Marana to Proclaim March 10th St. Baldrick’s Day as Part of Effort to Support Childhood Cancer Research

Every year, the St. Baldrick’s Foundation supports childhood cancer research through a variety of fundraising activities. On Friday, March 10, 5pm-9pm, St. Baldrick’s Northwest Tucson will contribute to these efforts by hosting their annual Shave-Off at Mountain View High School, part of Marana Unified School District. To recognize and build support for this occasion, the Marana Town Council plans to proclaim March 10, 2017 as St. Baldrick’s Day in the Town of Marana.

St. Baldrick’s distinguishes itself from similar organizations with its relentless focus on directing funds to researchers studying childhood cancers. With cancer as the top disease killer of children and young adults in the United States, St. Baldrick’s aims to achieve the bold goal of ending this scourge, a mission which the Town of Marana wholeheartedly supports.

Head shaving events like the one at Mountain View High School on March 10 have become the signature initiative of St. Baldrick’s. Their first Shave Off, intended as a one-time gathering, occurred in New York in 2000. Hoping to raise $17,000 by shaving 17 heads, organizers were energized when they took in over $100,000. Since that auspicious start, St. Baldrick’s has donated over $200 million in grants that support childhood cancer research.

Volunteer Event Organizer Chris Dow is especially eager to see the turnout at the event in March. After hosting a similar event last year at Quail Run Elementary School, he expects to see significant growth at this year’s Shave-Off. “We had a couple of hundred people that came and showed their support. So when people see us around town with our St. Baldrick's shirts on or buttons saying ‘Ask me why I'm bald’ or ‘Bald by Choice,’ we hope to get the conversation going to help raise awareness and raise additional funds.”

Those interested in participating can sign up or donate at https://www.stbaldricks.org/events/gobaldtucson2017. The Town of Marana is proud to support St. Baldrick’s in working to end childhood cancers so that all youth have the opportunity to lead healthy lives and grow up to make our community stronger.

Tangerine Road Update

Tangerine Corridor Constructors (TCC) is scheduled to begin removing and reconstructing Camino de Mañana, south of Tangerine Road. Work activities are scheduled from February 13 through February 26, 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. During this time you can expect the following:

• Camino de Mañana will be temporarily closed from Big Sky Ranch Drive to Tangerine Road.
• Residents and the traveling public will need to use Twin Peaks Road as an alternate route.
• Traffic control will remain in place 24 hours a day.
• Camino de Oeste will remain closed just south of its intersection with Placita Casa Sevilla. Casa Sevilla resident access will continue to be maintained from Camino de Oeste to Tangerine Road. Resident access south of the closure will continue to be maintained from Camino de Mañana. This will be a permanent closure.

There may be an increase in noise throughout the area with the increased construction activities. As a reminder, adverse weather conditions could affect the scheduled activities.

We appreciate your patience and understanding.  If you have any additional questions or concerns, please contact Kristi or Nanette at (520) 623-3073 or by email at info@tangerineroad.info. We look forward to working with you throughout the project, and encourage any feedback to ensure the Project Team can deliver a beneficial project for the whole community. For more information on this project, please visit www.tangerineroad.info.

Please be aware of bicyclists and pedestrians in the area and ensure that dogs, horses and other animals are not in the construction zone to ensure the safety of all.

Marana Water News: Under Construction

One of the most important jobs here at Marana Water is the operations and maintenance of our water system. The miles of sewer and water mains that run throughout the city are some of our best work. Our engineering staff and the water and sewer operations teams are continuously working to ensure water reliability for our customers. To do this there are several construction projects underway ensuring that reliability and consistent level of service. Today we are going to highlight a few of them.

Water projects

In the Continental Reserve system we are working to complete an upgrade to the booster station and the electrical system. A booster station is designed to increase pressure into the system in areas that might have low pressure or have a higher elevation.  This project is partly due to a new development coming to that neighborhood, and it will also allow the neighborhood to have continuity of service.

