CAVE
CREEK – With several mirrored votes between two governing
bodies, the Desert Hills Water Company is 100 percent
Cave Creek’s.
While
most of the paperwork and approvals already had been completed
over the last few weeks, on Monday night town council
members, acting as the governing board for Desert Hills
Water,
formally
approved the deal, updated the company’s articles of incorporation
and transferred its assets.
They
then reconvened as town council to ratify the actions
taken as the Desert Hills board. All votes were unanimous,
with Councilman Ernie Bunch absent.
Attorney
Marvin Cohen pointed out that one of the approved resolutions,
as promised the Arizona
Corporation Commission, creates a 10‑member citizens
water advisory committee comprised of five people from
Cave Creek, four from Desert Hills and one person from
the Carefree service area. The committee is in response
to concerns of customers outside Cave Creek’s boundaries
not having a vote in council races, he explained.
After
the votes, Councilman Tom McGuire said these actions “essentially
conclude” the process and, “Hopefully, we’ll continue
as appropriate for the citizens of Cave Creek.”
The
council also approved the adoption of a new chapter of
town code, providing for water rates, fees and charges
for both Desert Hills Water and Cave Creek Water Company.
The measure was passed with an emergency clause, waiving
the need for a second reading and putting it into effect
immediately.
Cohen
stated the town was adopting all fees as they currently
stand, but noted there is a statutory process for raising
those fees.
“We
thought it prudent to adopt those provisions for both
water companies,” said Cohen.
Vice
Mayor Dick Esser then asked when he–and, by extension,
everyone else–would be getting his first water bill.
Town
Manager Usama Abujbarah replied the bills will go out
in early June and will include charges for the past three
months service.
Cohen
then praised Abujbarah for his work and help throughout
the process of acquiring the two water companies.
Mayor
Vincent Francia also praised Abujbarah, saying, “He’s
a keeper, isn’t he.”
Francia
added he hasn’t encountered one person in the community
upset over the water company acquisitions.
In
a related matter, Town Engineer Wayne Anderson introduced
to council the new utilities manager, Jessica Marlow.
She will be starting her duties on June 11.
