

    Thank you for another great article.

    When we the people unite for one common cause we get strength in numbers.

    Look at what they done with Home Rule.

    S E D O N A
    Preserve ~ Protect
    Locals Quality of Life

    VOTE NO on Home Rule – Alternative Expenditure Limitation

  29. Andrew A. says:

    Why would anyone against Home Rule spend money for ads in the Red Rock News? As I recall long ago they took a position to endorse it (free publicity) as they usually manage to do sooner or later on city council candidates of their choice. Spending money with them would be like paying to be crudified unless you are on their side – my opinion of course. According to the flurry of posts on SedonaEye why wouldn’t a flashy ad work here and/or an informative mailing to all registered voters? Just a suggestion.

  30. Maria says:

    Enjoy the comments however all (or most) seem to overlook the threat that if Home Rule doesn’t pass we will lose the library.

    Not often do I take time to follow a link. Did so with the history of the library. And it’s true it doesn’t belong to the city.

    If they cut funding then let the folks rally to keep it going. Get rid of high paid CEO’S for ALL non-profits. And especially if it means cancelling the absurd contract with the chamber of commerce, my vote on Home Rule will be NO.

  31. Donna Joy Varney says:

    @maria NO we will NOT lose the library.
    There is too much confusion on this. The Sedona Public Library is funded through your Property taxes in two counties. Income for 2016 was 1,787,687 for library & friends of library.

    If you look at your property tax bill you can see how much that the library gets.

    The library is double dipping IMO. According to the tax returns the library & Friends of Sedona Library in 2016 had combined assets of 7,577,363. No mortgage payments.

    They have 28 employees that they pay 903,480.
    They also have 140 volunteers.
    The income for 2016 was 1,787,687 which includes 583,932 was gifted by the city ON TOP of YOUR property taxes.

    The CITY has NO business in the Library IT is under the COUNTY and gets funded there.Yavapai & Coconino. This city does NOT own the library it was here before them.

    Enough smoke and mirrors time for us residents to unite. Vote No on Home Rule.

  32. Terry says:

    @SteveSegner you wrote –

    Fiction: ………..@stevesegner writes “….the only people who suffer are the people who used to rent those spaces year-round that were thrown out ,”

    Fact:……………ABnBs displace no year round renters as the OWNERS using AirBnBs LIVE in or SHARE homes and SHARE for rent daily, monthly or seasonally. If the OWNER meets a guest who offers enough to rent annually and the house is available that becomes a different tax and legally covered contract by city and HOA.

    Steve, what an owner gets for an unpredictable few days of the year likely helps with a mortgage or food or utilities, maybe even a college tuition. Most rich people rent out their homes because they rarely use them and they like, as the middle and low income home owners, an asset that performs.

    As a bank employee, let me tell you that no one has a problem with a paid mortgage or extra money in the bank for bills.

    Steve, people suffer more from Sedona commercial properties. Parties, drunks, druggies, car drivers, etc. Pedophiles, rapists, sadists, surfers, rock climbers, bike riders, intellectual deviants, uneducated philistines, psychos, adulterers, dumbasses, yard pissers, high school drop outs, politicians, carbonated supersized purchasers, litterers, GMO eaters. Those kinds of people offend me and others. You do it on a 24/7 daily basis. I’ll trust a homeowner’s due diligence, commercial others maybe not so much.

    Steve, we know you don’t like the competition for renters. But you brought in the middle to lower income hotel chains. What Golden Goose you had with exclusivity, you ripped off the premiere Sedona label and slapped a one-size sleeps all global brand on it. You took the Amex Black Card and replaced it with debit cards.

    Did you ever take time to find why Poco Diablo Resort and its major hotel brand severed relations on its tribal land? There’s a well known and respected person in town who sneers at “Sedona in Motion” and “Sedona Now” and all the catchy Sedona logos and sales pitches…she says “Once people asked where the best place to see the stars at night or best place to eat and stay for red rock beauty and quality, now we have homeless tents in our forests and plastic water bottles strewn on our trails and tourists that burn our rocks and destroy our water quality so a few local and out of town business people and politicians can sell (Deleted by Editor) on main street and get cheaper drugs at retail pharmacies.”

  33. Maria says:

    Apparently I didn’t make myself clear @Donna Joy Varney. Reading about the history of the Sedona Library, I made it very clear it DOESN’T BELONG TO THE CITY!

    Further I pointed out if Home Rule is voted down, let the residents maintain it (with volunteers & county funding) as it had its beginning and become a success in the first place. And I also support kicking out the chamber of commerce contract. IMO it’s a fraud. Looking at the photo with a magnifying glass it’s clearly ID’d as Sedona Chamber of Commerce Visitor Information! For the city to insist it’s officially the city’s visitor center is disingenuous if not a blatant lie.

