Kalivianakis: "No" votes on EVCIP siting plans make no sense

Lewis Carroll’s classic 1865 children’s novel describes Alice as so surprised by the strange phenomena she experiences in Wonderland that she blurts the iconic phrase, “Curiouser and curiouser!” The expression is still used to mean that something is increasingly confounding.

That phrase also describes the Aug. 20 council vote on the Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Program (EVCIP), specifically for the development of siting plans. Staff advised the council that “failure to approve the resolution would result in the Town of Fountain Hills missing an opportunity to receive grant funds to develop a professional Siting Plan for Electronic Vehicle charging infrastructure and will have a negative impact on the town’s ability to receive future grant funding from MAG [Maricopa Association of Governments].”

By a 3-3 split vote, the council declined the grant money offered by MAG and now it will go to another town or city in Arizona – not to Fountain Hills. The benefits of approving this siting plan are numerous and obvious. Fountain Hills is optimally located to attract travelers from the East Valley enroute to Payson and beyond. They would stop to charge their vehicles, shop in our stores, dine at our restaurants, and add to our tax revenues. Additionally, FH residents would have convenient access to Class 3 charging stations, a net win/win.

With no downside to MAG's offer, town staff urged acceptance. That’s where the baffling “no” votes by the ROT-supported triad of Friedel, Toth and Skillicorn get “curiouser and curiouser.” An earlier letter to the editor speculated about the misguided/confusing no votes, “it seems like the only reasons could be that they don’t want progress, or they just want to attack others on the council for political revenge.”

To quote Alice again, “It would be so nice if something made sense for a change.”

Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.