Dear Editor,
In actuality the Vail Voice was not my first choice when deciding where this particular note should be forwarded. It is being written in response to a note adding to the clutter of unrequested printed materials that fill our delivery boxes of recent times. This particular piece of outreach material bared no return address or source of origination? I have for some time relied on the “Voice” as a best possible channel to share all that goes on with in our growing community. Diversified interests and opinions have been welcomed within its pages. All that was required of those participating was the signing of one’s name and of course a contact # for verification. In lieu of what I have stated here, the Vail Voice wins by default.
This particular piece of noxious material (Yes, that’s my opinion for which I take full responsibility) was aimed at our areas educational system, and more
pointedly (thanks to the presence of childishly orchestrated little red arrows) at the District Supervisors head. This note so easily constructed from a level of fear did it’s best to transfer such feeling to whomever might be gullible to embrace it, and to our community’s disservice some will. I, as a longtime resident of the area have come to know many whose rational persuasions leave little or no room for such inflammatory behavior. It is for myself and them I speak.
Not so long ago a group of true patriots with much to risk in the way of life and limb came together to author and sign a document known as our constitution.
Knowing the full risk of their pact they set their names to a concept that has served to guide our nation, and society thus far. One gentleman in particular has come to be known for his commitment to what was then little more than a concept for a more democratic form of governance. John Hancock carried
with himself such a strong belief in this fresh concept that he wanted those beliefs clearly stated, and accessible by any and all who might read the product of his endeavor.
This then brings me back to the product of small thought I happened upon in my mailbox. Little more than a rant, a rave of displeasure, but a will to do so without the courage to shoulder responsibility for its source of spawn. Such an act then, nothing more than a brick thrown at the window of democracy itself.
This is done purely to stir the waters of angst and discontent. Worth note here is that my copy of the tirade against Mr. Carruth and the system which moves forward under his guidance was presented with the most recent issue of the “Voice”. The issue, whose cover provided its readership with a deserved boast of the Vail school system’s recent graduates and their individual achievements. Yes, right there on the cover with both their names, achievements and hopes for the future.
Very democratic if you ask me.
A final note in respect to these young people seems fitting here. They are smart. I would venture to guess possibly a step or three ahead of whoever littered my mail box with a silly note. They possess the intellect to move forward in this brave new world unfolding with the tools to make their own decisions on what they want, and who they want to be. The very best we can give them is encouragement to base those decisions NOT on fear, but love and a broad understanding of all who they will share this world with. After all, God, so I am told, made all of this, and everybody knows “God don’t make no mistakes.
By Rev. Royce Davenport
@ Rancho Milagrito
Dear Editor,
It’s unclear which board member of the Arizona Non-profit Corporation known as Incorporate Vail Arizona (IVA) decided that THEY are the leaders of our community and that they speak for us, but they’re wrong.
Apparently, the Greater Vail Area Chamber of Commerce (GVACC) took it upon themselves to give this corporation money that was “anonymously donated” and told them to try to incorporate our town. As far as we have been able to determine, quite a few of the “pay to join” members of the GVACC don’t even live in our community.
Supposedly it benefits us, the residents of Vail, but we have yet to see any kind of benefit to our families or neighbors that outweigh the burdens and costs that this would impose on us. Why do they think that their interests supersede our interests, the people who actually live in this community?
Nobody elected the IVA or the GVACC to represent us. Nobody appointed them to manage our community. We did not consent to them speaking for us, nor did we give them Agency of any sort.
Since neither the IVA nor the GVACC were given consent to represent us, why do they think they have the right to unilaterally decide that they get to speak for us, for our families, for our neighbors, for our community?
We say NO! They do not get to make this decision for us! This does not benefit us; it benefits the business and financial interests of investors and the members of the GVACC!
We have the right of self-determination. Most of us live in Vail for a reason. Many of us moved here with our families because it’s unincorporated. We enjoy having more freedom and less taxes. We enjoy the rural nature of our community. We enjoy the history of our area. We are not giving those things up without a fight!
We say to those presuming to attempt to speak for us and our families that you do not have our consent to do so! You do not represent us or our interests! You do not get to make more rules and laws that apply to us! You do not get to enrich yourselves by taking from us what we have earned!
