Rio Communities council approves up to $130,000 from Bill Brown Fund for Veterans Memorial Park after close vote

The Rio Communities City Council voted June 22 to authorize up to $130,000 from the Bill Brown Fund to complete phase 1 of a Veterans Memorial Park, after a 3‑1 tally and a tie‑breaking vote by Mayor Ramsel.

Councilor Gordon moved to authorize the spending, and Councilor Melendez seconded. The approval followed extended debate about whether grant money previously designated for the memorial had been spent or remained available. City Manager Dr. Moore told the council the city’s general ledger showed the Bill Brown Fund balance at approximately $267,166.41 and explained that earlier budget adjustments were intended to allow the city to receive and expend anticipated revenues, not to move Bill Brown funds into the memorial fund.

The council’s discussion centered on two constraints: the status of a related state grant and the ledger accounting for funds. Dr. Moore said the city had obligated about $388,000 of a $390,000 grant and that a legislative extension that would have allowed additional time to complete construction had been vetoed by the governor, limiting the city’s ability to submit reimbursement claims for construction expenses. “We did request an extension to 2028; it was adopted by the legislature but vetoed by the governor,” Dr. Moore said. “Because of that, it put us in a situation of constraint.”

Councilor Marquez, a member of the veterans committee who described himself as a combat veteran, pressed for detailed accounting and raised allegations of financial irregularities connected with the project. “I have requested documentation showing the date and amount of each expenditure made,” Marquez said. He said emails he had sent on June 6, 14 and 17 requesting a full accounting were not fully answered and asked whether the city could postpone the project until an independent audit was completed.

Dr. Moore responded that staff had provided ledger extracts and that, because certain obligations could not be reimbursed after the grant’s expiration, staff recommended using Bill Brown funds to complete phase 1. “There’s at least a $10,000 to $12,000 contingency built into the amount that is in the request before you,” he said.

Councilor Gordon urged the council to focus on the documentation presented in the meeting packet and on the practical effect of the decision, while Councilor Melendez said he was not opposed to a veterans memorial but questioned the project location and sought clarity about available balances. After a motion to call the question, the council voted: two members opposed, two in favor, and the mayor cast the deciding vote to approve the authorization.

The council did not adopt a final project contract in the same motion; the approved authorization allows the city to expend up to the approved amount beginning July 1, 2026, and does not obligate the full $130,000 if not needed. Councilor Marquez asked staff to deliver the documentation he requested so councilors could review expenditures and grant accounting before further contract or payment steps.

The council also heard that portions of the memorial work previously planned could not be submitted for reimbursement because construction could not be completed within the grant timeframe. Dr. Moore said the city had considered deobligation and reobligation of funds where appropriate but that some items could not be reimbursed once the grant expired.

Next steps: staff will provide the ledger and grant accounting that Councilor Marquez requested; the authorization permits staff to begin work or commitments up to the $130,000 cap but does not mandate immediate full expenditure.