Entries by Rodney Bertram

BNSF Committee May 2026 News

From the PORA BNSF Committee – PORAs leadership in keeping community informed May, 2026 BNSF Railroad is proposing an intermodal rail facility, logistics park, and logistics center on more than 4,000 acres near Wittmann, Arizona, just 15 minutes from Sun City West. This is not a minor project. It is a massive industrial development that […]

Community Fund of SCW

The Sunrise Lions Club of Sun City West recently presented a check in support of the Community Fund of SCW in recognition of the continuing work with low-income residents in our community.  Pictured is Lion Phil and Arlene Peterson of the Community Fund of SCW. If you are interested in more information about the Community […]

PORA CREATES GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE WITH FOUR FOCUS AREAS

Sun City West Property Owners and Residents Association (PORA) has formed a new Government Affairs Committee with four subcommittees to strengthen our community’s voice. County: Works with Maricopa County officials at all levels—Board of Supervisors, Transportation, Planning, Air Quality, Public Health, Human Services, and the Sheriff’s Office—on the issues residents feel every day. State: Monitors […]

APS Rate Hike Meeting May 18th

Background on the APS rate case. The last APS rate case resulted in an average 8% rate increase or $10 each month, and was decided by the Arizona Corporation Commission, APS’s regulators, in 2023. APS is now seeking: An average rate increase of approximately $20 month (or 14.58% on average for residential customers), net of […]

Debbie Lesko BNSF Letter to STB and STB Response

In response to the many calls and emails I’ve received regarding BNSF Railway’s current construction activity for their planned intermodal facility in Wittmann, I sent a letter to the Federal Surface Transportation Board (STB) on March 30, 2026, to request information about federal permitting, approval, and environmental review requirements. During a recent meeting with BNSF […]

ACC Rate Hike – It’s not too late!

Arizona seniors cannot afford another rate hike. APS is asking for a massive increase that will hit fixed‑income households the hardest, especially in dangerous summer heat. Every resident in Sun City West must speak up now. The Arizona Corporation Commission reads and counts every public comment, and large senior communities have real influence. Tell them […]

Sun City West Foundation

PORA and SCWF Team Up to Host Emergency Management Conference SCW Focused on Community Preparedness Maricopa County’s All-Hazards Approach to Incidents Sun City West, AZ — April 14, 2026 — Residents and community leaders in Sun City West are invited to attend the upcoming Emergency Management Conference Sun City West, focused on preparedness, safety, and […]

Water conservation works, but climate change is outpacing it: Phoenix, Denver, and Las Vegas offer glimpse of the future

Authored by Renee Obringer, Penn State and Dave White, Arizona State University When a drought turns into an urban water crisis, a city’s first step is often to limit lawn watering and launch a campaign to encourage everyone to conserve. It might raise water-use rates or offer incentives for installing low-flow devices. While demand management […]

SCW residents urged to contact ACC about Rate Hike

Sun City West Residents Urged to Contact Arizona Corporation Commission About Rate Hike Impact on Seniors Sun City West residents are being encouraged to speak out about the financial strain that proposed utility rate increases would place on older adults living on fixed incomes. Community leaders say the voices of individual residents carry significant weight […]