Project a part of improving student/staff/faculty  facility

Work has almost been completed by the Facilities management team on constructing a small gazebo for the trailer park on the Verde Campus.  The photo below (cut from the Community College Facilities Management March 2024 Newsletter) shows the staff at work on the gazebo earlier this year.

Facilities Management crew at work on constructing gazebo.

Yavapai Community College’s planners astonishingly located a 10-space trailer park adjacent to backyards of Clarkdale residents, which are separated from each other only by a poorly maintained maintenance road.  Meanwhile, a location on about  80 available vacant acres on the Campus with easy travel trailer access could have been chosen with  no impact on Clarkdale residents

Home almost directly across from Community College trailer park.

The decision made by Yavapai Community College executives, who are based in Prescott, regarding the location of the trailer park on the Verde Valley Campus in Clarkdale raises major concerns about their consideration for the neighboring residents. While the College may have had its reasons for selecting the odd location for the park,  presumably related to financial considerations, it is apparent that little thought was given to respecting the privacy and well-being of the immediate neighborhood.

It is truly astonishing that the trailer park was situated in such close proximity to the backyards of private homes in Clarkdale. This location choice appears both puzzling and, at worst, ignorant. There were clearly numerous readily accessible vacant acres on the Campus far from the neighborhood, which if chosen would have had no adverse impact on the lives of Clarkdale residents.

In response to this seemingly ill-conceived placement, it is evident that affected neighbors have taken matters into their own hands. Some have chosen to erect a substantial metal-like privacy and security fence as a means of shielding themselves from the College’s trailer park, which they seemingly perceive as unattractive and disruptive.

While the exact cost of installing these fences remains unclear, one can reasonably surmise that it is a significant expense. The fact that residents are willing to invest in such measures underscores the inadequacy of the chosen location for the trailer park. Residents undoubtedly feel compelled to take these steps in order to safeguard their privacy and maintain their quality of life.

Four trailers parked on lot: no sign of promised RVs

The construction of Yavapai Community College’s Verde Campus 10-space trailer park is still ongoing. As a reminder, this small facility project commenced in March on an unused portion of the vacant 80-acre parcel of land owned by the College within the Verde Valley Campus.

Since the start of the fall semester, only  four travel  trailers have appeared on the premises.

Back in March, the College made a commitment to acquire and place four recreational vehicles in the park for rental purposes. The goal was to purchase them and have them ready for rental by faculty or students by the beginning of the fall semester.  However, as of October 23, there are no signs of these vehicles being present at the park.

VERDE VALLEY CAMPUS TRAILER PARK SHOWING THREE OF FOUR TRAILERS PARKED ON IT AS OF OCTOBER 23.

Says work not yet finished on water and sewer infrastructure but hoping for August 14 completion; Facilities Management Newsletter where announcement made contains two photos showing progress of the project

Yavapai Community College’s August 2023 Facilities Management Newsletter provided a three-sentence update on the progress of the RV parking lot project at the Verde Valley Campus. Since commencing construction in March of this year, the project has been slowly moving toward completion. Although substantial strides have been made, the announcement by the College acknowledges the need for further work on essential water and sewer infrastructure. The anticipated project completion date is set for August 14.

The Facilities Management Newsletter  includes a visual glimpse into the project’s current state through two accompanying photographs. These images offer a window into the ongoing efforts to create  the RV parking lot for students and staff.  You can access the photos by clicking here.

However, important aspects regarding the RV lot have not been released to the public.  These include the purchase cost of the four RVs (if any were purchased), security provisions for the park including lighting measures, all potential RV parking charges, availability of internet service, the presence of a dump station, noise management strategies due to proximity to neighboring Clarkdale homes, and technical considerations involving the weight-bearing capacity of the gravel road. These all remain unexplored.

Notably, the absence of information regarding the RV Park’s total construction cost estimate in any Community College budget raises questions about budget transparency. While from the College’s Prescott-based executives’ perspective these costs may be considered trivial, a comprehensive understanding of the project’s financial implications would contribute to a more informed community.

