In our article on former police chief Joe Vernier's mischaracterization of the accidents on SR 89A during the "study period" (2000-2006), we included the following chart, derived from city-data.com, that shows seven daytime accidents producing eight fatalities from 1980 through 2004. Two of those fatalities were on Coffee Pot Drive, leaving six deaths from six accidents occurring on 89A. It is notable that the July 26, 2004 daytime fatality occurred during the study period, but the Department of … [Read more...]
EPA Audits ADOT
June 22, 2011 By 1 Comment
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 9 will soon release its final report detailing an audit conducted last fall of the Arizona Department of Transporation's (ADOT’s) environmental practices throughout the state of Arizona. The audit was performed by the EPA after findings of multiple violations of the Federal Clean Water Act (CWA) by ADOT during the SR 179 Highway project. As a result of a detailed inspection by EPA personnel on February 5, 2010, in Sedona, Arizona, the EPA issued Findings … [Read more...]
New Sedona Urban Legend
June 22, 2011 By 2 Comments
Sedona is known for its characters, vortices, and yes, even for its urban legends. In the ongoing public discussion around whether the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) should install highway-style lighting on a stretch of West Sedona, a new legend has emerged. On February 22, 2011, the City Council voted to accept ownership of the four-plus mile stretch of highway that doubles as a main street through the most-populated part of town, along with a $15.4 million safety improvement and … [Read more...]
ADOT Won’t Wait
June 18, 2011 By 18 Comments
June 17, 2011 in Chinle, Arizona, the ADOT Board dismissed Sedona's request to extend the route transfer contract deadline beyond June 30, 2011. Sedona.biz was there to record the event. Check for the video and story. Three former City Mayors (Pud Colquitt, Alan Everett, Anita McFarlane) sent a letter and former Chief Vernier also spoke - all for the immediate installation of 35-foot light poles, 108 in number, in West Sedona. … [Read more...]
Invisible 89A Issues
One of the instigating factors in the birth of The Sedona Citizen was the difficulty of finding in-depth information all in one place. The Sedona city website has been improved tremendously, and the Internet has enabled us to 'Google' almost any topic and immediately find respectable, if not dependable, answers. However, when it comes to matters of city policy--or any issue where background is essential to foreground--searching high-and-low is a process few of us have time for. Having just spent most … [Read more...]