University Land Sale Takes Step Forward

Rim Country Educational Foundation chairman Richard Johnson hands acting Alliance chairman Jim Lyon a check for $150,000 to start archaeological work to complete the land sale for a four-year university. Looking on are Payson Mayor and Mogollon Health Alliance chairman Kenny Evans (standing), MHA Executive Director Sanja Long (right) and Payson Councilor Su Connell (left), who serves on both the Alliance and MHA boards. Backers expect to finish the land sale in 30 days. read more...

Rezone For College Payson presses Forest Service for land sale

Payson has launched the rezoning of a 253-acre Forest Service parcel on which it plans to build a 6,000-student university. The rezoning would limit use of the land to educational purposes, which would include spin-off facilities crucial to the financing of the campus. The move comes as the Rim Country Educational Alliance and the Rim Country Educational Foundation wait for a final purchase agreement from the Forest Service. The Alliance wants to close escrow on the property before the $4.1 million, independent appraisal expires in July. read more...

Alliance Signs Contract University plans being drawn up

The contract’s signed — now all they need is money. The Rim Country Educational Alliance has finally signed a contract with dck Capital Solutions to buy land for a university and draw up final plans for both buildings and infrastructure. “I think this is a big step forward,” said Rim Country Educational Alliance Chairman Mary Kastner, “it’s not an ‘oh my’ thing.” The contract calls on dck to come up with $2.2 million to pay for the early engineering and planning work and to help arrange financing for the $4.2 million purchase price for 253-acre Forest Service parcel. read more...

Moving Forward Alliance meeting slated to buy university land

The Rim Country Educational Alliance Board is scheduled to meet on Thursday to consider moving forward to purchase two parcels of Forest Service land totaling some 274 acres — 253 acres immediately and another 21 acres in about a year. Rim Country Educational Alliance Chairman Steve Drury told the Roundup that Arizona State University officials have said they’re ready to sign an agreement as soon as Mayor Kenny Evans can provide assurances he can raise approximately $20 million. read more...

Mayor Announces University Land Purchase

In a press release Friday morning, Payson Mayor Kenny Evans announced plans to purchase a 250-acre Forest Service parcel as the site for a university campus. The announcement said backers will open an escrow account for the $4.1 million purchase before the end of the year and close escrow by early 2015. read more...

New Road Will Connect To Manzanita

Work on a new road in town has begun as another road project ramps up to improve connectivity and make way for several new subdivisions. Crews broke ground on East Malibu Drive recently behind the Payson Police Department. When finished, the new quarter-mile road will connect Malibu Drive through to North Manzanita Drive at East Park Drive. While no definitive development plans are in place yet, the road could one day provide access to a 400- to 500-home subdivision behind Bashas’. read more...

Payson Approves Water Recharge Plan Using Wells

When water from the C.C. Cragin pipeline starts to flow, Payson will have more water than it can immediately use. So water officials are working on a way to store the extra supply, and last Thursday, the Payson Town Council approved a $66,000 agreement letting the water department work with a Valley firm on a plan. The town is slated to get 3,000 acre-feet of water from the Cragin reservoir starting in 2018, but does not have the population currently to use that full allotment. The town water department will work with Hydrosystems, Inc. to construct a recharge well off Tyler Parkway, which will act as a test well. read more...