In the heart of Arizona, where the 87 and the 260 highways meet, Payson stands
alone, a relief from the heat. The pines of the Tonto, the high country cool. Draws
the sun-weary drivers like desert-weary fools, they fill up their tanks, and stretch
their tired legs, maybe they will grab a bite of food or much needed supplies as
they drive through. Just a blur of a moment, moving far too fast. The cars rush on
to the Rim Country and our lakes to their planned adventures while time last.
Payson now only a pass-through, no-longer a destination, A town without plan or direction, if only we too had a vision to our destination.
Thinking of ideas, like you, of our community while I’m waiting for united
community leaders that have common-sense vision, currently some thinking of our
money and how to spend with the pie in the sky that comes from division. Just
maybe something just to get done.
Told we need a new pool despite neglect for
years of the maintenance of the Taylor pool.
Told that the new pool is the way to
go, spend our money we do not have, but I think they will neglect it too.
We are told we are in a current drought but we need this new pool and let us not forget it
will need a large amount of water too.
Negligent in the care of town properties, our parks and our neighborhood streets.
Will another tax or bond fix our ills?
Not long ago told that we need to build a road from the 87 to green valley park to connect
and revitalize our main street for a destination instead of our current thrift shops
and garages.
As a mountain town with pine trees and high desert vegetation we
have been told our area is a fire waiting to happen and we need to Firewise our
properties for our insurance companies are thinking, do we need you?
No plans in place for fire staging when wild fire happens. No staging areas that depend on what
area we live in where we could go to be evacuated with everyone in our party that
is accounted for without the chaos and confusion that comes with a wild fire.
Having historic buildings in town such as the Zane Grey home that’s not fire
hardened with wood shake roof for it will burn too!
Our community vision from each of us can help our leaders in our government
organizations and by our elected members to better represent us when they
understand what is important to us.
The big picture perspective can transcend our community when our needs can be identified.
Let us think about what we really want for our community and put forth common sense priorities that are long term.
Ask ourselves who and what we want to become?
……….a vibrant community we see in
our minds?
Change is enviable and always a choice, progress waits for no-one.
“If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them”
– Henry David Thoreau
Get Involved
Chairman
Bruce Miller
Community of Safety
gilacountycommitteeofsafey.org, gilacos.org
We meet on the 1st and third Sundays of each month at 1500
At the Overcomers Fellowship
1000 N. Easy Street
Payson Arizona
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