On the other side of the freeway, there is an interconnection project underway between the San Lucas neighborhood and North Marana. This project is substantially intricate. They contractor has to tunnel under the Union Pacific Railroad and I-10. Once this project is completed, the two systems will be connected, ensuring water reliability.

Sewer projects

One of the biggest projects this year is the construction of the new sewer line that will eventually connect the Saguaro Bloom neighborhood to the North Marana sewer system. Phase I has been completed and there are even new customers connecting to the western portion of the line. Phase II is the southeastern portion of the line and there are crossings with the Cortaro Marana Irrigation District, Santa Cruz River, and other utilities in the area. These crossings have begun and they are moving their way toward the existing Pima County sewer system in Saguaro Bloom. Once this is connected, Saguaro Bloom customers will switch from Pima County sewer to the Marana sewer system.

Another larger multi-year sewer construction project is underway at the Marana Water Reclamation Facility. There is an expansion to the plant as part of the Water Reclamation master plan, and includes several water recharge basins to help with future water resources. There are irrigation canals that need to be crossed in this construction project, and to avoid any potential disruptions to the farming community, this construction was done during the winter months and is almost complete. This project will have time-lapse photos and video that we are working to get established now that construction is underway. Keep checking the water reclamation page to keep up on this exciting project.

These are just a few of the projects on which our department is working. Most of the public water projects are funded through rates and fees while others are completely funded outside the department. All the home building in Gladden Farms and the Twin Peaks area is all done by private development. On these types of projects, Marana Water reviews plans and inspects the construction to ensure all standards are met.

New construction is an exciting part of our jobs here at Marana Water. The possibilities associated with new water systems and expanded facilities create new challenges and opportunities. We address these head on, and work hard to provide the service level to which our customers have grown accustom. Marana is one of the fastest growing cities in the state, and we are glad to be a part of that growth.

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Manager Message: Ina Road is Open for Business

Message from Town Manager Gilbert Davidson

As construction along I-10 at Ina Road progresses, the Town of Marana is excited to partner with businesses in this district to keep our local economy thriving. In mid-February, the Arizona Department of Transportation’s Ina Road Corridor project will enter its second phase. During this phase, the on- and off-ramps of I-10 at Ina Road will close, and traffic on Ina Road will be unable to cross from one side of I-10 to the other. In order to support commerce in this area, Marana is offering businesses several ways to increase their exposure.

Most visibly, drivers along Ina will soon notice new signs emphasizing the wide variety of businesses located along this stretch. If you’re visiting your favorite donut shop, for example, you might learn from these signs that there is also a brewery nearby, as well as a bowling alley, a number of mechanics, restaurants, retail shops, and much more. Commerce along Ina Road represents a range of sectors, and we hope that these signs will help keep customers coming back, despite all the orange cones.

To help businesses on Ina increase their own exposure, the Marana Town Council has also modified the Sign Code. Now, businesses in construction zones anywhere in the Town can set up temporary signs to attract customers. This provision enables businesses that may be obscured by machinery to maintain a visible presence.

In our efforts to support Ina businesses, Marana has also undertaken a more innovative approach that leverages technology. Our Tech Services team has designed Project Ina, which soon you will find in the App Store and Google Play. This tool will allow businesses to post promotions and messages in a central location where frequenters of this area can easily find and take advantage of any deals. By creating a central source for this kind of information, we are hoping to mitigate the inconvenience of construction.

Finally, the Town of Marana has partnered with the Marana Chamber of Commerce to facilitate an open dialogue among business owners, Town officials, and the ADOT construction team. In early February, staff from both the Chamber and the Town will team up for a business walk along Ina Road. During our visits with these business owners, we will not only provide them with literature on business support opportunities, but also hear from them what we as a community can do to help them even more.

Major construction projects are always a challenge for everyone, from businesses to the shoppers who want to support them. However, once this major infrastructure improvement is complete, drivers will enjoy a safer Ina Road interchange and better access to the businesses that now are more difficult to reach. When the project concludes, Marana will repave the entire stretch of Ina Road from Thornydale to Silverbell. And best of all, because Ina will now pass over the train tracks and I-10, you’ll never get stuck at the railroad crossing again! By making the effort to support local businesses during this project, we can all help them make it through construction, so that they’re still there for us to enjoy when the work is done. 

