Showing posts with label Jim Horn's Oro Valley. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jim Horn's Oro Valley. Show all posts

Friday, April 16, 2021

Bits and Pieces

Horn Launches "Unsung Hero" Podcast
Oro Valley resident Jim Horn has a new podcast called: "Oro Valley's Unsung Heroes." Jim interviewed Oro Valley Police Officer Alex Carillo, whom we covered yesterday in LOVE, in his first podcast. 

Horn intends future podcasts. "The Oro Valley Podcast will continue to do a series on the unsung heroes in Oro Valley. The series will feature those first responders that have helped to save lives in our community that would have otherwise been lost. The first responders devotion to duty and commitment to help our citizens is often overlooked. The Unsung Hero Series will highlight those achievements."

Hardy roundabout closed April 20 and 21
The town will be closing the Hardy and Northern Ave roundabout on April 20 and 21 for surface treatments. This is midweek so be sure to use an alternate route those days.

Did you know?
Oro Valley Police are involved in the building development review process. They provide recommendations about how projects can be designed to deter or prevent crime. (Source: 2020 Oro Valley Police Annual Report)

Shaffer Dry Cleaning Closing
Shaffer Dry Cleaning is closing its Rooney Ranch store on April 21. They told us that there was simply not enough business to justify keeping the location. We suspect their business is a victim of the pandemic. People stayed home. They didn’t need to dress to travel to work. Thus, less laundry to be cleaned. Shaffer offers a “door to door” service by calling 520-318-3538 or visiting shafferdrycleaning.com to sign up.



Thursday, February 18, 2021

Oro Valley Podcast: Pusch Ridge Golf Solution Complicated

Pusch Ridge Golf solution is complicated
The Pusch Ridge golf course situation is very complicated and I'm sure the solution, whatever it is, will not please everyone. But solutions, come about through working together and developing a plan. However, some members of the town Council and town staff feel that being disingenuous and not working with the citizens is the best path to follow.

D'Angelo: Town staff hard to work with
I recently had Tony D'Angelo, the advocate for Pusch Ridge golf course, on my podcast. He stated that the most frustrating part of arriving at a solution was working with the town Council and staff. For example, Tony pointed out that Mary Jacobs the town manager told the Pusch Ridge HOA to work out the lease arrangements with HSL. That's a little strange, is it not? Why would someone who doesn't own the property attempt to work out the lease on behalf of the town. The HOA finally balked at that suggestion and said they would not pursue that course to a solution. I always wondered why it was taking so long to arrive at a suitable lease agreement between HSL and the town. The town, through Mary Jacobs, wanted to abdicate its responsibility to work out a proper lease agreement between HSL and the town.

D'Angelo: Not not all on council involved
The Pusch Ridge HOA invited all of the town Council members to the course to show them the current situation and discuss alternative solutions. All council members except for Council Member Nicolson attended a walkthrough of the grounds. Since then many have ignored emails and calls from some of the council members.

Ignoring repeated emails and messages on this is not good thing. It seems to me that if you represent the town regardless of your schedule you have to take responsibility to work out a solution with the Pusch Ridge HOA. Quite frankly, I'm disappointed.

Promise not kept
And finally, to a round of applause, at an HOA meeting in February 2020 Mayor Winfield announces that the golf course will stay open. In April 2020 the town abruptly closes the golf course with no notification to the HOA's.

On the masthead of the Washington Post is a quote;” Democracy dies in darkness”. Apparently in Oro Valley we don't even want to turn on the switch.

You can watch Jim's interview of Tony D'Angelo here.
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Friday, June 26, 2020

Bits and Pieces

Council to consider HOA agreements to help support town golf operations next Wednesday
"In October 2019, the Town Council approved a motion that provided certain conditions and parameters by which the Town would continue to operate and invest in the Town's golf courses. One of the provisions stated:

'The Canada Hills HOA will contribute up to $100k annually to reduce the tax support necessary for the 36 hole option to include the Conquistador and Canada courses. This will be for a 10 year period limited to 10% of the town’s audited figures for the previous year’s tax support needs. The Villages of La Canada will contribute $25k per year under the same conditions as the Canada Hills HOA. Payments will be made quarterly, beginning July 1, 2020.'"

