Verde Connect – Letters from the Community

Dear Chairman Brown, Supervisor Mallory, Supervisor-elects Oberg, Gregory, and Michaels,

Thank you very much for your consistent opposition to Verde Connect. We were very disappointed that one outgoing supervisor messed things up. We are confident that you new five, the future board of supervisors, will correct this problem and resolve once more to cancel all agreements and contracts. There are more reasons to do this than I can put in this email but here area few:

1) Verde Connect does almost nothing for traffic. Please see the county’s own traffic studies.

2) Verde Connect is brutally expensive and will lead to tax increases and a shortfall of money for other projects needed throughout the county. Phase 1 alone is 47 million. Phase 2 was estimated at 54 million at one time by the county and our expert believes it will be 75 million. That it 75 to 100 million (subtracting the 25 million grant) out of taxpayer’s pockets. And Verde Connect has zero value unless phase 2 is completed. With revenue uncertain due to COVID-19 this is too much.

3) Even if you believe the minimal traffic relief on Cornville Rd is needed and even if you think the county can afford this, one must look at what we get versus what it costs – bang for the buck. This boils down to at least 75 million which serves to reduce congestion on one to two miles of Cornville Rd at 89a. I am sure there are less expensive options to do this. Put onramps to 89a from Cornville Rd. Change the light to a circle. Add passing lanes along Cornville Rd. The result if all three are done will be far more effective than Verde Connect and cost closer to five million dollars – a huge savings.

4) There are environmental concerns for both the river and the White Hills. The county should respect local community plans including Camp Verde’s General Plan which designates Middle Verde as a character area of agriculture and low density. Verde Connect would destroy that.

5) Absolutely nobody except construction company interests support Verde Connect. Some towns and cities simply took no stand. Other tried to take a stand supporting Verde Connect and failed. And the vast majority passed unanimous resolutions against Verde Connect as did some unincorporated associations. The Copper Canyon Fire/Medical Association was also unable to support Verde Connect. In addition, the public has made it very clear they are opposed to Verde Connect. Camp Verde replaced their mayor with someone deeply opposed. District 2 replaced their supervisor with someone deeply opposed. In both races Verde Connect was a primary issue. In districts 1 and 2 the candidates (and soon to be seated supervisors) are deeply opposed. All of these people are members of Save the Middle Verde, an opposition group on Facebook. The Verde Independent has run several polls, all of which show the public is not in favor of Verde Connect. The latest poll showed 84% support for the original action you took to cancel Verde Connect. An image is attached.

I could go on but I assume you know the issues anyway and may be a little tired of my emails. We just want to encourage you, our new board of supervisors, and remind you that Verde Connect is too much money for too little benefit, with too many downsides. And that there never has been any support for Verde Connect from towns and cities and fire and medical and most importantly, we the voters and taxpayers.

You did the right thing!  Please do it again.

Sincerely,

Janine Wehner
Save the Middle Verde

Good day…

We own a home in Clarkdale, Mountain Gate Subdivision.  I want to let you know that we oppose the Verde Connect and we do support the original resolution to cancel all agreements and contracts.

We love the Verde Valley just as it is and do not want it to become like Sedona or Phoenix. The natural desert should be left intact.

Thank you,

Terri Stewart

Chairman Brown, Supervisor Mallory, Supervisors-Elect Michaels, Oberg, Gregory –

This is in response to supervisor Garrison’s lame attempt at shaming “ The People “ and to insinuate that dealing the death blow to the project VERDE CONNECT does not matter, it DOES . Here are some of his words when asked at the Supervisors AG forum,” It does not matter that we have an incomplete Environmental Assessment, it does not matter that they don’t have a ROUTE, it doesn’t matter if the county doesn’t have the money. All that matters is we intend to break ground by the end of the year.”      

This project was set one way and he wants it his way, which makes it a bait & switch operation perpetrated by supervisor Garrison, we have some pertinent questions that we have no answers to; like who initiated the requested grant and was it voted on by the supervisors, and why was it moved ahead of more than a dozen other projects. The bait VERDE CONNECT a new road and bridge across the Verde River from highway 260 to Cornville road and Beaver Head Flat road, the switch was to do a phase 1 and phase 2 being that it must connect to Middle Verde Road first.

