Congress Arizona meeting, Incorporation,

Stick your Head in the Sand, Incorporate or Get Annexed!

Congress, Arizona,: That was the message that over 125 people heard in the Community Center in Congress on Monday night, June 19, 2006.

The messenger was Joan Bethell, of AZ Dept. of Commerce. After displaying a graphic map depicting the projected growth of Wickenburg, Congress and all of Yavapai County by 2025, it was clear: “The growth is coming. You only have 3 choices. Stick your head in the sand and pretend it’s not going to happen; Incorporate your selves; or Get Annexed. Whether it be Wickenburg coming up the highway or Yarnell coming down the hill, you will get annexed.”

Not everyone in attendance liked the idea of Incorporation. “We can’t afford to Incorporate. Where will the money come from for the Fire and Police protection?” asked one attendee.

“Will this mean our taxes will go up?” asked another.

Judy Stone, President of the Interim Town Board, answered, “We don’t have all the answers, yet. We were not thinking of Incorporation, until Wickenburg moved up their plans to Annex all the way out to Wickenburg Ranch Estates. That puts them within 6.5 miles of us.”

Stone then cited the results of the Community Plan Survey that have been returned by the Congress citizens. “Of the 469 surveys that you have returned, the answers to the question “Congress should be annexed by Wickenburg” came back as follows:

400 Strongly Disagree; 33 Disagree; 6 Neutral; 4 Strongly agree; 5 Don’t know.”

Ms. Bethell re-iterated. “The ONLY way to stop you from being annexed is to incorporate. ”

A local business owner suggested that a Sub Committee be set up to research the entire aspect of Incorporation. “We need to gather the data and present all the Pros and Cons of Incorporation, bring that back to the Community, and let us all decide.

Ms. Stone opened that Sub Committee to anyone in the community who would like to participate.

Judy Stone, owner of Aunt Betty’s Garden can be contacted by dropping by her store on Hiway 89, or by email at congresscommunityplan@yahoo.com.