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Senator John McCain and two aides met with Prescott Mayor Jack Wilson yesterday with the aim of determining how the Obama Administration's proposed Economic Stimulus Program could provide much needed funding for programs in the Prescott area. They also discussed area water issues.
Wilson said he provided McCain a set of recommendations for effectively implementing the Economic Stimulus Program via exisiting programs "That approach mirrors the recommendation made by the US Conference of Mayors," Wilson said.
A document attached to the City's press release listed the major issues discussed as:
Road and infrastructure funding
The Mayor requested Senator McCain's support in securing Prescott's fair share of infrastructure funding as part of President-elect Obama's proposed massive infrastructure rebuilding effort. In an attempt to expedite rehabilitation of Prescott's aging road, water and sewer systems, the City of Prescott has identified and submitted $81.7 million in road and utility projects to the Central Yavapai Metropolitan Planning Association (CYMPO) and public works associations.
Essential Air Service (EAS) Program
Wilson conveyed his apprehension about comments by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters which referenced the possibility that Prescott might be removed from the EAS program. According to Mayor Wilson, the loss of funding from EAS "would be a severe setback to both our airport and mobility to and from the Central Yavapai Region."
Airport Improvement Program (AIP)
The continued funding of AIP through the Federal Aviation Administration was also addressed in the meeting. The Mayor expressed concern that delays or funding cuts to AIP would "severely hamper the capability of airports to meet the rapidly growing needs of the aviation community, and will result in more congestion and delays of air travel throughout the U.S."
YRMC "Underserved" service area designation
With many people throughout the Tri-City area struggling to find a physician, the Mayor questioned the absence of the "underserved" designation for Prescott. Despite the efforts of Yavapai Regional Medical Center's CEO Tim Barnett to have Prescott and neighboring communities recognized and designated as "underserved," so far only Chino Valley has received the classification.
Long-term Sustainable Water
The Mayor suggested that the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's appraisal-level study of potential sustainable water sources in Yavapai County be combined with the Coconino plateau study to bring a broader focus to the problem.
In an article published earlier today, The Daily Courier reported that "McCain vowed to oppose earmarks in future national economic stimulus packages, citing public outcry about Congressional corruption and the corruption connection to earmarks.
He said he doesn't mind spending stimulus money on infrastructure, as long as the priorities are set fairly instead of through earmarks."
Following his meeting with the Mayor, Senator McCain met with members of the Verde River Basin Partnership (VBRP) in City Hall council chambers. "The Senator mentioned that he had just met with the Upper San Pedro Partnership, after which the VRBP was modeled, and they were doing well and he would like to see the VRBP get to the same status," Wilson said.
According to Wilson, numerous options "for getting everyone to accept the Partnership" were discussed including both (groups) becoming a sub-committee of the Yavapai County Water Advisory Committee (WAC) or having an intergovernmental agreement between VRBP and WAC.
Senator McCain expressed confidence that federal funding could be secured for the studies needed under Title II (legislation that authorized Verde River Partnership) if the groups could agree on operation procedures for the Partnership.
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