JUST SAY NO TO INCORPORATION!
By Rebecca Meyers
Dear Editor,
Why, as a concerned Resident of Vail, am I against Incorporating Vail?
These are my thoughts. They are not negatively directed at anyone or any group supporting or opposing Incorporation, rather, letting everyone know my stance and why. I have read so many posts For and Against here, it makes my head spin.
1. I have no complaints about how things are now. I see no reason to
change that.
2. I support less government control over my existence, not more. I don’t want another level of government to deal with. Federal, State, County and HOA are enough.
3. Incorporation is not a Residential grass-roots campaign.
4. Incorporation attempts have failed twice in the past. Residents just don’t seem to want it.
5. I don’t see a vested interest for all Residents.
6. The potential for more taxes is there. We pay enough already.
7. I don’t care about the future of the Golf Course. If it fails, it fails.
8. Incorporation will not bring us more water. Not Incorporating will not bring us less.
9. I don’t see Tucson taking over Vail any time soon.
10. I’ve spent my entire life with County Sherriff services. I don’t see a need for a local Police and Fire Department.
Please do not respond with negative or derogatory comments about my thoughts. If you agree, hit the Like icon. If you don’t, pick a different icon.
My mind is made up. Let’s vote!
By Kirt Pankow
Dear Editor,
Control our own Destiny – Vail will be required to create a Strategic Plan (aka general plan) outlining Vail’s path to the future. Through self-determination, it gives Vail the ability to decide what type of community it wants to be. Pima County does not have a strategic plan for Vail.
Protect our Property Values – The best way to protect our property values is to create the community we want. Controlling land use and planning for the future through zoning, community rules, and establishing the level of service will prevent outsiders from exploiting our community for their benefit.
Conserve our Environment – Create open space, determine water policy, and establish connected hike, bike, equestrian trails, and wildlife corridors in concert with our neighbors including the National Park Service, US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, State Land, Pima County conservation land, and City of Tucson.
Have a Regional Seat at the Table– If you don’t have a seat at the table, you’re on the menu. The Town of Vail will have a seat on the regional council of the Pima Association of Governments, a board seat with the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA), a voice with the State Land Department, and official recognition with the State of Arizona and United States of America. Vail will no longer be a consumable.
Preserve our History – Destruction of our past is the greatest threat to our future. The best way to preserve our past is to lock in our future. With incorporation, the Town of Vail will exist in perpetuity without the gradual loss of identity. Vail history will continue to be written.
Guard our Sovereignty – The City of Tucson has a long history of annexation in the Vail area. As the Town of Vail, Vail is much better positioned to petition for State Land and unincorporated areas for inclusion in Vail. Sovereignty is also expressed through the preservation of community values. Love Vail!
Funding – The best taxes are those that we already pay but can be diverted back to us. Substantial state funding from taxes that we already pay comes back to us through State Shared Revenues comes back to us through incorporation. This money is NOT available to us without incorporation.
By Rob Samuelson
Dear Editor,
I think anyone who lives in the Vail area, loves Vail. Some are passionate about the Vail Unified School District. Others are proud of the Rincon Valley Fire Department while others enjoy the multitude of recreational opportunities that Vail provides and they would like to see more.
Having been a judge at the Vail Pride Day’s Academic Jeopardy for 12 of the last 13 times the event has been held, I have seen firsthand at the accomplishments of the students within the school district in art, composition, science, math and the history of the District itself. You can see the smiles on the faces of the students, their parents, grandparents and other family members when viewing the displays.
There is a great deal to be proud of here in Vail where my wife and I have called home for 17 years. We all need to look around and work together to improve Vail. I doubt that anyone is enamored with the condition of the streets. Trying to turn right or left from Via Rancho Del Lago onto Colossal Cave during the morning hours is tantamount to impossible. Several of us have asked for a traffic light to be installed that would be green the majority of the time for traffic on Colossal Cave and cycle when the sensors detect one or more vehicles at the corner. The County Department of Transportation says there is not enough traffic to warrant a light. If they asked any of the motorists sitting in traffic trying to enter Colossal cave, they would get a different answer. It’s true that from 9:00p.m. to 5:00 a.m. there is little to no traffic on Via Rancho del Lago. I doubt there is a great deal of traffic at any of the main intersections in Green Valley during these hours, but for the most part they have traffic lights.
