Posted on 03/29/2005 5:13:33 PM PST by SandRat
BISBEE - The Minutemen are coming, and Cochise County officials say they're ready for them.
County officials gathered around a table in the Board of Supervisors' conference room Monday afternoon to fine-tune strategies for the upcoming Minuteman Project and to set aside $100,000 to cover possible expenses connected with keeping a lid on the volunteer border-control effort.
As many as 1,000 volunteers from across the U.S. may show up in answer to a call to help prevent further illegal border crossings into Cochise County from Mexico.
Concerned about the implications of volunteers spending up to a month along the border and the possibility of trouble during two planned demonstrations, the Board of Supervisors called the meeting last Thursday to take the pulse of county planning.
Representatives of the Sheriffs, Planning and Zoning, Health, Highways and Floodplain, and Facilities departments answered questions and discussed preparations.
"We hope people will behave and it will go off smoothly," County Manager Jody Klein said.
Klein told the supervisors he had met with all affected departments to coordinate activities.
The Sheriff's Department will be the lead agency for the county and has been coordinating its planning with federal, state and local agencies. An information center will be set up at the Sheriff's Office, which will also be the point of coordination for all other agencies and the Governor's Office. Extra phones and computers are being set up at the center. Members of the public will be able to call in issues and concerns to the center by phoning 432-9500 or, in emergencies, 911. A separate number may also be available.
A single contact point will also be set up with the Board of Supervisors. Senior members of all affected departments will be available to immediately deal with whatever may come up, Klein said.
The phone number to call for those departments, such as Planning and Zoning, Environmental Health and Highways, is 432-9200. The evening number is 559-3601.
Permit requests have been received for two demonstrations at the U.S. Border Patrol station on Naco Highway on April 2 and 3 and one farther down the highway, at the railroad tracks. Those demonstrations will be held from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Demonstrations are also planned from 1 to 2 p.m. the same days at the Border Patrol's Douglas station.
The gatherings may be held again on April 16.
No permits have yet been issued for demonstrations in Douglas, however.
Extra trash receptacles will be in place at the demonstration sites, County Facilities Director L.H. Hamilton said. He estimated the cost at up to $3,000, because the county will have to contract with private operators for the service.
"We'll pass on the sanitation costs to the organizers," Hamilton said.
"Enhanced" zoning inspections are planned to ensure compliance with county regulations, particularly in the corridor between Bisbee and Coronado Monument.
No large-scale camping or gatherings will be allowed on private property or any activity that creates a "substantial nuisance," such as traffic, garbage, raw sewage or gunfire.
"We're going to enforce all laws, rules and regulations," Klein promised.
"If a violation of 'an event of public interest' or other zoning violation occurs on private property, such as a gathering, we will notify the owner or occupant of the property and ask them to cease such activity," Klein wrote in a briefing statement. "If they fail to do so, or if we are dealing with a property owner to whom we have already advised of proper zoning requirements, we will cite them into the hearing office."
Speedy action on zoning violations was promised by Planning Director Jim Vlahovich, who noted that the process would normally take more than 30 days.
"If any activity reaches the level of creating a health hazard, the environmental health director, in consultation with the sheriff and county administrator, shall seek an injunction to abate the hazard and cease the activity," Klein wrote.
Deputy County Attorney Britt Hanson told the supervisors that the injunctive process could also be expedited, even on weekends. He said he would ensure that adequate staff will be in place to handle such actions.
Sheriff's Department Commander Rod Rothrock said that if trespassers or property owners do not cooperate, "Call the Sheriff's Department and we will come ... We'll make sure the people will leave the property." Violators will be cited and released but extra jail facilities are lined up in case of resistance.
Because overtime pay may be incurred, Klein recommended that the board approve the expenditure of up to $100,000 from the general fund contingency, to be disbursed at Klein's discretion. "We anticipate that ... there is a strong likelihood of state or federal reimbursement," Klein said.
If additional funding is necessary, the board will convene an emergency meeting to authorize additional amounts.
The funding issue concerned District 2 Supervisor Paul Newman, who said he wasn't sure state and federal agencies would reimburse the county.
Newman sought a vehicle for recovering expenses from organizers of the Minuteman Project, but was told the only way to do that was through the levying of fines for illegal activities.
Newman suggested that an ordinance be drafted to cover similar events in the future.