    Therefore, to you or any anyone else who misinterpreted my understanding about the library, I hope this sets the record straight. My complaint is directed at those who imply we will lose the library if Home Rule is not approved. Sure, they the city might withhold funding to punish us naughty children for disagreeing with their Chamber give-away program, but so what? They didn’t make the Library happen in the first place.

  34. @terry says:

    @Terry – many of Sedonas short term Airbnbs are owned by out of state people. These folks came in and bought houses, kicked out the long term renters for their personal gain to operate a hotel in residential neighborhoods! How do I know? Because I am one of those people who got kicked out. I rented my place for almost 8 years, only to be given the boot. Try and find housing, it’s impossible. Why because of vacation rentals. I use to work at a bank in Sedona, but had to quit because I was homeless. Living in Phoenix now.

  35. West Sedona Dave says:

    @ Terry

    I urge you to talk to people who have been kicked out of rooms due to the new law…Talk to young people who work around town and you will get an earful about affordable housing!

    Please read the article below, as this has already happened….Now we have corporations buying homes to rent out to compete with Air BnB….

    Its going the wrong way…..Those same people could have rented monthly also, they choose not to.

    (Link removed – Google subject matter for articles of interest)

  36. Steve segner says:

    TERRI you seem fairly unhappy with the situation in Sedona‘s you might look around for a more suitable place to live that has people more like you whatever that might be.
    I have no problem with Airbnb people and I’ve showed you that hotel occupancy is not up so you just have to take ownership of all the traffic on West Sedona.don’t blame the chamber that advertises out of state for hotel stays, if you really think Sedona is a crime ridden city, I don’t know where you get the numbers? but I think it’s time for you to move, traffics just going to get worse more people are going to move here people who own commercial property are going to build , you or the city can’t tell anybody they can not build on their property ,so you’re just gonna have to learn to live with the traffic and know that you are also part of the problem visitors have a right to visit , you can vote no on home rule just understand please Department public service paving street repair what control and probably much much more and that’s not BS that’s the truth so if you want to Highway patrolman part time to cover Sedona that’s what you’ll get to cover your crime ridden city

  37. F.Y.I. says:

    “The National Citizen Survey Sedona, AZ Community Livability Report 2017” – GOVERNANCE (Page 5). Several ratings lagged behind the national average [5 out of 9].

    Lower than the national benchmark:
    Overall direction 31%
    Confidence in City government 35%
    Acting in the best interest of Sedona 34%
    Being honest 40%
    Treating all residents fairly 42%

    Figure 10: SUPPORT FOR GROWTH INDUSTRIES (Page 13)

    TOURISM (i.e., hotels, restaurants)
    Strongly support 18%
    Somewhat support 25%
    Somewhat oppose 24%
    Strongly oppose 33%

    http://www.sedonaaz.gov/home/showdocument?id=33716

    The NCS Trends (Over Time) Report found the three concerns rated highest by the highest proportion of respondents were traffic congestion, too much growth and taxes.

  38. Steve segner says:

    Donna Joy Varney says:
    May 22, 2018 at 8:42 pm
    @maria NO we will NOT lose the library.
    There is too much confusion on this. The Sedona Public Library is funded through your Property taxes in two counties. Income for 2016 was 1,787,687 for library & friends of library.
    So Donna and Tony how are you going to tell the voters of Sedona that taking away $400,000 for their beloved library is a good thing. I think when they figure it out they’re going to vote for homeroom and so will every other organization that gets funded from the city, especially when we do a mailing to every single member who supports them, and Tony you’re waiting for your new after home rule budget
    Azelections18.com to see how no on home rule will really affect sedona.
    Tony if you feel so strongly for who ruled I challenge you to debate at the library you can speak why home rule is bad for Sedona and I’ll talk about why it’s good for Sedona we can let the electric make a decision

  39. Donna Joy Varney says:

    You can view the Tax returns here- http://www.sedonacity.com/Understanding%20Homerule.htm
    I noticed
    Virginia Volkman Executive Director, salary in 2016 was $95,699
    Joel DeTar, president was $22,357

  40. senile Steve segner says:

    @Steve segner says:
    May 23, 2018 at 9:35 am

    ” vote for homeroom”, my favorite subject in High School !!

    “let the electric make a decision”, electric only decides if you don’t pay your bill. Or in steves case if there is a scammer in the area.

    You forgot “The library is double dipping IMO. According to the tax returns the library & Friends of Sedona Library in 2016 had combined assets of 7,577,363. No mortgage payments.”

    Seek professional help steve. Or don’t. (Deleted by editor)

  41. M Mallon says:

    From Segner “TERRI you seem fairly unhappy with the situation in Sedona‘s you might look around for a more suitable place to live that has people more like you whatever that might be.”

