Local News

Town Council Reverses Itself On Park Funding

May 16, 2012

By Mike Scerbo

The Tusayan Town Council has backed off its stance to stiff the Grand Canyon School District. At an earlier meeting Mayor Greg Bryan was not willing to spend $411,000 for a park in a joint venture with the school. At its May 16th meeting, the council had a change of heart thanks to some persuasion from  Council Members Bill Fitzgerald and John Reuter.

Mayor Bryan originally floated the idea of not funding the park believing the School District would not accept a partial commitment. He also accused the district of not keeping the town “current” on the project. That's despite the many times school district officials appeared before the council to update members.Bryan also said the town “overspent” on other items so reductions had to be made.

Reuter and Fitzgerald felt otherwise and rescued the funding. They  convinced the council to spend $125,000. Rueter did make it clear that the money would be used for a basketball court. That means plans for a community garden and a Ramada are on hold.

Mayor Bryan also wanted assurances that the lights at the basketball courts would be on a timer because he didn’t people playing basketball at 10 or 11 at night.

While $125,000 is a lot of money, it’s considerably less than the more than $400,000 Tusayan shelled out for a Town Hall.