The December 13th meeting of the Grove City Council will be the final meeting of 2022, with three re-elected City Council members (Jesse Leatham, Fernando Shipley and Mike Stapleton) and Mariano Gonzalez, who will be appointed to the City Council in 2021. It opened with the oath of office for the new members. I ran as a candidate again this year. After the ceremony, Mayor Al Gameros re-elected Stapleton as deputy mayor.

The council has approved a resolution petitioning the Gila County Board of Supervisors to establish an Intergovernmental Public Transit Authority (IPTA). The resolution also provided for Globe to participate in the formation of her IPTA and become a member.

The 2021 Gila County Transport Governance Study recommended the establishment of an IPTA. Proposed initial members include Globe, Miami, Payson, Star Valley, Hayden, Winkelman, and Gila County. The IPTA has a board of five to nine members, one of whom is appointed by the county. IPTA’s guiding principles are: “maximize federal, state, regional, and local funding opportunities”; “strive”, “strive to maximize cost-effectiveness, quality of service, and service”. operational efficiency. ”

Grove City engineer Jerry Burns stressed that the IPTA would not scrap current systems like the Copper Mountain Transit, and advised the city council to “get a seat.” Mayor Paul Jepson said the goal is low-cost, affordable transportation services. He added that it will take about two years to transition from the current process to his IPTA. Mayor Al Gameros wanted the Grove to have the same voice as northern Gila County and equal opportunities for grants.

The council also ratified a $2.79 million grant request filed with the Arizona Department of Transportation on December 1 to replace the Cottonwood Bridge. If approved, funds from ADOT’s Off-System Bridge Program will be used for construction only. Burns says he’s 99% done designing the new bridge.

Among other businesses, the Council approved a request for new signage for the former Arco/AM-PM store on Highway 60. The former store was purchased by Marathon Gas who requested a new sign. Jepson said no start date has been set for the project.

After debate, an ordinance was introduced to amend a section of the city code that would place the chief of police and fire chiefs under the mayor’s supervision as effective officers.