A debate over roadside memorials has prompted Prescott Valley’s mayor to take a public stand — and the town’s code compliance office to clarify what the rules actually are.
Mayor Kell Palguta posted a statement on social media this Wednesday saying he’d been contacted by law enforcement and the Arizona Department of Transportation about requests — some from members of local political action committees — to have roadside memorials removed, calling them eyesores and distractions.
Palguta pushed back. In his post, he wrote, “Each cross, plaque, teddy bear, sculpture, or set of flowers along the roadside represents a life lost and a family forever changed.”
He added, “As long as I am mayor, I will refuse to remove them,” though he noted he has no authority over memorials along state highways.
KYCA reached out to the town for its official position. Code Compliance Supervisor Pat Ryce said there is currently no written policy on roadside memorials.
Ryce says in practice, none of the current memorials rise to that level.