Still No Word From The Forest Service
August 12, 2015
July came and went without the Forest Service making a decision on whether Italian developer Stilo gets to use Forest Service roads to enable it’s environmentally damaging development in Tusayan.
The agency has been swamped with opposition messages as part of the review process. Initially, the Forest Service hoped to make a determination at the end of July. A decision is now expected by the end of August.
In other council news, Tusayan’s ongoing efforts to bring broadband internet service to town are proving to be expensive and difficult. A Century Link rep wondered to Town Hall why the company keeps getting so many requests for broadband from Tusayan businesses even though those requests have been coming in for more than a decade. Another Century Link rep is in talks with the town this month. Meanwhile the latest estimate to bring a fiber optic cable from Williams to the Grand Canyon is in the neighborhood of $8 million.
The Planning and Zoning Commission has wrapped up its review of the subdivision ordnance. The Town Council will be holding public hearings and final approval is expected in October.
ADOT is planning more road construction on Highway 64. This would take place north and south of Tusayan but not within the town limits. The construction would take place between March and November of next year. So far there is no form date, but the Town Council is hopeful it won’t impact the spring break and 4th of July busy seasons.