A Day in the Life of the Mayor

Article from West Valley View - 7/5/2011 - by Ray Thomas

Some people seek celebrity and notoriety while others quietly roll up their shirt sleeves and get busy. Jackie Meck of Buckeye is a sleeve-roller-upper.

Born in Buckeye in 1941, Meck's birthplace is directly across the street from his mayoral office of today, a connection he carries with him close to his heart. Further back, his grandparents came to Arizona in the early 1900s from Tennessee and began farming in Liberty. Meck's father was the town's judge, coroner and justice of the peace for 30 years with Meck tagging along at his side from time to time, watching and learning.

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Mayor Meck participates in televised West Valley Mayoral Forum

Buckeye Mayor Jackie Meck joins Glendale Mayor Elaine Scruggs and Goodyear Mayor Georgia Lord as they discuss issues that are important to our communities in the West Valley Mayoral Forum, hosted by The Arizona Republic's Michael Ryan, vice president and general manager for community newspapers.

View Video

Mayor Meck's Jobs Initiative

Opportunities for Job Seekers:

ELECTRICAL & CONTROLS JOURNEYMAN (Solar Operator)

• Monitor, troubleshoot and repair of large scale solar facility.


• High understanding of Electrical and Jobsite Safety


• Able to read detailed drawings, loop and wiring diagrams and data sheets. Able to prepare input/output lists, process control descriptions, and participate in system design reviews, testing and commissioning.


• Working knowledge with PLC programming, Distributed Control Systems and HMI interfaces


• Experienced in safely working with Low, Medium and High Voltage


• Conduct duties in a professional manner and is viewed as a team player including written and verbal communications with the Site Team, sub contractors and vendors.

This is permanent full time position including a compressive benefits package.

If interested please apply on-line at the following website: http://www.semprageneration.com/careers.htm

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CLP Representative –are asking for resumes for immediate solar related jobs in the Gila Bend area known as “Cotton Center.” Please email your resume to tsandoval@clp.com

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Remember Manpower Rep at B.O.S.S., 501 E Mahoney Ave, Buckeye, AZ 85326 every Monday and Friday 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM.

These are solar facilities located or possibly could be located in the Gila Bend, Buckeye and Tonopah/Wintersburg areas: Solana, Mesquite Solar West, AVSE 1 & 2, Sun Streams, Gillespie 1, Hassayampa 1, Aguila, 1 & 2, Shrimp Farm, Cotton Center and Hyder Sentinel.

As I meet contacts and learn more, I will forward the information for jobs as soon as I can. Also, I will continue to hold job fairs in conjunction with the companies.

Triple-digit growth bodes well for 3 Southwest Valley cities

If you want to talk about impressive growth in the Southwest Valley, look no further than Buckeye, which is the fastest-growing community in Maricopa County, with a growth rate of 678 percent from 2000 to 2010, according to the census.

That growth was no surprise to Buckeye Mayor Jackie Meck.

"Everyone knows that Buckeye has been growing fast," he said. "But the bottom line is there will be no substantive changes to our planning efforts, because the official census numbers are in line with what our expectations have been for some time now."

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/community/swvalley/articles/2011/03/15/20110315southwest-valley-census-growth.html#ixzz1patGM6mA

Mayor Meck's Jobs Initiative

I have confirmed the “solar job fair” to be held on March 23rd from 1-5:00 PM at Youngker’s High School gymnasium. (3000 S Apache Road). There will be staff from SOS Staffing present to help facilitate applications and positions relating to the Solano Solar in Gila Bend.

Please pass the word to others.

Hope to see a large group from Buckeye, Gila Bend, and Tonopah present.

Volunteer chaplain works closely with Buckeye PD

Volunteer chaplain works closely with Buckeye PD - from the Arizona Republic

Listening to the Citizens.

Last night was the final Public Meeting in a series held throughout the Town to receive citizen input on the temporary sales tax increase.

Understanding the economy affects all of us.

Buckeye mayor giving up salary, council taking 5% cut

Mayor Meck featured in MAG publication.

“I have a passion for my community, and it has been very much a part of my entire life. I was born here, I’ve never left. I love my community, and I’d just like to have other people love it as much as I do.” -- Mayor Meck

The November 09/January 10 issue of MAGAZine featured Mayor Meck on pages 4 & 5 (click to view in Adobe Reader). MAGAZine is a quarterly newsletter focusing on regional excellence, published by the Maricopa Assocation of Governments.

See the entire newsletter here.

Click here for the MAG web site.

Luke Forward, Ready for the Future

Please register your support for Luke Air Force Base, which is vying for the F-35 fighter plane.
Luke Forward, Ready for the Future

West Valley Mayors Oppose Casino within Glendale

Read the letter that was sent to the Secretary of the Department of Interior:

http://www.azcentral.com/ic/community/casino-mayorsletter0820.pdf

 

Here is the AZCentral Article:

http://www.azcentral.com/community/swvalley/articles/2009/08/19/20090819gl-casino0819-ON.html

 

We Are Buckeye meetings continue

I attended the “We Are Buckeye” meeting Monday night at Jaskinsky Elementary School. Several persons involved themselves in the discussion and matched their visions for the Town of Buckeye with those that have been at prior meetings. Sometime in October the volunteers of “We Are Buckeye” will consolidate all of the material and bring to a town council meeting.