"It appears this event slipped through the cracks because there's no ordinance in place," Newman said.
Newman was also concerned about racist fliers that recently appeared in the county. Prepared by the National Alliance, in Phoenix, the fliers warn of a "non-white invasion."
He was concerned about the possibility of hate crimes. Rothrock assured Newman that the Sheriff's Department was prepared to enforce all applicable laws.
Don't really have to imagine. Lots of my family, over the generations, lived through Mississippi. Specifically, the mid-1800's...
One could say, using today's pee-cee terminology, they were "offended" and engaged in the 19th century equivalent of a "lawsuit."
: - )
Yeah, and I find all these new empoyees the week of the Minutemen being at the border a riot.
You have to know that was desperation to not allow the press to see how bad it really is.
They want a way to recover expenses?
How about the economic impact of 1,000 "tourists" in an area that's not normally what you'd call a tourist "mecca?"
Anybody calculating the economic impact of that?
My guess would be about $100,000 per day added to the local economy, such as it is.
For that matter, what's the cost to the County of the dozens of illegals passing through Cochise County daily?
What kind of post was it, hickory, cedar, pine?
To: All
Unbelievable! Look at everyone "swing into action" When LEGAL AMERICAN CITIZENS show up! They are positivly about to wet their collective pants in a fever pitch rush to "be prepaired for anything."
I wonder why all this effort could not be directed
AGAINST THE FREAKING ILLEGALS ? ? ?
Just look at what they can do when "motivated."
to set aside $100,000 to cover possible expenses
Can't find money to stop illegals, but CAN find money to stop American Citizens
Representatives of the Sheriffs, Planning and Zoning, Health, Highways and Floodplain, and Facilities departments
Can't work together to stop illegals, but CAN work together to stop American Citizens
Sheriff's Department will be the lead agency for the county and has been coordinating its planning with federal, state and local agencies
Can't work together to stop illegals, but CAN work together to stop American Citizens
Senior members of all affected departments will be available to immediately deal with whatever may come up, Klein said.
Can't work together to stop illegals, but CAN work together to stop American Citizens
Planning and Zoning, Environmental Health and Highways, is 432-9200. The evening number is 559-3601.
Can't be available evenings to stop illegals, but CAN be available to stop American Citizens
Extra trash receptacles will be in place at the demonstration sites,
But can't be used to clean up trash from the ILLEGAL BORDER JUMPERS
"Enhanced" zoning inspections are planned to ensure compliance with county regulations, particularly in the corridor between Bisbee and Coronado Monument.
Can't "enhance" to stop illegals, but CAN "enhance" to stop American Citizens
No large-scale camping or gatherings will be allowed on private property
Can't prevent large-scale camping to stop illegals, but CAN prevent such camping to stop American Citizens
"If a violation of 'an event of public interest' or other zoning violation occurs on private property, such as a gathering, we will notify the owner
Can't work with property owners to stop illegals, but CAN work with property owners to stop American Citizens
any activity reaches the level of creating a health hazard, the environmental health director, in consultation with the sheriff and county administrator, shall seek an injunction
Can't stop REAL health hazards from illegals, but CAN declaire non-existant "health hazards" to stop American Citizens
Violators will be cited and released but extra jail facilities are lined up in case of resistance.
Can't find jail space to lock up illegals, but CAN find jail space to lock up American Citizens
additional funding is necessary, the board will convene an emergency meeting to authorize additional amounts
Can't find funds to stop illegals, but CAN find funds to stop American Citizens
Newman suggested that an ordinance be drafted to cover similar events in the future.
Can't work together to stop illegals, but CAN work together to stop American Citizens
Rothrock assured Newman that the Sheriff's Department was prepared to enforce all applicable laws.
Can't enforce applicable laws to stop illegals, but CAN enforce "applicable" laws to stop American Citizens
"We're going to enforce all laws, rules and regulations," Klein promised.
EXCEPT FOR THE DAMN ILLEGALS
58 posted on 03/29/2005 11:24:09 PM EST by TLI ( . . . ITINERIS IMPENDEO VALHALLA . . . . . .)
BUMP!!! it's worth seeing your post again.
Including the ones against illegal entery and tresspass?
If by "hate crimes," he means we hate illegal immigration, well he's right.
This just goes to show how pansy our government has become. The same kind of thing happened back in the 1880s, but the Earps took care of that terrorist Mexican gang.
