By Mark Cowling | Florence Reminder
After months of negotiations with the town of Florence and gaining approval by voters in last week’s special election, Johnson Utilities owner George Johnson has stopped all negotiations to sell his company to the town of Florence. A council meeting to approve the purchase contract and management agreement related to the acquisition has been canceled.
Johnson Utilities is the water and sewer provider for Anthem at Merrill Ranch and San Tan Valley. In a May 22 letter to Town Manager Charles Montoya, Johnson said “it is clear” the town has turned down his company’s offer to sell its assets to the town. Johnson said he based that position on Montoya’s testimony to the Arizona Corporation Commission and the town attorney’s statement to that commission.