As the project nears its expected completion date, the residents of Yavapai  County  eagerly anticipate receiving additional information to gain a comprehensive view of the RV park’s features and costs.

Community College ignores Blog’s most recent request for information to update RV park’s status as Fall semester begins August 12

Obtaining information from Yavapai Community College can be quite challenging, as the institution seems to uphold a strict policy of confidentiality when it comes to its internal operations. Regrettably, despite requests from the Blog to the College’s public relations department, our recent inquiries about the current status of the RV park have gone unanswered. As a result, the residents of Yavapai County are left uninformed about a variety of matters, including the RV park’s readiness status by August 12, the rental costs of a student parking an RV in the park, lighting and security measures for the park, or the type and cost of the four purchased RVs (if any were purchased).

To address this issue and shed light on these matters, the Blog remains dedicated to pursuing any available channels of information and will strive to keep the community informed as soon as we receive any additional information.

The Blog understands the importance of transparency in the decision-making processes of an institution like Yavapai Community College, and it will continue its efforts to ensure that residents have access to the information an institution should normally furnish its taxpayers.  Rest assured, the Blog’s commitment to delivering accurate and up-to-date information remains unwavering.

The following is  what the Blog has learned so far from a wide variety of reliable sources about the RV park on the Verde Valley Campus 

Here is what the Blog knows so far:

1. The Blog is unable to find in the Community College budget for the past or present years an entry clearly identifying by name the Verde Campus RV park and its estimated budgetary construction cost.

2. On October 18, 2022, at the Community College’s District Governing Board  meeting the question of an RV park at the Verde Valley Campus of Yavapai Community College was discussed for about two or three minutes.  During the brief discussion,  then Third District Yavapai Community College Representative Paul Chevalier, in whose district the RV park would be constructed, said he opposed the idea. He was concerned that using RVs for housing might  “lower the quality of the look of the campus.”  Board Chair, Deb McCasland fully supported the idea. No formal vote was taken.

3. During March 2023, without public notice or a formal Governing Board vote on the project the Blog can identify, construction was discreetly started on the Verde Valley Campus to build a ten vehicle RV park for staff and students. Heavy equipment began leveling the surface for the RV lot on Campus land adjacent to the vineyard.

4. On May 17, 2023, through its own press release, the College belatedly publicly announced its decision to construct a 10-space Recreational Vehicle Park on the Verde Valley Campus. According to the press release, the College intends to purchase four RV units and initially offer them for rent to employees and possibly students. Additionally, the remaining six pads will be exclusively reserved for employees and possibly students who already possess their own RVs. Employees will have priority over students.  It will have such amenities as a patio, gazebo, and dog run. Occupants will have access to an onsite laundry facility and, “along with their neighbors,“ a well-maintained gravel road.

5. In an article dated May 17, 2023, which appeared in the Verde Independent,  it reported it was told by the College that “The RV Park is a Yavapai College District Governing Board-approved project.”  It also told the Independent that the RV park  will have “electrical hookup and septic available.” It appears that the decision was made to forgo connecting the RV park’s sewer system to the neighboring Cottonwood (or Clarkdale) sewer system and install a septic system because it would be too costly.  It will drain sewerage into a septic system in the desert area adjacent to the park.

6. On May 30, 2023, Clint Ewell granted an interview to Phoenix  Channel 3 News  reporter Casey Torres about the RV park.  She reported the College will rent the RVs on the Verde Campus for $500 a month for “RV owners.”  It was unclear what the College would charge for renting one of the remaining six spaces. Some viewers were surprised that during this interview College Vice President of Finance and Administrative Services, Dr. Clint Ewell, appeared to emphasize the projects as being aimed at  student housing rather than employees although he noted at least three employees had shown an interest in the RV park.

7. In a story posted on Azcentral.com on July 5, 2023 (updated July 21, 2023) Clint Ewell is quoted as saying: “It’s really been in the last maybe two to three years that we’ve started to feel like (the cost of housing) is starting to influence our ability to attract new people.” “Over time, I think this becomes a great way for us to onboard new employees and give them a place to land and get the lay of the land before they go out looking for a house to buy or rent,” he said.

