The Apache Junction Health and Human Services Commission on Jan. 27 voted 6-1 in two separate votes to reelect Michael Brennan as chairman and Jeffrey F. Danford as vice chairman. Commissioner Della Wood was absent.
In recent months, several city of Apache Junction boards and commissions elected members to chair and vice chair positions.
City health, human services commission
The Apache Junction Health and Human Services Commission on Jan. 27 voted 6-1 in two separate votes to reelect Michael Brennan as chairman and Jeffrey F. Danford as vice chairman. Commissioner Della Wood was absent.
The commission conducts public hearings to determine the needs of city residents with regard to public health, the care of the elderly and persons with disabilities. The commission accepts, reviews and makes recommendations of funding requests submitted by health and human services providers to the council, according to the city’s website.
City planning, zoning commission
In separate 5-0 votes on Dec. 10, the Apache Junction Planning and Zoning Commission reelected its chair and vice chair.
Dave Hantzsche was elected chair and Robin Barker was elected vice chair. Not attending the meeting were Barker and Commissioner Ari Kalan.
“Thank you all; I appreciate it. I’ll do my best to serve,” Hantzsche said after the vote.
The commission’s primary duties include community contact regarding items such as zoning change requests, applications from developers for shopping center developments or housing projects, and conditional use permits, according to the city’s website.
City board of adjustment
The Apache Junction Board of Adjustment on Dec. 9 voted 4-0 in separate votes to choose Frank Schoenbeck as chair and Rod Martin as vice chair. Board members Tim Brechon and Mike McGraw were not at the meeting.
“Thank you for stepping forward, Rod,” said Schoenbeck, who previously was vice chair, after the vote for vice chair.
The board’s primary duty is to hear and decide appeals or decisions made by the zoning administrator in enforcement of the zoning ordinance. Members also hear appeals from the zoning administrator’s decisions in granting or denying variances and issuance of use permits and hears and decides all matters referred to the board by the zoning administrator, according to the city’s website.
City public art commission
On Dec. 9 the Apache Junction Public Art Commission elected its chair and vice chair.
In separate unanimous votes, Jeffrey Danford will continue as chair and Gretchen Klett as vice chair.
“I’ll hand myself a gavel,” Danford said after the vote.
The commission was created in part to promote and encourage diverse citizen participation in public art; and assist corporations, commercial developments, and other private and governmental entities to incorporate public art, according to the city’s website.
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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