SENATOR RUBEN GALLEGO VISITS PAGE TO DISCUSS WATER SECURITY, WILDFIRE RECOVERY AND RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE

PAGE, AZ (June 27, 2026) — U.S. Senator Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) met with City of Page officials, City staff and representatives from the Page Lake Powell Chamber of Commerce on Saturday, June 27, 2026, in the Page City Council Chambers to discuss federal support for several local and regional priorities, including water infrastructure, wildfire recovery, housing, tourism and long-term rural infrastructure needs.

The meeting was held at 12:30 p.m. and included Mayor Steven Kidman, Vice Mayor Mike Farrow, Councilor Kenna Hettinger, City Manager Frank Marbury, City Clerk Cindy Scott and Public Information Officer Adam Geller. Representatives from the Page Lake Powell Chamber of Commerce also attended, including Executive Director Judy Franz, Chris Pahissa-Van Meenen and Board Treasurer Bubba Ketchersid.

Mayor Kidman opened the meeting by thanking Senator Gallego for federal support related to recovery from the Dragon Bravo Fire and for support of the City’s proposed second water intake project, often referred to as the “second straw.”

The proposed second intake would provide a redundant municipal water source for the City of Page and nearby areas within the Navajo Nation. The project is intended to create an additional point of access to Lake Powell water if lake levels fall below the elevation served by the City’s existing intake. City officials noted that the proposed intake would use an 18-inch pipeline compared to the current 12-inch line, increasing potential capacity and strengthening the resiliency of the regional water system.

During the discussion, City officials emphasized that Page is following Bureau of Reclamation guidance regarding the project’s scope and capacity. The project remains part of ongoing federal discussions related to reauthorization and infrastructure funding. Senator Gallego has also signed onto support for the project through a funding request led by Senator Mark Kelly’s office.

“Page has a unique role in Arizona,” Mayor Kidman said. “We are a tourism destination, a gateway community, a regional service hub and a community shaped by water, energy and federal land. We appreciate Senator Gallego’s willingness to engage with us on the issues that will define our future.”

The discussion also focused on the structural funding challenges facing small, rural communities. Participants discussed how communities surrounded by federal land, like Page, often have limited opportunities to expand their tax base and can face challenges meeting the local matching requirements needed to qualify for larger federal grants.

Vice Mayor Farrow raised the connection between housing and public safety recruitment, noting that Page has taken steps to improve pay structures, expand policing tools and support public safety operations, but housing remains a major barrier to attracting and retaining police officers, firefighters and other essential personnel.

“We have increased our pay structure and added tools like real-time policing efforts and drone technology, but attracting and retaining police and fire personnel remains a challenge,” said Vice Mayor Mike Farrow. “Outside of growing our own workforce from local high school graduates, we are often looking at lateral transfers. Then the issue becomes housing — how do we get them here, and how do we keep them here?”

Senator Gallego discussed federal housing efforts aimed at reducing costs, expanding housing supply and improving rural housing programs. The discussion included manufactured housing, rural lending, appraisal challenges and efforts to streamline federal housing processes so smaller communities have better access to affordable housing tools.

“Housing is one of the most important issues facing Page, and it affects everything from public safety recruitment to economic development and quality of life,” said Councilor Kenna Hettinger. “I appreciated hearing Senator Gallego’s focus on practical federal efforts to expand housing supply and make housing programs work better for communities like Page.”

Tourism recovery was another major focus of the meeting. Page Lake Powell Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Judy Franz shared that some sectors of the local tourism economy are down by an estimated 25 to 35 percent. She discussed the continued impacts of COVID-19 recovery, the Dragon Bravo Fire, the loss of the North Rim Lodge and broader geopolitical factors affecting international travel.

Franz also noted that Page is not fully benefiting from some Grand Circle travel patterns, particularly from visitors traveling out of Las Vegas who may be changing their routes and bypassing Page. She said national media coverage of low lake levels, wildfire smoke or regional closures can create an outsized impact on Page and surrounding tourism businesses, even when the visitor experience on the ground is not proportionate to the headlines.

Senator Gallego encouraged local leaders to continue using direct communication and social media to share accurate, current information with prospective visitors. That recommendation aligns with regional recovery efforts following the Dragon Bravo and White Sage fires, which identified accurate public messaging and business support as important parts of long-term recovery.

The group also discussed the future of the Colorado River and ongoing multi-state negotiations over the river’s long-term management. The conversation emphasized the importance of collaboration, conservation, infrastructure investment and practical solutions that protect the long-term viability of the Colorado River system while recognizing the needs of communities, agriculture, Tribes and the broader regional economy.

The meeting also touched on permitting reform, energy infrastructure and emerging energy technologies. Mayor Kidman noted the City’s interest in acquiring state-owned land located within a major transmission corridor, which could support future economic development and energy-related opportunities. That acquisition is currently in the appraisal phase.

Senator Gallego also expressed interest in a future visit to Page by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior.

The City of Page will continue working with Arizona’s congressional delegation, federal agencies, regional partners and local stakeholders to advance projects that strengthen water security, improve housing access, support tourism recovery and position Page for long-term economic resilience.