Desert Messenger

6 www.DesertMessenger.com March 4, 2015 DESERT MESSENGER Quartzsite's FREE Community Paper Proud to be a Quartzsite Licensed Business 928-916-4235 Founded by Walt Akin October 1, 2004 P�������� �� P���� R��� P��������� C�. P.O. Box 3185 Quartzsite, AZ 85359 P�������� ����� � ����� 1st & 3rd Wednesday Sept. thru May with Special Summer Editions June, July & August EDITOR/PUBLISHER Shanana "Rain" Golden-Bear CONTRIBUTING JOURNALIST Joanne Winer GUEST COLUMNIST Jedidiah Free GUEST COLUMNIST The late Rosalee O Wheeler GUEST COLUMNIST Gypsy Jane Finley CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER Starr BearCat NAME PLATE LETTERING Paul Winer www.DesertMessenger.com www.MyQuartzsite.com E-mail: Editor@DesertMessenger.com Copyright 2013 Opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the Desert Messenger. LIKE US on Facebook.com/ DesertMessengerNews FOLLOW US on Twitter @QuartzsiteRain Just Rambling... I've been wondering about those ar- guments regarding the "APS Fran- chise" which goes before the voters in the March 10th mail-in election. I hear from plenty of folks who think the fees collected by APS is just free money given to the Town Gov- ernment. Well, they may be right. Some council members have said that taxes should not fall upon the backs of the taxpayers. Well, they may be right, too. So I sat down and talked with Anna Chaulk, South- west Arizona Community Affairs for Arizona Public Service (APS) asking questions raised by some readers. This year, Quartzsite is celebrating 25 years of incorporation. When the Town incorporated, voters evidently approved the APS Franchise, as did every other community served by APS. State Legislators require APS to work with individual communities to provide service; they are allowed to "collect fees" (not taxes) for the lo- cal government. APS doesn't charge Cowboy, Indian, US Cavalry and Unique Museum Quality WESTERN ITEMS! Rice Ranch - E. Kuehn (Just East of Gamblers) 719-289-4717 By Shanana "Rain" Golden-Bear "He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life." ~ Muhammad Ali the towns for the service. Voters are only voting to approve the franchise, not to approve any amount of per- centage of fees. Quartzsite Town Council has provided an proposal for the fees to be changed in the fu- ture, from 2% (the max allowed) all the way down to 0%. What happens if the Franchise Agreement is not approved by vot- ers now? Chaulk explained APS is required to continue to provide services until an Agreement is ap- proved by the voters. So if voters do not approve the Franchise this time, it will go before the voters again and the Town will end up pay- ing for another election. The Town of Quartzsite is not paying for this election; the County is footing the bill because they failed to get the is- sue on the Nov. 4th ballot. Provided by Elmer London, Quartzsite and Desert Messenger DEADLINE : WED. MARCH 11 TH for march 18 th edition Desert Messenger Email: editor@DesertMessenger.com 928-916-4235 www.DesertMessenger.com We seem destined to communicate In caps. Ordered an APP, APP's Don't come by UPS, USPS nor FEDX. Reminds one of WWII when we had FDR, the GI's in the ETO and SPTO. Today we hope the DHS and FBI are diligent. Oh well, BLM, ATV's and desert trails beckon. The Deal Worth Watching For By Frank Oulman Are you going to be in town in mid March? We hope so. The Friends of the Quartzsite Food Bank is getting prepared to hold a "Roast Beef Extrav- aganza". It's a fund raiser and we'll be serving a meal of scrumptadelicious, smoked, thin sliced roast beef, piled high on a hoagie bun, a pasta or potato salad, chips, a drink, and a small des- sert, and it will be only $5. If you bring in two cans of vegetables or fruit, we'll even reduce the price by $1. Of course, you may always pay the $5 AND bring in cans of food. Our shelves were hit hard this winter and now it's time to get ready for the summer. We'll get the word out soon as to the exact place, date and time. Look for us at Quartzsite Chatter on Facebook, on signs around town, at the Food Bank at 40 N. Moon Mountain Rd, and, of course, in the next issue of the Desert Messenger. Roast Beef Extravaganza I've heard "concerned" citizens rant about saving the Town money, but then turn around and sue the government, knowing full well of the tremendous cost involved to defend such lawsuits. So if folks are really concerned about saving the Town money, vote YES on the Franchise so the Town won't have to pay additional funds for another election. I sure don't mind paying a few bucks every month knowing that the Fees go directly into the Town's General Fund. APS has no strings on how the money is used, therefore the Town can use it for our fabulous Public Library, Town Park, Police Services, Marketing; even for Council or Employee stipends/salaries, etc. Last year the Town received an es- timated $80,000/year from the APS Fees collected from us, the electric users; a little here and a little there. The Town obviously needs to improve their fi - nancial situation, as they are dipping into HURF (revenue designated for road improvement) to pay their bills; not a legal thing to do and Town Council is working with the Town Manager on ways to save money. Losing $80,000 plus having to pay for future election(s) won't help the situation at all. Either way, make sure to VOTE, sign and mail your ballot by March 10th.

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