8. Present: Recent requests from the Blog to the College’s PR department to provide Yavapai County residents via the Blog an update on  the status of the park as fall semester approaches have been ignored. All of the news stories indicated the goal was to have the park ready by the start of the fall 2023 semester.

Water and sewer connections will add to cost of construction on Verde Valley Campus

Yavapai Community College’s tiny 10 pad RV park will have to invest a considerable amount of money into providing sewer and water.  It will also have to meet Clarkdale’s general and specific regulations regarding its operation. 

Here are a few of the general regulations the RV park is expected to meet:

RVs must be properly licensed and registered with the Arizona Department of Transportation.

RVs must be hooked up to a sewer system and have a working water supply.

RVs must be hooked up to a sewer system and have a working water supply.

RVs cannot be used as a permanent residence.

Here are a few of the specific regulations regarding operating an RV park the pad is expected to meet:

• • • Water and sewer: RV parks must be connected to a public water and sewer system. If a public water and sewer system is not available, the RV park must have its own water and sewer system that meets all applicable standards. (Note. Cottonwood’s sewer system is adjacent the College.)
    • Electricity: RV parks must be connected to a public electric system. If a public electric system is not available, the RV park must have its own electric system that meets all applicable standards.
    • Fire safety: RV parks must meet all applicable fire safety standards. This includes having fire hydrants, sprinkler systems, and fire alarms.
    • Waste disposal: RV parks must have a system for disposing of waste water and sewage. This system must meet all applicable standards.
    • Parking: RV parks must provide adequate parking for all guests.
    • Maintenance: RV parks must be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition.

Chevalier’s view, in whose district the campus resides, did not prevail

The Yavapai Community College District Governing Board held a general discussion about housing  employees at its October 18, 2022 meeting.  During the meeting, it became clear that Third District Representative Paul Chevalier opposed using recreational vehicles for employees and possibly student housing on the Verde Valley Campus.  Board Chair, Deb McCasland, fully supported the idea.

Doubtful College will purchase an RV like this.

Chevalier evinced a concern for bringing RVs on campus and using them for housing. He stated   that in his opinion they would “lower the quality of the look of the campus. So I would be opposed to RVs.” 

Chair Deb McCasland said “the idea of RV pads is excellent.  Because all we’re investing in is cement and utilities.” 

Vice President of Finance and Administrative Services Clint Ewell said at the meeting that an RV park is “fairly affordable in the scheme of things.  But you have to have an RV.”  However, subsequently the College announced it would purchase four RVs for the park and rent them out at $500 a month while leaving six spots open for RV owners.

Obviously, Third District Representative Chevalier’s view, in whose district the Verde Valley Campus is located,  did not persuade the College executives.

You may view a view clip of the exchange at the October meeting by clicking here.

Will have electrical hookups, laundry, dog run; sewer system will consist of  two large septic systems with leach fields draining into  the land adjacent the park (although Cottonwood sewer system borders College); rental of RVs to be purchased by College said to be set at $500 a month

Gathering precise details about the employee (student) RV park at Yavapai Community College is a formidable task due to the institution’s deliberate approach of maintaining a tight lid of confidentiality regarding its internal operations. Nonetheless, as information gradually surfaces from various sources, a more comprehensive understanding of the project is beginning to take shape. Here is what the Blog has found out about the project so far.

First, Yavapai Community College announced on May 17, 2023, through a press release, its decision to construct a 10-space Recreational Vehicle Park on the Verde Valley Campus. According to the press release, the College aims to purchase four RV units and initially offer them for rent to employees. Additionally, the remaining six pads will be exclusively reserved employees  who already possess their own RVs. If all ten spots are not filled by employees, it appears they will then be available to students.

The press release listed some of the amenities that the RV park will provide, including a patio area,  gazebo, and a dedicated dog run. Unfortunately, access to the park will be facilitated by a gravel road, deviating from the conventional asphalt pathways typically found in such settings. It is worth mentioning that the gravel road may be shared, at least partially, with homeowners living adjacent to the facility.

