Payson Town Council Regular Meeting – June 11, 2025
Payson Town Council Regular Meeting – June 11, 2025
The Payson Town Council held a regular meeting on June 11, 2025, beginning at 4:01 p.m. in the Town Hall Council Chambers. The meeting covered routine consent items, a presentation on election law, several board appointments, budget clean-up transfers, a decision to cancel an August meeting, and executive sessions regarding the town manager search and an open meeting law complaint. Public comment included concerns about airport fees, hangar rates, town manager selection, and calls for greater transparency.
Consent Calendar
- B.1 – Approved the minutes of the Regular Council Meeting and Special Council Meeting both held on May 28, 2025. (Motion carried 7-0)
- B.2 – Approved a year-end budget clean-up transferring $242,517 from the General Fund Contingency to the Grant Capital Project Fund and $121,053 from the General Fund Contingency to the Council Contingency Fund. The transfer addressed a deficit in the Grant Capital Project Fund related to a 2024 property purchase (the event center/Granite Hill property). (Motion carried 7-0 after being pulled from the Consent Agenda for discussion)
Public Comments & Testimony
- Nina Grabiel expressed disappointment in the town manager selection process, advocating for hiring recent graduates to save money and avoid “business as usual.” She also raised concerns about smart meters potentially worsening fires (citing the Palisades fire) and urged that the Firewise document address NASA's release of toxic chemicals.
- Tom West (airline pilot, Payson airpark resident) criticized recently approved airport fees, stating many were new (not existing) and that rental aircraft fees were excessive. He argued that tenants of Payson Hangar One should be charged $300–$330 per month (based on $0.34 per square foot), not $371, given the hangars' poor condition.
- Tom Dunning (21-year resident) asked whether town officials could use private radio to politicize town actions, referencing agenda Item D.1. He urged officials to “go above and beyond” the law and serve only the people of Payson.
- Mike White (member of Payson Hangar One, founder of Payson Aero Club) stated that the $371 monthly rate for T-hangars is inequitable and discriminatory, noting that the hangars are 950 sq. ft. (not 1,050 as estimated) and older. He warned that unequal rates could jeopardize Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grants. He requested a rate of $300 per month.
- Isaac Blake reflected on the first six months of the council’s term, praising recent 7-0 votes on trails and the general obligation bond but criticizing community outreach sessions and radio comments as “political theater.” He urged reducing exclusion, increasing transparency, and fostering honest dialogue representing all viewpoints.
Council Response: After the public comments, Vice Mayor Tubbs requested staff to verify the square footage of the hangars and agendize a follow-up discussion on the hangar rates.
Discussion Items
- D.1 – Presentation on Prohibition of Using Public Resources to Influence an Election: Town Attorney Christina Estes-Werther provided an overview of state law (A.R.S. § 9-500.14) triggered by the June 3, 2025 resolution calling a special election on a general obligation bond. She explained that public resources (including time, title, call-to-the-public forums) cannot be used to influence an election. Elected officials may use their title on their own time and may submit arguments in the informational pamphlet at their own expense. Staff must avoid using work time or devices. Penalties include civil fines up to $5,000 per violator. Council members asked clarifying questions about radio appearances and frivolous complaints.
- H.1 – Cancel August 27, 2025 Regular Town Council Meeting: Acting Town Manager Sheila DeSchaaf requested cancellation due to the League of Arizona Cities Conference in August. Council discussed possibly holding a town hall meeting as a substitute. Motion to cancel approved 7-0.
- H.2 to H.6 – Appointments to Town Boards and Commissions: The council made the following appointments:
- Airport Commission (two positions):
- Heather McCully reappointed (term to June 30, 2028) – motion carried 7-0.
- Adam Moore appointment failed 3-4 (Yes: Tubbs, Flaherty, Haws; No: Otto, Bell, Ferris, Nossek).
- Christopher Gaddis appointed (term to June 30, 2028) – motion carried 6-1 (Ferris dissenting).
- Historic Preservation and Conservation Commission: Russ Russell appointed (term to June 30, 2028) – 7-0.
- Parks and Recreation Commission (two positions):
- Mary McMullen appointed (term to June 30, 2028) – 7-0.
- Anna Van Zile reappointed (term to June 30, 2028) – 7-0.
