Who is going to run this water company?

I am so glad that I do not live in Cave Creek. The brilliant members of Cave Cree Town Council just bought a failing water company, with Cave Creek tax dollars, and kept the owner of that failing water company on as a consultant. Wow!

Town Manager Usama Abujbarah was quoted as saying that the primary reason for the purchase was to prevent Global Water from acquiring it. Nice going. Who is going to run this water company? Mary Beth Rowland? The same lady that drove said water company into the ground.

Who is going to pay for any upgrades? Oh, that’s right, Cave Creek residents.

Usama promises $400,000 a year in upgrades, and until the Arizona Corporation Commission is satisfied that problems are permanently fixed, any and all rate increases have to be approved by them. Oh wait, Usama said there would be no rate increase. So now Cave Creek residents have to pay for a failing water company, and Desert Hills residents have no say so in anything because we are not Cave Creek residents.

Now Usama is saying that he is working with Arizona American Water (of Anthem) on a long‑term water contract. Problem is, Arizona American is trying to raise rates in Anthem by 100 percent, yet is going to sell excess water to Desert Hills Water. Does anyone else see a problem with this, or is it just me?

Also, it has been said that when the water contract with Arizona American is signed, Desert Hills Water would no longer need the services of Cave Creek Water. My question to that would be: There are 47 houses that are in the DHW service area that are directly hooked to Cave Creek Water with no lines to DHW. Are these homes going to be without water?

To me, it seems like Cave Creek has got some council members that: 1) are getting some bad info, 2) are not really looking out for their citizens, and 3) have a vendetta against a company that knows how to run, operate and control a water company.

This is a bad situation for the Cave Creek taxpayers and for Desert Hills residents who are already in a bad spot with the water supply. If I were a Cave Creek resident, I would be asking that every council member be run out of town.

Look at it this way: Cave Creek sewer treatment is managed by Arizona American because Cave Creek does not have the know‑how. And now, if rumor is correct, that same company will be contracted to run the water company at the expense of Cave Creekers.

I would like to thank all of the residents east of 32nd Street that approved the booster pump to be placed in their neighborhood. I know you didn’t need this pump and it is not something that is nice to look at every time you return to your home. Also, a big thanks to Global Water for putting in said pump in only two weeks. By comparison, Desert Hills Water has taken three months to put in the same pump, and at this time it is not up and running.

Finally, thank you Cave Creek for making a big water problem even bigger.

M. Donovan

Desert Hills