Second, in an article dated May 17, 2023, which  appeared in the Verde Independent,  the College revealed the facility would have  an onsite laundry facility. The Independent also reported the RV park  would have electrical hookups and a sewer system. 

According to the information shared by the Community College with the Verde Independent, it appears that the decision has been made to forgo the connection of the RV park’s sewer system to the neighboring Cottonwood (or Clarkdale) sewer system. It would be costly. The article in the newspaper, accompanied by a diagram provided by the College, reveals that the sewer infrastructure for the park will involve the use of two large septic tanks. These tanks will be supported by two leach fields, allowing for draining sewage into the field situated behind the park. (See sketch above.)

Third, and finally, on May 31, 2023, in a story carried on  Channel 3 News, Phoenix, reporter Casey Torres reported the College will rent the RVs on the Verde Campus for $500 a month for “RV owners.” 

It is noteworthy to observe that during his interview with Channel 3 News about the RV park and tiny house projects, Yavapai Community College Vice President of Finance and Administrative Services, Dr. Ewell, appeared to emphasize the projects as being aimed at  students rather than employees. (Make you own judgment by viewing the clip by clicking here.)  

All three news stories agreed that the RV park is intended to be completed by the fall 2023 semester.

The College has not indicated in any of its budgets the estimated total cost of constructing the RV park on the Verde Valley Campus. There is no explanation for the reason it is not hooking its sewer system either to the Clarkdale sewer system or Cottonwood sewer system. Speculation is that cost is a factor.

Sources:  Yavapai Community College press release:  (Click here to view video clip.)

Verde Independent newspaper: (Click here to view video clip.)  

Channel 3 Phoenix news: (Click here to view video clip.)

The RV park apparently aims to provide affordable housing for Yavapai Community College staff and students

You may be surprised to learn that construction has begun on building a ten-vehicle RV park on the Verde Campus in Clarkdale.  The construction was discreetly started in March.

Heavy equipment is already leveling the surface for the RV lot. It is anticipated that construction will be completed by the end of Spring this year.

The decision apparently reflects the concern of Community College president Dr. Lisa Rhine with the Community College’s working poor and lack of affordable housing.  The argument is that by providing employees a safe and affordable place to park and live in their RVs, that this will help address the housing issue and overall may improve their  quality of life.

According to a photo in the March 2023 Community College Management Facilities Newsletter, it will be called the “Verde Valley Campus Employee Housing RV Park.”  (Click here to go to the facilities-management newsletter.) 

The idea of building an RV parking lot on the Verde Campus was first mentioned briefly during a meeting of the Governing Board in October 2022. For those who might not have been listening very carefully to every word, the language used by Vice President Clint Ewell could have been interpreted as a project that when fully thought out by the administration would be brought to the Governing Board for approval. Typically, this is the approach used in the past.  However, since October 2022 the project has moved forward discreetly and  without any further discussion among the Board or information provided  to them by Dr. Rhine.  (You may view the one minute mention of the project at the October 2022 meeting by clicking here.) 

One of the concerning aspects surrounding  the decision is the absence of any mention of constructing an RV park to meet the employee housing shortage to be found anywhere in the College District-wide planning documents. For example, it is not mentioned in the Yavapai Community College Master Facilities Plan that was recently completed, nor is it mentioned in the Plan’s appendix. Furthermore, the March 2020 Housing report commissioned by the College with the consulting firm of Brailsford & Dunlavey also makes no mention of an RV park as a solution to the housing shortage apparently being experienced by employees on the Verde Campus.

Given the lack of information about the project, it is unclear how the construction is being funded, and the RV park does not appear anywhere in the current budget. Additionally, the College District Governing Board has never had it listed as a specific agenda item to discuss.

As noted above, during an hour-long discussion about student and employee housing at the October 2022 Governing Board meeting the idea of building an RV park on the Verde Campus was briefly mentioned. Third District Representative Paul Chevalier expressed his opposition to the idea at the meeting, stating that he did not think RVs belonged on campus as they would lower the quality of the campus’s appearance. Chair Deb McCasland, on the other hand, expressed support for the idea, noting that it would require only minimal investment in cement and utilities. However, no further discussion took place at the meeting.