    These people take a (Deleted by Editor) in our front yard, and say if we don’t like it , we can move. I have another suggestion, cut off all chamber funding, vote NO ON HOME RULE and have Segner and his kind move.

    Vote out all incumbents. No on Home Rule.

  42. @Steve segner says:

    Huh? ” they’re going to vote for homeroom”; “we can let the electric make a decision”

    And YOU have the audacity to criticize other people posting comments here?
    WOW clear case of do as I say and NOT as I do?

    That being the case, you just cinched my decision to vote NO ON HOME RULE.
    Thank you very much!

  43. Current Government says:

    The voters have to talk to their neighbors. This is our time.
    If we can’t defeat those who fund:
    Snidely Whiplash ‘Traffic is our destiny !”
    Spend it all Karen, who gets awards for budgets that are consistently 20% too high, as hard as she tries, she cant waste it all.@Senile Steve Segner, who can’t tell homeroom from Home Rule

    Then Sedona is truly lost. Support your favorite new candidate for city council, vote no on Home Rule.

    This is our town, we can take it back.

  44. Dana Varney says:

    Another great article Eddie. The picture is getting clearer by the day. The Library it seems is another avenue to channel public money to enrich special interests. The Sedona property owners are getting double taxed from counties and city of Sedona. In 2016 tax returns show assets of 7,577,363, income of 1,787,687, payroll of 903,480, contributions from grants 1,386,482, Sedona city funding was 583,932 and is up this year to over 800,000, Executive Director Virginia Volkmann salary 95,699, and president and member of the Sedona 30 club and owner of a construction co Joel DeTar salary 22,000. Vote no on Home Rule and stop the giveaways.

  45. Norma says:

    OMG I thought the library was owned by sedona city.

    OMG almost 2million dollars

    OMG vote as steve says NO on home room DAH ugg I meant home rule

  46. Right on, M Mallon! says:

    “These people take a (Deleted by Editor) in our front yard, and say if we don’t like it , we can move. I have another suggestion, cut off all chamber funding, vote NO ON HOME RULE and have Segner and his kind move.”

  47. It's Already Started! says:

    Segner’s alleged PAC (political action committee) is in full swing – collecting big $$$$$ to make sure Home Rule is voted in. What more reason do you people need to vote NO – on HOME RULE!

    The fat cats are congregating including at least one member of the current council – an incumbent intending to run again.

    Be Aware – DO NOT BELIEVE THEM WITHOUT CONFIRMING THEIR PROPAGANDA. The battle is already raging and it’s only the beginning.

    NO, NO, NO on HOME RULE. The more they try to convince you – the scarier it gets. “Vote for homeroom?” “Let the electric make a decision?” And you find that creditable? And watch the big bucks they spend on ads in the RRBlues and wait for the expensive brochures in your mail boxes. Your tax $$$$ at work – and don’t forget it. Hype and BS will clog the garbage trucks very quickly.

  48. Shameful! says:

    You people are so weird – demented might be a better word.

    Here the forest is so dry it’s ready to burst into flames. City (town?) of Flagstaff has stepped in and together with U.S. Forest Service closed campgrounds and trails in that area. And Phoenix news reports those closures will be indefinite because a very mild monsoon season is predicted and no rain presently in sight.

    In the meantime, where will all the people end up this Memorial Day weekend, not to mention upcoming 4th of July when campgrounds and trails between Payson and Flagstaff remain inaccessible? Sedona, of course, where ATV’s, jeeps, and anything imaginable are still ripping up our roads and forest trails, tossing out cigarette butts, and whatever. Slobs and more as one other person clearly defined them.

    Where is the concern from city hall, council and staff about this extremely serious situation? On – forgot – worried that Sedona voters might consider tightening constraints on their spending (wasting) city tax money. Inconsiderate, lame and sick are printable terms that come to mind.

  49. @ Dana Varney says:

    Thank you for informing us as to the Sedona librarian’s incredible salary which is almost double the national average of $52K.

    See https://www.indeed.com/salaries/Librarian-Salaries

  50. Steve segner says:

    Dana , please stick to the facts Jole DeTar ,Is not a member of Sedona 30, is not paid, he is not president of the library, Dana, you seem to have a problem with successful people, anybody around town who works hard for the city or organizations. You seem to have a pattern of criticizing everybody’s work ethic and pay but your own ,what are you do? And better yet what have you done for Sedona

    Dana Varney needs to be made aware of the fact that I work at the Library for free! Her information is bogus. There is NO salary for the “President” of the Library, which I am not. I am the President of the Board of Trustees only and am a volunteer as are all the Board members. How do we rebut this accusation? Such an uneducated statement.

    Joel DeTar

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