observatory
Concept drawing of observatory

Mission Rotary appealed to Mission Council on Monday to allow fundraising to continue for an observatory in Heritage Park.

Rotary representatives pointed out that the project had been approved by Council two years ago, but mayor Randy Hawes says there needs to be a review.

“I grant you that previous Council approved it. This is not the previous Council. This is this Council, and there are questions that many of us have about it.”

Mayor Randy Hawes had previously said the project was suspended pending an evaluation of the proposal, saying it was approved without a business plan.

However Rotary member Lloyd Rash says the proposal did include a plan.

“We had to make sure it was a viable project. Rotary has done a lot of community projects here in Mission and we’ve researched everything to make sure that it’s something that is going to be viable and sustainable.”

Rotary either wants permission for work to resume, or a refund of the $20,000 it donated to the project.