Prescott Valley has reached many milestones in 30 years since incorporating. Replacing dirt roads with paved ones. Creating more community facility districts than any other community in Arizona as a financing mechanism for water, sewer and other infrastructure. Building an arena through a public/private partnership when critics said it could never be done. Becoming the first municipality in the state allowed to use photo radar units on a state highway. Being the first municipality in the world to auction effluent. The list goes on.

Town leaders are looking back at such accomplishments and smiling as they head into the town's incorporation anniversary next Friday and prepare for an official community celebration September 13-14 in conjunction with the town's annual World Arts Festival.

Plans call for an eclectic mix of music, dance, visual arts and food offerings; an antique car show; and family games. But the unofficial games and festivities were launched last night as council members, staff and longtime residents recognized the upcoming anniversary with cake and punch, an anniversary proclamation and an unscheduled roasting of Prescott Valley Town Manager Tarkowski Tarkowski by employees who have worked for the town 15 years and longer.

Their respect for Tarkowski - who has played a key role in the town's growth and accomplishments since the beginning days - was obvious as they stepped one by one to the public podium to shake Mayor Skoog's hand and share tidbits of memories they have collected while helping the town grow.

The mayor chose to call them only by first name as they preferred to remain semi-anonymous, so Prescott eNews will also honor their wish. But not without sharing their "endearing" comments to Tarkowski.

"Don't forget to check the oil!" Alex reminded Tarkowski as several of the public works crew burst into laughter and Tarkowski blushed but chose not to share details of their private joke with the community. "He got us a lot of new stuff, new equipment that we really needed but it's getting old now, too, just like Tarkowski, and we're going to need more new stuff," said another member of the crew. "But some of that equipment had more character," quipped another, "you know, like filling the back of the town with exhaust smoke while we worked."

One Prescott Valley Police sergeant also ribbed him about aging on the job. "Look at how much you've aged! The police department stays in shape and looking good." Another sergeant who had come to the force from Phoenix added, "When I started here, it was a one light town and dirt roads. Now, we've progressed to a full fleet."

The town's librarian said he remembers only dirt roads when he came to town, adding, "When we moved here we couldn't get electricity to the house or even mail delivery."

A former Prescott Valley town clerk who continues to work in another capacity for the town recalled watching the rain pour down the walls of the old town hall building and thanked Tarkowski for getting the civic center built.

Tarkowski and the town's utilities manager reminisced about working until wee hours in the morning when the town's water pump went down and there was no back-up unit to provide water to the residents, let alone a decent wastewater treatment plant. "Neil has made several middle of the night phone calls to me, worried about getting everything back up and running. As I recall, I even had to take you to the hospital at 4 in the morning for a bump on the head you got by a shovel."

Even the town's attorney got in on the action, and said when he came to work for the town he had young children and now those children have given him grandchildren.

Others thanked Tarkowski for the opportunity to be part of a team that has taken the community from "infancy to a truly exemplary town."

Indeed, it was a stroll down memory lane, and a proper beginning for the town's 30th anniversary festivities. Even the town's first mayor and a handful of longtime residents were asked to join Mayor Skoog at the podium as he read the anniversary proclamation and offered them copies to hang on their walls at home.

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