Preliminary Unofficial results from the Town Council Primary Election are now available. The Town has not declared any winners. There are a significant number of ballots left to be counted. Final results will be announced Friday afternoon. Preliminary Unofficial Results

Heavy precipitation this winter will result in an abundance of ground vegetation. By the summer, this vegetation will turn brown and create fuel for wildfires. Residents are encouraged to protect their property by creating a defensible space around their homes. Fire safety experts recommend the following:
• Keep dead grass and weeds cleared at least 30 feet from any building.
• Clear dead foliage and fronds from plants and trees surrounding your home.
• Be careful not to allow any vegetation to grow underneath porches or overhangs.

The Maricopa County Department of Emergency Management is also drafting a Community Wildfire Protection Plan to prevent and respond to wildfire. The Department is soliciting public comment on the Plan through March 31.
Community Wildfire Protection Plan

Election Day is Tuesday, March 9, 2010. Voters will elect three new Councilmembers and decide whether the mayor shall be elected by the people or selected by the Council. Ballots were mailed to all registered voters in February. Voted ballots must be RECEIVED by 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Voters who lost or spoiled their ballot may visit Town Hall to vote a replacement ballot.

Town Hall will be open from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m on Election Day to receive voted ballots and issue replacement ballots. Information on candidates and Proposition 402

Starting in 2010, residents must obtain an Alarm User Permit for alarm systems operating within the Town. The Alarm User Permit renews for $20, and provides users two false alarms per year without an assessment. Otherwise fines and service charges are incurred.

Permit applications will be mailed to known alarm users by March 2010. New alarm system owners will be given permit applications by their alarm installer, or can be obtained from the Town website.

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The start of a new year is a good time to change the batteries in your smoke detectors. The smoke detectors need good batteries to work effectively and to sound an audible alarm. Since there isn’t a way to determine when those batteries are weakening, it is a good policy to change them once a year and now is an easily remembered time.

Last year there were 13 fire related deaths in Ohio and in each case there was not an active, working smoke detector in the home. We don’t want such statistics here! It is important to test the smoke detector once a month, change the batteries once a year and install new devices every decade.
More information on Ohio fires (external link)