He received no notice ‘that this meeting was taking place and have been given no information about what was said at it. I would have liked to have been included as I represent District 3” where the Sedona Center and Verde Campus are located
Yavapai Community College Third District Representative Paul Chevalier is being kept in the dark about the recent meeting held in Clarkdale, Arizona that apparently involved a possible future housing development on or near the Yavapai Community College Verde Campus, which is located in his District.
In a brief statement to the Blog, Mr. Chevalier said that “ I had no knowledge that this meeting was taking place and have been given no information about what was said at it. I would have liked to have been included as I represent District 3.”
Community College President Dr. Lisa Rhine, Yavapai Community College Vice President of Community Relations and Student Development, Rodney Jenkins; Governing Board Chair Deb McCasland; Richard Hernandez, Director of the Regional Economic Development Center; representation from the Verde Valley Regional Economic Organization; and representation from the Clayton Company were all in attendance.
Mr. Chevalier represents the Third District on the Community College Governing Board, which includes the Sedona Center and the Verde Campus in Clarkdale. He has been an outspoken proponent of developing affordable student housing on the East side of the County so that Yavapai College’s Sedona Center and the Verde Campus can begin serious development. He is also often in a minority on the Governing Board that is dominated by Prescott/Prescott Valley representatives.
The only information supplied the public regarding the Clarkdale gathering came from Board Chair Deb McCasland at the October Governing Board meeting. She stated that she discussed with the Clayton Company, which is a housing developer, and the assembled group about the “need for student housing, and the need for accessible housing for faculty and staff in the Verde Valley.” She said that “they took the information and will get back to us.”
Also absent from this meeting was the Verde Campus Dean, Dr. Tina Redd. It is not clear why the College often does not include her in important public events involving the Verde Valley Campus and the Sedona Center.
Community College President Dr. Lisa Rhine did not include any comment on this meeting when she gave her President’s report to the Governing Board on Tuesday, October 19. Mr. Chevalier did not receive a further briefing from College officials about the meeting.
One of the more obvious barriers to development of the Sedona Center and the Verde Campus for years has been the lack of student housing. Student residence halls for the past 50 years have only been considered and constructed on the Prescott Campus in Prescott.