By Christopher Fox Graham & Joseph K Giddens
Camp Verde Arena Association and the Town of Camp Verde are involved in a dispute over a lease and use of the town’s Camp Verde Equestrian Center.
CVAA President Mary Phelps and CVAA’s statutory agent Stacey Barker posted a video to Facebook on Thursday, July 10, stating that the CVAA “will not be a management company for the Town of Camp Verde,” according to Barker and is seemingly rejecting the demands outlined in a June 25 notice of intent from the Scottsdale-based law firm Pierce Coleman PLLC, which calls for a new management agreement between the town and the CVAA.
“The town’s intent in issuing the letter and proposed Amended and Restated Lease Agreement is not to dissolve the partnership with CVAA, but to clarify responsibilities, increase transparency and ensure legal and fiscal accountability, which are standards that apply to all organizations the town partners with,” Town Manager Miranda Fisher stated in an email Friday, July 11.
“If the parties cannot reach a mutually agreeable resolution of the issues identified in this letter and approve an amended and restated lease agreement then the town will have no choice but to terminate the lease agreement effective Jan. 31, 2026,” the letter of intent reads.
According to Fisher, the letter of intent includes four concerns for the town and taxpayers:
■ Financial Transparency: “For over a year, the town has asked CVAA to share basic financial records related to the operation of the rodeo grounds,” Fisher wrote. “Because those records were not provided, the town formalized its concerns through the letter issued in June. The town is requesting regular financial reports to evaluate how funds are being used and whether there is a return on investment for the public.”
■ Public Access & Accountability: “The original lease intended for the rodeo grounds to be available for broader public use” Fisher stated. “The updated agreement would clarify how the facility is made accessible to the public and what the town receives in return for allowing CVAA to use the space for $1/year.”
■ Legal Compliance: ”Due to Arizona’s ‘gift clause,’ the town must demonstrate that public funds used to support a private entity, including nonprofits, are tied to a public purpose and provide adequate benefit in return. The current lease lacks the necessary legal protections, such as the right to audit or review financials.” The Gift Clause is Article 9, Section 7 of the Arizona State Constitution.
■ Open Communication: “The town has communicated to CVAA leadership both verbally and in writing that we are happy to meet and discuss the proposed lease after we have received their response,” Fisher wrote. “A written response is an expected and necessary step in any contract-related matter, which is why the town requested to start with their response prior to setting up a meeting with CVAA.”
The amended and restated lease agreement “addresses these issues and sets the foundation for a long-term, mutually beneficial relationship,” Fisher stated. Fisher provided a 39-page letter with the proposed amended lease, the previous lease and amendments itemizing past paid expenses.
“We’ve asked CVAA to review the proposed lease and respond by July 25,” Fisher said. Should an agreement not be reached, the town has given notice of its intent to terminate the current lease and equipment agreement effective Jan. 31.”
“This is not a preferred outcome, but one the town, must consider to ensure accountability for public resources,” Fisher said. “Our goal is to work collaboratively and constructively, and we remain open to meeting in a work session with CVAA and the Town Council once the association has formally responded.”
Barker claimed that the previous interim town manager approached CVAA to combine the lease agreement, memorandum of understanding and the equipment list in a new lease agreement to benefit the Town of Camp Verde and the CVAA, but Barker said “the tides were turning” about management of the area.
“The Town of Camp Verde … [has] no knowledge of what it would take to implement and run a rodeo arena and put on events,” Barker said, claiming the CVAA was being referred to in talks as a management company or the managing body of the rodeo arena.
“That is not what we are. We are a 501(c)(3) non profit,” Barker said. “We work with volunteers that are unpaid out here to maintain this property, with our children and our spouses.”
The CVAA has no financial reports listed on its website to verify the nonprofits budget, revenue, funding from the town or expenses.
“The reality of this disgusting decision with falsehoods and inaccurate information that they have not even asked us to present,” Barker said. “The reality of it is the town claims they have paid $780,000 of their own funds for this facility,” Barker said. “We asked for a breakdown of that money that they claim they’ve spent $200,000 of that money that they claim they’ve spent, when it’s itemized out, are allocated in their chart of accounts to things that have nothing to do with CVAA. We are not one of the other arenas that they put money on our chart of accounts with them to fight their lawyer fees. We did not receive money from the Town of Camp Verde for the Turquoise Circuit. The Turquoise Circuit was its own individual entity, same as we are.”
“Now due to some loose lips on their own Town Council, they admit that what they have received and based their decision on was the information that they received from the attorney,” Barker claimed. He did provide the names of any council members he claimed to have spoke with nor provide any documentation.
Barker added that “Incorrect, false information helped this town council of seven members vote to send this letter to Mary and I.”
“We will not be a management company for the town of Camp Verde,” Barker reiterated. “In their termination lease agreement … or management agreement, stated if we continue, they would like part of our ticket sales and income that comes into the arena directly paid to them. Why would we do that?”
However, the propose lease does not state what Barker claims. Rather, it reads that after a year with the new lease and with a financial filing, “the parties shall meet and confer to discuss any additional compensation to the town to ensure a fair and equitable lease amount based on actual financial operations of the Rodeo Grounds. Any additional compensation shall be provided for by written amendment to this restated lease and may include revenue sharing in ticket sales or other methods deemed appropriate by the parties.”
“The proposed revised lease does not align with our organization’s mission or capacity to serve our community youth effectively,” Phelps said. “I am disappointed that we were not afforded the opportunity to provide the necessary information and clarity to our community partners. Nevertheless, I am deeply grateful for your continued support over the past six years.”
Phelps went on to express her enthusiasm for hosting the regularly scheduled CVAA events that will be taking place before the current lease terminates.
Christopher Fox Graham and Joseph K. Giddens jointly contributed to this story.
