Apache Junction to sign onto emergency-aid compact
The Apache Junction City Council on June 18 is to vote on a mutual aid compact with the emergency/management division of the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs.
Arianna Grainey
Posted
Michael Pooley
City of Apache Junction
Kore Redden
Pinal County
You not only have the ability as a signatory to receive resources but also provide them. In this time where there’s a lot of emergencies that could happen — where we have wildfires, we’re in wildfire season, flooding, all of that — we help each other out. All 15 counties are signatories and all are eligible for this type of mutual aid compact (and) includes special taxing districts; not just counties, but cities, towns.”
Kore Redden, director of Pinal County’s office of emergency management
The city of Apache Junction in June is to be added to a compact allowing cities, towns and counties to share resources during emergencies from wildfires to flooding and also if there is a state of war emergency.
The Apache Junction City Council on June 18 is to vote on a mutual aid compact with the emergency/management division of the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the City Council chambers, 300 E. Superstition Blvd.
“(D)uring a state of emergency or state of war emergency ... mutual aid may be sought or provided by the city,” it states in a resolution to be considered by the council.
The emergency/management division is run by the Arizona governor’s office, Police Chief Michael Pooley told council during a June 3 work session.
“This is something if there’s a major incident or a major emergency that multiple resources are needed from all over the Valley or even the state, that we agree to accept those resources as well as to send some of our resources as well as a city,” he said.
The compact helps with continuity and sustainability during emergencies, said Kore Redden, director of Pinal County’s office of emergency management, during the work session.
“You not only have the ability as a signatory to receive resources but also provide them. In this time where there’s a lot of emergencies that could happen — where we have wildfires, we’re in wildfire season, flooding, all of that — we help each other out. All 15 counties are signatories and all are eligible for this type of mutual aid compact (and) includes special taxing districts; not just counties, but cities, towns,” she said.
Councilmember Peter Heck asked if it is correct in the compact that it began in 2014 and asked if Apache Junction had participated since then.
“This will be one of the first times we will be signing onto this agreement,” Pooley said.
Richard H. Dyer can be reached at rdyer@iniusa.org, or on X @rhdyer. To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.
Meet Richard Richard Dyer has worked at Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA since 1987, starting his career in Apache Junction as a copy editor and being promoted over the years to work as the editor of the Mesa Independent, news services editor for the East Valley office in Apache Junction, managing editor for the East Valley office, news services editor for the East Valley office and eventually also for the newspapers at INI’s then-Chandler office, managing editor again and as a news editor covering Apache Junction/Gold Canyon and Queen Creek. He helped start the Florence Independent while the news editor covering Apache Junction and Mesa news. In January 2023, he became associate managing editor for the East Valley newspapers and in August 2023 became managing editor for the East Valley newspapers of Chandler/Tempe, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Florence, Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, while also reporting on Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon.
Community: Since 2009, he has worked as a volunteer to design The Blue Guitar Magazine, Blue Guitar Jr. magazine and Unstrung magazine, which are projects of The Arizona Consortium for the Arts; and since 2014, has been overseeing the art submissions.
Education: University of Arizona with a master of arts in journalism and a bachelor of science in agricultural communication. Also continuing education at Mesa Community College in welding in a metal art sculpture class.
Random fact: Saw his first tornado on May 31, 2010, which was classified as an EF-2, as part of a stormchasing tour group.
Hobbies: He is an artist of welded-steel sculptures, selling his artwork at juried and non-juried art shows.
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