Fifteen Apache Junction-area residents were recently appointed or reappointed as volunteer members to various city boards and commissions. Most were added in unanimous votes of the council, with two being approved in 6-1 votes.
The City Council was tasked with filling:
Two seats on the Board of Adjustment from a pool of one incumbent and one new applicant.
Three seats on the Construction Board of Appeals with one incumbent applicant.
Three seats on the Health and Services Commission with one applicant.
Five seats on the Industrial Development Authority, with no applicants.
Three seats on the Library Board, with one incumbent applicant.
Three seats on the Municipal Property Corp., with one incumbent applicant.
Two seats on the Parks and Recreation Commission, with one incumbent and one new applicant.
Two seats on the Planning and Zoning Commission, with two incumbents and four new applicants.
Three seats on the Public Arts Commission, with one incumbent applicant.
Two seats on the Public Safety Personnel Retirement Board, with two incumbent applicants.
Three seats on the Superstition Mountains Community Facilities District No. 1 board, with three incumbent applicants.
After interviewing candidates at a work session Oct. 17 and a meeting Oct. 18, council members on Oct. 18 made separate motions for each position open.
“The City Council may — or may not — fill each position on every board or commission at this time,” City Clerk Jennifer Pena said at the Oct. 18 meeting. “They may appoint an applicant to a board or commission they believe is a good fit.”
Board of Adjustment
Tim Brechon was appointed to the Board of Adjustment to a term ending Oct. 31, 2025.
A motion by Councilmember Peter Heck to reappoint Frank Schoenbeck to a term ending Oct. 31, 2025, failed due to a lack of a second.
Mike McGraw was appointed to a term ending Oct. 31, 2025, in a 6-1 vote by the council, with Heck dissenting.
The primary duty of this board is to hear and decide appeals or decisions made by the zoning administrator in enforcement of the city’s zoning ordinance. Members also hear appeals from the zoning administrator’s decisions in granting or denying issuance of building use permits and hear and decide all matters referred to the board by the zoning administrator.
Brechon, who has owned a house in Apache Junction since 2019, is a retired teacher and engineer.
“I feel I could do a great job working for the people of Apache Junction,” he said in an application to serve on city boards and commissions.
McGraw, who has lived in Apache Junction for 18 years, served on the Planning and Zoning Commission 2015-18.
“To be a voice that sees all aspects of an issue without bias,” he wrote on the application under why he would like to be appointed to a board or commission.
Construction Board of Appeals
Dave Hantzsche was appointed to the Construction Board of Appeals for a term ending Oct 31, 2024.
The primary duty of the board is to hear and decide appeals made by individuals regarding construction codes and decisions made by the building and safety manager; to provide for reasonable interpretations of the provisions of the technical codes to determine the suitability of alternate materials and methods of construction; and to recommend changes of the various building and fire codes to the building and safety manager.
Hantzsche, who has lived for six years in Apache Junction \, serves on the Planning and Zoning Commission and Municipal Property Corp. He runs his own notary service, 1AZ Notary Services LLC.
“I want to help serve my city and I think with my background and understand(ing) of construction this would be a good fit and I am genuinely interested in helping the city move forward in its development,” he said in an application.
Health and human services
Jeffrey Danford and Heather M. Moeller were appointed to the Health and Human Services Commission for terms ending Oct. 31, 2025.
This commission conducts public hearings to determine the needs of city residents with regard to public health, provision of human services and care of the elderly, handicapped and developmentally disabled. They hold public forums, seminars and work with other agencies. The commission reviews requests submitted by health and human services providers for city funding and makes recommendations to the council regarding such funding. The group assists in the development of health care facilities and also makes recommendations regarding elderly health care and emergency transportation programs.
Danford, who has lived in Apache Junction for 11 years, serves on the city’s Public Arts Commission. He is retired from working at Superstition Mountain Museum; and, as a career, in manufacturing quality assurance/ISO administration.
Moeller, who has lived in Apache Junction for 41 years, has served on the Parks and Recreation Commission November 2016-October 2019 and November 2019-present.
“I feel that I have a vested interest in Apache Junction because although I wasn’t born in Arizona, I have been in this city since kindergarten. I worked at Kmart, Dolly Steamboat, Blockbuster, Central Arizona College, and for the city of Apache Junction for Parks and Recreation Department. I love being a part of something bigger than myself, but knowing I had a hand in it. Health and family leisure activities are important for people physically, mentally, spiritually, as well as emotionally,” she said in the application.
Industrial Development Authority
No motions were offered to fill openings on the Industrial Development Authority.
The IDA promotes industry and develops trade in the Apache Junction area and assists, financially and otherwise, in the rehabilitation, expansion and development of all kinds of businesses and industries, which promotes and assures job opportunities.
Library board
Incumbent Judy Borey was reappointed and Sheryl Bigelow and Robin Barker were appointed to the Library Board to a term expiring Oct. 31, 2025.
The primary responsibility of this board is to inform and advise the City Council on matters of public interest and need in relation to the resources and services of the Apache Junction Public Library. They also recommend the policy for governing, control and improvement of the library and promote the public’s awareness of the services available at the library.
Borey, a resident of Apache Junction since 2005, is not employed.
“Love of reading and keep moving the library forward. Adding more programs and more awareness of the library and functions in the community,” she said in the application under why she is qualified to be on the board.
Bigelow, a 15-year resident of Apache Junction, works for The Salvation Army as a seasonal outreach navigator/heat relief/volunteer coordinator.
