The Prescott Valley Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors has a new member. Chamber officials report Chris Graff, Vice President of Operations and Business Development for Asphalt Paving and Supply, has been appointed to fill the seat vacated by Chris Kuknyo. Last month, Kuknyo announced he was resigning from the Board to dedicate more time to the Prescott City Council position he was elected to last August. He was first elected to the Board in 2007 and served as Chairman and Vice Chairman. Kuknyo’s Board term expires in June of next year. Per the Chamber’s by-laws, Board members can be appointed to fulfill the term of a vacated position and are then eligible for election to a term of their own. Graff is also a member of the Prescott Valley Early Bird Lions Club, the Prescott Valley Economic Development Foundation Board and the Arizona Associated General Contractors Association and is the chairperson for the Prescott Yavapai Joint Co-op Committee for the Association.

Bid opening for the Hornet Drive Pavement Rehabilitation Project is scheduled to occur tomorrow. City of Prescott officials note this project generally consists of full depth pavement replacement on Hornet Drive, as well as milling existing asphalt pavement and replacing with new pavement. This project also includes the installation of crack reducing pavement fabric and adjustment of utility covers to finish grade.

In other Prescott construction news, City officials have issued a Certificate of Completion to Trader Joe’s. The store has been under construction in the new Shops at Prescott Gateway development at the corner of Highway 69 and Lee Boulevard. Staff members are currently stocking shelves to prepare for the store’s March 9th opening.

Better Business Bureau officials are warning consumers credit or debit card swipes can leave money on hold. According to Bureau President Matthew Fehling, a consumer recently contacted the Southern Arizona office to complain about a restaurant putting through a charge equal to his bill plus 20 percent, even though he had left his server’s tip in cash. This is called an authorization hold and it’s a common and legal holding practice.

The Federal Trade Commission notes when a credit or debit card is used for certain transactions such as renting a car or checking into a hotel, clerks often contact the card issuer to provide an estimated total. If the card is approved, the balance is deducted from the card, holding or blocking the funds. For example, a restaurant bill of $100 may be swiped for $120, assuming the consumer will leave a nice tip, putting the authorization hold for 120 dollars. If the tip is left in cash, the bank or credit card company will still hold that amount for a few days until the actual amount is processed.

The Yavapai County Board of Supervisors has approved a special event fee schedule. According to Development Services Director Steven Mauk, in October 2010, the Board resolved to delegate the processing and approval of Special Event permits to Development Services. The amended fees include 50 dollars for temporary liquor licenses, festivals, outdoor sales events, outdoor arts and crafts shows and fireworks displays, not including a 500 dollar bond. The highest permit cost is 500 dollars for concerts that exceed 500 people. Mauk adds costs were calculated based on the processing, issuance and follow-up of applications. The Board approved the new fee schedule unanimously during its voting session yesterday.

The Humboldt Unified School District Board has approved an intergovernmental agreement with the Verde Valley Transportation Consortium. According to Transportation Director Kim Porter, school districts throughout the County have been working to identify ways to share services and determine savings. The purpose of the Consortium is to purchase transportation supplies in large quantities or lots, resulting in savings for districts in the consortium. Porter explains what’s up next in this process.

The signed documents will be forwarded to Superintendent Tim Carter’s office and will then go to County Attorney Sheila Polk’s office at 1 time to be signed. The agreement is for 5 years and any district can withdraw during any given year by giving notice to the other districts. The Humboldt School Board approved the agreement last night.

An alleged domestic violence suspect has been arrested following an assault and threats with a firearm. The 30 year old victim told Yavapai County Sheriff’s Deputies that her husband, 36 year old Travis Anderson attacked her during an argument while they were in Phoenix. She attempted to leave, but Anderson disabled her car and smashed her cell phone into pieces. She eventually got back home to Cornville and Sheriff’s Office spokesman Dwight D’Evelyn explains once the suspect returned home with their 4 year old son 2 days later, the assault continued.

The victim was able to leave with their son after a family member arrived. Anderson was detained as he was driving away from his Cornville neighborhood. A search of the vehicle revealed a handgun and shotgun in the trunk along with meth scales and snort tubes containing meth residue inside the passenger compartment. Drug paraphernalia was located inside the home. Anderson faces charges including aggravated assault, threatening per domestic violence, criminal damage, possession of a dangerous drug and a deadly weapon in commission of a felony and DUI.

Today at noon, the Grand Opening and Recognition Ceremony of the Copper Canyon Trailhead will be held. This project is a multi-use trailhead site in the heart of Camp Verde in the Prescott National Forest. It will provide a vault toilet, 2 ramadas, 4 picnic tables and grills, an Off-Highway Vehicle unloading ramp, steel pipe perimeter fencing, an information kiosk with recreation opportunity map and multi use trail safety panel, a graveled parking area with truck and trailer accommodations, cultural interpretation panels and a recognition plaque for project partners. Members of the public are invited to the ceremony to recognize the partners, donors and volunteers who made this project a reality. Travel east on Interstate 17 on Highway 260 approximately 3 miles, left on Oasis Drive and go half a mile, turn right on Forest Road 136 and travel 1 mile to the trailhead. For more information, call the Camp Verde Ranger District at 567-4121.

A groundbreaking ceremony has been held for the new Yavapai County Accommodation School campus. Yesterday dignitaries including Prescott Mayor Marlin Kuykendall and County Supervisors Tom Thurman and Carol Springer joined County Superintendent of Schools Tim Carter for the groundbreaking, which was held on Centerpointe East Drive off Highway 89 in Prescott. Carter explains the new school is an expansion of the campus on East Addis in Prescott Valley that offers programs to high school students.

The Accommodation District was formed in 2001 by the County Education Services Agency and the school was established as an Arizona Public School to accommodate at risk students. Carter says construction on the new 12 thousand square foot facility is scheduled for completion by August.

Carter’s office is also moving to the new campus, located at the end of Centerpointe East Drive off Highway 89 in Prescott. There will be about 80 students and the same amount of staff members at the new facility.

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