If by "hate crimes," he means we hate illegal immigration, well he's right.
This just goes to show how pansy our government has become. The same kind of thing happened back in the 1880s, but the Earps took care of that terrorist Mexican gang.
I'm just being amusing.
Let them pass the law, and then use it against them. If they won't pick up the illegals for illegal entry, you can demand they arrest them for gathering on private property and creating a health hazard.
I was just listening to the news on KFYI-Phoenix and they just said that the AZ Governor is NOT HAPPY that 500 agents will be sent to protect the border.
Anyone else hear this?
I just read the county’s position on the Minutemen.
No large-scale camping or gatherings will be allowed on private property or any activity that creates a "substantial nuisance," such as traffic, garbage, raw sewage or gunfire
Since when is this county more concerned with private citizens allowing people to camp on their property than it is with protecting those same property owners from illegal activity? You don’t seem to be concerned about the large gatherings of illegal aliens on private property each night. When are you planning on expending the same amount of effort to stop the illegals, or is that too tough a job for this county?
The supervisors apparently feel it is okay for one of your own to break county law with no repercussions (Newman smoking pot in my county owned vehicle), but county citizens legally using their property needs special treatment?
The supervisors seem to have forgotten about the LEGAL county residents that have been attacked in their homes and yards; where is the concern (other than useless lip-service) when that happens? Shouldn’t the county be doing something to PREVENT this from happening?
The supervisors are apparently members of the group that believes the illegals are just poor people looking for work. Do you really believe the members of MS-13 are in that group? Or do you think MS-13 all crossed into this country legally?
The Minutemen plan on exercising constitutionally protected legal activities, yet you as county supervisors, especially Newman, want to do everything possible to hinder and even stop these brave souls from exercising their rights as law-abiding American citizens.
The Minutemen have already forced something that the county was unable or unwilling to work for; the federal government has announced that another 500 agents will be assigned to this sector. That is a real, tangible result.
Perhaps you should all review your oath of office. In case you have forgotten, the supervisor’s job is to work for the people of Cochise County, NOT the illegal aliens that are flooding across our border with Mexico. Stopping the illegal border crossing activity is the most important issue to the people that live and pay taxes here. Rest assured, we of this county are paying attention to your actions.
His response:
Thank you for taking the time to contact me with your concerns.
Unfortunately, I do not control what the SV Herald reporter, Michael Sullivan, chooses to highlight in his articles. Many of the opinions that you stated were discussed in the work session – but only Mr. Newman’s opinions were reported. This reporter has shown a significant bias towards Mr. Newman and his philosophies over the last nine months as evidenced by the slant of his stories and the amount of copy that he devotes to Mr. Newman. If you will re-read the article, you will note that Mr. Newman was the only one referred to and only his concerns and opinions were reported – there were two other Supervisors in attendance and participating.
As an example, the reporter was fully aware that three weeks ago I was in Washington lobbying congress to support legislation that would fund more BP agents in our sector. I was there with the US/Mexico Border Counties Coalition. This is a coalition of all 24 border counties from Texas to California. I serve as President of the organization this year. The SV Herald reporter was aware of this fact and chose not to report it.
In any case, I don’t disagree with your sentiments. Unfortunately, you wouldn’t know that by reading the local paper.
.....................................................
After reading Call's response, maybe the county government isn't totally lost. Our problem seems to be with Newman and the Herald. I wrote back to Call and thanked him for his efforts. I also told him I will voice my displeasure with the one-sidedness of the Herald article. However, I doubt they will pay any attention to my complaint; I cancelled my subscription with that paper after they showed the same type of bias in a previous article.
Ping to Post #72.
As I suspected, the press is slanted...no surprise there, though.
Uh huh.
great question bump
What a crock from an obvious pack of cowards. The Minutemen will reduce the illegals trashing the place. They will spend money on food and lodging. This project is likely to be of net economic benefit to Cochise County and the Supervisors should know it.
Nice one.
BUMP
There is Federal funding for a conservation project to clean it up, and some AmeriCorps volunteers have done some very minor cleanups.
The bulk of the cleanup is done by private property owners at their own expense, or is done by local conservation groups such as The Friends of the San Pedro. (The San Pedro is one of the last free-flowing rivers in this part of the country and there is a National Conservation Area around it here in Cochise County.)
U.S. Constitution Article 4 Section 4:
"The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government,
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