Arizona Republic from Phoenix, Arizona • Page 46

SERVING Mirage Litchfield Park 'Peoria Sun City Sun City West Surprise Wickenburg Youngtown Northwest OMMUNITY -I I 0 I I I Gazette THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC Monday, July 11, 1994 ecall ballots for rec board called unfair Lack option for removing 1 member instead of both both," he said. "That's certainly not fair." Norris and the other members of the recall group are trying to remove board President Art Williams and Vice President Max Domino. Williams is being challenged by James Edelen, a 10-year Sun City resident from Alaska. Domino is being challenged by Carol Jaslow, a 13-year Sun City resident from Michigan. The recall effort had targeted four board members, but two John Ober and George Hartman resigned before the election began.

"I think it was intentionally done that way to confuse people," Jaslow said of the ballot format. "Each one (present board member) is hoping the other will pull them out. It's really bad." Rec centers officials have contended that the ballot format is in accordance with the organization's bylaws and articles of incorporation. See BALLOT, Page 2 The recall group' says it is upset with the format of the ballots. The ballots ask residents whether they want to recall both board members and, if so, whether they want to replace them with the two people challenging them.

The ballots do not provide for residents to recall just one board member. That has residents who worked to get Peoria property taxes set to rise this year By Jeff Nelson Special to Community SUN CITY Backers of a recall election against two members of the Recreation Centers of Sun City board say the ballot mailed to residents is unfair and possibly illegal. Recreation centers officials, however, say the ballot is legal. 1 1 A hi By Diana Balazs Staff writer PEORIA Get out your calculators. City property taxes are going up.

The increases will be reflected when the Maricopa County Assessor's Office sends out tax bills in the fall, said Dan Leahy, Peoria's acting budget officer. For a home valued at $85,000, a resident will pay $150.03 in city property taxes annually, compared with $125.76 last fiscal year, an increase of $24.27. For a home valued at $100,000, a resident will pay $176.50 in city property taxes, compared with $147.96 the previous fiscal year, an increase of $28.54. For a home valued at $125,000, city taxes will be $220.62 per year vs. $184.95, an increase of a home valued at $150,000, $264.76 vs.

$221.95, an increase of and for a home valued at $200,000, $353.00 compared with $295.92, an increase of $57.08. Property owners pay both a primary and a secondary tax rate. For the 1994-95 fiscal year, which began July 1, the total tax rate has been set at about $1.77 per $100 of assessed valuation. That compares with about $1.48 the past fiscal year. Money raised from the primary tax rate pays for the city's operations, while the secondary tax rate is used to pay debt on bonds.

The City Council set the tax rates last week, with member Fred Galioto voting il i i i the recall election scheduled angry. "Of course we're upset. We're very upset," recall backer Peter Cipriano said. Recall supporter Bruce Norris said the board is trying to tie the two candidates together in hopes of getting the votes from people who may be happy with just one of the board members. "If you like one, you have to vote for if- post office liaison, was among Sun City West residents who delivered the petitions three years ago to Postmaster General Anthony Frank.

"The postmaster said he was impressed with getting 11,000 signatures from a community of 21,000," Smith said. With the prodding of U.S. Sens. Dennis DeConcini and John McCain and Rep. Bob Stump, Frank visited Sun City West a few months later.

At the time, Frank disappointed residents, saying he didn't have the money to build a post office in Sun City West. As a compromise, he expanded a contract station. Residents said that wasn't good See POST OFFICE, Page 2 Nancy Engebretson Staff photographer Sen. Dennis DeConcinl, Is greeted office. The beginning of construction is the Thursday by former Nebraska Rep.

Virginia culmination of a 10-year effort by Sun City West Smith at the site of the new Sun City West post residents to get their own post office. Sports complex adds pair of fall league teams Construction begins Sun City West How tax rate evolved Following is a list of Peoria's property tax rates for the past 10 fiscal years. The total combines the primary and secondary tax rates. Money raised from the primary rate pays for the city's operations, while the secondary rate is used to pay debt on bonds. 1985-86: $1.29 per $100 of assessed valuation.

1986-87: $1.22. 1987-88: $1.19. 1988-89: $1.14. 1989-90: $1.13. 1990-91: $1.30.