I lived in a town of 2,300 people in Northwest Iowa where we had only a blinking light for traffic trying to turn onto State Route 12. In Vail, we have 10 times that many people. We had two restaurants in the rural town that had tablecloths on the tables. We didn’t have a McDonalds, Burger King, Carl’s, Taco Bell, etc. The population doesn’t stop growing despite the higher mortgage rates. Rocking K is selling new homes yet the Old Spanish Trail has yet to be widened to accommodate the increase in traffic.
You can Love Vail and want it back to he way it was when the Trotter Sisters were the faculty of the school district or even farther back. You can Love Vail and want to see it grow with local control of that growth. The fact of the matter is that we all Love Vail, just in different ways and for different reasons. Civil discourse on issues is what the Founding Fathers wanted for the country to flourish.
By Stuart Katz
Dear Editor,
I recently saw a post online referencing the clock tower in Back to the Future. For the unaware in Vail, in Back to the Future, Marty McFly is nearly accosted by a volunteer collecting donations to “Save the clock tower!”, a local monument damaged years prior in a thunderstorm. By the end of the film, this moment of a town member pleading for a piece of their community to be preserved has major relevance. I won’t spoil the ending of one of my favorite films, but will explain the relevance now.
The original post, breaking down the need to save the clock tower, then included personal references from their own lives when townspeople wanted something preserved, and whether that preservation had been earned. It presented the appropriate conclusion that “community is not a spectator sport”. Meaning that all members of a community need to be actively involved. That involvement can come in the form of charity, volunteering, or simply finding times and ways to gather and connect.
Most importantly, a community needs a voice and control over its destiny. It needs to collectively agree and work towards what needs to be preserved, as well as determine its future in ways that best represent the families that make up the community.
Right now, Vail is made up of multiple amazing communities, with their own “clock towers”. But their cries to preserve what matters most, (roads, private wells, natural spaces) are currently drowned out by incorporated areas in our county and state. Other collective voices are able to be elevated in ways our individual voices are not. Their “clock towers” are prioritized by those at the county or state level, while ours are not. For Vail as a whole, Incorporation is our clock tower. It’s taking part of the history of our community and not only preserving it, but also investing in its future improvements. All those beautiful pieces, monuments, and traditions will be preserved, as we determine our future, regarding controlled growth and community decisions for our children. Let’s “Save the clock tower!” and Incorporate Vail!
By Shannon Jelle
Dear Editor,
As someone who was fortunate to grow up in a rural community, I understand the tremendous value of maintaining our small-town roots amidst the pressures of modern development. I write today as a relatively new resident who, alongside his wife, moved to Vail, Arizona, to start a family. I see a shared vision of Vail’s future: a community with more self-determination, committed to preserving its rural charm and authenticity.
Presently, Vail is witnessing uncontrolled development which threatens to erase the rural landscapes that make our community so unique. The natural beauty, tranquility, and community spirit that drew us here could be jeopardized without strategic planning and local decision-making. Incorporation, I believe, could serve as a means of preserving our cherished rural character.
Incorporation is not about urbanizing Vail or erasing its rural identity. Rather, it’s about ensuring the survival and enhancement of this identity. As an incorporated town, we would have more control over land use and development decisions, thus protecting the rural landscapes we all love. We could enact zoning laws that respect our natural environment, managing growth responsibly and sustainably.
Moreover, an incorporated Vail would be empowered to redirect its tax revenue to local services and infrastructure, reflecting the specific needs and aspirations of our community. Our finances could directly support the preservation of open spaces, enhancement of recreational facilities, and investment in a robust education system — all crucial aspects of a thriving rural community.
With incorporation, Vail could have the autonomy to apply for state and federal grants that are only accessible to official towns. This additional funding could further support our community preservation efforts and boost our rural sustainability.
Above all, incorporation is about fostering a more democratic, self-determined community where residents can meaningfully participate in shaping the town’s future. My wife and I desire for our children to grow up in a Vail that cherishes its rural heritage, where they can enjoy the same close-knit community and natural beauty we have come to love.
