District 1 Newsletter | March 2023

Maricopa County, Arizona sent this bulletin at 03/30/2023 08:12 AM MST

March 2023

Southeast Justice Center Opens

The Southeast Justice Center (SEJC) at 222 E. Javelina Avenue in Mesa opened on March 27. It replaces four existing, outdated courts, three of which cost the County almost $700,000 in leasing costs per year. The $61 million project was paid using capital funds.

In addition to eliminating three leases, the County also repurposed a County-owned building that formerly housed a justice court. The SEJC features four justice courts, space for constables, adult probation, and Superior Court which is in the attached building.

In 2022, Maricopa County Justice Courts processed more than 250,000 cases including evictions, civil and criminal traffic violations such as speeding or DUIs, other civil and misdemeanor crimes, protective orders, and small claims lawsuits.

County Highlights

Public Health Survey

The Maricopa County Department of Public Health strives to make our community a healthier place to live, learn, work, and play. It is asking community members like you to take the 2023 community health survey to help them better understand how to address important issues affecting your quality of life.

This survey is available in 14 languages and open to anyone in Maricopa County, ages 12 and up. Survey responses are anonymous, and no personal information is required. We encourage you to share this survey with your family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers to help us make sure everyone has a chance to share their voice.

Thank you for your support! Visit maricopahealthmatters.org to learn more and see how we’ve used survey data in the past.

Home Values Available

The Maricopa County Assessor’s Office recently sent out "notices of value" for over 1.7 million parcels. A home value is connected to the amount of property tax the owner pays. Watch the video to see the latest data and information.

To submit an appeal, call the Assessor's Office at (602) 506-3406 or visit mcassessor.maricopa.gov.

Animal Shelter Under Construction

Construction crews are hard at work building Maricopa County Animal Care and Control’s (MCACC) new shelter on Baseline Road and Lewis Drive in Mesa. It is expected to open later this year.

For several years, MCACC has consistently found positive outcomes for more than 94% of the homeless animals in its care. With the addition of the new East Valley Animal Care Center, we look forward to enhancing our service to the community and saving more lives.

Learn More

New Warning About Fentanyl

The Arizona Poison System issued a warning about illicit drugs, specifically cocaine, being contaminated with high concentrations of fentanyl. There has been a cluster of recent cases, including one known fatality, regarding exposure to this illicit substance.

If you have any questions about these or other medications, including strengths, dosage, and administration, call the poison centers 24/7 at 1-800-222-1222 to speak with a registered nurse or pharmacist.

Read the Warning

The Work of Improving Elections

Maricopa County staff have run safe, secure elections for many years, but our team is always looking for ways to improve. That's why we are pleased to be part of the newly-created "Governor's Bipartisan Election Task Force." Consisting of more than a dozen election experts from various political and geographic backgrounds, the task force is looking to see what can be improved to make our election system function better for everyone. Among those asked to participate:

Scott Jarrett, Director of Election Day and Emergency Voting, Maricopa County Elections Department
Michael Moore, Information Security Officer, Maricopa County Recorder's Office
Helen Purcell, Former Maricopa County Recorder

Learn About the Task Force

Maricopa County Selects New County Manager

The Board of Supervisors conducted a nationwide search and ultimately appointed Assistant County Manager Jen Pokorski as the new county manager. Pokorski will replace Joy Rich who is retiring April 7.

Jen Pokorski has worked for Maricopa County since 2005. In her current role, she manages seven departments that have direct interaction with the public including Air Quality, Animal Care and Control, Environmental Services, Flood Control District, Planning and Development, Real Estate, and Transportation (MCDOT). Prior to that, Jen served as director of Planning and Development and director of the Ombudsman’s Office.

The Maricopa County Manager is responsible for more than 40 county departments and works to implement the vision of the Board of Supervisors, which includes being responsible and efficient with county tax dollars, creating safe and healthy communities, and improving quality of life for all residents through county programs and services. The county manager reports directly to the Board of Supervisors.

Around the District

Governor Katie Hobbs announced LG Energy Solution's $5.5 billion investment for a battery manufacturing plant in Queen Creek at the Phoenix Committee on Foreign Relations (PCFR) International State of the State.

Thanks to Justan Rice and the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) team for hosting a reception for our new Director of the Arizona Department of Transportation (AzDOT), Jennifer Toth (center).

A productive day started with a Farm Breakfast at Freeman's Farm in Mesa (top), included meetings with the Greater Phoenix Economic Development International Leadership Council, PHX East Valley Partnership Public Policy Committee, and ended with a Fentanyl Forum led by our County Attorney, Rachel Mitchell, at McClintock High School (bottom photos).

I joined Recorder Richer to speak with the Committee for Safe and Secure Elections during their tour of our Tabulation and Elections Center.

I enjoyed speaking with the Queen Creek Chamber of Commerce about what's going on at the County and how I'm dealing with our critical infrastructure priorities.