1991-92: $1.43. 1992-93: $1.47. 1993-94: $1.48. 1994-95: $1.77. SOURCE: The city of Peoria.

against the increase. "I think it was going up too high," he said, adding that the increase would be difficult for those on fixed incomes to pay. He also said the county is too far behind on adding new properties to the tax rolls. "Why penalize the ones that are already paying taxes?" he said. The primary tax rate was set at 42 See LEVY, Page 4 in that facility," said Steve Cobb, the league's executive vice president.

The Arizona Fall Baseball League is a division of Major League baseball. The league was established in 1992 and has a year-round office in the state. Cobb said Peoria approached the league about basing teams there. "The discussions began last year and, frankly, they were initiated by the city of Peoria. They were very aggressive," he said.

Seeing how well the city did hosting both the Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres during spring training made the sports complex even more attractive, Cobb said. "For a first-year venue, they did an outstanding job." The league was interested in consolidating its operations to the Valley to reduce See BALL, Page 2' youth, energy Rosa Silva presides over her first meeting as president of the Sun City Host Lions Club. Silva, 23, of Peoria is the youngest person and first woman to lead the club. my life, and I never have seen anyone so young do what she has done. "Rosa is extremely mature for her age, has a lot of determination and the brains to go with it," he said.

Silva is planning a career in medicine, first as a nurse, ultimately a doctor, with pediatrics as a specialty. "Somehow, time just flies when I am in the lab," she said. See PRESIDENT, Page 4 By Diana Balazs Staff writer PEORIA Junkies who can't get enough of the game will be happy to learn that Peoria has snared two Arizona Fall Baseball League teams. The Peoria Javelinas and the Sun Cities Solar Sox will use the Peoria Sports Complex as their home field. The Solar Sox previously played at the Sun Cities Stadium.

Last week, the City Council approved an agreement for use of the stadium for this year's season. The city is expected to receive about $30,000 in revenue from the rental agreement. The teams will play 42 home games, from October to December. "It's outstanding, state-of-the-art. Everything I've seen is first class throughout By Lorl Baker Staff writer Sun Qty West The delivery has taken more than a decade, but Sun City West residents are ecstatic that a post office is under construction at last in their community.

"We're finally going to get a top-notch, state-of-the art post office," said Virginia Smith, a former Nebraska congresswoman who lives in Sun City West and helped lobby for the post office. Smith was among about 150 people celebrating the post office's construction on Thursday. The building at 139th Avenue and Sandridge Drive is slated to open by February. A combination of persistent community leaders and sawy politicians 1 i for i New Lions leader brings helped seal the post office deal, Smith said. Community leaders began fighting for a post office in Sun City West more than a decade ago.

Year after year, the Property Owners and Residents Association board members continued asking. More than 11,000 signatures from Sun City West residents were collected on petitions in favor of building a post office. "People stood in front of stores and went up and down the streets getting signatures," Smith said. Smith, the residents association's rh i -1 i i ft if ts David Mclntyre Staff photographer Sun City chapter's president is only 23 By Betty Latty Special to Community When Rosa Silva began her duties as president of Host Lions Club in Sun City, she became the first woman and youngest person to hold that office in the club. Silva, of Peoria, turned 23 on Friday.

She had another honor at her formal installation, which took place in May: The ceremony was conducted by W.R. (Dick) Bryan of Sun City West, a past international president of Lions International. And she will participate, with fellow members, in the service organization's convention in Phoenix this month. "In a way, I'm surprised (at being president) it was so fast," said Silva, a Host Lions member about four years. "But I have always done things, held offices in other clubs, joined school activities and did volunteer work." It was no surprise, however, to the Host Lions, who recruited her for membership, elected her to office, then sent her twice to presidency training schools conducted by Lions International, all over a four-year span.

Nancy Engebretson Staff photographer Silva was 18 and a part-time case management worker for Centro Campe-sino Adelante in Surprise when Lions members became impressed with her. "Rosa also volunteered there a lot and developed a scholarship program for children of migrant workers," recalled Gene Gravlin, who sponsored Silva. "She taught them responsibility, and they loved her. "I have been in the people business all Vimblcdon at The Wigwam A couple play tennis on a grass court recently at The Wigwam Resort In Litchfield Park as part of the resort's Wimbledon at The Wigwam celebration. In addition to tennis, the event included the serving of fresh 'strawberries and cream, a tradition at the Wimbledon tournament..