This Manager Message was originally published in the the January 25 edition of the Marana News.

Tangerine Road Update

Roadwork is continuing to progress along Tangerine Road. Drivers in this area should be aware of the upcoming closure on Camino de Mañana. Tangerine Corridor Constructors (TCC) is scheduled to begin removing and reconstructing Camino de Mañana, south of Tangerine Road. Work activities are scheduled from February 13 through February 26, 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. During this time you can expect the following:

• Camino de Mañana will be temporarily closed from Big Sky Ranch Drive to Tangerine Road.
• Residents and the traveling public will need to use Twin Peaks Road as an alternate route.
• Traffic control will remain in place 24 hours a day.
• Camino de Oeste will remain closed at Camino de Mañana.
• There may be an increase in noise throughout the area with the increased construction activities.

For more information on upcoming work activities, please use the button below to access all the latest information on the progress of this project. 

Marana Water News: It's Electrifying! Upgrading Production Sites

Here at Marana Water our goal is to operate the public water system in a safe and reliable manner. This can cover many aspects as we have seen over the stories in the past few months. This week we are highlighting the maintenance of our electrical panels at the production sites. Production facilities are the sites where our wells, reservoirs, pumps, and booster stations are located. These facilities keep water flowing through the system at required pressures and to meet peak demands. 

Electric components before upgrade is completed

The electrical panels are used to operate this production equipment. Not only providing power, but also timing and scheduling need to be as efficient as possible. Over time the condition of these panels can degrade due to weather conditions and general use. This wear can cause electrical shorts, corrosion of panel components, and unsafe working conditions, all of which can lead to water service interruptions. Corroded components cause higher resistance and create "hot" spots that can be a fire hazard. They can also cause breakers to lose their ability to trip properly when a short occurs. Even rodents can get in the panels and cause damage to wires due to sealing erosion. Any of these types of issues can prevent our operators from accessing the panel to perform routine maintenance.

Over the past 20 years, technology advancements and changes to the electrical building code have increased the lifespan and safety of this type of infrastructure. Marana Water is working on upgrading all our electrical panels to meet these new guidelines, and we have made substantial progress. When reviewing the panels for upgrade, an initial assessment is made to determine priority, a new panel is designed to meet safety requirements, the project goes through the public procurement process, and, finally, it's built. The status of each of our sites in this schedule is in the graphic to the right. Once completed, all the well sites will look similar to the contained, neat, and orderly electrical panels seen below.

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Completed updated electrical panel

Our team at Marana Water is working to complete the projects to provide a safe working environment for our operators as well as ensuring reliable water service to our customers.

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El Rio Open Space Preserve Earns Water Infrastructure Financing Authority (WIFA) Grant

The Town has been awarded a grant for $35,000 from the Water Infrastructure Financing Authority (WIFA) for technical assistance to develop detailed landscape and engineering plans for the El Rio Preserve, adjacent to the Santa Cruz River. The Marana Town Council voted formally to accept this grant during last night’s meeting.

A concept plan for the site, presented to Council on August 2, 2016, shows a trail, wildlife-watching blinds, a ramada, and picnic tables. Native vegetation will be seeded and planted and some invasive species removed. More information is available at www.maranaaz.gov/elrio.

Preparations for this project include a cultural resources survey and jurisdictional delineation for compliance with the Clean Water Act. The project is supported by AZ Game and Fish Department, Tucson Audubon Society, and the Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection. The Town is also developing plans for disc golf at a nearby site that floods less frequently.

El Rio Preserve provides rich riparian habitat for nesting and migratory birds –over 220 species of birds have been observed, and it is identified as a regionally important wildlife linkage. It also acts as a stormwater retention basin that prevents flooding of nearby neighborhoods. Local educators have expressed interest in using the site for outdoor education and will be providing input for the plans. 