She applied to serve on the health and human services, parks and recreation and planning and zoning commissions.
“I would like to be appointed to one of the above three boards in order to further serve my community, to be involved in influencing policy changes, having a voice in decision making and broaden my horizons of resources and services. As an appointed board member I will be able to assist in advocating solutions for local problems and protect the interest of local citizens,” she said in the application.
Former Councilmember Barker, a 51-year resident of Apache Junction, has served on the Planning and Zoning Commission 2005-6 and 2020-22.
“I would like to continue to be involved in the community and its growth,” she said in the application.
Municipal Property Corp.
Hantzsche was reappointed to the Municipal Property Corp. for a term expiring Oct. 31, 2025.
The primary duties of the MPC are related to city bond issues that are under consideration. The corporation reviews the city’s annual report and certificate of disclosure at the end of each fiscal year. The group is required by the Arizona Corporation Commission to file a corporation annual report and certification of disclosure along with the listing of all municipal corporation officers and directors. This report must include the city’s annual assets and liabilities.
Parks and recreation
Moeller was reappointed and Bigelow appointed to the Parks and Recreation Commission for a term expiring Oct. 31, 2025.
The commission recommends regulations and policies for the government, control and improvement of the public parks. The commission also recommends fees for the use of public park facilities and other changes as necessary for the efficient management of the city parks and the city’s recreation program.
Planning and zoning
Barker and Hantzsche were reappointed to the Planning and Zoning Commission for terms expiring Oct. 31, 2025; and Schoenbeck was appointed to a term expiring Oct. 31, 2023, all in separate unanimous votes by the council.
Ari Kalan was appointed in a 6-1 vote to a term expiring Oct. 31, 2023, with Councilmember Robert Schroeder dissenting.
The primary duties of this commission are to formulate, create and administer any lawful plan duly adopted by the governing body for the present and future growth of the city pertaining to the use of land and buildings for any purpose, together with all incidental activities usually associated therewith and commonly known as planning and zoning.
Schoenbeck, who has lived in Apache Junction for 11 years, is a retired production manager, events coordinator and cabinetmaker. He has served on the Board of Adjustment, 2015-present; Parks and Recreation Commission, 2015-present; Municipal Property Corp., 2021-present; and Library Board, 2018-21.
“As our community moves forward, I believe I have what it takes to contribute to good decisions as Apache Junction undergoes significant changes,” he said in the application.
Kalan, who has lived in Apache Junction for three years and recently ran unsuccessfully for a seat on the City Council, owns Kallan Brothers Construction.
“I would like to be appointed to Planning and Zoning Commission because it is my civic duty to give back to the community and I have the experience necessary to take on the duties of the position,” he said in the application.
Public arts
Danford was reappointed and Jaime Lanza was appointed to the Public Arts Commission to terms expiring Oct. 31, 2025.
The commission promotes and encourages diverse citizen participation in public art. They assist corporations, commercial developments and other private and governmental entities to incorporate public art and recommend the operating and capital improvement program budgets for the public art program. They make recommendations regarding the operating and capital improvement program budgets for the public arts program. The commission also conducts the request-for-qualifications process for all public art installations and reviews gifts of art offered to the city for artistic and cultural purposes.
Lanza, a 21-year resident of Apache Junction, is a retired detention officer; and taught business administrations, criminal justice and Spanish courses in the state of Kansas.
“I would like to learn more about the city government because my future goal is to run for a higher position,” he said in the application.
Public safety board
Lanza and Ernest Eaton were reappointed to the Public Safety Personnel Retirement Board to terms expiring Oct. 31, 2026.
The board, required by state law section, is responsible for acting on applications for Deferred Retirement Option Plan, normal retirement, accidental, disability retirements and survivor benefits filed by system members.
Eaton, a resident of San Tan Valley, is a police officer with the Apache Junction Police Department.
“I believe i have a good understanding for the role in this position,” he said in the application.
Sewer board
Jesse Gage, James Reynolds and Philip Tremonti were reappointed to Superstition Mountains Community Facilities District No. 1 to a term expiring Oct. 31, 2028.
SMCFD No. 1 was formed by the Apache Junction City Council in July 1992 as a separate governmental entity from the city and is governed by an independent, voluntary board of directors. The district is an independent, public, non-profit utility developed solely for the benefit of its customers and the Apache Junction community to operate and maintain a regional system for the collection, transport, and treatment of sewage from the properties existing within its boundaries.
Gage is a 20-year resident of Apache Junction. He is retired from working in the mining industry — gold, copper and coal — in various roles, he wrote in a previous application.
Reynolds, who has lived for more than four years in Gold Canyon, is retired and worked as director of public works in Northbrook, Illinois; and worked for FEMA as a disaster assistance employee.
“If the board believes I possess the basic credentials and can bring some practical experience to the table, I’d be honored to serve. If not, that’s fine too,” he said in the application.
Tremonti, a 22-year Gold Canyon resident, is retired as a CPA/partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers, an international accounting firm.
“I believe that the growth of AJ will need to come from alliances and partnerships with the surrounding unincorporated areas as well as the eventual development of land from the Arizona State Land Trust and (Bureau of Land Management) land. As a Gold Canyon resident I cannot get elected to the City Council. Therefore I want to work with the ancillary services that will help to achieve that growth,” he said in the application.
Richard Dyer Managing Editor | East Valley @RHDyer
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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