- Planning and Zoning Commission: Doug Martin reappointed (term to June 30, 2028). Council Member Ferris raised a conflict-of-interest concern regarding Martin’s involvement in local development, but other members expressed confidence that Martin would recuse himself when necessary. Motion carried 7-0.
- Airport Commission (two positions):
- H.7 – Executive Session: The council voted 7-0 to enter executive session to discuss the hiring and employment of a Town Manager (including legal advice and negotiation direction) and to receive legal advice on the town’s response to an open meeting law complaint (A.R.S. § 38-431.03 (1), (3), (4)). The meeting recessed at 5:28 p.m. and reconvened at 6:26 p.m. (Council Member Nossek absent). A motion to direct staff as discussed in executive session carried 6-0.
Key Outcomes
- Budget clean-up transfers approved – $242,517 and $121,053 from General Fund Contingency to cover deficits in Grant Capital Project Fund and Council Contingency Fund.
- August 27, 2025 meeting canceled – Council may consider a town hall later in August.
- Board appointments finalized – Full slate of appointments made; one Airport Commission seat went to Christopher Gaddis after Adam Moore failed.
- Hangar rate follow-up directed – Staff to verify square footage of Payson Hangar One and agendize a rate discussion.
- Executive session held – Council gave direction to the Town Attorney regarding town manager employment negotiations and open meeting law complaint response; no public details released.
Discrepancy noted: The agenda listed Eric Anderson as the invocation speaker, but the minutes and transcript indicate the invocation was given by Barry Standifird (Stake Counsel for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints).
Meeting Transcript
Put the new queen in the one that you have just made. The old queen will remain in high. I call this meeting of the common council of the town of Payson June 11th, 2025. Paul's the order. Invocation will be given by Barry Stanford. Please step the podium. As we humbly bow to thee at this time. We are so grateful for the many blessings that thou hast given us. So grateful, Father, for the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. We're grateful for his life and example. We're also grateful for these beautiful and free country in which we live. And we also pray that thou would be with our youth in this community, bless them with strength in these difficult times. These things we humbly pray in the name of Jesus Christ, amen. I play the leaders through the light of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. Item A is the call to the public. Now is the time for the call to the public, which allows citizens with an opportunity to speak on any issues within the legal authority and jurisdiction of the town of Payson. The town must abide by Arizona Open Meeting Law, and this agendized item is the public's opportunity to be heard at this meeting. When called to speech, please approach the podium, speak towards the microphone so your statements can be heard. Give your name. You may not donate your time to another speaker. The council will not be entering into dialogue with you or answering your questions. State law prohibits the council and staff from responding to your questions or comments, and at the conclusion of the call to the public, individual town councils may only one respond to criticisms made by those who have spoken. Two direct staff to review or follow up any matter and or three direct the matter to be put on a future agenda if we direct them too. Well at this point, we'll begin our call to the public with uh Nina Grable. Hello, can you hear me? Yep. My last name's pronounced Grabi L. Rabbi L. Okay, I'm sorry. Okay, so a couple items real quick. One of them was that in concerning the selection of our new town manager. I'm really disappointed to see that it's was conducted as business as usual, and that no effort was put out to people who are entering this field who are you know taking uh college courses and are just and they're trying to get a foot in the door. I think um we could have gotten a better deal if we would have gone that approach, as opposed to the same old same old, because business as usual just means waste of money, corruption, you know, blah blah blah. All the things we don't like. So I think it's time we need to start doing things outside the box. Can we do that once in a while, maybe, and see what happens? You never know. Something good might come out of doing something outside the box, really. My other issue is um the spirewise document that's being produced, I guess. Um I really want I really think we need to address two things. One is the smart meters. As far as the fires in the Palisades in California is concerned, there are people who are sounding the bell saying that the meters might have exacerbated the fire there because those smart meters have a lithium ion battery in them. Many of them do, and that little lithium iron battery will explode and ignite and cause a fire if it's too hot. So if you've got a situation where you've got a fire going on around and there's heat in the air, these meters start exploding, and that needs to be addressed. I think we need to talk to APS about that and find out how many houses in in um Payson have those little lithium ion batteries in them. I know I don't. I have an analog meter, it's not that the health repercussions of those things are not worth it to me. I'm willing to pay the extra price for them to have an analog meter, but that needs to be addressed. Somebody needs to talk to APS about that. The other thing, too, is this geoengineering project that's going out that NASA is doing.
openpublica.com