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RP Drive project hinges<br>on raised reclaim rates

TUSAYAN — The future of RP Drive in Tusayan could feature a new walkway and improved road, but the reality of that materializing could hinge on whether or not local businesses don’t mind paying more for reclaim water over the next few years.

Bob Petzoldt, left, Pete Shearer measure a stretch along the north side of RP Drive Thursday morning while discussing possibilities for a paved sidewalk.

The South Grand Canyon Sanitary District, approached two weeks ago with the possibility of taking over the RP Drive easement on the west side of State Route 64 to Canyon Pines trailer park, would spearhead the road improvement project. With no city government, there are those in Tusayan who feel the sanitary district’s involvement in such a project would be a natural.

"I’m sure a lot of people would not be happy about it," said John Thurston, who brought the idea to the board at its June 13 meeting, referring to a probable reuse water rate hike. "However, I believe the sanitary district can make it work."

Board members Pete Shearer and Robbie Evans, along with Tusayan Wastewater Plant superintendent Bob Petzoldt, met with Thurston and others Thursday morning for a walk down RP Drive studying the possibilities for improvements.

Shearer said it would take a 15-percent increase in sanitary rates for one year to pay for the entire project. However, businesses would likely balk at that possibility and instead might go for a 7 1/2-percent increase over two years. After those two years, the rates would likely still be 0.5 percent higher than those currently for maintenance purposes.

"I thought about the landowners along here," Shearer said, "but I feel sanitary fees are representative of the whole community. That will be the least amount of opposition while reaching our goals. It also makes the statement that we’re not overcharging people because we don’t have a huge excess (in the budget)."

The sanitary district just might receive heat from some locals over the possibility of the project. Barry Baker, consultant for Seibold-Halvorson Properties, said it is not a situation where the sanitary district should be criticized for anything. Rather, they are just trying to step up to the plate to fill a community need, he said.

The project could include three main phases. First, a gravel pathway leading from Holiday Inn Express parking lot on the south side of RP Drive toward Canyon Pines would be built.

The second phase would be a paved, meandering sidewalk on the north side of RP Drive from State Route 64 west to Memory Lane, at which point a crosswalk would be put in leading to the gravel path on the south side. And the third phase would be an overlay of the road itself.

"The next step is to provide paperwork for the community to show options on rate increases," Baker said. "We’ll first need the length of the project and what it will cost ... and then make charts showing the options on increases."

Petzoldt said a safe figure to work from would be $170,000 for the entire project. That amount includes a "fudge factor" and quite possibly could be as low as $150,000.

As soon as lawyers would finalize paperwork on the easement transfer, the sanitary district could begin work on phase one.

Shearer said the district does have the money in its current budget to get things started with the gravel walkway and the sidewalk. "But we don’t have the full amount right off the bat," he said, adding that "the road upgrade would occur over the next two years."

Baker said Seibold-Halvorson Properties are looking at the easement transfer and would support the improvement project, but added that it "hinges on a number of steps."

"If the community doesn’t support it, then other issues fall into play," Baker said. "I can’t say we’ve made a specific decision other than supporting the philosophy ... to facilitate this happening."

The group felt something needs to be done with the road in the interest of community safety. And if nothing is done, what would be the consequence?

"The other option is closing the road and that would create more friction in town," Shearer said.

"If the community is in favor, I don’t have a problem with it," Evans said. "It may be the only opportunity without closing the road off down there and I don’t see that as an option."

One of the district’s main customers, Grand Canyon National Park Airport, would likely have a big say in whatever would happen.

Shearer said he chatted briefly with acting airport manager Russ Pankey about the project and felt there was no opposition at this time. The airport also has employees living at Canyon Pines, another reason for their interest.

The sidewalk on the north side of RP Drive between SR64 and a Holiday Inn Suites parking lot would beautify the area. There was talk of making the paved pathway meander around trees and back away from the road, along with wheelchair access into the parking lot. There are a few obstacles with trees and a storm drain, but most seem to feel that the project would work over that 650-foot stretch.

As for the gravel walkway on the south side, a few questioned whether it would actually be used. Thurston said signage may help, but Evans said people are going to do whatever it takes to travel the shortest distance between two points.

In all, the entire pathway project from the intersection to the lower speed bump at Canyon Pines measures about 3,000 feet, Petzoldt said.

The next move was to get figures and alternatives out to the community. Shearer said that by the sanitary district’s July 11 meeting, more information should be available.


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