Page local news summary
Week of August 10 2025
Police Chief Details Response to Active Shooter Incident at Page Steel
City to Spend Over $1 Million on New Electrical Substation Transformer
Developer Proposes 90-Home Affordable Housing Project on City Lan
Downtown Revitalization Project Slows Pace After Deadline Confusion Clears
Council Navigates Board Appointments, Revealing Split on Economic Development’s Future
Police Chief Details Response to Active Shooter Incident at Page Steel
PAGE – Police Chief Tim Lange provided a sobering report on the “worst case scenario” active shooter incident that occurred at Page Steel on July 29, 2025. A man fired multiple rounds at employees before fleeing the scene. No one was injured. The suspect was later located and arrested at the Motel 6 after a negotiation. Chief Lange praised the response of his officers, dispatchers, and assisting agencies, including SWAT teams from Coconino and Kane Counties. He also expressed frustration that dispatchers received 126 unnecessary phone calls from citizens seeking information during the hour-and-a-half incident, which hindered emergency operations. The suspect was booked on two counts of attempted first-degree murder as the investigation continues.
City to Spend Over $1 Million on New Electrical Substation Transformer
PAGE – Page Utility Enterprises will purchase a new 15-megawatt substation transformer for $1,010,300 plus tax, following a unanimous council vote. The expenditure is necessary to replace a critical transformer at the Powell Substation that failed after decades of service, dating back to the early 1960s. The new transformer, supplied by Virginia Transformer, is a key component for stepping down high-voltage electricity for distribution throughout the city. According to a project timeline, the new equipment is anticipated to be delivered in January 2027. The cost will be covered by the utility’s electric fund as a capital replacement.
Developer Proposes 90-Home Affordable Housing Project on City Land
PAGE – The City Council heard a detailed presentation for a 90-home “attainable housing” development aimed at the local workforce on an 8.6-acre city-owned parcel off N. Newburn Road. Developer Jared Edwards of Premium Builders outlined a plan to build high-quality manufactured homes with prices ranging from $180,000 to $250,000, including the lot. He said this price point is achievable by making a $4.5 million direct investment with the manufacturer, cutting out middlemen and passing the savings to buyers. The project is designed for households earning less than $64,000 annually, which represents about half of Page’s workforce. The development would be deed-restricted to prohibit short-term rentals for the life of the subdivision to ensure it serves local residents.
Downtown Revitalization Project Slows Pace After Deadline Confusion Clears
PAGE – The City Council approved an amendment to its agreement with consulting firm Norris Design for the downtown revitalization project, signaling a shift to a slower, more deliberate pace. Mayor Steven Kidman explained that the city had been operating under the “incorrect impressions” of fast-approaching deadlines for a $5 million grant tied to the project. With the discovery that those deadlines do not exist, the city can now “breathe a sigh of relief” and engage in a more thorough community process for developing Block 17 and the surrounding downtown area. The amended contract is intentionally vague to give the city flexibility as it re-engages with businesses and citizens to determine the project’s direction and phases.
Council Navigates Board Appointments, Revealing Split on Economic Development’s Future
PAGE – The council made numerous appointments to city boards and commissions, but the process highlighted underlying tensions about the future of the Economic Development Advisory Board. An appointment to renew Erik Stanfield’s term passed on a narrow 4-3 vote after debate erupted over whether the board should exist at all, given the city no longer has an Economic Development Director. While other appointments to the board passed unanimously, the discussion revealed that the board’s responsibilities, particularly concerning the airport, are in flux. The mayor concluded by asking the newly appointed members for their patience as the city works to realign its boards for better effectiveness.
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