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Tusayan adopts uranium mining land withdrawal resolution
Jet fuel tax repealed, new town manager begins Monday

Clara Beard/WGCN<br>
Interim Town Manager George Pettit, council members Al Montoya and Bob Blasi and Tusayan Mayor Greg Bryan discuss a town resolution regarding uranium mining.

Clara Beard/WGCN<br> Interim Town Manager George Pettit, council members Al Montoya and Bob Blasi and Tusayan Mayor Greg Bryan discuss a town resolution regarding uranium mining.

TUSAYAN, Ariz. - During Tusayan Town Council's regular meeting March 23, members of the Grand Canyon Trust were present to witness the passing of a resolution in favor of the Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar's 2009 uranium mining withdrawal proposal.

If approved, the proposal would extend the withdrawal of approximately 1 million acres of federal land surrounding Grand Canyon National Park for uranium mining for 20 years. Salazar issued a two-year segregation order limiting new mining claims around the park. Council member Bob Blasi abstained from opinion and discussion due to potential conflict of interest with his employer.

In other news, Enrique Medina Ochoa will begin his duties as Tusayan's permanent town manager April 4. Council members approved Ochoa's contract during a special meeting March 18 naming him the first full-time staff person for the town. Ochoa, of Avondale, was previously city manager of Arvin, Calif. from 2002 to 2007. He has also worked in intergovernmental relations and for the state of Arizona. Ochoa is fluent in Spanish and holds a BA from Stanford University and a Master's degree from Arizona State University.

Talia Bugnone and Sheryl Strobeck were appointed to the Ad Hoc Housing Committee. Mayor Greg Bryan and Council Member John Reuter abstained from voting due to employer conflict of interest.

The council voted to repeal the local jet fuel tax option from the Tusayan tax code. According to a staff report, Tusayan adopted a local option to tax jet fuel at $.05 per gallon after the town's incorporation. The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) operates the airport and receives funds from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which has various pre-emptive legal requirements regarding revenues raised from airport operations. According to the Airport and Airway Safety and Capacity Expansion Act of 1987, local taxes on aviation fuels established after Dec. 30 1987 are airport revenues and such funds must be retained on airport property. The decision was made to allow ADOT to continue its efforts to achieve self-sufficiency through fees and charges to users. The general sales tax will continue to be collected and levied on activities subject to tax at the airport, such as retail sales.

The staff report went on to say that the initial budget included $50,000 per year as a general fund fuel source, all subsequent financial models have not shown this tax as a continuing revenue source.

"I think that we should remove the ordinance," Reuter said. "I would not want to endanger the operation of the airport or especially the FAA contribution to the airport as we may see some great benefits. I agree with repealing."


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