With the help of this technical assistance grant, the Town will hire a firm experienced in designing a riparian restoration project with aesthetically pleasing water harvesting features and low impact recreation amenities. These plans are intended to reduce mosquitos, improve the Town’s ability to maintain the area, reduce flooding concerns, and create an urban oasis for wildlife and residents.

Marana Honors Roher Family with 2016 Marana El Tour Family Award

Last November, more than 300 cyclists participated in the first ever Marana segment of El Tour de Tucson. This brand new, 28-mile distance gave riders of all ability levels the chance to participate in one of Arizona’s most popular cycling events. Marana prides itself as a family-friendly community with a variety of amenities that serve kids and adults alike. This shorter segment of El Tour fit perfectly within Marana’s all-inclusive appeal.

To celebrate this inaugural event, Marana invited participating families to post pictures on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram from their ride day. Town staff then selected one family as best representing the spirit of this event. At last night’s Town Council meeting, the Roher family received the Marana El Tour Family Award.

Ryan Roher first began cycling in group events with his two sons, Aiden, age 15, and Elim, age 12, in early 2016. They participated in both the Cochise County Cycling Classic and El Tour de Mesa before they were finally able to ride in an event in their hometown of Marana.

Ryan has always seen cycling as an ideal activity for the whole family. “Riding is a sport that anyone can do, no matter their age, fitness level, or body composition. Even non-athletes can ride a bike, so it’s a great way to spend time together doing something that is a healthy lifestyle choice.”

The Roher family, who live in Gladden Farms, moved to Marana in 2012. With easy access to several new bike paths, families like the Rohers enjoy plenty of outlets for healthy living. Throughout the year, Marana offers a variety of runs, rides, and swims, all offering participants the chance to get out and enjoy our beautiful community. To keep up with all Marana’s events, be sure to visit www.MaranaEvents.com.

Marana Water News: Conserving Water in Winter

When thinking about water conservation typically we focus on the summer months. Watering plants and lawns, filling swimming pools, and washing cars are all summer time activities that we caution our customers on high water use. However, activities such as showers, laundry, flushing toilets and other daily household functions typically account for most of the water use in a month. Additionally, during the winter months this water needs to be heated, which can increase energy bills as well. Here are some tips to decrease water, and subsequently energy, use during the winter months.

• Try to use cold water when washing clothes whenever possible
• Cold water can be used when brushing teeth, and don’t forget to turn the tap off during brushing
• Be sure the dishwasher is full before running it. This will save water relative to hand washing a few dishes at a time
• Drip faucets to avoid freezing pipes, but use a bucket to collect that water to be used for watering plants
• Insulate your hot water pipes. This will help keep the pipes from freezing and also increase the time it takes for the water to warm up, thus reducing the amount of water needed for showers and hand washing

Remember that broken pipes are the biggest threat to the water bill during the winter. Check out our story here  for some tips on how to avoid frozen and potentially broken pipes.

Should you have any unaccounted-for water use, we have several tools in the office to help customers identify when the water went through the water meter. Give our office a call at (520) 382-2570 for more information.  

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Marana Accepting Nominations for Community Awards

Every year, Marana recognizes members of our community who exemplify the values of integrity, service, and commitment to improving the lives of others. Marana is seeking nominees for the Branding Iron and Ora Mae Harn Crystal Legacy Awards. This year, these awards will be announced at Founders’ Day on March 25, 2017. The deadline for nominations is February 26, 2017.

The Marana Branding Iron is awarded to individuals who have made a "mark" on the community and have made a substantial contribution to the Town. Past recipients include former U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, Wheeler & Charlene Abbett, and Sargent Aerospace & Defense. 

Two Branding Iron Awards will be given at Founders' Day: one in the Individual category (includes an individual resident or non-resident who works in Marana), and one in the Organization category (includes civic groups, non-profits, and private businesses). The person submitting the nomination cannot nominate himself/herself. Past recipients are not eligible. The submission may be awarded in memoriam. 