Had they stayed with the accepted chosen route B2 south, highway 260, bridge, road to Cornville road/Beaverhead flats road as a phase 1 and later added phase 2 a short connector as set in the original program of his 50 or so claimed meetings addressing the traffic issues, instead of putting it right through Middle Verde and Over Look acres community without any public notice, maybe we wouldn’t be so adamantly against this project!  And, in all these changes, we still don’t know what route was chosen!

The Verde Connect web site was to keep the public informed, no updates since March 2020 why the secrecy?  What happened to our supervisor of district 2? Why is Garrison of district 3 driving this so hard and fast in our district?  All points that need to be addressed by this board.

So Garrison said we can’t change the grant to switch phase 1 and 2 BUT he moved the bridge 6 miles upstream because the nation to which the grant was to benefit but they did not want, so why can he change it, but we can’t?  Doesn’t that nullify the grant?   And he explicitly said we cannot change from doing the whole route to the partial phase 1, WHY?

Since it is way more money than the need (bang for the buck) and doesn’t address the needs of the valley and because other transportation needs are of greater importance across this County, I ask for this project to be CANCELED! 

Today we see another Garrison document on the Radio 105.7, with less than 30 days as Supervisor left and he bemoans his pet project as being defeated as it should be.

I want to thank ALL of the supervisors that stood their ground on this issue against it.

With the utmost respect for the office you all serve, I request you table any further action to continue this project until the new supervisors are seated.

Sincerely,

Rod Corbin 

Dear Chairman Brown, Supervisor Mallory, Supervisor-elects Oberg, Gregory, and Michaels,

Thank you very much for your consistent opposition to Verde Connect.  We were very disappointed that one outgoing supervisor messed things up.  We are confident that you new five, the future board of supervisors, will correct this problem and resolve once more to cancel all agreements and contracts.  There are more reasons to do this than I can put in this email but here area few:

1. Verde Connect does almost nothing for traffic.  Please see the county’s own traffic studies included here.
2. Verde Connect is brutally expensive and will lead to tax increases and a shortfall of money for other projects needed throughout the county.  Phase 1 alone is 47 million.  Phase 2 was estimated at 54 million at one time by the county and our expert believes it will be 75 million.  That it 75 to 100 million (subtracting the 25 million grant) out of taxpayer’s pockets.  And Verde Connect has zero value unless phase 2 is completed.  With revenue uncertain due to COVID-19 this is too much.
3. Even if you believe the minimal traffic relief on Cornville Rd is needed and even if you think the county can afford this, one must look at what we get versus what it costs – bang for the buck.  This boils down to at least 75 million which serves to reduce congestion on one to two miles of Cornville Rd at 89a.  I am sure there are less expensive options to do this.  Put onramps to 89a from Cornville Rd.  Change the light to a circle.  Add passing lanes along Cornville Rd.  The result if all three are done will be far more effective than Verde Connect and cost closer to five million dollars – a huge savings.
4. There are environmental concerns for both the river and the White Hills.  The county should respect local community plans including Camp Verde’s General Plan which designates Middle Verde as a character area of agriculture and low density.  Verde Connect would destroy that.
5. Absolutely nobody except construction company interests support Verde Connect.  Some towns and cities simply took no stand.  Other tried to take a stand supporting Verde Connect and failed.  And the vast majority passed unanimous resolutions against Verde Connect as did some unincorporated associations.  The Copper Canyon Fire/Medical Association was also unable to support Verde Connect.  In addition, the public has made it very clear they are opposed to Verde Connect.  Camp Verde replaced their mayor with someone deeply opposed.  District 2 replaced their supervisor with someone deeply opposed.  In both races Verde Connect was a primary issue.  In districts 1 and 2 the candidates (and soon to be seated supervisors) are deeply opposed.  All of these people are members of Save the Middle Verde, an opposition group on Facebook.  The Verde Independent has run several polls, all of which show the public is not in favor of Verde Connect.  The latest poll showed 84% support for the original action you took to cancel Verde Connect.  An image is attached.

I could go on but I assume you know the issues anyway and may be a little tired of my emails.  We just want to encourage you, our new board of supervisors, and remind you that Verde Connect is too much money for too little benefit, with too many downsides.  And that there never has been any support for Verde Connect from towns and cities and fire and medical and most importantly, we the voters and taxpayers.

You did the right thing!  Please do it again.

