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Tusayan council to fill vacancy Sept. 16

TUSAYAN, Ariz. - Town of Tusayan staff recently advertised for applicants to fill a vacancy on the town council after former councilman, Bill Fitzgerald resigned Aug. 5.

According to statute ARS9-235 of Arizona State Legislation, 'the council shall fill a vacancy that may occur by appointment until the next regularly scheduled council election if the vacancy occurs more than 30 days before the nomination petition deadline, otherwise the appointment is for the unexpired term.'

Statute ARS9-235 also states that a member appointed to council must meet specific qualifications. Applicants must be 18 years old, a qualified elector residing within the city or town and a resident in the city or town for at least one year.

Of the four applications the town received, they determined three of the applicants met the requirements. One applicant did not meet the one year residency requirement.

The interviews will take place at 5 p.m. in an executive session prior at the Sept. 16 council meeting.

"Our goal is to try and have something taken care of by the first part of (the month)," said Greg Bryan, mayor of Tusayan.

Applicants to be interviewed are Clarinda Vail, John Schoppmann and Robert Baldosky. Councilmembers stated that the selection may not take place that same night as the interviews.

In other council news, a request from the Grand Canyon Chamber and Visitors Bureau for financial support for Independence Day activities was approved. Bryan made a motion to pay $2,513.76 to Southwest Barricades that helped provide traffic control and safety during the Fourth of July activities. Bryan also requested town staff prepare a policy and procedures document to help with future funding for town related functions.

Additionally, after the town did not receive bids for the project at the Sports Complex Center, which was funded by a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) by its Aug. 25 deadline, Northern Arizona Council of Governments (NACOG) decided to evaluate how to proceed with the funding the grants provided the project.

According to Eric Duthie interim town manager, NACOG is seeking permission from the department of housing to move forward with a direct agreement for the project at the Sports Complex Center.

"It will have an impact on the project, in terms of the timetable and trying to get it done," Duthie said. "We just have some other choices to make at that point - how to move forward with getting that work completed."

Possible placement of an Arizona Trail memorial bench donated to the town was discussed. Out of three choices, a location by the IMAX Theater was identified for the bench's placement, which will take place Nov. 1.


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