The Miami Town Council bid farewell to two of its outgoing members at its regular meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 13.

Councilwomen Rosemary Castaneda, who had also served as town mayor, and Susan Hanson reviewed accomplishments the town had achieved during their tenure.

The Nov. 13 meeting was the last full meeting Castaneda and Hanson will participate in as councilmembers.

New council members will be sworn in at the Nov. 26 regular council meeting, so Castaneda and Hanson will be stepping down at that time.

Prior to a reception in their honor, Hanson talked about the Genesis project that both plan to continue after their terms have ended.

The first Genesis project was “this room,” referring to council chambers which was updated in both equipment as well as décor, she said.

Castaneda talked about several projects during her tenure, including renovation of the gymnasium, remembering when the building leaked.

“It was horrible,” she said.

“My kids went to Bullion. I went to the old Miami High School on the hill, but it was torn down,” Castaneda said. “It was a shame when the Miami schools moved out of town.”

She went on to talk about how Bullion was developed into the museum it is now.

“The town bought that property, and paid $75,000 for it,” she said. “We had a need for a multi-purpose facility.”

Castaneda said that the word was put out to the mines and other organizations, garnering $350,000 in donations.

The Phoenix Suns donated the rubberized floor at a cost of $40,000 or $60,000, Castaneda said. Hanson added that it wasn’t as simple as Castaneda had made it sound. “Rosemary wrote the grant and got it,” she said.

Castaneda said she plans to continue to attend council meetings.

“We’ve struggled and suffered with streets, but we are putting in a new sewer, so we can’t do the streets before we do the sewer,” said Castaneda, adding that the project would “revitalize the town.”

She said she has lived in Miami since the age of four, and that both her parents attended Miami High School. Her father then served in World War II, so her mother moved to Nogales to be closer to family. Born in Colorado Springs, Castaneda moved to Miami at age four with her family.

Her advice to future town council members?  “Look at the facts and do your homework,” she said.

The town has “hired good people. You’re only as good as the people you hire,” Castaneda said.

Hanson added, “Maybe they don’t get top pay, but we have top people. Just keep watching out there.”

“It was my pleasure and my honor to have been voted in and to serve,” Castaneda said.

Other council members talked about Hanson and Castaneda. 

Vice Mayor Sammy Gonzales said he wouldn’t be on the council if not for Castaneda, who approached him about serving while she was mayor.

He also praised Hanson for “being so active in the community.”

And though Gonzales said they “haven’t always seen eye-to-eye, I’ve learned a lot from you. I appreciate what you have done on the council.”

Councilman Mike Black said that while they haven’t agreed on hardly anything, “thank you for being on the council.”

Councilman Angel Medina also thanked Hanson and Castaneda for their service, saying that the looks of the town “are starting to impress people. It’s attracting people.”

Medina called it “so important for people to come to council meetings. To not be involved is to die on the vine.” Hanson agreed, saying, “Don’t be afraid to come up and talk at the council meetings.”

Mayor Darryl Dalley also thanked the two women, saying that he has “hung up the phone on Susan and hit the gavel on Rosemary” during their tenure. “We’ve had our disagreements,” he said.

He talked about the “next chapter,” which Hanson said would include Genesis looking into a “river walk,” involving the Bloody Tanks Wash and its five bridges.

“The creek runs through the middle of town. We would have a great thing there,” said Castaneda, adding, “We’ve talked to people who are very interested.”