Sincerely,

Eric Eberhard
Save the Middle Verde

Join the Save the Middle Verde Facebook Group

Dear Chairman Brown, Supervisor Mallory, Supervisor-elects Oberg, Gregory, and Michaels, 

I support Chairman Brown’s resolution to cancel all agreements and contracts. 

Many Verde Valley residents are against the Verde Connect due to cost, environment, and not being effective in reducing traffic. During the Covid crisis money will be better spent elsewhere.

The Verde Independent has run several polls, all of which show the public is not in favor of Verde Connect. The latest poll showed 84% support for the original action you took to cancel Verde Connect. 
I am also a member of Save the Middle Verde.

Please don’t go forward with Verde Connect!

Thank you,
Mary Waterfield

My Name is Amanda Taylor. In June of 2019 I purchased an 8 1/2  acre river front property on Thousand Trails Rd. The proposed Verde Connect bridge will land only 2000 ft. from my property line.

I don’t think I can properly put into words how heartsick I was to find out that this pristine, rural land full of wildlife and peace and quite was about to be turned into and worthless piece of dirt with a noisy bridge in my side yard.

I’ve spent my life savings to acquire this land to build an organic farm and to have a peaceful rural existence.

Please know that this bridge will destroy the lives and value of so many people, farms and wildlife. The people of the Middle Verde love these lands and cherish our way of life. I beg of you to continue to help us preserve it.

We’ve signed so many petitions, donated money, shown up to the meetings and fought passionately. The people and surrounding communities have overwhelmingly rejected this bridge, but it seems we have only been ignored by so many.

I don’t want to lose faith in our local government. Please help our voices to be heard once again.

Sincerely,
Amanda Taylor

Dear Chairman Brown, Supervisor Mallory, Supervisor-elects Oberg, Gregory, and Michaels,

Thank you very much for your consistent opposition to Verde Connect. We were very disappointed that one outgoing supervisor messed things up. We are confident that you new five, the future board of supervisors, will correct this problem and resolve once more to cancel all agreements and contracts. There are more reasons to do this than I can put in this email but here are a few:

1. Verde Connect does almost nothing for traffic. Please see the county’s own traffic studies included here.
2. Verde Connect is brutally expensive and will lead to tax increases and a shortfall of money for other projects needed throughout the county. Phase 1 alone is 47 million. Phase 2 was estimated at 54 million at one time by the county and our expert believes it will be 75 million. That it 75 to 100 million (subtracting the 25 million grant) out of taxpayer’s pockets. And Verde Connect has zero value unless phase 2 is completed. With revenue uncertain due to COVID-19 this is too much.
3. Even if you believe the minimal traffic relief on Cornville Rd is needed and even if you think the county can afford this, one must look at what we get versus what it costs – bang for the buck. This boils down to at least 75 million which serves to reduce congestion on one to two miles of Cornville Rd at 89a. I am sure there are less expensive options to do this. Put onramps to 89a from Cornville Rd. Change the light to a circle. Add passing lanes along Cornville Rd. The result if all three are done will be far more effective than Verde Connect and cost closer to five million dollars – a huge savings.
4.  There are environmental concerns for both the river and the White Hills. The county should respect local community plans including Camp Verde’s General Plan which designates Middle Verde as a character area of agriculture and low density. Verde Connect would destroy that.
5.  Absolutely nobody except construction company interests support Verde Connect. Some towns and cities simply took no stand. Other tried to take a stand supporting Verde Connect and failed. And the vast majority passed unanimous resolutions against Verde Connect as did some unincorporated associations. The Copper Canyon Fire/Medical Association was also unable to support Verde Connect. In addition, the public has made it very clear they are opposed to Verde Connect. Camp Verde replaced their mayor with someone deeply opposed. District 2 replaced their supervisor with someone deeply opposed. In both races Verde Connect was a primary issue. In districts 1 and 2 the candidates (and soon to be seated supervisors) are deeply opposed. All of these people are members of Save the Middle Verde, an opposition group on Facebook. The Verde Independent has run several polls, all of which show the public is not in favor of Verde Connect. The latest poll showed 84% support for the original action you took to cancel Verde Connect.

