Globe local news summary

Police department achieves state accreditation

City settles Taser and body camera contract, pays for missed invoices

Resolution Copper donates $100,000 for new fire truck

Post-flood financial resources available for residents, businesses

Yuma Street Bridge reopens to traffic

First Friday schedule to change in new year

Holiday festivities set to return downtown

Local contractors tapped for $423,728 Pinal Creek cesspool project

Supervisors override staff, choose cheaper Dodge trucks to save taxpayer money

County to purchase new election equipment with grant, county funds

Chairman voices concern over state water management approach

Supervisors commit to boosting spay/neuter program funds

Police department achieves state accreditation

GLOBE, Ariz. — The Globe Police Department has earned full accreditation from the Arizona Law Enforcement Accreditation Program, a milestone years in the making. Police Chief Dale Walters announced the achievement at Tuesday’s council meeting, stating the rigorous process forces the department to adhere to the highest standards and best practices. Walters credited the work of his entire department, singling out Lt. AJ Castaneda and Officer Chad Drexler for their leadership in navigating the complex process. The accreditation was officially awarded Sept. 25, the day before the city’s major flood event. One council member praised the department, noting its professional “battle rhythm” during the flood was a direct result of this level of training and preparation.

City settles Taser and body camera contract, pays for missed invoices

GLOBE, Ariz. — A payment of $85,083 was approved to Axon Inc. to cover the final year of the police department’s taser and body camera contract and settle several years of missed payments. According to city staff, Axon failed to invoice the city for tasers for a period of time. After negotiations, Axon waived two years of fees, and the city agreed to a settlement payment of $19,958 in addition to the annual contract cost. The total payment required a transfer of $20,183 from a city contingency fund. The current five-year contract expires in 2026, and the city is exploring options for future services.

Resolution Copper donates $100,000 for new fire truck

GLOBE, Ariz. — Resolution Copper Mining has contributed $100,000 toward the city’s purchase of a new 100-foot articulating ladder fire truck. The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to approve the funding agreement. The donation will be sent immediately to the manufacturer to be applied to the cost of the critical public safety vehicle. The purchase of the new ladder truck has been a major fundraising goal for the city, which has received previous contributions from other community partners.

Post-flood financial resources available for residents, businesses

GLOBE, Ariz. — Mayor Al Gameros reminded citizens that significant financial resources are still available for those impacted by the September flood. Low-interest disaster loans from the Small Business Administration are available for homeowners and businesses at the Globe-Miami Chamber of Commerce for at least two more weeks. Gameros also urged residents to complete a survey for the Freeport-McMoRan Globe-Miami Resilience Fund, which will guide the investment of $2 million into community projects and infrastructure. He clarified that while large donations to the Globe-Miami United Fund have been pledged, much of the money has not yet been received, and he asked for patience as distributions are determined. Residents seeking aid from the fund can apply through the Salvation Army.

Yuma Street Bridge reopens to traffic

GLOBE, Ariz. — The Yuma Street Bridge has officially reopened to traffic, marking a key step in the city’s recovery from the Sept. 26 flood. City officials and council members urged drivers to use caution and adhere to the low speed limit, as further improvements are still planned for the area. In his report to the council, City Manager Paul Jepson said crews are now working on a similar plan to safely reopen the Haskins Road Bridge.

First Friday schedule to change in new year

GLOBE, Ariz. — The city’s popular First Friday events will see a significant schedule change beginning in 2026 to adapt to weather concerns and better support downtown businesses. While the event will return in full for December’s holiday celebration, the city will scale back street closures and vendor activities in January, February, June, July and August. During these colder and hotter months, the event will focus on driving patrons into existing brick-and-mortar businesses. Economic Development staff cited concerns over extreme heat, which has led to medical emergencies in the past, as well as monsoon season risks. The full street festival format will run from March through May and September through December.

Holiday festivities set to return downtown

GLOBE, Ariz. — A full slate of holiday events will mark a return to normalcy for downtown Globe, beginning with the revival of First Friday on Dec. 6 from 3 to 7 p.m. One council member announced the 37th annual Festival of Lights at Besh-Ba-Gowah will also take place Dec. 6. The city’s annual Light Parade is scheduled for Dec. 13 at 6 p.m., following the same route as previous years. These events are part of a month-long holiday initiative aimed at bringing the community together and boosting the local economy after the flood.

Local contractors tapped for $423,728 Pinal Creek cesspool project

GLOBE, Ariz. — Five local companies will lead a major environmental project to address failing cesspools along Pinal Creek after the Board of Supervisors awarded contracts totaling up to $423,728. The board approved contracts with Premier Environmental Products, McConnell and Associates, Earthquest Plumbing, Black Mountain Excavating and Willbanks Excavating for design, investigation and installation services. County staff noted the project is being closely watched by the governor’s office as a model for how state grant funds can be used to solve rural sanitation and water quality issues.

Supervisors override staff, choose cheaper Dodge trucks to save taxpayer money

GLOBE, Ariz. — In a move to cut costs, the Gila County Board of Supervisors voted to purchase two Dodge Ram 1500 trucks for the Probation Department, overriding a staff recommendation to purchase more expensive Ford F-150s. While fleet management staff advocated for the Fords to maintain fleet standardization for parts and technician training, supervisors argued the immediate savings of approximately $3,000 per vehicle was a better use of taxpayer funds. The lowest bid for the Dodge trucks came from Courtesy Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram. The board approved the purchase from the dealership after discussion, noting the vehicles would be under warranty for the first three years, minimizing concerns about specialized maintenance.

County to purchase new election equipment with grant, county funds

GLOBE, Ariz. — Gila County will upgrade its polling place technology with the purchase of new electronic pollbooks and ballot-on-demand printers for $143,949. The Board of Supervisors approved the purchase from Election Systems & Software, which will be funded by an $85,253 grant from the Help America Vote Act and $58,713 from the county’s Elections Department budget. Elections Director Eric Mariscal explained the new equipment replaces a 10-year-old system and is necessary to comply with new state legislation. He assured the board the updated tablets and printers will increase security by using a hard-wired connection instead of Wi-Fi, addressing a common concern among voters.

Chairman voices concern over state water management approach

GLOBE, Ariz. — Following a rural groundwater meeting, Chairman Steve Christensen expressed concern over the state’s approach to managing water resources, telling the board he fears a loss of local control. Christensen reported that the current strategy, which could allow the governor to designate Active Management Areas in rural counties, threatens to take away property rights without sufficient local input from elected officials. He argued that each county’s water situation is unique and that a one-size-fits-all approach from the state could harm local economies and residents, advocating instead for solutions that require approval from county boards of supervisors.

Supervisors commit to boosting spay/neuter program funds

GLOBE, Ariz. — After accepting a $10,000 grant for spay and neuter services, the Board of Supervisors agreed the amount is “grossly short” of the community’s needs and committed to adding county funds to the program. During the discussion, supervisors learned that demand for the low-cost services consistently outstrips available funding, with all appointment slots filling up quickly. Supervisors Woody Cline and Tim Humphrey expressed strong interest in supplementing the grant, with a suggestion to double the available funds. County staff will work to create an economic development agreement to facilitate the additional funding, which will be presented at a future meeting.

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