Setting record straight on Fountain Hills’ museum
OPINION — A recent letter regarding the River of Time Museum spins a highly political narrative I feel ignores legal reality. To suggest that Mayor Gerry Friedel and conservative council members are trying to run a local treasure out of town is completely false.
The issue with the River of Time lease was never a lack of support; it was a strict legal hurdle created by the Arizona Constitution's Gift Clause. Under state law, a municipality cannot provide deeply discounted benefits to a private entity without a fair market return. For 25 years, the town provided 5,000 square feet of space to the museum for just $1 a year while investing over $210,000 into its permanent exhibits.
As the August 2026 lease expiration approached, town staff — exercising mandatory fiscal responsibility — notified the museum that continuing a $1-a-year lease without an updated business plan could violate state law. The council was bound by an oath to address this issue.
Furthermore, the claim that a lease extension is an election-year trick rewrites history. Far from trying to evict the museum, town staff proactively met with museum leadership in February and March 2026 to propose a temporary extension through June 2027. This framework gives the museum time to transition and offset fair market value through public programming. In April, the town publicly reiterated this offer.
Mayor Friedel and conservative leaders have always valued the museum’s educational role. However, true leadership requires balancing that appreciation with an oath to uphold the law. The June 30 special session isn't "gaslighting," it's responsible governance working to find a legal bridge for a beloved institution. Let's look at the actual facts before letting election rhetoric distort reality.
Vote for integrity. Vote for Gerry Friedel, Ben Larrabee, Dan Kovacevic and Matthew Corrigan
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