Mayor Jackie Meck announces run for second term

Buckeye, Arizona - Mayor Jackie Meck today officially kicked off his bid for reelection for Mayor of Buckeye. Mayor Meck reconfirmed his ongoing commitment to bringing new jobs to Buckeye, building strong neighborhoods, and supporting education opportunities for the West Valley.

Meck submitted nearly double the required signatures more than a week before the deadline and has begun his fundraising efforts leading up to the March 13th election.

“I am excited for the opportunity to build on what we have started here in Buckeye,” said Meck. “Creating jobs and opportunities for our residents has been my number one focus and we will continue that work for four more years.”

Meck, a lifelong resident of Buckeye, was elected Mayor in 2008 after a lifetime of community service and leadership. As Past President of the Buckeye Valley Chamber of Commerce, Meck understands how critical it is for town leaders to be a part of helping create jobs and economic opportunity.

“No one has worked harder than Mayor Meck to create jobs and bring businesses to Buckeye,” said Buckeye resident and past Chairman of the Board of the Buckeye Valley Chamber of Commerce Dorothy Lockard. “I know his weekly email blasts showing all the jobs available in Buckeye is a sign that things are starting to turn around out here.

As Mayor, Meck represents the Town of Buckeye on many different regional boards and commissions including the board of directors for the Maricopa Association of Government (MAG), West Valley Hospital Board of Trustees, Estrella Mountain Community College Advisory Board and others.

Buckeye Resident Wayne Polk said, “Jackie understands how important it is that the West Valley cities work together so that we can all succeed and grow as a region. We need his leadership and dedication to Buckeye.”

Jackie attended the University of Arizona and recently retired from the Buckeye Water Conservation and Drainage District. His wife, Verlyne, retired as the librarian from Buckeye Union High School. Both Jackie and Verlyne have resided in Buckeye their whole lives, where they raised three children and now are the proud grandparents of Gracie, William, Audrey and Jackson.

To learn more about Mayor Jackie Meck, you can visit his website at http://www.mayormeck.com/ or call him directly at 480-684-0715.

Paid for by Meck for Mayor

East Buckeye Park and Ride Ribbon Cutting

by John Yantis
The Arizona Republic
12/20/2011

Buckeye Mayor Jackie Meck talked some politics before the grand opening of the town's first park and ride.

Meck joined Town Council members, transit officials and other dignitaries last week in a ribbon-cutting for the $5 million facility. Only this ribbon, while being held by the mayor on one side of the road and others on the opposite side, was to be split by a moving Valley Metro bus.

"I asked the bus driver whether he's a Republican, Democrat or independent," Meck shouted to about 75 onlookers while standing in front of the bus. "He's independent. We're good."

The driver drove slow. The ribbon cut nicely, and the East Buckeye Park and Ride was christened.

Starting Jan. 23, there will be two weekday morning and two afternoon express trips from the new transit center to downtown Phoenix. The center is north of Interstate 10 on the southwestern corner of Jackrabbit Trail and Palm Lane.

Buckeye Express Route 563, formerly known as the Papago Freeway Express, will leave the park and ride at 5:35 a.m. and 6:40 a.m., making stops at the Goodyear Park and Ride, First Avenue and Van Buren Street and 17th Avenue and Jefferson Street. Buses will return commuters to the park and ride at 5:10 p.m. and 6:25 p.m.

Transit officials say the Buckeye route is intended as an extension to Route 562, which runs to the Goodyear Park and Ride. Officials expect that someday, Route 685, a popular rural route that runs to Ajo and Gila Bend, will stop at the Buckeye park and ride.

The center will service what they say is an undetermined number of residents who live near the park and ride, as well as those who live farther west. In time, they say, the buses will fill up.

Officials expect residents to also take advantage of vanpools that will be stationed at the facility.

The first phase of the project was funded by the Valley Metro Regional Public Transportation Authority. There are 250 parking spaces, some of which are covered, a security building and a small silo that doubles as a waiting area. Eventually, the 7-acre site will expand to as many as 500 parking spaces and arrival-and-departure slots for up to four buses.

The center contains a number of signature architectural features, as well as a kiss and ride: an area separated from buses and parking where commuters are dropped off to board public transportation.

The design of the project reflects elements of the area's agricultural heritage. Inside the silo will be displays of historical documents and photos.

A small dry canal runs through the center. Wild grasses in the canal are expected to grow and wave in the breeze to represent the flowing of water, said Lara Serbin, an architect and co-founder of Serbin Studio in Goodyear.

The distinct angles on shade and bus-waiting canopies are derived from a 1950s gas station that operated on Monroe Avenue in downtown Buckeye

Colored panels at the park and ride were an analogy to the Eastman Cotton Gin, which operated from 1928 to 2005. The gin building remains on the Heritage Park site today.

While they could not get inside the building, Serbin said her team members were inspired when they saw colored panels and siding while looking through its windows. Blue, orange and white tones were incorporated in the bus shelters.

Sustainability also will be incorporated into the design, from LED bulbs in the lighting system to canopies designed to install solar panels that will one day power lights.

Meck called the park and ride a good example of regional cooperation.

"It's another milestone in Buckeye's history and, at the same time, it offers a glimpse into the future," he said, adding the center is expected to ease traffic along I-10 while lessening air pollution.