The Ora Mae Harn Crystal Legacy Award honors the memory of the “Matriarch of Marana.” Ora Mae Harn served on Town Council from 1985-2001 and was mayor on two occasions. To further recognize her commitment to the community, the Town in 2001 named a district park in her honor. During her many hears of commitment to Marana, she was director of the Marana Health Center, instrumental in the formation of the Marana Community Food Bank, and a founding member of the Marana Rotary Club. She also founded and served as the first president of the Marana Heritage Conservancy. Ora Mae Harn exemplified leadership, volunteerism and a steadfast commitment to the community of Marana. 

The Ora Mae Harn Crystal Legacy Award honors Mrs. Harn's dedication and service to the Town of Marana by recognizing individuals or businesses that promote her commitment to the Town of Marana through exemplary volunteer service. 

Nominees for this honor cannot choose themselves, must be living, own a business or live in Marana, not be an elected official, and not be a member of the selection committee. Selection is based on any or all of the following criteria:

• Develops and/or sustains creative solutions to community needs

• Organizes and directs an activity of exceptional importance and complexity

• Serves in a leadership position and personal expertise that has enabled the applicant to contribute valuable service to the community

• Exemplifies of the spirit of community service

• Serves as a role model for others in the community

• Inspires others to engage in volunteer service

• Develops the virtues and skills of civic engagement and social responsibility

• Performs work that has facilitated better understanding and made a significant improvement in human relations, social welfare, and justice among diverse groups

These awards give Marana the chance to share the outstanding work of the people in this community. If you know of a person or group who is contributing to Marana, please consider nominating them for one of these awards.

Tangerine Road Progress Update -- January 2017

In the next few months there will be an increase in construction activities along Tangerine Road. Please use the button below to access all the latest information on the progress of this project.

Marana Police Department Joins Effort to End Organized Retail Theft

Organized retail theft costs retailers in the Marana region millions of dollars every year. In order to abate the consequences of this expensive crime, the Marana Police Department has joined other area law enforcement agencies and merchant associations to form the Coalition Against Retail Theft (CART).

CART will employ a variety of tactics to combat organized retail theft. The We Watch, We Prosecute campaign will offer workshops to business owners and consumers about how they can proactively deter potential theft.

Marana Police Officer David Danielson will serve as a trainer in these workshops. There, participants will learn how to collaborate effectively with police and prosecutors in order to identify and convict perpetrators of organized retail theft. Participants will also receive free visual reminders that they can post in stores to raise awareness about the consequences of this crime.

Click here to learn more about the Coalition Against Retail Theft and to sign up for a workshop. All Marana business owners are encouraged to attend.

Marana Water News: 2016 in Review

2016 was a great year here at Marana Water. We rolled out a new website, established our email notification list for our weekly stories, began the tank maintenance program, sustained our Grecycle partnership, and continued construction projects, all while continuing to operate our water and wastewater systems at the service level our customers have grown accustom.

The gallery below shows many of the projects and programs in which Marana Water participated in 2016. Working with other Town departments and community partners follow our Town cultural values of dedicated service, and 2017 will be no different. The tank maintenance program is well underway, sewer construction projects are chugging along, our water sampling program is keeping our water safe, and the water resources team is ensuring water reliability for our customers. 

Celebrating 2016 Cities and Towns week

Mayor Honea presenting at the State of the Town

Information from the Living River booklet 

Active Management Areas in Arizona

Working hard at the wastewater treatment facility

Freshly painted water storage tank

Consumer confidence reports go out in May

Water department Halloween celebration

Imagine a day without water children's artwork

Touring water facilities with Senator Flake

Repairing water leaks as quickly as we can

We take so many water samples for safe water detection. 

Pressure reducing valves help minimize water pressure

SCADA systems help us manage out systems

Taking required water samples from the community

Snapshot of water usage for our customers

Director John Kmiec speaking at a state-wide conference

Draft of the future wastewater facility

2017 is going to be just as busy! Our customer base is constantly expanding and our staff is working to keep the water and sewer systems safe and reliable. We are excited to build off 2016, and are working hard to make 2017 just as great. 

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Beat Back Buffelgrass in Marana

On Saturday, January 21, Marana will partner with the Southern Arizona Buffelgrass Coordination Center to host the annual Beat Back Buffelgrass Day.  During this regional event, teams will gather at a number of locations to help put a stop to this unwelcome interloper. 

