Volume • Number April ,
The Voice of Marana, Oro Valley and Northwest Tucson
Wilkins named OV’s next town manager
Inside
This Week
BY DAVE PERRY
ARTS.......................... 12
Tucson Local Media Contributor
now,” said Carolyn Campbell, executive director of the Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection. “To us, this is the culmination of a lot of work, and the result of collaboration. Collaboration wins the day.” When Oracle Road, State Route 77, was widened in 2016, wildlife fences were installed on both sides of the north-south SR 77 corridor from Tangerine Road to the Pinal County line. The Pima Association of Governments/Regional Transportation Authority also built a wildlife bridge over Oracle Road between Oro Valley and Catalina, and a wildlife underpass beneath the six-lane highway, both intended to keep migrating animals off Oracle. To funnel animals toward those safe paths,
see GATES page 8
see MANAGER page 6
With help from a young neighbor, Oro Valley Mayor Joe Winfield cut the ribbon on a new wildlife gate across Scenic Corridor Place, a public road in Oro Valley that intersects with busy Oracle Road. The gate keeps wildlife off Oracle at night; it automatically opens any time a vehicle approaches from either side. (Dave Perry/Contributor)
It's easier said with rum, according to Trevor Rosen of Old Dominion
SPORTS ..................... 16 Jaelin Collins jumps into the fray as Athlete of the Week HOT PICKS.....................................4 FEATURES...................................... 8 YOUTH ......................................... 10 CHOW .......................................... 20 HEALTH ....................................... 21 BUSINESS .................................... 22 PUZZLE/HOROSCOPES ............. 23 WORSHIP/CLASSIFIEDS ........... 24 MLS #22307413
Wildlife gates solve a conflict in OV BY DAVE PERRY
Tucson Local Media Contributor
G
ates across two Oro Valley public streets right off Oracle Road resemble the vehicle obstacles one might see on a private residential roadway. But these gates don’t impede cars. Rather, they keep wildlife from attempting nighttime crossings of busy Oracle, and they have brought conflict resolution and real comfort to wildlife advocates, government employees and the residents of 55 single-family homes immediately west of Oracle Road. On April 19, more than 100 people cut a ribbon to celebrate completion of the Oracle Road Wildlife Gate and Fence project, a nearly $500,000 effort some thought would never happen. “You can’t even imagine how happy I feel right
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Jeff Wilkins, Oro Valley’s next town manager, has signed a two-year employment agreement with annual salary of $200,012, a $25,000 signing bonus, and a $10,026 annual payment into a retirement savings account, according to an agreement approved by the Oro Valley Town Council on April 19. Oro Valley agrees to provide health, vision, dental, life and disability insurance coverage for Wilkins and his family. He’ll accrue 22 days of annual vacation pay, as well as standard sick leave. He can participate in the Arizona State Retirement System program of co-contribution. He is required to become an Oro Valley resident within six months of his start date. Wilkins’ employment agreement, accepted unanimously by council, calls for a start date no later than July 1. That’s also the first day of Oro Valley’s next fiscal year. That start date is to be determined. Andrew Votava, Oro Valley’s human resources director, spoke with Wilkins before the April 19 town council meeting.
Great music blows through the town with the Marana Winds
MUSIC ....................... 14
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