Public commenter tells Dysart board personal politics outweighed student safety on BNSF vote

Lisa Everett, a resident who spoke during public comment, urged the Dysart Governing Board to take a public stand against BNSF's proposed intermodal hub in Whitman and criticized board members who voted against a resolution opposing the project.

"Your personal dislike for me was more important than the safety of the children," Everett told the board, saying three members voted against a resolution intended to protect students from traffic, air-quality and emergency-response concerns. She cited similar opposition from the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors and the City of Surprise and urged board members to "step aside" if they could not put student safety first.

Why this matters: Public commenting flagged a larger regional issue — the proposed BNSF intermodal hub — and raised allegations of political motives among board members. Everett framed the matter as an issue of student safety and governance trust.

Board follow-up: The transcript records Everett's comments; no substantive board response or formal action is shown during the public-comment period. Another commenter, William Coneyam, said he would meet privately with the superintendent and tabled prepared remarks.

Context: During public comment the board's procedures were recited to the public, including a three-minute time limit and restrictions on board discussion of items not on the agenda (transcript includes a garbled citation of state statute language: "Pursuant to ARS 30 eight-four 30 one-one section H").

Source: Public comments as recorded in the meeting transcript.