Somerton’s mayor reflects on growth
As Somerton zips into its 100th year as an incorporated city, Mayor Jose Yepez looks back at 2017 as a year of growth for the municipality.
“Overall, (2017) went pretty good,” he said. “We got a lot accomplished from our walking trail, our city hall, and our streets internally, and in the city.”
Yepez pointed out several positives for the city, including work on Highway 95 that began in February; an update to the city’s 911 system in April; and news of Arizona Western College bringing much-needed classes to the city. AWC rents space in the new city hall, which opened to the public June 1.
“I think we did pretty good with the funding that we have,” Yepez said. “Things look very good for the future.”
The U.S. Census Bureau’s July 2016 population estimates showed that Somerton’s population is up by about 750 since the 2010 census, pushing the city’s count just shy of 15,000 residents. Data from the American Community Survey (a division of the Census) estimates that by the next census, about one-third of Somerton’s population would be 18 or younger.
To prepare for that growth, the Somerton School District filed a request for a new elementary school with the Arizona School Facilities Board in August, according to board minutes and the ASFB’s website. If approved, the school is slated to open in 2022, according to ASFB’s annual report to the legislature.
“Build-out is still projected by 2021 as projected construction of new homes and developments have started the process thru the city community development phase,” the school district wrote in its request. “Although the developments are not new, the final phase of those constructions have started back up from an 8-year dormant stage. Growth has been moderate, but consistent.”
A new high school for Somerton is also going for-
ward, as the Yuma Union High School District finalized a purchase of land adjacent to a city park being built in tandem with the new school.
“We have also acquired the property for the new high school for land adjacent to the high school, where our master plan shows our regional park,” Yepez noted.
A community group of concerned parents, the Committee for the Somerton High School, has raised $25,000 for the school’s “extras,” and plans to raise another $50,000.
About $25 million is earmarked for the high school’s construction, according to previous articles in the Yuma Sun, from a 2015 bond measure voters OK’d. But the money only goes toward construction, and committee members don’t expect the school to have much money beyond basic needs in the classroom.
Construction of the campus on the city’s west side is expected to begin sometime after 2020.
Yepez said with the new high school will come housing growth, including areas still being developed by Housing America on Somerton’s west side.
“We also have other subdivisions that are going to be coming online really quick, early part of next year. We’re still, we were growing at rate of 100, 100+ homes a year,” the mayor said. “I think with this new high school and this area that we’re looking on to the west side, I think some of the subdivisions on that side are going to be opening up soon.”
Arizona Western College also opened up a campus in Somerton at the city’s new City Hall to offer more education opportunities to residents.
With growth also comes the need to increase sewer and water capacity and taking care of roadways.
The city took a look at its water and sewage rates and trash collection rates in February after delivery charges surged, and an audit showed the city’s water expenditures totaled more than $2.6 million in fiscal year 15-16. Revenues into the fund for that same fiscal year totaled a little more than $1.91 million, according to previous articles in the Yuma Sun.
Yepez said in February one factor may be increase in the number of hookups to the city’s water system, from 3,581 to 4,154.
In December, the city hired a firm to determine how much rates would need to go up to make the water, sewer and trash program self-sustaining.
Somerton’s police chief, Benjamin Cotman, retired in March. Cotman had been in the top position since taking over in 2010 for an interim period. He later assumed the post on a permanent basis. His successor, Jeffery Cavender assumed the post in late May but has come under fire in the past few months over the dismissal of a community favored officer.
Despite those challenges, Yepez said that Somerton is ready for advancement.
“I think we’re like a flower just ready to bloom right now,” he said. “We’ve got all the right ingredients.”