A group of Fountain Hills residents led by former Councilwoman Ginny Dickey has questioned Town Manager Grady Miller’s decision to waive facilities rental fees for the tribute dinner for former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and his wife, Ava, scheduled for this Friday, Jan. 13.

In several email communications last week Dickey said the waiver was inappropriate for a politically sponsored event. She said the Fountain Hills Republican Club was working to get speakers for the event and was able to get conservative Valley talk radio host Mike Broomhead to serve as master of ceremonies.

The Republican Club was the applicant for the special event liquor license for the event at the Community Center. That application was approved by the council at its Jan. 5 meeting.

The event is a fundraiser for the Extended Hands Food Bank in Fountain Hills. Tickets are $50.

Dickey emailed a petition to council members that included more than 90 signatures.

The petition asks “that the mayor, council and (town) manager charge the proper fees as appropriate, or have a vote in public to waive fees for a political event, per the Town of Fountain Hills municipal sponsorship and naming rights policy.”

In an email comment to The Times Dickey said she believes the actions of staff and the council show favoritism and lack of transparency.

“We all want to believe that our local elected leaders are even-handed and fair,” Dickey said. “This type of behavior, favoring one group over another, making a questionable decision without transparency and bypassing their own established policy, contributes to why some people don’t trust the government with their assets.”

Miller responded to Dickey stating that, “in reviewing the request for a fee waiver, the organization and type of event are typically reviewed. Since this function was a retirement dinner and a fundraiser for the Extended Hands Food Bank, it was not viewed as a political event.

“If the Extended Hands Food Bank (or other organization) had planned on holding a fundraiser to raise money for a political candidate for a political campaign, then the event in my mind would have clearly been a political event and the waiver would not have been granted.

Miller continued.

“The idea behind the event originally came from a Fountain Hills Rotary member who suggested this as a possible fundraiser for the food bank. (Food Bank Director Rev. David) Iverson has indicated in the two newspaper articles on the event that ‘This is not a political event but a tribute to a man and woman for their years of service.’

“If this event turned into something other than a retirement dinner, then I would agree with you that there should be reconsideration of the fee waiver. Despite the additional information that has been reported indicating that the Republican Party is helping with securing speakers and entertainment, I still do not view this as a political event.”

Dickey was emphatic in one email asking that the council consider the fee waiver in public at its Jan. 5, meeting. While the special event liquor license was on the agenda it was attached to the consent agenda and approved without discussion.

Neither Dickey nor anyone else was present at the Jan. 5 meeting to speak at Call to the Public to challenge the fee waiver.