I could go on but I assume you know the issues anyway and may be a little tired of my emails. We just want to encourage you, our new board of supervisors, and remind you that Verde Connect is too much money for too little benefit, with too many downsides. And that there never has been any support for Verde Connect from towns and cities and fire and medical and most importantly, we the voters and taxpayers.

You did the right thing! Please do it again.

Many thanks!

Rhoda

Mayor and members of council,

I learned by press release today that you will be voting on whether The City of Cottonwood would pass a resolution to support Verde Connect. We are all aware at this point that the current Board of Supervisors have voted to end the project and that the incoming board will not support Verde Connect. I ask you to consider why before making your decision.

Verde Connect has been the example of bad governance from the time that the lies about the Yavapai-Apache Nation were used to obtain the Build Grant and continued to be until the evidence that project is a failure became to much to ignore. The plan for a connector road between Middle Verde, Hwy 260, and Cornville road has never been more than a lowest priority project in any traffic plans since it’s inception (ADOT 2016 Verde Valley Master Transportation Plan pages 175 & 185). Yavapai County’s own traffic modeling data shows this road to be a failure before it is even built (verdeconnect.com/documents/current and future traffic conditions). Verde Connect does little to nothing to relieve Cottonwood traffic conditions. It would however give out of town traffic the option to completely avoid your city and spend their money elsewhere much like the Hwy 260 bypass did to Camp Verde in 2010. The city of Sedona supports Verde Connect because of its noticeable loss of the revenue to Cottonwood.

Verde Connect would be build as a two phase project which county supervisors finally admitted when they voted to end the project. Phase 1, which the county already could not afford even before Covid-19, and which the grant depends on will be devastating to the Middle Verde neighborhood and financially burden the Town of Camp Verde as there is no funding from the county or the town to make the necessary safety improvements to Middle Verde Rd. If you are not familiar with Middle Verde Rd I encourage you to take a drive before making your decision and imagine how it will be with the estimated 4500 cars a day traveling on it. It will become the most dangerous road in the Verde Valley. If both phases were to be built in unison as the county claims will give the best result Verde Connect still will offer little or no relief to Cornville traffic conditions. Even with the grant the cost of this project far exceeds Yavapai county’s roads budget in the best of times. During the current pandemic it would be financially irresponsible leaving us without funding for years to come. ADOT has already cancelled most projects state wide because they realize funds will not be available. Yavapai County needs to realize this as well. Those who use Cornville rd to travel between Cottonwood and I-17 will not utilize Verde Connect because of its out of direction travel. Ending Verde Connect does not doom the Cornville community to a 4 lane hwy. It gives the new supervisors the opportunity to make intelligent improvements by working with the communities instead of against them. Verde Connect offers no meaningful benefits to the Verde Valley. It creates greater risk so it will not improve safety. It will not improve traffic conditions. It will not allow an alternative route for I-17 as we have see by recent events that have caused closures.

Support for this Project offers no benefit to your city or it’s constituents. Would you put yourselves at odds with your neighboring communities, Camp Verde, Beaver Creek, and Jerome, who have opposed Verde Connect from the beginning? With your incoming Board of Supervisors? With your constituents who voted to removed the current district 3 supervisor from office? Supervisor Garrison failed at his job and Verde Connect is a major reason why. Donna Michaels victory by 179 votes doesn’t tell the story of the sweeping victory she achieved. A county that voted 65% Republican removed the Republican supervisor from office after one term and elected it’s first Democrat as supervisor because she was willing to do what Garrison never would…listen to the people.

Yavapai County has voted to kill Verde Connect for good reasons. The sooner it is allowed to die the sooner we can begin to work as a Verde Valley community to find traffic solutions that actually work. Traffic solutions that will not burden taxpayers for years to come. This project can end on December 2 by a vote from the county, as I believe it will, or it can end when the new Board takes office. Either way it is not supported. Not at this time, not without a true and pressing need, and not without any realistic way to fund it. Yavapai County taxpayers are not losing a $25 million dollar grant. They are gaining the ability to find better and more cost effective solutions to traffic problems county wide. We the people have elected representatives that we are confident will help us to achieve this. They deserve the opportunity to do their jobs with support from the communities they represent.