Looking out on a picturesque desert landscape filled with saguaro and palo verde, it’s easy to forget how fragile this environment can be.  These resilient trees, after all, have evolved to withstand blazing heat and meager precipitation.  Every desert dweller knows to steer clear of native trees—those thorns and spines can be vicious.   These unique flora and fauna, though, have evolved only to cope with the threats of their own ecosystem.  While they’re often impervious to sun and heat, they are nevertheless vulnerable to a few pernicious invasive species.  One of those invaders, buffelgrass, threatens to engulf vast stretches of the Sonoran Desert. 

In the 1930s, buffelgrass was introduced to southern Arizona to control erosion and provide grazing pasture for cattle.  What those early planters didn’t realize, however, was that this weed would quickly proliferate across the desert.  With seeds that spread easily with the wind, buffelgrass rapidly became a constant pest in nearly every open space in the region. 

As this noxious grass sprouted uncontrollably, it began to challenge native plants for water and nutrients in the soil.  Suddenly, trees as sturdy as the saguaro have often found themselves unable to compete with buffelgrass.  Where once stood the proud symbol of Arizona, a grassland and saguaro skeleton are all that remain.

With wide stretches of drought-tolerant grass comes also an increased risk of fire.  Unlike plants native to the Sonoran desert, buffelgrass burns at a scorching 1,400°F.  When these wildfires occur, they destroy acres of cactus, which in turn threatens the habitat of southern Arizona’s unique animal life.  The desert tortoise and pygmy owl both depend on these plants for food and shelter, but when wildfires deprive them of these resources, the ripple effects reverberate throughout the ecosystem. 

In the mid-2000s, a number of local jurisdictions, recognizing the threat of buffelgrass, combined their efforts to form the Southern Arizona Buffelgrass Coordination Center.  As part of this partnership, Marana joins Oro Valley, Tucson, the Bureau of Land Management, the National Park Service, the US Forest Service, the Arizona Department of Transportation, and others in a joint effort to rid the region of this pest.  Since its inception, SABCC has hosted an annual Beat Back Buffelgrass day in January, with groups gathering at a number of sites to stamp out this weed.

This year, Marana has selected a site in El Rio Park, next to the Santa Cruz River.  Buffelgrass is especially damaging when it grows near water.  When summer monsoons flood the Santa Cruz, the rushing water disperses buffelgrass seeds downstream, allowing the species to hasten its spread even more.  In addition, riparian regions in Arizona foster a complex biodiversity that is harmed by the presence of nonnative species.  When buffelgrass invades the banks of the Santa Cruz, cottonwoods, mesquites, and willows find it increasingly difficult to thrive. 

Participants in this year’s Beat Back Buffelgrass event can look forward to a productive morning of habitat protection and community spirit.  “Every year, I love seeing the folks who come out to help.  We all care about protecting this beautiful land, and the time just flies by as we work, laugh, and swap stories,” says Janine Spencer, who is organizing the event in Marana.  Janine also encourages volunteers to bring a water bottle, sunscreen, and a hat.  At the end of the day, volunteers will walk away with a Beat Back Buffelgrass t-shirt, sticker, and a sense of satisfaction at having helped to protect the desert.  To learn more and sign up, visit www.Buffelgrass.org.  

Tucson Local Media - Marana among state's safest cities

Written by Brad Allis. Photo by J.D. Fitzgerald.

Marana and Oro Valley are two of the safest cities in Arizona, according to a statistical data analyzed by the Orent Law Offices in Phoenix and data visualization firm 1 Point 21 Interactive. They looked at the 40 communities in the state with populations over 10,000 and determined that the two northwest communities were among the five safest in Arizona...
 

