Will the Dewey-Humboldt Town Council or the Planning and Zoning Advisory Commission take over the Board of Adjustment’s responsibilities? That question is expected to be answered tomorrow.  Last week, Council agreed to dissolve the Board until further notice.  A minimum of 5 members is required by State Statute, and Dewey-Humboldt’s Board only had 4. Council hadn’t stipulated who would take over the Board’s responsibilities, which include holding public hearings on zoning and property variance appeals.  There is some confusion with Town Code as to whether or not the Planning and Zoning Commission should take over.  Council will consider either having its members serve as the Board or having the Commission do so as part of a special meeting.  That meeting starts at 2 tomorrow afternoon in Council chambers on south Highway 69.  

An effort is underway to form a new Optimist International Club in Prescott Valley, and you can share your input at noon today.  Town Councilman Michael Whiting says over 2900 Optimist Clubs are set up around the world, and Prescott Valley has been selected as the newest venue. The Clubs conduct scholarship programs, sports activities and mentoring and after school programs.  Whiting explains your input is needed to help the expansion effort move forward. The informational meeting will be held at Fuddrucker’s in Prescott Valley’s Downtown Entertainment District. 

Expect overnight delays on I-17 in the Verde Valley area this week due to paving work.  ADOT spokeswoman Tricia Lewis explains where paving is taking place. Lewis adds other work besides paving is associated with this project. Tonight southbound I-17 will be narrowed to 1 lane and the McGuireville Rest Area will be closed.  On Wednesday and Thursday, southbound I-17 starting at the 179 exit will have alternating lane restrictions.  Work hours are 8 pm to 8 am.  This 4.2 million dollar project is scheduled for completion in October. 

You will have 2 opportunities to share your comments on the complete draft of Prescott Valley’s General Plan Update.  The update process started in June 2011 and the complete draft is headed to the Planning and Zoning Commission for review.  A public hearing will be held at 3 in the Magistrate Court Facility on the 1st floor of the Civic Center.  A second hearing will follow at 5:30 in the Library Auditorium.  The Center and Library are both located on Civic Circle.  The Plan is a guide for future growth and development and contains chapters on growth areas, land use, circulation, recreation and open space and economic development.  Voters approved the plan in 2002 and an update is required every 10 years. 

Despite the firing of Education Curator Jody Drake last week, the Sharlot Hall Museum has no plans to close the Blue Rose Theater.  Drake founded the theater in 1994 on the museum campus on West Gurley Street in Prescott and even performed as the late Sharlot Hall there.  Questions have come up as to the theatre’s future, but a sold out performance with Arizona blues musician Hans Olsen occurred as scheduled on Saturday.  Neil Thomas, Museum Board President says shows will go on and the theatre may have a new name. Drake explains it’s not very likely she could use the Blue Rose name to start a new theater. The Byways of Arizona Music series, which featured Olsen, is scheduled to resume on August 4th with Folk singer Katie Lee.  The next presentation in the Centennial Chatauquas series is set for July 29th, with Parker Anderson performing as U.S. Senator from Arizona Ralph Cameron.

If you’re running for a school board position in the November 6th General Election, you can start filing your candidate paperwork today.   There are a number of School Board seats that will be contested in the General Election, including 3 in Prescott and 5 in the Humboldt District.  The Yavapai College Governing Board has 2 six year terms in Districts 1 and 3. These are new districts that have been formed as a result of recent redistricting by the County Board of Supervisors.  For questions about petition signatures, stop by County School Superintendent Tim Carter’s office on Fair Street in Prescott or call 442-5138.  The last day for candidates to file is August 8th. 

Prescott has started the current fiscal year on a positive note.  Budget and Finance Director Mark Woodfill explains the city saw a rise in total taxable activity as Fiscal Year 2012 came to an end on June 30th. Other categories that are up include advertising, 22 percent; and construction, 13 percent.  Woodfill says hotel and motel stays are up nearly 9 percent. Woodfill says the increases are good news for the city. According to the City’s Building and Permit Division, permits are over 1 million dollars due to construction activity involving single family residences.  133 permits were issued in Fiscal Year 2012, which has more than doubled from 63 the previous year. 

As for recent events in Prescott, May’s Whiskey Row Marathon had 19 hundred runners participating, up from 18 hundred in 2011.  The total economic impact has been estimated at over 1 million dollars and Prescott YMCA Director Damon Olsen explains they will be working to make the marathon bigger next year. The Antelope Hills Golf Course has completed its busiest month of the year in June with the 53rd annual Father Son Tournament.  According to Manager Mac McCarley, this event, which attracted more than 450 players and their families, brought in over 100 hundred thousand dollars to the Golf Course, and that doesn’t include what was spent in the community.