May 25, 2006

FLORENCE - After a series of productive meetings between Global Water executives and Ak-Chin Indian Community council members, the Pinal County Board of Supervisors on Wednesday approved a wastewater treatment plant on 16 acres just south of Ak-Chin and about a mile west of Arizona 347.

The case had been continued twice, once on March 29 and again on May 3, each time because of the Ak-Chin community's concerns for the environment and potential destruction of culturally historic elements on Ak-Chin land through washes. Chairman Delia Carlyle expressed those concerns during the May 3 meeting, and that prompted Supervisor David Snider to strongly suggest that the two parties engage in meaningful dialogue before the case would be heard again.

An agreement was reached, and in a formal letter presented to the supervisors signed by Carlyle and Global President and CEO Trevor Hill, Global agreed to the following stipulations:

-- Amend and resubmit a plan to withdraw the upstream discharge points that include the Vekol, Santa Rosa, Smith and Santa Cruz washes, including their tributaries, and the Santa Rosa Canal that could result in a flow through Ak-Chin land.

-- Deploy the necessary re-use and recharge infrastructure to preclude a requirement to such discharges.

-- Work with the community to preserve aquifer water quality for the region.

-- Consult with the community in connection with Global's water, wastewater and reclaimed water regional planning activities, and

-- Reiterate the offer to the community to assist in providing water, wastewater and reclaimed water services.

The Ak-Chin community agreed to the following stipulations:

-- Recognize the benefit of Global's re-use and recharge initiatives and offer no objections to the plan and industrial-use permit application.

The supervisors also approved following requests:

-- A zone change and overlay district by Rose Law Group to develop the 4,223-lot Dugan Fields on a 1,231-acre parcel southwest of Stanfield.

-- An appeal of the Planning and Zoning Commission's decision made on Nov. 17 to not modify a stipulation of the tentative plat for Silverado Ranch Unit 1, requiring 15-foot separation between two-story homes in the Skyline Drive-Magma Railroad area.

-- A resolution to rename East Mountain View Road to East Summer View Road from North Rosewood Drive to North Desert Willow Drive in Johnson Ranch.

-- A resolution to rename West Mountain View Road to West Hayden Park from North Desert Hills Drive to North Sierra Street in Johnson Ranch.

-- Conditional approval of the transfer of the cable television license currently held by Cable America Corporation to CoxCom Inc.

-- Consideration of proceeding with a development impact fee process and authorizing publication of Pinal County's Notice of Intent to consider the adoption of development impact fees for parks, public safety and transportation capital improvements. A work session was scheduled for June 7.

-- A proposed Pinal County Procurement Code.

©Casa Grande Valley Newspapers Inc. 2006