Ina Road Traffic Interchange Roadwork enters second phase in mid-February 2017

Pima County Loop Trail at Ina Road will close in January

The I-10/Ina Road Traffic Interchange project in Marana just north of Tucson is completing its first phase of construction. Businesses along the Ina Corridor will remain open throughout all phases of this project. Phase 1 is scheduled to wrap up in mid-February 2017. The on- and off-ramps connecting I-10 and Ina Road are scheduled to close Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017, barring weather-related or other unforeseen delays. While businesses on Ina on both sides of I-10 remain open, there will be no through traffic across the freeway. Cortaro Road and Orange Grove Interchanges are still open.

The project also includes reconstruction of the Ina Road bridges over the Santa Cruz River beginning in January 2017. This work will close the Pima County Loop Trail, south of Ina Road at Ted Walker Road and north of Ina Road at the Crossroads at Silverbell District Park for approximately two years. Once the bridge project is completed, there will be Loop Trail underpasses on each side of the Santa Cruz River, new ADA-accessible ramps to Ina Road and new bike lanes and sidewalks along Ina Road.

Drivers should proceed through the work zone with caution, slow down and watch for construction personnel and equipment while the following closures and restrictions are in place:

Interstate 10 Frontage Road

• The eastbound I-10 frontage road south of Ina Road and north of Starcommerce Way is narrowed to one lane daily through the end of the year.
• The westbound I-10 frontage road is closed between Ina and Cortaro roads through the end of the year.
• Access to all businesses will be maintained. Traffic control signs will guide drivers through the work zone.

Ina Road

• Ina Road, just east and west of I-10, is narrowed to one lane through end of year.
• Ina Road, east of I-10, has left-turn lane restrictions at Camino de Oeste (in both directions) and at Camino de la Cruz (from eastbound Ina Road only) through end of year for utility work. Watch for possible U-turn restrictions while work is underway.

Massingale Road

• Massingale Road is closed at the westbound I-10 frontage road through 2017 while the frontage road is reconstructed. Drivers should use Camino de Oeste instead.

The project to reconstruct the interchange fully will improve traffic operations on I-10 and on the Ina Road traffic interchange. The project consists of widening I-10 to accommodate an additional lane in each direction and widening Ina Road from Silverbell Road to Camino de la Cruz.

Managed by ADOT, this project is funded by the Regional Transportation Authority of Pima County. The voter-approved, $2.1 billion RTA plan will be implemented through 2026. Details about the full plan are available at www.RTAmobility.com.

ADOT works to inform the public about planned highway restrictions and closures, but it’s possible that unscheduled impacts might occur because of weather or other factors. For the most current information about highway conditions statewide, visit ADOT’s Travel Information Site at www.az511.gov, follow ADOT on Twitter (@ArizonaDOT) or call 511, except while driving.

For more information about this project, please call Paki Rico, ADOT senior community relations officer, at 520.388.4233 or email prico@azdot.gov  or visit the website at http://azdot.gov/inati. 

Tangerine Road Traffic Alert (Rescheduled Work)

On Monday, December 19, from 4 p.m. to 5 a.m., crews from Tangerine Corridor Constructors will be working at the intersection of Thornydale Road and Tangerine Road installing water infrastructure. The traveling public can anticipate the following impacts:

• North and southbound traffic on Thornydale Road will be shifted to the west. One through lane will be maintained in each direction
• No left turns will be permitted from north or southbound Thornydale Road at Tangerine Road
• All right turns will be permitted on Thornydale Road at Tangerine Road
• The speed limit will be reduced to 25 MPH
• Expect delays 

On Friday, December 16, crews from Tangerine Corridor Constructors set up traffic control in preparation for paving operations at the intersection of Dove Mountain Boulevard/Twin Peaks Road and Tangerine Road. Due to rain, the paving operations have been rescheduled and the current traffic control will still be in place through Wednesday, December 21 at 5 a.m.

