Mayor Diane Joens: “When the council voted Sept. 16, I stated specifically that we wanted this to be a public process and we wanted to collaborate with the Verde Valley Land Preservation Institute. Cottonwood has committed $10,900 to the Verde River Basin Partnership. We are collaborating and paying into the Water Advisory Committee, and the Northern Arizona Water Users. We have participated in all kinds of original activities. I just can’t fault Cottonwood at all."