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Residents urge preservation of 48-acre site, question town spending and building vacancies during Carefree public comment
Summary
At the Feb. 12 Carefree council meeting, residents called for preservation of a 48-acre parcel near town, criticized town spending and administrator compensation, and asked about occupancy plans for the CVS building. Speakers described conservation concerns, alleged fiscal excesses, and asked for clearer communication on development plans.
Several residents used the Feb. 12 public comment period at the Carefree Town Council meeting to urge action on land preservation, to question town spending and staffing levels, and to request information about proposed occupants of a vacant commercial building.
Arianne Busser, a Carefree resident and organizer supporting carefreepark.org, urged the council and community to pursue acquisition of a nearby 48-acre parcel she said is the last accessible open land near town. Busser said the site contains more than 200 old-growth saguaro cactus and is home to wildlife; she called the parcel a legacy resource and said development would destroy habitat and public access.
Several speakers questioned town finances and leadership. George Nelson asked for itemized staff salary and benefit totals, consultant and legal expenses for 2024, and whether taxpayers paid more than $30,000 to defend unnamed reputations; he criticized the town administrator’s compensation and prior property-tax proposals. John Trainor said language in an updated town council strategy plan created misperceptions by labeling consultants and staff as “town leadership” and urged elected officials to avoid speaking for the whole council outside official meetings.
Jan Neal asked when the public would be informed if a business planned to occupy the vacant CVS building; she said she had seen slides indicating Rare Earth Gallery might move into the CVS location and asked for clearer notification about building vacancies and upcoming occupancies.
Council and staff did not take action during the public comment period; the mayor reminded speakers that individual council members may ask staff to study matters and that items can be placed on future agendas for formal consideration.
