Golf Course Irrigation Improvements
I stated: “On page 244 of the adopted budget for FY 19/20 there is a Capital Improvement allocation for a $3,000,000 bond for golf course irrigation improvements. What happened? Was there a bond, and, if so, where are the improvements?”
The Town’s response: “There were not any bonds issued.”
Again, where did Jacobs get the authorization not to comply with the Council’s policy?
I stated: “On page 227 of the adopted budget for FY 20/21 there is a Capital Improvement allocation for $1,100,000 for golf course irrigation improvements. What happened? Where are the improvements?”
The Town’s response: “Town Manager Mary Jacobs provided this information to you in October 2020. The Town did not do the golf course irrigation but proceeded with the design, though construction documents and the remaining funds stayed in reserves.”
Where did the authorization come to disregard the Council direction and proceed with the alternative? The money was there in the balanced budget, but Jacobs did not follow through on $4.1 million dollars of authorized expenditures.
When challenged, Jacobs tells me:
“Town received one bid for the first irrigation project on the El Conquistador 18-hole course from an Illinois firm in the amount of $3.7+M. This extremely high cost and lack of bidders has resulted in my decision to postpone the irrigation replacement for this summer. Our Chief Procurement Officer will be reaching out to prospective bidders to find out the optimal time to rebid the project with greater lead time for a bidder to plan, in hopes of a more competitive bid. Increasing construction costs are concerning for other future Town capital projects and will be monitored closely."
There was $4.1 million authorized, and she states that the bid came in at $3.7 million. In other words, the money was there.
Jacobs admits it was her decision to postpone the authorized spending. If she is going to disregard the spending policy set by the Council, she must go before Council for permission, not simply publish her decision in an Executive Report.
Town Manager’s Office Personnel
I stated: “On page 110 of the adopted budget for FY 21/22 there is a breakdown of the personnel allocated to the Town Manager’s office. In this breakdown there is no allocation for the position of CIP Director (Capital Improvement Projects). However, there was a recent Facebook posting advertising a position for a CIP Director -- a position that is not budgeted.”
Jacobs’ response: “The position for CIP Director is a temporary position and is budgeted within the CIP Funds.”
I responded by informing her that temporary or not, I still wanted to know if it was authorized. Jacobs then directed me to the Personnel Schedule found on page 109 of the FY 21/22 adopted budget. I read it and there is no authorization as she states.
However, Town Policy 6, “Unbudgeted Expenses” directs the Town Manager to go to Council for approval for any unbudgeted expenses. Was there Council approval for this unbudgeted position?
If this CIP position is temporary and budgeted within CIP Funds, does this mean that no general funds are being used? Does this position get benefits, such as health and retirement?
Is Jacobs in violation of ICMA ethics?
Tenet 6 of the International County/City Managers Association (ICMA) states: “Recognize that elected representatives are accountable to their community for the decisions they make; members are responsible for implementing those decisions.”
Who’s running the Town?
Why does the elected body allow her to get away with her arbitrary decisions? These decisions are contrary to the policies set forth by Council. If anybody voted for Mary Jacobs to run this Town, please advise me.
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Mike Zinkin and his wife have lived in Oro Valley since 1998. He served on the Oro Valley Development Review Board from 2005-2009, the Board of Adjustment from 2011-2012, and the Town Council from 2012-2016. He was named a Fellow for the National League of Cities. He was a member of the NLC Steering Committee for Community and Economic Development and a member of the Arizona League of Cities Budget and Economic Development Committee. He was an Air Traffic Controller for 30 years. Mike has a Bachelor’s degree in history and government from the University of Arizona and a Master’s degree in Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education from California State University, Northridge.
