Fountain Hills council approves full reconstruction of Thistle Drive amid debate over data-driven priorities

Fountain Hills — The Town Council voted on Feb. 3 to approve full reconstruction of Thistle Drive, accepting a staff recommendation that a rebuilt street would outlast a cheaper chip-seal option and save money over time. The reconstruction estimate presented to council was approximately $1.6 million, while a chip-seal and cape option was priced at roughly $907,000 with a 15% contingency.

Public Works staff told the council that the reconstruction could provide up to 30 years of useful life with proper preservation, compared with an expected 7–10 years for a chip-seal treatment. The director said several local streets previously shown as repaired in a 2015–16 map were never treated, creating an unplanned need of about $3 million for those local roads; those projects are likely to be scheduled in FY2027 and accounted for during the next budget process.

The vote followed extended council debate about process. Councilmember McMahon and others objected to directly selecting Thistle and Richwood ahead of the BOSS system’s data-driven prioritization, saying the town’s 2023 pavement management study and the accompanying software were purchased to ensure fairness and fiscal prudence. Councilmember Calvi Anakis joined McMahon in a recorded dissenting vote. Supporters — including the public works superintendent and multiple council members — said Thistle and the other identified streets fall within the same ‘very poor condition’ category and that immediate reconstruction is justified by site conditions and resident requests.

Resident Catherine Myrick, speaking during public comment, asked why Thistle and Richwood were chosen above other scientifically prioritized streets and urged transparency about selection. Public Works staff responded that the modeling results are reviewed and refined by staff before recommendations reach council, and that utility notifications and coordination create lead times that affect whether a project can be executed within the current fiscal year.

Town Clerk roll call recorded the motion as approved on the council floor, 5–2. The motion to reconstruct Thistle directs staff to proceed with the reconstruction scope presented and to include the work in FY2027 budgeting and scheduling, with the usual utility coordination and permitting steps before construction begins.

The council also discussed how the additional $3 million of previously unaddressed local-road need will be reflected in future BOSS scenarios and the upcoming budget retreat. Staff said the BOSS model remains the primary planning tool, but council direction can shift short-term priorities when funds become available.

The next step is for staff to incorporate the reconstruction into project scheduling, notify affected utility providers and residents, and return with finalized contract and timeline details for council review.