Resident expresses concerns about interim city hall lease

If one resident’s opinion is any indication, there appears to be concern among Maricopa residents about the present interim two-year city hall lease.

At city council Tuesday, Nancy McTighe said she has concerns about the current lease, which is in year two.

Currently, Maricopa leases the land from Revilo, LLC. Mayor Kelly Anderson’s family is Revilo, LLC, but discussions regarding the lease have been with his parents, Oliver and Hermina Anderson. The mayor recused himself from the discussion at Tuesday’s meeting, as did Councilmember Joseph Estes, who indicated that the firm he works with is looking into submitting a response to a request for proposal (RFP).

McTighe, who managed a law firm for 14 years, said part of her job at the firm was facilitating negotiations of several leases. McTighe said generally the longer a lease runs, the smaller the increase imposed.

Maricopa is facing a 10 percent per annum increase in the lease, but at an earlier council meeting, City Manager Rick Buss said council had to move soon on possibly renewing the lease because a move for city government would cost approximately $50,000 to pull down two dozen modulars on site and an additional $50,000 to relocate them.

“If council breaks the lease to move, it is not a prudent use of taxpayers’ money,” McTighe said. “When city council signed the contract, they agreed on the 10 percent increase. If council breaks the lease and moves, the city would be obligated to pay the balance of the lease anyway.”

McTighe noted that Pinal County had offered to build a courthouse if the city leases an adjacent six acres. The county would lease two acres from the city, helping to offset the cost of the lease. At an earlier council meeting Buss indicated that one of the primary expansion requirements for the city is a court facility.

“The good of the city should always be put before personal agendas, personality conflicts or whatever,” McTighe added. “If council is going to come to residents for increases in their property taxes, which is my understanding is a possibility, then council members need to show the city that it is spending the current taxes wisely.”

Council went into executive session following McTighe’s comments and then concluded the meeting.

Photos by Aaron Thacker