[Source: Riordan Action Network] – For a few months now, Arizona State Parks (ASP) administration and the Arizona Historical Society (AHS) administration have been renegotiating the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) which governs the running of the park to correspond with changes in operations which have occurred since the original IGA was signed in May of 2010.
According to management at the Riordan Mansion, the only major change to the IGA is that “mansion” staff members are now AHS employees rather than ASP employees. That explains why staff members are now attired in street clothes rather than ranger uniforms. Their name badges have also changed to reflect the change in their employer. Volunteers are still ASP volunteers with the same duties, privileges and awards as they have had in the past. Visitors are not going to see any changes in their experiences at the Riordan Mansion due to the IGA changes.
The signing of the renegotiated IGA on September 23, 2011 does not change the term of the original agreement which was for three years with future terms of three years possible, if agreed to by both ASP and AHS. Therefore, the IGA is still in effect until May of 2013. With continued hard work on the part of staff, volunteers and RAN and support and donations from the public, we’re hopeful that the “mansion” will continue to be open to the public far beyond 2013!
