PHOENIX — After giving very little indication Monday as to how they would vote in Wednesday’s meeting, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors made a unanimous decision Wednesday to deny the formation of a water district in the far northeast Valley.
The board voted 5-0 to deny the formation of a special taxing district to manage water delivery in the Rio Verde Foothills community.
Supervisor Tom Galvin, who is seeking a full term as District 2 supervisor in November after being appointed by the rest of the board, represents Rio Verde Foothills. Monday, he said he learns something new about water situations from each person who speaks with him about the situation there — no matter which solution they support.
Galvin released a written statement after motioning for the dismissal to form a domestic water improvement district at Wednesday’s meeting.
“When I approached the Corporation Commission to inform them about the urgency of the Rio Verde Foothills water issue, they quickly agreed to get involved,” Galvin said in his statement. “We already know at least one supplier is interested in working with the commission to provide standpipe water service to RVF residents.”
During Wednesday’s meeting, Galvin said he began receiving hundreds of emails about Rio Verde Foothills and its impending water crossroads as soon as he was sworn in as supervisor in December of last year.
“It was something I already knew about. I knew how important it was,” Galvin said at Wednesday’s meeting. “I told them we would arrive at this day. I knew that it could come down to a board decision — one that would please some and not others. Either way, you’re all in it together. I don’t want to see any gloating. I don’t want to see any outbursts. I learned a lot from both sides.”
Galvin, Board Chair Bill Gates and Supervisor Clint Hickman praised the work both the petitioners and those in favor of having EPCOR take over water service to Rio Verde Foothills.
Hickman quoted The Bible in urging those with strong opinions about water in the community to bury the hatchet in terms of viciousness and misinformation, especially on social media.
“The good book says drop your swords and pick up your plowshares,” Hickman said. “This isn’t just a four-month clock to me. This is a whole regional and statewide issue. There’s been some horrendous things shared about this on social media. It’s time to drop the swords. I think there’s enough passion on both sides of (initial proposals) to come to the best long-term water solutions for this community.”
Hickman said he anticipates Galvin will be talking regularly with the city of Scottsdale and others about the standpipe and long-term solutions for all communities in the northeast part of the Valley.
Since Rio Verde Foothills is unincorporated, residents don’t get water service from a city or town. The county is not a water provider, so Rio Verde Foothills residents have had to find other water sources.
Some residents have wells while others use private utilities. Some rely on hauled water, much of which comes from the city of Scottsdale. But Scottsdale’s current drought management plan calls for an end of water service to those outside Scottsdale city limits starting in December.
In response, a group of residents proposed creating a domestic water improvement district, which would levy taxes and fees on Rio Verde Foothills residents who sign up for water service.
However, Galvin said in his statement that in researching the proposal, the county found of the 4,200 parcels of land in the area, only 550 supported the improvement district and nearly 40% of the supporting parcels were vacant.
Also, opposition to an additional governmental entity with condemnation authority that potentially affects private property rights caused serious concerns in the community, he said. Plus, limiting access to standpipe water to only participants troubled several residents, said Galvin, and is not a long-term permanent solution for the whole community.
“I really respect the work that went into proposing the. I believe supporters of that option want to do what’s right for their community, and their work will not be in vain,” Galvin wrote. “However, I do not believe that option promotes the convenience, necessity and welfare for the whole community. There are alternatives that benefit everyone.”
Galvin said EPCOR’s Aug. 26 letter to the board about what it might be able to provide in terms of standpipe water shed new light on the situation.
“This keeps other potential alternatives on the table, including the effort to find a permanent water supplier that is accountable to the Arizona Corporation Commission,” Galvin said. “Ultimately, my vote to not approve the creates opportunity for a whole community solution to accessible water. Along with assistance from the ACC and interest from a regulated water utility provider, a resilient, reliable, relatively affordable water solution is attainable for the entire RVF community.”
Jason W. Brooks is a News editor for the Daily Independent and the Chandler Independent.
He covers the Chandler area for both yourvalley.net and the monthly print edition while writing for and assisting in the production of the Daily Independent.
Brooks is a well-traveled journalist who has documented life in small American communities in nearly all U.S. time zones.
Born in Washington, D.C. and raised there and in suburban Los Angeles, he has covered community news in California, New Mexico, Arkansas, Iowa, Nebraska and northern Arizona.
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