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Santa Cruz County will close all its parks on Jan. 8, 2010, after it laid off three maintenance workers to save an estimated $200,000 a year. But local groups may fill the gaps in maintenance and allow the parks to reopen in the spring.

County supervisors voted Dec. 9 to approve a 15 percent cut in Administrative Services that chopped the maintenance positions. On Dec. 16, supervisors voted 3-0 to officially close the parks until March 1. The motion directed supervisors to develop a plan with community groups to help maintain the parks.

Follow up:

"The savings is in personnel," said Finance Director Jennifer St. John, who oversees the parks.

Winter is a slow season for the parks, St. John said. She noted that no one had yet reserved a picnic site at Calabasas Park for 2010.

"I'm not for closing the parks," said Supervisor Rudy Molera. He thanked the Rio Rico Little League for offering to maintain Damon Park.

"There's plenty of people willing to volunteer to help keep our parks open," Molera said.

Rich Bohman, president of the Santa Cruz Valley Citizens Council, said his organization agreed to take care of Ron Morriss Park in Tubac.

Bohman asked the county to keep its insurance on park property and Lucero said he would with counties insurance pool.

Justice of the Peace Keith Barth said the Mountain Empire Rotary Club would take care of the Sonoita ball field.

Before the vote, Supervisor Manuel Ruiz wanted to make it clear that neither the county nor a non-profit organization would use inmates from the Arizona Department of Corrections to maintain the parks.

"Supplanting three workers with prisoners is not right," Ruiz said.

Barth had proposed using inmate labor to help on county projects.

Marcelino Varona Jr, a member of the planning and zoning commission, asked why the county has a mandate to incarcerate (lawbreakers) but not provide parks. "Keep the parks open for the kids and the people who obey the law," he urged the supervisors.

The supervisors also:

. Voted 3-0 to terminate an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with the City of Nogales to fund three branch libraries in Rio Rico, Tubac and Sonoita effective June 30, 2010.

The county wants to create a library tax district next year, instead of paying out of the general fund, County Manager Greg Lucero said in an interview. Incorporated areas that have their own libraries - Patagonia and Nogales - could choose whether to participate in the district.

State law requires the county to give a six-month notice to terminate the IGA, Lucero said. He has offered to talk with the Nogales Santa Cruz County Library board at its January meeting.

. Accepted a plan from the public works department to cut 15 percent of its budget. Highway User Revenue Fund (HURF), a gas tax, pays for all the department's expenses, said Director Scott Altherr. But that revenue has dropped by 35 percent.

Altherr will trim $623,213 from his budget and cut four positions in the roads division. One employee retired and three employees will be laid off Jan. 8, 2010, he said. If supervisors allow the flood control district to fill a vacant equipment operator position, the roads employees could apply for that job.

. Voted to appoint a nine-member citizens committee to look at the function of some 862 county streetlights. These lights do not qualify for HURF money, Altherr said.

The committee will determine which lights benefit property owners and which lights are essential for the public, and come up with ideas for paying for those lights.

"I think lighting in Rio Rico is crucial to public safety," Maynard said. With no sidewalks in Rio Rico, pedestrians walk in the roadway, he said.

. Approved an amendment to the four-day workweek to allow the recorder's office to open from 3 to 5 p.m. on Friday to expedite real estate transactions. Realtors and title company representatives thanked the supervisors for responding to their request.

By Denise Holley