County declares sewage plant area a park

By Erica Meltzer

Pima County moved Tuesday to prevent Marana from taking over its sewage treatment plant to get access to the effluent. The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to declare the area around the plant a county park to prevent the town from annexing the facility, and said the county would oppose any attempt to divide the regional wastewater system.

"In 1979, I don't think we cared about wastewater," said Supervisor Ann Day, referring to the year of Pima County's sewer agreement with Marana. "That this fight is about effluent shows how precious water is. This is ground zero for a critical water future for all of Southern Arizona. We're talking about regional benefit versus individual jurisdictions."

In a letter to county officials and in comments to the supervisors before the vote, Marana officials pleaded with the county not to declare the plant a park, even though they have stated they don't think such a designation would hold up in court. They said the board's action would cut off negotiations before they even started.

"This forces us into litigation," Marana Town Manager Mike Reuwsaat said after the vote.

FULL STORY: http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/193262