It is important to note that Yavapai Community College is a publicly funded entity, supported by taxpayers in Sedona and the Verde Valley. As such, any project undertaken by the College, including the construction of an RV park it considers won’t cost a great deal, and with the best interests of its employees in mind, has implications for the public and their tax dollars. Therefore, the public has a right to know much more about the project and its associated costs.

Clearly, the College’s Prescott driven administration has not provided adequate information about the project  to the public nor have they engaged in open dialogue with the public or the Governing Board so the views of the public and the Board are heard. As a result, many questions and concerns regarding the project remain.

Some of the questions and concerns that the public might have about the project include the following:

• • • Did the College ignore the March 2020 consulting report from Brailsford & Dunlavey that said “Employees want to live off site”?
    • Why wasn’t the project specifically placed on the Agenda for District Governing Board discussion and vote before it was approved?
    • What is the rationale behind the project?
    • Why wasn’t Third District Paul Chevalier kept informed about the decision to move forward with the project and provided any details about it?
    • What impact will the RV park have on the environment and the surrounding community?
    • Why wasn’t the project included in the just completed Master Facilities Plan?
    • Why wasn’t the project included in the just completed Appendix to the Facilities Plan?
    • Why wasn’t the Community College budget, which makes no mention of the project, amended so as to show total estimated costs of the project?
    • Will the RV park be available to full-time employees? 
    • Will it be available to part-time employees?
    • Will it be available to full-time students?
    • Will it be available to part-time students?
    • Will it be available to the public if it is not used by employees and students?
    • Will it have water hookups? If so, at what cost to the taxpayers?
    • Will it have sewer hookups? If so, at what cost to the taxpayers?
    • Will it have internet hookups? If so, at what cost to the taxpayers?
    • Will it have a sewer line to the Clarkdale sewer system? If so, at what cost to the taxpayers?
    • Will it have outdoor sanitation facilities? If so, at what cost to the taxpayers?
    • What are the construction costs associated with grading, cement, labor and materials?
    • How will it be policed 24-7 to prevent break ins? If so, at what cost to the taxpayers?  
    • How will the unimproved dirt road be improved to handle large RVs?
    • Will there be a limit on the number of families that may occupy a single RV? Or, if it is open to students, and if so, how many students per parked RV bus will be allowed? Or doesn’t it matter?
    • Will there be a limit on the size of RVs that are parked there? Can they be 35 feet?
    • Will it accommodate a single wide or double wide trailer home?
    • Will it allow any kind of RV from tent trailers to buses?
    • Will the College purchase RVS of its own to park there and rent them out?
    • What will the College charge persons to park at the RV park?
    • How will the money for parking be collected?
    • Will the property taxes of taxpayers of the third District be used to pay to subsidize payments of those who use the RV park? Or will it pay for itself? In other words, what is the business plan for the RV park?
    • Will the RV park attract the homeless and undesirables when the College is not in session during holidays and the summer? Will it become a public nuisance, especially during summer and vacation periods.
    • Will such a facility affect the value of the Verde Campus in the eyes of prospective students?
    • Will it affect the actual property values of the Clarkdale neighborhood adjacent to it because of noise and light pollution?
    • Will the College regularly practice dust remediation caused by traffic going to and from the site on the unimproved dirt road leading to it? At what cost to taxpayers?
    • What are the insurance costs associated with operating an RV park?
    • How many full-time or part-time employees will be added to staff it? At what cost to taxpayers?
    • What due diligence was carried out before the Prescott Executives secretly made this decision?
    • What is the experience of other community colleges, if any, that have created RV parks?
    • Can employees and students rent out space and then rent out their RV as an Airbnb rental?

  • The College administration must address these questions and engage in open dialogue with the public and the Governing Board to ensure transparency and accountability in the decision-making process. 

    Below photos from Community College Facilities Management Newsletter of March 2023.

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