By Kevin Reagan | PinalCentral
Johnson Utilities is taking legal action against the town of Florence after the company allegedly was denied public records it requested shortly after state regulators appointed an interim manager to run the company.
According to a civil complaint filed this week in Pinal County Superior Court, Johnson Utilities claims it was denied documents detailing communications between Florence and the town of Queen Creek. The two municipalities were involved in a lengthy investigation by the Arizona Corporation Commission into complaints about water quality.
Florence and Queen Creek each offered to act as interim manager for Johnson, but the ACC picked EPCOR Water to oversee the company’s operations. According to a report presented to the Florence Town Council, the town believes Johnson Utilities “cannot provide just, reasonable, safe, proper, adequate and sufficient water and wastewater services to its customers.”
Johnson now wants to review all communications and agreements between the two towns that might involve the utility company. According to the plaintiff’s complaint, Florence denied releasing some documents that violated a confidentiality agreement it had with Queen Creek.
