Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
This is the West. Wars are fought over water, even reclaimed water from sewage treatment plants. Every drop of water is more precious than gold.
Which is why the Town of Marana, represented by lobbyist Jonathan "Payday" Paton, has been trying to steal a Pima County sewage treatment plant from Pima County without paying for it. In the old West, this would be a hanging offense.
Today, we are supposed to accept colonial oppression of Baja Arizona by our colonial overlords from the state of Maricopa. Marana gets help from Senate leader in sewer-plant dispute:
State lawmakers' attempts to force Pima County to turn over a sewer plant to Marana are getting more aggressive.
Senate President Steve Pierce has asked Gov. Jan Brewer to issue necessary permits the town has been unable to obtain on its own.
Under what legal authority does our Red Queen, Jan Brewer, have any ability to issue a permit? This is new to me. Executive fiat is not lawful authority.
Pierce has also asked the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality to investigate whether the county has the legal authority to operate a sewer system.
Pima county handed over the plant at 14393 W. Luckett Road to Marana last month, but did so under protest, only because the town persuaded the Legislature to pass a new state law that empowered its takeover of the plant. [thanks to lobbying by Jonathan "Payday" Paton]
Pima County has refused to transfer its state and federal permits to the town, saying it cannot because Marana is not a designated management authority under the Clean Water Act. The county is also challenging the constitutionality of the new state law in court.
Pima County is threatening additional legal actions against the town and the state.
Pierce sent a letter to Brewer last week asking her to issue the permits the town needs to run the plant, which serves 1,800 customers on Marana's north side.
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Marana has not signed a contract to pay the county for the outstanding debt on the facility.
"We are very skeptical as to whether Marana will agree to compensate the county for the plant as is required by the very state law that allowed them to take the facility," Pima County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry wrote.
The county spent $23.9 million to build and equip the plant, he said. Under the new state law, Marana needs to pay only the remaining debt, about $18.2 million, over 15 years. A $540,000 principal payment is due July 1.
This matter will be decided in court. The governor and ADEQ should stay the hell out of this, as should Sen. Pierce.
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