Four year ASU campus still years down the 260

GAZETTEEDITORIAL
GAZETTEEDITORIAL
GAZETTEEDITORIAL

While last week's press release from Arizona State University (ASU) relative to a four-year Payson campus was encouraging, don't start counting the economic benefits to the Rim Country just yet.

First of all, when educators say they need to form subcommittees and study things, you might as well take off your shoes, kick back, and watch the football Sun Devils implode again this season. I am an educator. I know how educators work -- with all due deliberation.

Expect all the subcommittees to be done studying whatever it is they need to study in about three years.

Then there's the matter of acquiring the land from the Forest Service. If there is anything that rivals educators in taking their time studying things, it's the Forest Service. Certainly enough time to watch the Sun Devils blow another season next year -- probably with a new head coach.

While we all agree that the college can't get here soon enough, we, unlike the Roundup, urge caution, patience, and a strong dose of reality. Because, folks, it ain't going to happen in the immediate future.

And when it does happen, we reiterate our rock solid belief that Payson Mayor Kenny Evans is not going to produce anything close to $500 million (down from $550 million a few weeks ago) to build the new campus and auxiliary facilities.  That's a half billion dollars. 

And no, we don't believe the rumors that Donald Trump has been slipping in and out of town.  As big a doof as the Donald is, give him more credit than that.

And last but far from least, we'd still like to know where Gila Community College (GCC) fits into all this. It's an excellent campus and it would be a shame to duplicate what we already have.

As we understand it, GCC officials are pretty much in the dark so far.

Add it all up, and warily cautious optimism is probably the best place to be. Hope does spring eternal, but this editor hopes it doesn't become an eternity.

And now, it's time for Kenny Evans to deliver on all the hype he has generated.