Crisis Solved: Let’s Take the High Road and Move On

If you read the recent guest opinion piece by Bob Sharpe, you would be led to believe there is a “crisis” with the Town’s wastewater treatment facility.

For the past several months, the Town has been working diligently with the developer and the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) to avoid any “crisis” with our wastewater treatment facility. Through teamwork and discussions, we developed a plan to expand the facility, while making interim arrangements to accommodate residents and businesses while the expansion is being constructed.

The real crisis would have been if raw sewage were left untreated, causing an environmental problem. Instead, there was – and still is – no crisis of this sort because a solution has been developed through honest discussions between Town staff, ADEQ and the developer’s staff.

Let’s review the facts about the wastewater treatment facility. All existing residents have wastewater service that has continued to operate effectively by treating water from the plant and returning it safely and cleanly to the ground. The new stores, such as Fry’s and the convenience store and gas station will open soon and have not been stopped from being opened due to wastewater. The Town has a plan for expanding the wastewater facility, installing odor and noise control and continuing to protect the groundwater. We are working diligently to implement these plans in an efficient manner.

Is there a “Crisis?”
Is there a “crisis” for residents? Or is it that the developer wants to lead residents to believe that his business problems should attract the attention of every single resident, their Town Council and the community as a whole? If you review the facts discussed above, you will see there is no “crisis” at hand because it has been solved. The issue relates to the developer’s corporate bottom line, but not to your safety, quality of life or ability to use the wastewater system.

Lobbying from the Developer Divides your Town
For over a decade now, instead of resolving disputes directly with the Town’s professional staff through good-faith negotiations, Mr. Sharp’s company has resolved disputes by lobbying Town Council members. This is simply not a professional, productive or positive way to conduct Town business. It distracts the Town Council from serving you in the best manner and causes dissent amongst Council members by pitting us against each other. For too long, lobbying has caused the mentality of “Rancho” vs. “the rest of the Town.” We have seen the parade of expensive out of town lobbyists in fancy suits come in and try to tell us what our residents want.

As Mayor, I am putting my foot down and saying those days are done. I have encouraged the Council to do so as well. I believe we must look out for the best interests of everyone, as ONE SAHUARITA TOGETHER, not a developer over the interests of the entire community.

Implore Mr. Sharpe to Work with Town Staff
Fighting battles in the press and scaring Sahuarita citizens is not productive. I would rather we take the high road and stop the scare tactics, name calling, false statements and overall incivility. Sahuarita’s citizens deserve better.

Town staff will be happy to meet with Mr. Sharpe and work toward a positive and mutually beneficial solution to his business concerns.

In closing, I would prefer not to have to go to court on this issue, but I am not willing to play public policy against private enterprise at the cost of our citizens. If Mr. Sharpe is willing to work with our professional staff toward a solution that benefits all of us, instead of just the developer’s profits, I’m confident a resolution can be reached. Let’s keep the Town working for everyone and stay focused on our beautiful, safe and clean community.