The traveling public can anticipate the following impacts:

• North and south bound traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction
• North and south bound traffic will not have dedicated turn lanes, but all turn movements will be permitted
• East and west bound traffic will be reduced to one through-lane in each direction 
• East and west bound traffic will have dedicated left turn lanes, with all turn movements permitted
• The speed limit will be reduced to 25 mph
• Expect delays

On Wednesday, December 21, from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m., crews from Tangerine Corridor Constructors will be working at the intersection of Dove Mountain Boulevard/Twin Peaks Road and Tangerine Road. The traveling public can anticipate the following impacts:

• All through traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction at the intersection
• All left turn movements will be permitted
• No right turns will be permitted from eastbound Tangerine Road to southbound Twin Peaks Road
• Traffic signals will be flashing red and Marana PD will be onsite to help direct traffic
• The speed limit will be reduced to 25 mph
• Expect delays 

$12,000 Donation by First Responders to UMC Pediatric Unit

The Marana Police Department Volunteer Foundation will be presenting a check for $12,377.07 to the Pediatric Unit at Banner University Medical Center-Tucson on Wednesday, December 21st at 10:00 a.m.  This donation was made possible from the money that was raised during the Pride for the Patch Golf Tournament. 

In addition to the donation, first responders from agencies across Southern Arizona will fill the roundabout in front of the Children’s Diamond Center at Banner UMC.  Emergency vehicles will simultaneously activate their lights and provide an overwhelming display of red and blue when the children come down.  First responders are hoping to help make this a magical and unforgettable Christmas for all the sick and injured children at Banner UMC.

The Marana Police Volunteer Foundation hosted their inaugural Golf Tournament Fundraiser, Pride for the Patch, on December 3, 2016 at the Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain.  The “Pride for the Patch” was initiated for citizens to join forces with Law Enforcement, Fire Departments, Corrections, and Military to give back to the community.  The event was an overwhelming success and the money raised will have a tremendous impact in the lives of these children.  

Marana Adds New Swings to Crossroads Park

Here’s one more reason to love your Town of Marana parks. A new swing set is now ready for Marana’s youngsters to enjoy at Crossroads at Silverbell District Park.  The new swing set expands the already popular playground with a 3-bay swing set featuring six additional swings - four strap seats and two additional toddler bucket seats.  The new swings are located in the southwest quadrant of the park, near the baseball fields.  If you’re in the neighborhood this weekend, swing on by!

Crossroads at Silverbell Park

7548 North Silverbell Road

Park Hours: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Other park amenities include:

• 3 Lighted Ball Fields 
• 2 Lighted Soccer/Multi-Use Fields 
• 5 Ramadas with Grills
• 1 Group Ramada with Grill
• 2 Lighted Tennis Courts
• 2 Lighted Basketball Courts 
• 2 Lighted Volleyball Courts 
• 1 Lighted Dog Park 
• 2 Lighted, Covered Playground Areas
• 1 Horseshoe Pit 
• Access to Santa Cruz Shared Use Path

Marana Water News: Community Engagement - Marana Water Utilities Board

The Marana Town Code section 16-1-1 establishes the Town of Marana Utilities Board. The goals of this board are to oversee the Town’s utility operations and discuss the use of an allocation of one megawatt of hydropower from the Parker-Davis Dam. This hydropower allocation is used to operate Town facilities, where applicable. Marana Water is a large user of this allocation, using it to power our pumps and well sites as well as the Wastewater Treatment Facility.

The board comes together twice a year for an overview of Marana Water operations. On December 22, the board will convene for the second time in 2016. This time there will be two new board members from the community. The make-up for the board is as follows; three council-appointed members, two town employees appointed by the Town Manager, the Town finance director, and the Town water director. The new members were appointed at the Town Council meeting on December 6, and will bring new perspective to the group.

Marana Water staff prepare a list of agenda items highlighting work done over the past six months. These presentations typically include an update on all aspects of the department. The number of customers, how much the department has grown, updates on the budget, status of construction projects and energy management, and current and future department initiatives are all presented for feedback to the board. The board then asks follow up questions and can potentially give direction. Items such as rate increases, fee changes, or adjustments to construction projects are presented to the board to act as another community review.

The Marana Utilities Board meeting is December 22, at 3pm at the Marana Operations Center. We are looking forward to sharing our accomplishments over the past six months and our upcoming projects. The meeting is open to the public, and minutes will be posted with 72 hours after the meeting. For any questions about the board, you can contact the department at MaranaWater@maranaAZ.gov.

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