The Town Manager and Town Attorney negotiated with the representatives of the two HOA's, resulting in the agreement attached. The agreement provides for a 10-year period with contributions of the $100,000 and $25,000 specified in the motion, but removing the limitations the motion established to no more than 10% of the town's audited figures for the previous year's tax support needs, and instead securing the full contribution for five years with an opportunity to renegotiate additional contributions in year 5 of the agreement.

The agreement further stipulates the Town's commitment to abide by the other provisions of the Council's motions on October 2 and November 6, 2019. It further provides for the possibility of extending the irrigation investment in the courses one additional year due to the pandemic, should that be necessary." (source)
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Click to enlarge
Council to discuss annexation strategy next Wednesday
The Oro Valley Town Council will discuss an annexation strategy in special session next Wednesday.
The strategy has annexation targets as detailed in the graphic at right. (source) Read our LOVE March 23 article on annexation here.
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Candidates participate in Jim Horne's Town Hall
The five candidates for Oro Valley's three council seats participated in a Zoom.us town hall last evening. Oro Valley resident Jim Horne, author of the Jim Horne's Oro Valley Podcast, was the moderator. The purpose of the town hall was for each candidate to discuss their candidacy with the public. There was no debate or cross discussion. Watch the town hall here.
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Council to discuss "Primary Employer Incentive Program" next Wednesday
"The purpose of the Primary Employer Incentive Program is to help enable long-term financial sustainability in Oro Valley through the creation of new primary job opportunities and the generation of new capital investments in the Town. In accordance with the economic development goals embodied in the voter-approved General Plan, the Town Council's Strategic Leadership Plan and the Council approved Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, this program is proposed to assist Oro Valley in its efforts to attract high quality primary job opportunities and new capital investment to the community. If approved by Council, the Town of Oro Valley may offer different incentives such as fee reductions or reimbursement of other eligible expenses, depending on the nature of the project. Reimbursement amounts will be restricted to the amount of construction sales tax and related fees collected by the Town in association with the project.

These incentive reimbursements will help offset qualifying expenditures by the primary employer such as required new public infrastructure improvements, which could include partial offsets to impact fees, employee relocation and qualified job training programs, exterior building aesthetics and renovation expenses. The program aims to encourage the retention and expansion of existing primary employers. Additionally, the program will help attract new primary employers to the Town." (source)
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Thursday, December 19, 2019

New Podcast: Jim Horn's Oro Valley

Resident Jim Horn podcasts about life in our town
Oro Valley 17-year resident Jim Horn is podcasting about Oro Valley. Each podcast runs from 20 to 30 minutes. The podcast is not about politics. It's a weekly podcast about the town.

Jim notes his purpose in his first podcast

 "It's about what's going on in Oro Valley. About issues that unite us and issues that divide us. It's not a political rant. If you have an issue about Oro Valley we'll present both sides of the issue."

How to listen and subscribe
You can listen to the podcast at orovalleypodcast.com.

A more convenient method to listen is to subscribe to it using the apple podcast appt. Then, you can listen on your iPhone.

To do this:

  • Open the apple podcast app on your iPhone
  • Locate the search icon. It is on the lower right of the screen and looks like a magnifying glass.
  • Click on it and type "Oro Valley" in the search box
  • A list will display as you type. Select "Oro Valley Podcast"
  • The icon you see at the right on this page will be displayed under "shows"
  • Tap on that icon.
  • Tap on "subscribe"

Jim’s podcast is also available on the “Stitcher” app for Android or IOS users. Simply download the app, search for the podcast and subscribe.

Episode 2: Jim and guest, Dr. Jim Tripp talk about water
Jim's guest this week is Dr. Jim Tripp, an Oro Valley resident who is a water expert. He talks about water basics and then some. Tune in. Enjoy.
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Jim Horn moved to Oro Valley in 2002. He served on the Oro Valley Historical Society Board. Jim is Former Chairman of the Board and CEO of a large distribution network in Minnesota and Eastern United States.