Incorporation isn’t a threat to our rural lifestyle but a potentially powerful tool for its preservation. As a community, we have the chance to shape the future of Vail, securing a prosperous and sustainable rural legacy for the generations to come.
By Jonathan Lounds, J.D.
Dear Editor,
I moved to Vail with my family in 2008 and have loved raising my children here and the community support that we have found. There’s been a lot of growth in the intervening years that has brought about many changes and some challenges that come with an expanding population. One of the challenges has been having a voice in the direction that we would like our community to go as it continues to grow. We are currently under the jurisdiction of Pima county, which oversees a large area, and often it can feel like the concerns of our community struggle to gain notice. We have so many needs, such as improved and expanded roads to handle increasing traffic, zoning concerns, attracting local businesses, community services and looming water issues to name a few. An incorporated town would allow citizens to have a direct say as to how to address those needs and work together on a shared vision for the future of our community.
By Jennifer Peterson
Dear Editor,
Vail, AZ is a small community with a population of about 20,000 people. It is surrounded by the beautiful Rincon Mountains and the Sonoran Desert. Vail is more than just a place to live; it is a place to love. Here are some of the reasons why I love Vail, AZ.
First Vail has a rich history and culture. Vail was originally a station and water stop on the Southern Pacific Railroad. It was named after Edward Vail, a pioneer rancher who deeded a right of way
across his land to the railroad. His brother Walter Vail owned the nearby Empire Ranch, which is now part of the Las Cienega National Conservation Area. Vail also has Colossal Cave that was used
by Native Americans, outlaws, and explorers. Vail celebrates its colorful heritage with festivals, museums, and historical sites that showcase its past.
Vail has a natural beauty and diversity that I enjoy. Vail is situated in the Rincon Mountains District of Saguaro National Park, which is home to the iconic saguaro cactus and other desert wildlife. Vail also has access to hiking trails, camping sites, and scenic views that offer outdoor recreation and adventure. Vail has a mild climate with sunny days and cool nights that make it pleasant to live in year round.
Vail also has a friendly and welcoming community. Vail is a small town with a big heart. The people here are kind, helpful, and supportive of each other. Vail has a strong sense of community spirit
and pride that is evident in its schools, businesses, and organizations. Vail also has a variety of events and activities that bring people together, such as farmers markets, art shows, concerts, and
sports leagues.
Thus, Vail, AZ is a wonderful place to live. It has a rich history and culture, natural beauty and diversity, and a friendly and welcoming community that make it unique and special. I am proud to call Vail my home and feel we should preserve and protect it.
By Loren Hoboy
Dear Editor,
We moved to the Rincon Valley/Vail area in 2009, moving from Tucson Wilmot/Speedway area. Our wish was to be surrounded by beautiful desert, wildlife, night skies for stargazing, quiet, nice neighbors and a desire to have a rural type of lifestyle similar to what I grew up with. This is what this area off of Old Spanish Trail has offered us. We have enjoyed seeing wildlife walk through our property, sitting outside looking up to the clear sky, enjoying the majesty of Rincon Peak at our front door. Attending the 4th of July Parade, VailFest, learning about the Vail Preservation Society, supporting and volunteering at the Vail Food Bank and their Thrift Store, supporting our local restaurants and businesses. These are some of the events and entities I want to preserve and believe this can happen if we support the Incorporation of Vail becoming the Town of Vail.
We can shape our future and still keep the rich history this area has to offer. Now is the time to support the Incorporation of Vail to create our Town of Vail.
By Joy Tucker
Rocking K Ranch Estates
Dear Editor,
I have lived in small towns, unincorporated areas and big cities over the course of my life. I loved all of these places. I have lived in the Vail area for a total of 10 1/2 years and love this beautiful area very much. This is the reason I am all for Vail becoming incorporated. I want us to have a say in what happens in our area. I would love for us to be able to plan how we would like our roads, parks etc. to be. I think we need to get all the facts about incorporating and decide for ourselves how we want to vote, yes or no. That is our freedom and our right.
By Carol Kohler
