Where’s the security risk in basement remodel?

Several weeks ago, I posted a blog online in which I reported that the Arizona House was making plans for a $1million renovation. Sadly, I must tell you today that I was wrong about that. The Arizona House wasn’t making plans for a $1 million renovation. It was more like $2 million. This, on top of a $375,000 renovation last fall, and $17,542 spent this spring to furnish a couple of offices for House Speaker David Gowan’s leadership team.

After the $2 million price tag became public late last week, Gowan promptly announced that he was scaling back the project to asbestos removal and new carpet only.

Proving that politicians really do have shame. When the public is watching, at least.

And so we wrap up my ongoing, no doubt slightly annoying quest for truth in the pressing matter of Gymgate. To wit, was Gowan actually planning to build a workout room and showers in the House basement? This, after stiffing Arizona’s school kids?

You will recall last months’ oneparagraph note in Arizona News Service, quoting unnamed sources about a $1 million basement renovation project that would include a workout room with showers.

House GOP spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham immediately assured me that the report was in error — that no price tag had been put to the project and that there was never a plan to put in a workout room with showers.

No, it was always planned to be a multipurpose room with showers.

Skeptical (as always), I filed a public records request for the preliminary designs, to see for myself what Gowan was planning to build with our money before people started asking questions. The House turned me down flat. Grisham told me that they had only “simple concept designs of wall and office space” and that such things aren’t a public record. And besides that, “releasing any schematics or renderings of a government building that shows exit and entry points, etc., could be a security and/or safety issue.”

Really, that’s how they hid their original plans.

Undeterred, I turned to the state Department of Administration, filing a public records request to find out what the House was planning — and whether it changed after people started asking questions.

DOA recently handed over 53 pages of material about the project.

Turns out the House filed the project

See ROBERTS, Page 3F