The Fountain Hills town retreat meeting was livestreamed on Tuesday, Feb. 27. There were five things on the agenda. It was scheduled for a long time, to last for about six hours. It started at 8:30 a.m. Everyone was there, mayor, council and staff. At least at the start.

A little over halfway through, Councilman Skillicorn disappeared. I wonder why? Coincidentally, the afternoon part of the agenda was a comprehensive discussion about next steps addressing Fountain Hills’ streets. This is the second time that Councilman Skillicorn has conveniently missed an important discussion about streets. The first was the sole agenda item of a study session back on Nov. 16, 2023. That one even included several key presentations, one by a citizens’ committee. He missed that one.

Wasn’t it Skillicorn who proclaimed in his second meeting as a councilperson that his priority was “roads first?” Surely, he hasn’t confused a “street” discussion as not being about his favorite topic, “roads.” (Just to be clear, municipalities use the term “streets,” where counties use the term “roads,” and states use the term “highways,” but I digress.)

Why is it that Councilman Skillicorn doesn’t want to engage in a discussion – let’s call it an education – about the 160-plus miles of Fountain Hills streets, the town’s biggest single asset? After all, it’s Skillicorn’s self-proclaimed biggest single issue. Well, besides opening every meeting with prayer, something that he never mentioned in his campaign but that he implemented on day one.

Maybe he left to pray. If so, it seems a little selfish not to have invited others to join him.

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