There are two groups of people who still support this project. Those who will profit monetarily, and those who take their information at face value rather than doing their own research. The information is available if your willing to look for it. Verde Connects website shows that the public overwhelming supported the NO BUILD option from the beginning. The Verde Independents poll yesterday showed 80% support for the county ending the project. ADOTS Master Transportation Plan does not support the project. The group Verde-dis-connect’s website (verdedisconnect.com) documents,with facts, the failures of governance involved with the project. As elected officials you have a responsibility to make the informed decision.

Thank you,
Zach Wolfe

Dear New Board of Supervisors,

Please vote again to cancel all agreements and contracts regarding Verde Connect.  Please kill it and put this matter to rest.  It does too little, virtually nothing, and costs way too much.

Our rural agricultural character area would be destroyed by VC.  The General Plan of the Town of Camp Verde should be respected and this pristine area along the Verde River left in peace and not destroyed by construction interests.

Sincerely,

Cheryl Eberhard
Save the Middle Verde

I have lived in the rural Middle Verde area for almost 30 years and I am very upset to think of the verde connect project of roads and a bridge going right through this rural area bringing with it traffic, noise, and pollution and ruining the Middle Verde area character …

Once something like this is allowed, all that was so unique to this special area of the Verde Valley and what brought me and many who love it here will be gone forever..

Please look at the recent Verde Independent Poll. Please consider the precious environment this area holds Please consider the special and Middle Verde character PLEASE RATIFY your decision on verde connect.

Thank You for all you have done for us, I do pray you will  continue to support and protect our very special Middle Verde Area in the Verde Valley

Heath Youngman

To whom it may concern,

PLEASE don’t vote with the monied, self-interest group that hopes to profit by resurrecting the project known as Verde Connect. PLEASE support the Middle Verde Neighborhood, over 1,780 petition signers, the Town of Camp Verde, the Beaver Creek Community Association and City of Jerome, who all voted to stop the project, unanimously.

Your Yavapai County District, which votes two-thirds Republican, elected a Democrat to the Board of Supervisors in part because she opposes the project and in total because she selflessly serves communities and wants to see thoughtful development supported by those communities.

The Coconino National Forest, besieged on all sides, opposes the project. And the monies that will NOT be spent – at least $75-100M, according to our Traffic Engineer – will be available for real road projects that will help taxpayers.

My husband David and I reside on Cloverleaf Ranch Road. I was relieved when I heard the Verde Connect had been put on the back burner because for the past 3-4 months I have been waiting with dread for the Verde Connect bid to be awarded. We were recently made aware that aggregate extraction will most likely occur adjacent to our property to supply materials for the Verde Connect Project. We would like to make you aware of the concerns we have about this as we were greatly impacted by Fann Construction last fall when they set up a hot asphalt plant, processed materials, and ran their trucks down Cloverleaf Ranch Rd. for the Oak Creek paving job. Fann had NO consideration for the residents of Cloverleaf Ranch Rd. or the impacts to our quality of health, safety and the peaceful enjoyment of our property!!!!

This is reminiscent of the controversy 20 years ago when the residents of Middle Verde brought to light that the Town of Camp Verde would lose all regulatory authority over the Gravel Pit when the property transferred to the Yavapai Apache Tribe. Well, its happening all over again! The noise from the back up alarms, rock crushers, dust, lights and toxic fall out from asphalt processing are quite impactful to the health of the residents and agricultural activity in the area. The direction of the wind sends the asphalt vapors, silica dust and noise go not only toward the Yavapai Apache Agricultural Ranch where cows graze and beef and hay are sold to the community but the toxic substances blow all over the area, covering our homes and fields.

Attached is an aerial view of adjacent properties, site of extraction and Fann’s site as well as some photos showing no berm protection at the back end of the pit, rather Fann cut into the essentially non existent berm closest to my property to run their equipment in and out.  Also attached is a photo of one of the 3 screech owls that reside on our property and join us every morning while we water and enjoy the peaceful sounds of the Verde River running. We operate a small RV Park on the property and besides enduring many sleepless nights, we had to give our tenants free rent for the 3-4 months that Fann operated last fall.

For those of you who have worked with me in my former position with the Town of Camp Verde as the Community Development Director, you know that I believe in developing strong relationships with our neighbors and partners in government. My husband and I believe in the importance of recognizing property rights, and being a good neighbor by respecting each others enjoyment and use of our properties so as not to impact each other negatively and hope that you recognize that residents matter and take our concerns into consideration.

Regards,

Carmen & David Howard