Douglas, Arizona

DOUGLAS , AR I ZONA economically for someone,” says Huish. “It’s important that we see that and we understand that we need a trained workforce, and that’s why we developed these partnerships.” When it comes to improving the city’s infrastructure, Douglas has a lot on its agenda. First, is looking to either get three new wells, or deepen the existing wells to allow for greater access to the water table. Pedroza admits, “We are having some challenges here with water, as are other communities in Arizona and desert climates. We will actually have to increase our water and sewer rates to fund that, but we are one of the lowest rates in the state, so I think we will still be very competitive with our rates.” Next on the agenda is addressing streets. They are investing $1 million to help revamp the city’s machinery and infrastructure so they can do more street repair work on their own. Funding will also be going toward public safety, including body cameras for police officers, building improvements for the police station, a new ambulance, and new cardiac monitors. Parks, too, are getting an upgrade, including addressing an aging outdoor pool, expanding soccer facilities, and relocating a skate park to a more centralized location. “Our community is made up of beautiful parks and that speaks to who we are,” Pedroza boasts. “We like to get out and have a barbecue and play sports and have social gatherings, so we put a lot of emphasis on our parks and taking care of them.” As changes begin to blossom in Douglas, Huish says they are “building the foundation for growth”– but not too much growth. “I really don’t want to be a 75,000-population community. I’d love to keep it under 40,000,” he explains. “I always get a little bit afraid of losing that hometown feeling, so what I envision for the next year is putting all the pieces together