County set to OK Smucker Park construction plans
The Yuma County Board of Supervisors is set to approve putting the construction contract for a long-awaited flood control project out to bid Monday.
The board is expected to approve construction plans for the Smucker Park flood retention basin, having already been approved by the city and the Arizona Department of Water Resources. This will also give the Department of Development Services the green light to start advertising the project to contractors.
The basin will address long-standing concerns about flooding affecting neighborhoods along the East Main Canal during heavy rainstorms.
The county and city of Yuma have been trying for more than 20 years to get a retention basin built in Smucker Park at Avenue A and 28th Street, since the first design documents were submitted to the ADWR in 2008.
The efforts have been stalled by budget concerns, disagreements between city and county officials and waits for regulatory approval.
The county’s proposed capital improvement plan for 2019-20 sets aside a total of $7.4 million in flood control district funding for the basin, with $3.5 million to be spent next year and the remainder the year after that.
The meeting will begin 9 a.m. in the Board of Supervisors’ auditorium at 198 S. Main St., Yuma. Other agenda items include:
• Approval of a letter to be sent to Richard Anderson, president of Amtrak, in support of the continuation of passenger rail service, especially to the Sunset/Texas Eagle route that stops in Yuma. It states service should be at least daily on that portion, rather than three times a week.
Anderson has said he intends to concentrate on Northeast Corridor routes and state-supported routes less than 750 miles long. Elsewhere, passenger rail service would be replaced by “Ambus” intercity routes.
Yuma Metropolitan Planning Organization and Visit Yuma have already sent letters of protest.
• Approval of another letter to Arizona’s congressional representatives to urge their support of a proposed $248 million in upgrades to the San Luis Port of Entry I, included in the Trump administration’s proposed 2019-20 federal budget.
• Approval of an amendment to a personnel rule regarding performance evaluations and a review of county staff’s recommended changes to the county’s performance evaluation program.
• Authorization of a starting salary above the midpoint for Mary C. Fontes, who has been tapped by the county to be its next elections director. Her proposed salary is $83,262.
• Acceptance of a $33,889 grant to the Yuma County Library District from the Ruth E. Miller Trust, to be used for adult books and materials. The Miller trust is a regular contributor to the library district.
• A recommendation for state approval of a bingo license for the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Foothills #4538, to hold bingo Monday afternoons at 11274 S. Fortuna Road, Suite B8.
• Declaration of the Yuma Sun as the official county newspaper for purposes of advertising, publications and printing required by state statute, for the yearlong period starting July 1.