(Disclosure: Rose Law Group represents landowners and homebuilders working with the ACC to find a utility solution in the Johnson Utilities service area.)
By Rose Law Group Reporter Staff
The Arizona Corporation Commission heard from numerous stakeholders in the San Tan Valley area about how urgently an interim solution is needed to solve the multiple issues plaguing the Johnson Utilities problems at their Pecan and Section 11 wastewater treatment plants.
ACC Utilities Division Director, Elijah Abinah, told the Commissioners that he would be presenting them with a “global interim solution” at their next open meeting in mid-October. Abinah, indicated his global solutions would be temporary measures for immediately dealing with the Pecan and Section 11 plants. The solutions likely include interconnections with the Town of Queen Creek’s sewer system and possibly the addition of a the biolac technology to remedy environmental issues at Section 11.
The Commission heard from several stakeholders, all of whom asked for immediate solutions to be put in place and urged the Commission not to wait the 3 to 5 or more years needed for more permanent solutions.
Last week, the Pinal County Board of Supervisors sent a letter also urging the Commission to adopt interim solutions. Rose Law Group Co-founder, Court Rich, spoke to the Commission on behalf of multiple landowners and builders urging the immediate interim solutions to avoid shutdowns at Pecan and to end a long-running moratorium that has been in place at Section 11.
Rich told us that he liked what he heard today, “I am thrilled to hear from the Commission that it is preparing to move forward with interim solutions at its next meeting. This is fantastic news not just for local landowners, but for the region and the state as a whole.” Rich continued, “This area could be the fastest growing in the entire country, creating thousands of jobs, generating hundreds of millions in economic impact and providing much needed housing at a price that Arizona’s families can afford.”
In another action, the Commission held over an item that would have removed several properties from Johnson Utilities’ service territory. The Commission seemed poised to vote on the item proposed by Chairman Burns but then elected to hold off until the October meeting to decide perhaps once and for all if multiple landowners will be permitted to get out of Johnson’s service territory.
The Commission’s next open meeting will be held October 13th and 14th.
