About Marney Babbitt-Pierce

I am a proud fourth generation Arizonan. My family of entrepreneurs moved to Arizona in 1886. My great-grandfather, Charles Kuzell, was the superintendent of the United Verde Smelter. He made Clarkdale his home, raising four children in what is now the Clarkdale Police Station. I was raised in Flagstaff by parents who were active in building a strong community that planned for the future.

After a career in Higher Education where I lived in multiple different states, I returned to Arizona in 2014. After meeting my husband, Michael Pierce, I moved to Clarkdale in 2017. As local business owners, Michael and I are active in building a community with strong values and opportunities for our children to grow and thrive.

I care deeply for the Clarkdale community and I want to continue to serve my neighbors. I will continue to be a strong voice for planning and collective decision making for the future of our community.

Assignments:
Cottonwood Area Transit, 2020- Present
Verde Valley Transportation Planning Organization, 2021- Present
Transportation Policy Advisory Council, 2021- Present (Vice Chair)
Yavapai Communities for Young Children, 2022- Present

Volunteerism:
Arizona Common Good Challenge Evaluation Panel, 2023
Northern Arizona University Health Sciences Department Advisory Committee, 2021- Present
Yavapai County Citizens Academy, Inaugural Verde Valley class, 2019
Arizona Community Foundation Scholarship Reader, 2018- Present
Town of Clarkdale, AZ Parks and Recreation Commission, September 2017- 2020, Vice-Chair 2019 Chair 2020

Education:
Master of Education, University of South Carolina
Bachelor of Arts, Trinity University (TX)

MARNEY’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS 2020-2024

• Voted to reduce property tax rate in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024.
• Active in the Legislative process resulting in Clarkdale being awarded $6.3M in state funding for the secondary Bitter Creek Bridge.
• Voted to initiate the town's first Capital Improvement Plan. This allows for the planning of much needed infrastructure and funding for the next 5 years on a rolling basis.
• Adopted annual strategic plans based on community and council input to guide the work of the town.
• Passed the 2021 general plan written by citizens to provide direction for staff and council.
• Hired a new Town Manager who is an excellent fit for Clarkdale and is quickly and effectively moving the town forward.
• Successfully moved the Magistrate court resulting in savings to the town while improving customer service.
• Hired a new town prosecutor.
• Approved new positions resulting in a fully staffed police department.
• Hired a new town engineer to ensure successful and expedient completion of necessary infrastructure projects.
• Hired a water attorney to ensure a safe and adequate water supply into the future.
• Supported the Town staff in writing grants for much needed projects resulting in $9.6 Million dollars being awarded to Clarkdale in 2023.
• Approved much needed updates to the HVAC in the Clark Memorial Building Auditorium to allow for year round use.
• Instigated and approved a preservation plan for buildings in the Town Hall complex.
• Sought funding for necessary repairs to the Town Hall complex including: windows for Public Works and the Police Department.
• Approved the Preliminary Amended Plat for the Radley Subdivision ensuring a high density neighborhood would not be built on that land as planned in 1917 and setting forth stipulations for future development.
• Voted to approve the use of Community Development Block Grant funds for the revitalization of Caballero Park.
• Enacted a Short-Term Rental (STR) Vacation Rental Ordinance in Clarkdale.
• Approved the replacement of the playground equipment at Town Park and ensured ongoing safety monitoring and replacement of equipment in all parks.
• Extended the sidewalk on Old Jerome Highway by Copper Penny Park.
• Requested that signs be added to 89A upon entering and leaving Clarkdale.
• Prioritized funding our debt for the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System to ensure we are fully funded in the future.
• Approved the Parks and Recreation Trails Master Plan providing a roadmap for amenities highly requested by residents.
• Initiated an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between the Town of Clarkdale and the Verde Valley Fire District for Fire Code Enforcement.
• Initiated an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with the City of Cottonwood for Regional Transportation Service.
• Prioritized downtown Sidewalk Repairs and created a funding mechanism to ensure continued maintenance.
• Prioritized and funded the Third North Sewer Realignment.
• Upheld current residential zoning codes when a variance was requested.

Marney's Positions

SMALL TOWN FEEL - Clarkdale will always be a small, historic town because of the people who choose to call Clarkdale home. We need to channel that community spirit as we plan for modest growth into the future. Smart growth includes historic preservation, appropriate zoning, investment in our infrastructure, and preparing for the Clarkdale we want in 50 years. This balance takes all of us, and I encourage the public to keep sharing their views with me, coming to meetings, and serving on Town Boards and Commissions.

TAXES - I am committed to maintaining or lowering property taxes. We have access to many funding opportunities to ensure that we provide a high level of service to all residents.

WATER - Water is our most precious and limited resource. We have an aging infrastructure, rulings are coming down from the federal government regarding lead and copper, and we need redundancy in our water production and sanitation. My focus is on ensuring we have adequate water and we continue to plan for the future with re-use, including purple pipe.

INFRASTRUCTURE - Deferred maintenance cannot continue. Over the last four years, we have initiated the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), a five-year rolling document that looks at the infrastructure (roads, water, historic buildings, etc.) needs of the town and prioritizes them for planning and funding. I am incredibly proud of this plan and everything we have accomplished since 2020.

GROWTH - We all know what a fantastic place Clarkdale is to live; the secret is out, and more and more people would also like to call Clarkdale home. We must plan for this growth to ensure we have adequate resources for our community and do not lose our small-town charm.