Archive All Issues July 1938

COMMISSION NOTES

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Featured in the July 1938 Issue of Arizona Highways

Arizona Highway Commission Notes

MAY 18, 19, 20, 1938 The Arizona Highway Commission met in regular session in its offices in the Highway Building May 18, 1938, at 10:00 A. M. Those present were: Chairman Dowell, Vice-Chairman Angle, Commissioners Langmade. Scott, and Seale, also the State Engineer Howard S. Reed, Assistant Attorney General A. R. Lynch, and Secretary M. L. Wheeler. On the recommendation of the State Engineer, the following awards were made on obsolete equipment.

It was moved by Commissioner Angle, seconded by Commissioner Seale, and unanimously carried, that Item 1, 2, and 3, be awarded to the high bidder, A. S. Bosnos Company, Tucson, in the amount of $25 $5, and $15, respectively.

No bids were received on Item 4.

It was moved by Commissioner Seale, seconded by Commissioner Angle, and unanimously carried, that Item 5 be awarded to the high bidder, Effron and Company, Phoenix, in the amount of $43.12.

It was moved by Commissioner Angle, seconded by Commissioner Seale, and unanimously carried, that Item 6, be awarded to the high bidder, the Tucson Waste Materials Company, in the amount of $17.30.

It was moved by Commissioner Angle, seconded by Commissioner Scott, and unanimously carried that Item 7 be awarded to the high bidder, Effron and Company, in the amount of $6.40 per ton.

Upon request, discussion on the wage scale was deferred until afternoon.

George Fry, Maricopa County Supervisor, introduced Lee McCullough as spokesman for a delegation interested in obtaining a road from Phoenix to Maricopa. Several members of the delegation, in addition to Mr. McCullough, addressed the Commission and Mr. Fry stated the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors has long recognized the necessity of a road from Phoenix to Maricopa and wished the Commission, at this time, to take it into the State Highway System. Further, he said if it were taken in as a State Route, he could pledge that Maricopa County would exert every effort to obtain W. P. A. Projects on the road. Commissioner Angle informed the Commission that a delegation had called on him concerning the road from Phoenix to Maricopa, and had told him they wanted the road made a State Route only, in order to bring the two counties-Maricopa and Pinal-together, and the actual construction would be done by the Counties this year. After consideration of the request, a motion was made by Commission er Angle, seconded by Commissioner Langmade, and unanimously carried, that the road from Phoenix, by way of South Central Avenue to the Base Line Road, thence east on the Base Line road to Yaqui Road, thence straight south to in tersect the old railroad grade, thence southwesterly over the abandoned Southern Pacific right of way to Maricopa, thence south to connect with State Highway 84, be recommended.

State Engineer Reed asked the pleasure of the Commission concerning a membership with the Arizona Automobile Association for the special price of $50 a year. It was suggested that the State

Engineer decline the offer for the Commission-

State Engineer Reed advised the Commission that the City of Winslow had returned the Maintenance Agreement with the request that the paragraph referring to any change of grade be stricken. Discussion followed the presentation of the letter, signed by Frank R. Goodman, City Engineer of Winslow, and the consensus of opinion was that the agreements with towns for maintenance should be uniform. The State Enginer said he would discuss this agreement further with Mr. Goodman.

AFTERNOON SESSION

Senator H. H. Baker, of Yuma, acting as spokesman for a delegation composed of Ex-Senator Nellie T. Bush, Judge Kelly of Yuma, and members of the Yuma County Board of Supervisors, requested designation as a state highway of the county road from Yuma north through Quartzsite to Bouse. Senator Baker asked the Commission to set up in the budget twelve to fifteen thousand dollars for the maintenance of this road, which is the sum expended yearly by Yuma County-$12,000 for maintenance as far as Quartzsite, and an additional $3,000 if the Quartzsite-Bouse section is included. A letter was read from the Yuma County Chamber of Commerce setting forth this request. A motion was made by Commissioner Langmade, seconded by Commissioner Scott, and unanimously carried, that the State Engineer take the necessary procedure to establish as a State Highway, the road from Yuma to Quartzsite.

Mayor H. O. Jaastad, of Tucson, President of the Arizona Municipal League, presented communications signed by himself, as President and by W. A. Gross-etta for the County Board of Supervisors. The communication asked the establishment of certain new minimum wage classifications to cover the employes of the State, Counties, and Cities, who are in permanent employment; the proposal to be based on a minimum annual wage, and that annual employment be defined as a minimum of 2200 hours per year-44 hours per week for 50 weeks per year. Each employer to be required to elect whether he intends to pay each employe on an annual or an hourly basis and, if on an annual basis, then the employe must receive the total amount of minimum annual wages set forth. Any employment of shorter duration than 2200 hours per year must be on an hourly rate, and the annual wage rates shall not be applicable on contracts of shorter duration than one year. It was also recommended that certain classifications be adopted under the State Minimum Wage Act which will be broad enough to permit a single employe who is working on an annual basis, to work on various similar types of work at a constant rate of pay. Specifically, that there be the adoption of a general classification, such as "Highway Machine Operator," which would include Shovel Operators, Caterpillar Operators, Motor Patrol Operators, and such allied classifications, and that this group classifications carry a minimum annual salary of $2,040.

Following are a few of the proposed classifications and annual wage scales:

The State Engineer read a memorandum from J. S. Mills, Estimating Engineer, with reference to what has occurred in the past and approximately what the position of the Highway Commission is or has been in the past on the minimum wage scale.

MAY 19, 1938 A motion was made by Commissioner Angle, seconded by Commissioner Scott, and unanimously carried, that the Tentative Schedule of Labor Classifications and Minimum Rates of Wages to be effective as of July 1, 1938, be adopted.

A motion was made by Commissioner Seale, seconded by Commissioner Scott, and unanimously carried, that the item of Plasterer be stricken from the list adopted.

AFTERNOON SESSION

Discussion was had on the wage scale with various labor representatives, after which, a motion was made by Commissioner Angle, seconded by Commissioner Scott, and unanimously carried, that the following classifications be stricken from the Wage Schedule adopted: Bricklayer, Bricklayer Tender, Mortarman, and Trenching Machine Operator.

A motion was made by Commissioner Angle, seconded by Commissioner Scott and carried, Commissioner Dowell voting "no," that the road from Oracle Junction by way of Oracle, and Winkleman, to Cutter be designated as a State Route.

MAY 20, 1938 The Commission reconvened at 9:00 A. M., all members present, a motion was made by Commissioner Seale, seconded by Commissioner Angle, and unanimously carried, that the name of the County be deleted from the license plate for 1939, inasmuch as there will be an alphabetical prefix to designate the plates for each particular county.

The Commission resumed executive session and meeting in open session at 2:35 P. M., all members present, a motion was made by Commissioner Langmade, seconded by Commissioner Scott, and unanimously carried, that the county road from Quartzsite to Bouse be designated as a State Route.

A motion was made by Commissioner Scott, seconded by Commissioner Seale, and carried, Commissioner Langmade voting "no," that the choice of the paper in Maricopa County for the publication of the budget rest with the Secretary.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:45 P. M., May 20, 1938, to meet again at 10:00 A. M., June 20, 1938.