Mayor's Log - July 22 through August 13

On Wed, July 22 before the MAG meeting, I met with City of Phoenix Council woman Peggy Neeley. We discussed the upcoming proposal of Phoenix converting 1,200 acres of landfill into a solar facility. The original agreement between Town of Buckeye and Phoenix was that a total of 3,000 acres would be a landfill. More to come as town staff becomes involved.

On Wed. July 22, as a board member Town of Buckeye, I attended the Maricopa Association of Governments(MAG) Regional Council.

Gave blood via the United Blood Drive held at the Chamber of Commerce Pulte Room. Great turnout of donors.

"We Are Buckeye" presentation at the Robert Saide Recreation Center. Volunteers have contributed many hours for the past ten months. Doing a great job.

Mayor’s meeting in Goodyear. Surprise, Peoria, Youngtown, Glendale, Litchfield Park, Tolleson, Avondale, Goodyear and Buckeye Mayor’s monthly meeting.

Had lunch with Dr Beverly Hurley, Buckeye Union High School Superintendent. Discussed issues between Town and High Schools relating to growth in town and schools.

Met with group of developers from Canada. Looking in Buckeye for investment.

Attended "We Are Buckeye" presentation at Buckeye Senior Citizens center.

Am on the Executive Board of “All Faith”-attended the meeting on July 30. Contributions are down due to the economy. More families are coming in and are being helped with food and clothing.

I meet weekly with the town manager.

Friday night fund raiser at the Senior Community Center. I called the numbers and many seniors played bingo.

Aug 4th, breakfast with the Southwest Valley Mayors. Avondale, Litchfield, Goodyear, Tolleson and Buckeye.

Meet with Senator John Nelson re: current state budget.

Town Administration and staff spent the first week in the new Town Hall. Several departments have been moved to the new quarters. This move has consolidated employees and will provide efficient service to our citizens.

Aug 6th, attended a Sonoran Solar Energy public meeting in Gila Bend. Plans are to develop a 4,000 acre facility east of the existing Southwest Landfill-15 miles south of Buckeye.

Aug 11-attended the Social Services board meeting for a few minutes. Really appreciate the volunteers meeting needs of our community.

Aug 12-Environmental and Sustainability Cabinet meeting was this morning. Discussion are about “green” and what can we as a town do now and in the future.

Aug 12-"We Are Buckeye" held a presentation in Verrado. Good turnout and comments.

Aug 13--Mayor and Town manager meeting.

Buckeye begins moving into Town Hall

Town staff moved into the new city hall on Monday. The 65,000 square foot building will house most all of the town departments. This will increase the efficiency of town government.

Buckeye begins moving into Town Hall

Charlie Leight/The Arizona Republic
Buckeye Mayor Jackie Meck tests his computer under the watchful eye of IT specialist Greg Platacz at the new Town Hall.

I-10 Freeway Construction Update

I-10 Freeway construction-The stretch between Sarival and Verrado Way is scheduled to begin in September. ADOT is scheduled to sign the contract Monday July 27. Will add one lane each direction.

Buckeye Armed Forces Readiness Center

I was honored to welcome the Buckeye Armed Forces Readiness Center to our community on Thursday July 23rd. The 1,400 acre facility will house the Army National Guard and the Army Reserve. They will be great partners with the Town.

See AZ Central article here:
http://www.azcentral.com/community/swvalley/articles/2009/07/24/20090724swv-buckeyearmy0724.html

Jack Kurtz/The Arizona Republic

Sun City Festival recognized as one of the best master planned communities.

Congrats to Buckeye's Sun City Festival...one of "America's 100 Best Master-Planned Communities."

Magazine: Sun City Festival one of the best communities

Quest for Solar Panel Manufacturing Firm

Mayor Meck attended a meeting of Sempra Energy’s Mesquite Power Plant proposal in Tonopah last night. They are planning a solar panel facility on 2500 plus acres south of the Palo Verde Nuclear Power Plant. The facility will be on land owned by Sempra. It will provide an estimated 1,000 to 1,500 jobs over a span of three to five years. Not only jobs but purchases of supplies and materials.

The Mayor's quest is to bring a solar panel manufacturing firm to Town of Buckeye.

Sempra is currently working with Maricopa County to obtain permits to construct in 2010.

Throwing out the First Pitch!

Mayor Meck threw out the first pitch (a strike!) as the renovated Earl Edgar Recreational Facility is rededicated in Buckeye. Here, the Mayor is shown cutting the ribbon with the Earl Edgar family.

See article here: http://www.mayormeck.com/docs/2009-02-20-azrepublic-earledgar.pdf

Photo Credit: Eric Graf/The Arizona Republic

Promoting education and Buckeye's business environment

Mayor Meck continues to work toward the goals he stated during the campaign: promoting education and Buckeye's business environment. The following articles are from the Buckeye Valley News, January 1, 2009.