Pinal Central
The town is seeking to revoke developer and utility company owner George Johnson’s legal right to provide water and sewer services to a housing development he proposed south of downtown Florence several years ago.
The Town Council unanimously passed a resolution in a special meeting on Sept. 7 authorizing the town manager and the town’s lawyers to seek a reduction, deletion or revocation of the “Certificates of Convenience and Necessity” allowing Johnson or his related entities to serve the proposed development.
Both Florence and Queen Creek have intervened in several Arizona Corporation Commission dockets pertaining to Johnson Utilities. Evidence presented in recent dockets and the ACC’s resulting orders “conclusively demonstrate that Johnson Utilities cannot provide just, reasonable, safe, proper, adequate and sufficient water and wastewater services to its customers,” according to a town staff report to the council. An interim manager has taken over the company by order of the ACC.
“The Johnson Utilities debacle continues to spin off consequences for developers and landowners throughout the service territory. This continued uncertainty is not good for the region as a whole.”
